OnlineGuy1

Been to too many junk yards but actually encountered it today on the road. It’s for the 2010-2012 Lexus RX 350 I believe and some Toyota highlander models of the same year I think. Anyway, they never made a recall on these to let the owners know of the catastrophic failure of their rubber engine oil cooler pipe. I’ve been too too many junkyards looking at highlanders and Lexus RX models 2010-2012 with under 150K miles and still in great condition but the engine is cracked by the cylinder due to rampant and fast oil leak.

Yes, if you have not done so, replace it with the metal engine coolant pipe from the dealership. Get the part, if you have the right tools and know what you’re doing, do it immediately. Anyways, as I was driving in the highway, basically a 2011 Lexus RX 350 started leaking a bunch of oil and got all over my windshield because I was behind them. I pulled over too to help the owner of the RX350 and they said their engine started to vibrate. We looked under and guess what, it’s squirting engine oil out like it’s no tomorrow!

Not sure what happened afterwards, but I told her to not drive it and wait for the tow truck. We checked her oil and she basically lost 6 liters, basically all of her oil in a few minutes.

These RX350 2010-2012 models are very reliable, but the manufacturer never recalled the owners or called them to come get it fixed and replace. Can’t believe it I actually saw it live today!

ptung07

Informative video

Jsico

I’ll have mine replaced within the next 2 weeks

Clutchless

Only cars with the tow package have the oil cooler and those oil cooler lines. That does not mean you have a hitch, just the preparation to handle the extra load.

Jsico

nice, I may have dogged a repair then
I looked down the engine last night and couldn’t see the lines, I figured they were hidden back further
doesnt look like I have the tow option on mine

Clutchless

Also I think by 2012 or 2013 they had metal oil cooler lines from the factory.

ColAngus

But there was a recall for this. Or at least some mechanism that allows you to go to the dealer and have them fix it for free.

Clutchless

It was not a recall (well only in Canada). In the US it was an extended warranty. The catch was you had to notice your leaking hose, then they would replace it with the metal one. I think it was for 10 years after it was put into service or 150,000 miles. The coverage has expired for (probably) almost everyone.

So you are on your own now, although if a second or third owner, maybe you could try to hire a lawyer and pursue legal action for a new engine due to lack of notice etc etc.
​​​​​​https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/20...32754-9999.pdf

ColAngus

Ah, ok. That adds up. I'm in Canada and I think I've heard that virtually all (if not literally all) models sold in Canada had the towing package. I think it was because it included a block heater for some odd reason.
Anyway, it was an easy fix in Canada.

TriZ250

I think that’s what happened on my 2007 rx350. I was on highway when it happened engine light came on. Can’t remember if engine felt like was losing power but got off highway to a store was headed to and saw oil under car. There was a Midas shop near by and I went there and guy told me I was lucky and mentioned that hose part that was a bad design and they blow and dump all the oil and a lot of times the engines are junk because of. He replaced the part for me I think I paid a lil under $200. Not too long after that a lady hit me in a dunkin doughnuts drivethru as I was going around the bend and there was another straightaway into there. I was rolling 2mph and she hit me going about 30mph without braking. Just her tire got side of bumper into the front. Watched her go airborne and kept going and ordered her food at drivethru before finally going around the store to the front and stopping. Ended up twisting my frame and totaling it with 130K on it. Ended up updating to a 2015rx and I’ve been paranoid that the hose will go on this one to as I heard it was an issue up until 2015 models. I’ll prob bring it to that shop at some point and have it inspected to make sure that oil hose is not on its way to having a blow out.

Abrar

I think the rubber hoses were not used after the 2012-2013 model years, so let us know what your 2015 Rx has, as I too have a 2015 rx and would appreciate the information. The rubber hoses were on the back of my mind since long.

RX in NC

2015 models (the final year of production for the 3rd generation RX) have metal oil lines. No need to worry about it.

Abrar

thank you that’s a relief.

Jksm

Checked my 2012 rx350 and I have the metal lines thank goodness!

stimpsjd

This same thing happened to my wife's old 2011 Toyota Sienna. We essentially were two weeks from trading it in for a new one. We had no idea there had been a recall on it but the warranty had been extended for 10 years...and we were at 10 years and 6 months. All of the oil dropped out. It's good that Toyota/Lexus identified the issues with this engine and did do the extension, it's unfortunate that they didn't reach out to the owners through a recall campaign.