2016 RX350 Alternator failure
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Joined: Jun 2012
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From: Pennsylvania
2016 RX350 Alternator failure
The wife was driving home yesterday and called me frantically. Seems the Charging System warning light came on with the warning :
Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and contact your
Lexus dealer. Continuing to drive the vehicle may be dangerous.
She was almost home so she continued the last mile. A quick check with a Digital Multi Meter showed 12.3 Volts at the battery posts with the engine off. With the engine running the reading was only 11.8 Volts. The serpentine belt was still in place with proper tension. A call to our Lexus dealer and we were instructed to drive the car in for service. Only 15 miles away and we made it safely. Got a call today from our Service Advisor that a new Alternator was needed. None in stock but part ordered for Monday and the car should be ready Monday afternoon. Enjoying a similar 2017 RX350 in the meantime.
Hopefully this alternator failure is a rare. I did a quick search on "2016 RX350 alternator" and didn't find anything. Slightly disappointing that a high-end vehicle would have this type of problem after only 20 months and 26,000 miles of use. It will be covered under warranty but with the cost of $1,041.01 for just the alternator, it would appear that the Lexus Extended Warranty was a wise decision in case this happens again after 36,000 miles.
Wondering if anyone else has had this same problem with their 4th Gen RX350?
Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and contact your
Lexus dealer. Continuing to drive the vehicle may be dangerous.
She was almost home so she continued the last mile. A quick check with a Digital Multi Meter showed 12.3 Volts at the battery posts with the engine off. With the engine running the reading was only 11.8 Volts. The serpentine belt was still in place with proper tension. A call to our Lexus dealer and we were instructed to drive the car in for service. Only 15 miles away and we made it safely. Got a call today from our Service Advisor that a new Alternator was needed. None in stock but part ordered for Monday and the car should be ready Monday afternoon. Enjoying a similar 2017 RX350 in the meantime.
Hopefully this alternator failure is a rare. I did a quick search on "2016 RX350 alternator" and didn't find anything. Slightly disappointing that a high-end vehicle would have this type of problem after only 20 months and 26,000 miles of use. It will be covered under warranty but with the cost of $1,041.01 for just the alternator, it would appear that the Lexus Extended Warranty was a wise decision in case this happens again after 36,000 miles.
Wondering if anyone else has had this same problem with their 4th Gen RX350?
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 9,556
Likes: 3,397
From: NJ
The wife was driving home yesterday and called me frantically. Seems the Charging System warning light came on with the warning :
Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and contact your
Lexus dealer. Continuing to drive the vehicle may be dangerous.
She was almost home so she continued the last mile. A quick check with a Digital Multi Meter showed 12.3 Volts at the battery posts with the engine off. With the engine running the reading was only 11.8 Volts. The serpentine belt was still in place with proper tension. A call to our Lexus dealer and we were instructed to drive the car in for service. Only 15 miles away and we made it safely. Got a call today from our Service Advisor that a new Alternator was needed. None in stock but part ordered for Monday and the car should be ready Monday afternoon. Enjoying a similar 2017 RX350 in the meantime.
Hopefully this alternator failure is a rare. I did a quick search on "2016 RX350 alternator" and didn't find anything. Slightly disappointing that a high-end vehicle would have this type of problem after only 20 months and 26,000 miles of use. It will be covered under warranty but with the cost of $1,041.01 for just the alternator, it would appear that the Lexus Extended Warranty was a wise decision in case this happens again after 36,000 miles.
Wondering if anyone else has had this same problem with their 4th Gen RX350?
Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and contact your
Lexus dealer. Continuing to drive the vehicle may be dangerous.
She was almost home so she continued the last mile. A quick check with a Digital Multi Meter showed 12.3 Volts at the battery posts with the engine off. With the engine running the reading was only 11.8 Volts. The serpentine belt was still in place with proper tension. A call to our Lexus dealer and we were instructed to drive the car in for service. Only 15 miles away and we made it safely. Got a call today from our Service Advisor that a new Alternator was needed. None in stock but part ordered for Monday and the car should be ready Monday afternoon. Enjoying a similar 2017 RX350 in the meantime.
Hopefully this alternator failure is a rare. I did a quick search on "2016 RX350 alternator" and didn't find anything. Slightly disappointing that a high-end vehicle would have this type of problem after only 20 months and 26,000 miles of use. It will be covered under warranty but with the cost of $1,041.01 for just the alternator, it would appear that the Lexus Extended Warranty was a wise decision in case this happens again after 36,000 miles.
Wondering if anyone else has had this same problem with their 4th Gen RX350?
Lexus Test Driver
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From: IL
Racer
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From: ON
"slightly disappointed" I can see that. But just because it is a higher end type of vehicle does not mean that it going to be free of the occasional issue. It's the new "normal" It is a pain to be making trips to the dealer for something that should last longer. Hope the part came in and they had you on the road again.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 9,556
Likes: 3,397
From: NJ
"slightly disappointed" I can see that. But just because it is a higher end type of vehicle does not mean that it going to be free of the occasional issue. It's the new "normal" It is a pain to be making trips to the dealer for something that should last longer. Hope the part came in and they had you on the road again.
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 544
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From: Pennsylvania
Thanks for the correction. That's good news!
Checked with my Service Advisor today. Part is in but they won't get the car finished until tomorrow. No big deal, the wife is happy with the loaner. The loaner is an exact duplicate of ours, right down to the color, interior and options. It drives and handles the same.
I guess the Alternator Failure warning "Continuing to drive the vehicle may be dangerous", comes from the fact that the steering assist is an electric motor. So much is controlled and powered by the alternator output.
Hopefully, we'll have the RX350 back tomorrow with the added benefit of a car wash. All clean and shiny!
Checked with my Service Advisor today. Part is in but they won't get the car finished until tomorrow. No big deal, the wife is happy with the loaner. The loaner is an exact duplicate of ours, right down to the color, interior and options. It drives and handles the same.
I guess the Alternator Failure warning "Continuing to drive the vehicle may be dangerous", comes from the fact that the steering assist is an electric motor. So much is controlled and powered by the alternator output.
Hopefully, we'll have the RX350 back tomorrow with the added benefit of a car wash. All clean and shiny!
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The car was ready by noon, alternator replaced, everything working fine and a nice car wash. 
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