Battery Pack Life Rx 400h

SJG · January 18, 2010

Hi,

I am looking to replace my 2001 RX 300SE in the medium to long term, say 6 to 12 months. First choice will still be a Lexus as I've had a really good experience. I quite fancy an RX 350, but I am also considering a 400h.

My only query on the 400h is on the life of the Battery pack (or packs). Does anyone know of these failing? With a 5 year warranty on them I guess no-one has yet had to pay to replace them. Has anyone out there heard of the batteries failing and if so, how expensive to replace?

Apologies if this information has been posted but a quick search didn't answer my question.

ihpj · January 19, 2010

I don't think there have been major isntances of Battery pack failures. But by all accounts they do loose an ability hold charge as life goes on - as with any rechargeable Battery system.

I really dont see the point of the batteries when you cosndier that the car can only really run on true Battery power alone for no more than 3 - 6 MINs at most...seems to be an awful comrpomise in lugging these heavy battieres around when they only deliver a few minutes worth of efficiency.

But then I'm not a 400h fan ... much prefer the 350 ;)

Valkirk · January 19, 2010

I don't think there have been major isntances of battery pack failures. But by all accounts they do loose an ability hold charge as life goes on - as with any rechargeable battery system.
I really dont see the point of the batteries when you cosndier that the car can only really run on true battery power alone for no more than 3 - 6 MINs at most...seems to be an awful comrpomise in lugging these heavy battieres around when they only deliver a few minutes worth of efficiency.

But then I'm not a 400h fan ... much prefer the 350 ;)

The only true advantage I see with these cars is with stop start traffic and recovering energy for boost.

Even on cars with Stop Start technology having to fire up and cut the engine all the time is a real waste. Much better it will just run on batteries and only fire up the engine once moving properly. Additionally all that wasted braking energy etc is very nice to store and give you help with more grunt should you need extra acceleration.

Have heard of probs with the 400 batteries going flat after short periods of time with the car not run but other than that they seem fairly solid. 350 is very nice but you'll be hit by the tax man....

tonyricha · January 19, 2010

Hi,
I am looking to replace my 2001 RX 300SE in the medium to long term, say 6 to 12 months. First choice will still be a Lexus as I've had a really good experience. I quite fancy an RX 350, but I am also considering a 400h.

My only query on the 400h is on the life of the battery pack (or packs). Does anyone know of these failing? With a 5 year warranty on them I guess no-one has yet had to pay to replace them. Has anyone out there heard of the batteries failing and if so, how expensive to replace?

Apologies if this information has been posted but a quick search didn't answer my question.

Go with the hybrid, apparantly Toyota claim to have NEVER changed a Battery pack on any hybrid vehicle, even the very 1st Prius, seperate cells are changable

Resale value on a hybrid will be way higher than a petrol only model when you want to move it on and they are so good to drive.

Tony

Linehill · January 20, 2010

Having had the RX300 and now RX400h my comments are: The ride in the 400 is more comfortable, less bouncy, probaly due to the lithium Battery pack under the rear seats. The fuel consumption is much better. Av 32-36 mpg if driven carefully with a light right foot, against 22-25 mpg. The CVT gearbox is incredibly smooth and the automatic 4 wheel drive electric motor on the back axle has been fantastic in the snow and ice. I was told by my dealer the hybrid batteries have never failed and would be replaced free if they did. I am also advised the 400 will hold a better residual value than the 300 or 350 when trade in time comes round. I suggest you buy the latest technology. Up to 35 mph on the flat I have driven for 15 minutes just on the Battery drive to the front axle. and when the Battery power drops too low the petrol engine system recharges the pack in no time at all. Unless you watch the on-dash guage you do not know if the petrol engine is working! Amazing system. Happy driving regards

Linehill.

SJG · January 25, 2010

Thanks for all the advice, much appreciated.

I think I'm tending towards the 400h now, the tax position may change with a change of government but the fuel consumption of the respective cars will remain the same. It is reassuring to read on these forums how good all the various RX models have been in the snow.

When I get the funds together to make my purchase i'll post on here.

Thanks again

carbon · January 21, 2013

As I have an RX400H I,m interested in Battery pack life and the cost of replacement if ever required. My local dealer has told me that after referring back to Lexus UK it would seem that only once have they had to replace a complete Battery pack on a 400H and that was on a personal import from the States !!!

In New York Prius are used as Yellow Cabs now and been recorded as going for more than 16 years without problems !!!!

For those interested in such things a complete replacement Battery pack for a 400H is £ 3,199.00 inv vat. With a labour cost of £ 1,056 inc. vat.

Also interesting that the current RX450 comes with a Ten year Battery pack warranty..

