I purchased my 2023 RX 350 in April and it's really great. This is the first winter with the car and I have however had a few times when entering the car on a very cold morning where the electronic door handles won't respond when trying to open the car from the outside. There is a small pad under each handle that must be depressed and it seems like the switch under these pads may be frozen. I have to really push hard for it to actuate. I mentioned this to the dealer when it was in service but they could not replicate the issue.

Q - has anyone else experienced this and if so is there a solution? Thank you,

GSY

There is a thread on this problem, I'll try to post the link.
Frozen Door Handles

Thank you - I searched before posting but could not find it. I'll look at the link you posted and thank you again.

I got my RX350H in January 2023. This winter I keep having problems where the door handles freeze and I can't open the door handles from outside.
Recently during a cold snap(no snow or freezing rain), my driver side, passenger side and rear driver side handles all froze. If you figured out a way to enter inside, the doors opened fine from inside, but you couldn't open them again after exiting.

My only options to enter the vehicle was by either opening the trunk or opening the rear passenger door, crawling and reaching to open the passenger door and jamming a sponge in the door so it wouldn't latch shut on me, entering the passenger side, reaching over and opening the driver side door and sticking another car wash sponge in it so it would remain open.

After 5-6 days, the door handles started to work again once the weather warmed up, the driver side door handle took 10 days to start working again.

Since then I've have another day where both front driver and passenger doors handles booth froze and stopped working again.

Even using the vehicle and leaving the heat on for 2 hours didn't fix the frozen door handle state.

I reached out to Lexus and they stated they know about this problem, but at this time there is no fix.

I am worried that if you ever in the winter have to escape any kind of situation in a hurry.....maybe use another car, the Lexus will definitely let you down.

Another option to get in might be to use your key fob to roll the windows down. Of course, you have to have the dealer program that and if your vehicle is covered in snow and/or ice, it could be a mess.

I don’t think this is an option from the dealer.

it's part of the dealer-only customizations. I believe all RXs have this feature, but the feature can only be turned on by the dealer.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-5th-gen-2023-present/1007926-lexus-personalization-settings-user-and-dealer.html

You are correct, I’m quite surprised the dealer can program this. I thought this was a feature only older Mercedes have. Considering my outside door handles freeze and inside ones work fine, I might need to get this done so I can enter my Lexus on cold days.

I wish Lexus did software updates. My Tesla has an option in the app where it can open your driver side door if the handle is frozen. This should be a software update Lexus should do, if possible because the door actuators are electric motors also.

I hope Lexus is reading these forums!!!

Not sure if they care though. Head office seems to be too arrogant to care what customers and dealers complain about.

I am experiencing this right now in NY! So frustrating. I can enter every door on my 23 RX350 except my driver side. On freezing days I just climb over the passenger side. I am surprised to actually see this is a real issue I thought I was going nuts!!! Is there a solution yet??

You can have the dealer program the fob, so it rolls down the windows and then you can reach in and use the interior latch to open the door.

Or Unlock with the fob and use exterior manual release.

Or pop a knee heating pad in a microwave for 30 seconds and then hold it on the door handle for a minute.

I suspect in some cases it is freezing temperatures in conjunction with windchill. I have had my car in cold winter areas and haven’t had any issue, but the wind can have a dramatic effect.

hopefully the new design door handle solve your problem.

Anybody with 2024 model have this issue? Wondering if the new door handles are in the 2024 or not.

This is a well known problem.
Use a hair dryer or hand warmers.
Lexus does have a fix. Under warranty. They fixed mine. Had to order a part.

an earlier post from Lexus tech reported that there is an updated door handle. It is back ordered and they’re replacing them on cars as needed. No word if the updated door handle is already included in the 2024 model or which cars in 2023 may or may not have it already.

hasn't happened on our 24. I took delivery last winter and the dealer said it was only an issue on some 23s.