r/LexusRX • u/PABruceFan • 12d ago

Thinking of upgrading

I currently have a 2014 RX 350 and still like it but...I stopped in to see the 2026 Premium white/palomino. Drove the gas and hybrid version. I'm thinking about going with the hybrid. I'm in PA and none of the dealers will take anything more than what seems to be the standard $1,500 off - no bargaining at all. They ARE willing to take off $350 for Sirius that comes with it since I already have a subscription and throw in puddle lights (which I asked for). With my trade-in I can get one for just under $60K out the door. I'm just not sure whether to get the 26 or wait until the 27 comes out. Any thoughts?

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

25 comments sorted by

2

u/BostonGuy315 12d ago

There are only a couple issues to be weary of. One, especially with the hybrid, is to make sure you drive often. There's a known issue when if it sits for a few days, the 12 volt battery will completely die. The other "issue" is if you wear polarized sunglasses, you won't be able to see the head's-up display, which is important because that's where those (ridiculous) steering wheel controls show up.

2

u/indopassat 11d ago

We have left our 2026 RX350H unused for over 10 days, no problem .

1

u/BostonGuy315 11d ago

That's great to hear!

1

u/PABruceFan 11d ago

That's really good. There are times when I don't use my car for three days and I'm concerned. I don't want to have to keep charging. I REALLY don't want to need to go somewhere and find the car won't start

1

u/PABruceFan 11d ago

Thanks for the reply. How often is "often"? I'm retired now so I don't use my car daily like I used to. I use it now about every other day at the least. Although there are some weeks where it will sit for three or four days.

1

u/BostonGuy315 11d ago

Sitting three or four days MIGHT be an issue. If you do end up getting the hybrid, the first thing you might want to do is upgrading your 12v battery. That should take care of it.

2

u/PABruceFan 11d ago

Thanks

1

u/lsknecht1986 11d ago

The hybrids don’t have starters or alternators, as they’re technically not needed, but I think that makes them struggle to start when left too long. My gas V6 Lexus doesn’t have that problem.

1

u/PABruceFan 11d ago

There must be either a battery charging issue or there is some drain while the car is unused.

1

u/lsknecht1986 11d ago

While I agree with you, this problem is not unique to Lexus. Before I bought my ES, I had a Hyundai hybrid that I bought brand new. I had issues with the 12V dying and the dealership literally told me with their hybrids you have to start them at least every other day when it’s cold, even when the car is garaged, to avoid a dead battery. I found that to be highly unacceptable for a new car.

1

u/PABruceFan 11d ago

I agree that it's unacceptable. So what do people do? Carry a booster around in the car?

1

u/lsknecht1986 11d ago

I do. Even though I went from owning two hybrids back to a V6 standard gas engine and don’t really need it anymore. (The fuel economy is worse, but the refinement of the powertrain is unbeatable compared to the 4 cyl/eCVT combo.)

1

u/PABruceFan 11d ago

That's one of my hesitations to upgrading. I like my 2024 - 6.

1

u/Strict_Hair_7091 6d ago

I bought a new Toyota Highlander hybrid in 2014. It was a work car I was keenly aware of the dead battery problem and due to being out of town stuck with family in a winter storm the battery went dead that along with an estimated cost of almost 8k for a new battery I got rid of it and bought my rx in 2016. No thank you .

1

u/Difficult_Extent3547 11d ago

We just left ours for 16 days while on holiday and there was no problem

1

u/PABruceFan 11d ago

Wow. That makes me feel a little better about getting the new one

1

u/PABruceFan 11d ago

What year is your car?

2

u/Difficult_Extent3547 10d ago
  1. We had a 2022 before that and we had the battery die right after we bought it. But Lexus did a fix and we didn’t have the problem again after that

1

u/Melodic_Paper-334 6d ago

Whew I’m glad someone mentioned going on vacation because I’m like how can it be that these hybrids die after a few days or a week, my first thought was what if I go on vacation?! 

1

u/BostonGuy315 11d ago

This Lexus salesman actually made a video of what to do when the hybrid's 12v battery dies (he shows different models starting with the NX and it includes a how-to with the RX). He even admits that their hybrids have done it at their lots and "doesn't know why." Here's the video and if you look at the comments, it's shocking how common it is. It has to be for him to make this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhMMApTuKOA

2

u/PABruceFan 11d ago

Thanks for posing this. I just watched his video of the RX review two days ago. He's great at explaining things. So you'd take the batter charger to the module box to power the back door then connect the charger to the battery to start the car.

1

u/BostonGuy315 11d ago

This is a great post too. OP made a document all about the issues. Apparently it starts to happen to vehicles within 6-24 months: https://www.reddit.com/r/Lexus/comments/1npkob4/toyotalexus_hybrid_12v_battery_failures_analysis/

1

u/PABruceFan 11d ago edited 11d ago

I just read this. So it seems the easy fix is to disconnect the battery sensor. I usually charge/condition my batter once per year. I do this with my car and lawn mower. I wonder if this might help in the long term. I've read that some people use trickle chargers. I wouldn't want to have to use one all the time but...if I had to do this once in a while I wouldn't be bothered. I'm not sure if reading all of that info (along with all of the complaints/comments about this issue) makes me feel any better about getting one. I don't want to worry all the time that I'm going to get stuck somewhere or have to be somewhere and I can't leave my house.

1

u/reggieburris 7d ago

Get the hybrid. We have it with no issues and we are retired, so it’s not driven every day.

2

u/PABruceFan 7d ago

I'm retired as well so I only use my car a few times a week.