DanD · January 21, 2013

~There are plenty of arguments for the hybrid model... do searches on consumption or running costs.

Transition from electric to petrol power is seamless and just about inaudible. The hybrid motor gives additional power. Tax is much lower. Petrol consumption is also much lower but is dependent on a number of variables that are well documented in these pages like outside temperature, motorway vs urban driving, short vs long trips and style of driving. To some extent you have to "re-learn" how to use the throttle to maximise the use of the hybrid system.

I have never ever achieved more than 30mpg, but usually manage 27-29mpg. I think it is excellent given the comfort, ride, gadgets, reliability etc, and I don't strive to reach record breaking consumption: I want to enjoy my car! If low consumption had been my priority, I would have gone for a smaller, diesel powered car.

scoop · January 27, 2014

I have a 56 400h and have learnt the hard way not to use any electrical devices (radio, DVD, etc) on the car unless the engine is turned on (although it may not actually be running). I've had the car for four years now, the Battery under the bonnet loses power to start the engine very quickly ie the READY message is not displayed and tells me to put the gearshift in P to start even though it is.

Also if I go away on a business trip, then i have had the problem after three or four days leaving the car standing.

I don't know if this is the original Battery, but suspect it maybe so I think this Battery needs to be replaced as the loss of charge seems to happen quicker (twice this month) now.I have not had any issues with the main power pack which contiues to run well.

nelmo · January 27, 2014

I have a 56 400h and have learnt the hard way not to use any electrical devices (radio, DVD, etc) on the car unless the engine is turned on (although it may not actually be running). I've had the car for four years now, the battery under the bonnet loses power to start the engine very quickly ie the READY message is not displayed and tells me to put the gearshift in P to start even though it is.

Also if I go away on a business trip, then i have had the problem after three or four days leaving the car standing.

I don't know if this is the original battery, but suspect it maybe so I think this battery needs to be replaced as the loss of charge seems to happen quicker (twice this month) now.I have not had any issues with the main power pack which contiues to run well.

You're talking about the standard 12V Battery, whereas the OP is, I think, talking about the main, hybrid batteries.

I agree with the previous posts about the car choice - it's telling that Lexus only now sell the hybrid and have dropped the 'normal' RXs. Economy was never my main driver for buying the car but being able to get 30mpg (in the summer - see below) without trying very hard is a definite bonus, as is the weird feeling of driving along with only the hum of electric motors (although, so good is the engine, you can hardly hear that when it is running).

I would point out that, during the cold weather, I'm currently only getting 21mpg, because we are only doing short, town journeys with the heating on high, so the engine has to run to warm up and provide that heating. Effectively,in winter, I have an RX300

Boxbrownie · January 27, 2014

I have a 56 400h and have learnt the hard way not to use any electrical devices (radio, DVD, etc) on the car unless the engine is turned on (although it may not actually be running). I've had the car for four years now, the battery under the bonnet loses power to start the engine very quickly ie the READY message is not displayed and tells me to put the gearshift in P to start even though it is.

Also if I go away on a business trip, then i have had the problem after three or four days leaving the car standing.

I don't know if this is the original battery, but suspect it maybe so I think this battery needs to be replaced as the loss of charge seems to happen quicker (twice this month) now.I have not had any issues with the main power pack which contiues to run well.

As stated above this is the "ordinary" 12v starter Battery under the hood, the failure of this to hold a charge for longer periods and running flat is very well known and has been debated here for a very long time, I think most owners plumped for an emergency Battery booster pack to negate the problem, not an perfect solution but the option of a uprated Battery is limited.

Concerning the main drive Battery I do not think I have ever seen a post that has mentioned that Battery failing, there had been problems with the inverter but those should have all been attended to now under a recall, certainly I have heard the stories of Prius taxis running around with original drive batteries which have covered over 300K kilometres or more, then again the scenerio of a taxi usage is the perfect "conditioner" for the drive Battery, more problems are likely to be with hybrids that are used seldom were the Battery does not get a good cycle of discharge/charge.

choddo · January 27, 2014

I had to replace the 12V on my 2008 car this week - it was just completely shot, couldn't hold any charge in the cold. But yes, don't sit with elctrical drains like satnav, AC, Bluetooth or radio running, unless you Start the hybrid system & it is in Ready.

Boxbrownie · January 27, 2014

Either Lexus had downgraded the capacity of the starter Battery for the hybrids or there is a serious continous drain going on, as I said I am still on the original Battery in my Mk1, over ten years old and 115K miles later it still registers as fully charged and good condition when tested.

Sounds like a problem Lexus really should be more proactive in investigating and curing.

