QX Hybrid Battery Issues? Warning Signs & Solutions Inside

Hey there! I have some experience with hybrid vehicles and went through something very similar with my 2017 Lexus RX450h last year. The symptoms you're describing sound exactly like what I experienced it was the hybrid battery starting to fail. I took it to my trusted workshop, and they diagnosed a weak battery pack that was affecting the entire hybrid system. Total repair cost was around 290€, which included diagnostics and replacement. The improved performance after fixing it was like night and day! Can you tell me if you've noticed any other symptoms? Also, what's the mileage on your QX? I know Infiniti and Lexus use similar hybrid systems (both being luxury brands), so this info would help me give you more specific advice about what to look out for. By the way, my sister has an Infiniti Q50, so I'm somewhat familiar with the brand too. Feel free to share more details about those warning lights it might help narrow down the issue.

Thanks for your response! My QX is sitting at 170447 KM and had its latest service about 2 months ago. I'm really hoping it's not the hybrid battery, but what you're describing does sound similar to my situation. The warning light is yellow and appears right after the flickering starts. Did you notice any specific patterns with the battery issues on your Lexus? Like did it happen more during cold starts or after the car had been sitting for a while?

Hey again! Thanks for the follow-up. Wow, 170447 KM that's actually pretty close to where my Lexus was when I started having these issues (mine was around 165000 KM). You know what's interesting I totally noticed patterns with mine. The flickering and starting issues were definitely worse during cold mornings, especially if the car had been sitting unused over the weekend. In my case, the yellow warning light would usually pop up after about 5-10 minutes of driving, right when the hybrid system would try to switch power sources. After dealing with my Lexus's battery issues, I can tell you that the symptoms getting worse in cold weather is pretty typical for a failing hybrid battery. The cold weather just puts extra strain on an already weak battery system. The good news is that catching it early (which it sounds like you are) usually means a simpler fix. Quick tip that helped me before I got it fixed I started parking in my garage instead of outside, and that seemed to help a bit with the cold start issues. Not a permanent solution, obviously, but it might help while you're getting it checked out. Would be curious to know if you've noticed any weird noises from the engine bay when these issues occur? That was another telltale sign in my case.

Thanks so much for all this detailed info! Yes, actually now that you mention it, I've definitely noticed it's worse in the mornings, especially these past few weeks as it's gotten colder. And yeah, there's this slight whirring noise from the engine bay when the flickering starts I hadn't connected the dots until you asked! I think I'll take it to the dealer next week to get it checked out. Your experience with the Lexus has been super helpful it's given me a much better idea of what I might be dealing with. Really appreciate you taking the time to share all this, especially the tip about garage parking. I'll start doing that right away while I wait for my appointment. I'll probably end up biting the bullet and getting the battery replaced if that's what it turns out to be. Better to fix it now than wait for it to completely fail on me during these cold months! Thanks again for all your help!