Duncan Roberts · January 28, 2014

The subject of RX400H batteries ahs been done to death on here - search and you will see. The Battery is smaller than on other models and in some circumstances does drain. There is no space for a larger one and Lexus has long abandoned finding a solution. Only affects a small number of cars if left pout of use for a 3 weeks. If a shorter period is involved then it is likely a car-specific problem.

The hybrid batteries have an unknown life, none have been known to fail.

Boxbrownie · January 28, 2014

The subject of RX400H batteries ahs been done to death on here - search and you will see. The battery is smaller than on other model's and in most circumstances does drain. There is no space for a larger one and Lexus has long abandoned its customers with this problem. Only affectsevery 400H if left pout of use for a 3 weeks. If a shorter period is involved then it is likely a car-specific problem.

The hybrid batteries have an unknown life, none (that I have heard of) have been known to fail.

Corected that for you Duncan

:D

Duncan Roberts · January 28, 2014

Please don't correct me thus.

I have specifically checked on hybrid Battery life and only become aware of one to have been replaced - after the vehicle was fished out of a river.

Boxbrownie · January 28, 2014

Please don't correct me thus.

I have specifically checked on hybrid battery life and only become aware of one to have been replaced - after the vehicle was fished out of a river.

So it is "as far as you know"? :winky:

Unless of course you are speaking for Toyota Japan?

Boxbrownie · January 28, 2014

http://forums.edmunds.com/discussion/7788/lexus/rx-400h/lexusrx-400h-hybrid-battery-failure

http://www.hybridcars.com/first-numbers-hybrid-battery-failure/

Boxbrownie · January 28, 2014

Interesting blog from a taxi firm in USA which runs Prius (gen2) and maintains them in house (and provides a Battery replacement service for owners also) is the recommendation to clean the cooling fans on the hybrid pack every 60K, it appears this is a sensible procedure to prevent overheating which can damage the batteries.

It is true that the "traction" Battery is extremely reliable, but to say not one has ever failed is a bit silly.

Toyotas official failure rate is 0.003% (Toyota figures) work this out with over 3.8 million Prius since launch let alone all the other Toyota/Lexus hybrids (over 6 million) gives getting on for 200 odd failures, and that is at Toyota figures for failure, not an independant source which I am absolutely sure would be more or maybe hybrid batteries are :hocus-pokus:

:D

RXJasonRX · February 2, 2014

Hybrid batteries last the life of the car and never have to be replaced.

Boxbrownie · February 2, 2014

Hybrid batteries last the life of the car and never have to be replaced.

Jonathan Walsh · October 4, 2014

The last post (but one) is sadly untrue. The hybrid batteries on my 2007 RX400h (65,000 miles; bought by me from new from Lexus Twickenham; and always serviced by them on time) collapsed earlier this year, outside the warranty period.

Neither Lexus Twickenham nor Lexus head office customer service wanted to know. The batteries were replaced at a cost of c. £2750 by Lexus Edgware Road.

My view of Lexus quality and service (already dented by a comprehensive failure of the electrics caused by a blocked sunroof drain) nosedived.

Boxbrownie · October 4, 2014

I wish you were joking but obviously not..........I am first surprised the hybrid Battery failed so soon, but actually shocked that Lexus would not even entertain a contribution to the cost of replacement.

7 years old.......what is the warranty period.........5 years when new I think? But was it 5 yrs or 100,000miles? I know its two years past so on paper outside warranty but it is well within the 100K

If it were my company and the failure rate is as low as everyone believes and one failed early it would be replaced double quick and keep the customer happy, tell them its an exceptional failure and reputaion is intact and customer stays happy within the Lexus fold.

Dumb result from Lexus and your dealer.

ColinBarber · October 5, 2014

The 'Hybrid batteries last the life of the car and never have to be replaced' quote is correct as is the engine and transmission. There are no scheduled replacement intervals and there is excess capacity within the Battery pack to allow it to last.

Obviously as with all vehicle components you get rare failures but we are talking about 0.001% in the UK.

If the Battery pack fails then it is very likely to be just one cell, or cell pack, so repairing for a fraction of the price of a new complete Battery should be investigated.

Boxbrownie · October 5, 2014

"SHOULD"..........is the word that makes that statement correct, unfortunately missing.

I do not think anyone is disputing the fact that Lexus and in particular the hybrid technology is extremely reliable, but its not infallable.

This incident regarding the failure is unfortunate for the poster and the response from Lexus and the dealer is pretty poor also if they did indeed just dismiss the failure and wash thier hands of it completely.

As for replacing seperate Battery cells, that is of course possible (as proven in the states) but is there a facility/spacialist for that in the UK? At the failure rates discussed I doubt they would make much of a business of it.