Seeking Advice on Fixing Engine Instability and Poor Fuel Economy in 2008 Lexus RX Hybrid

Hey there, Faced a similar situation a couple of years back with my 2002 Lexus ES. By the way, I'm a bit of a car enthusiast with some experience, so wouldn't say I'm an expert, but I know my way around. Turned out, the problem was due to a defective accelerator pedal module. Took it to my trusty mechanic, who also initially thought the throttle valve could be at fault but after some thorough testing, we found out the real culprit. Ran me about €205 to replace the whole module and fix the software, but after the fix, my car was smooth as silk. Just a heads up, this might not be the exact same problem your Lexus is facing but I'd recommend having your accelerator pedal module checked out, given the symptoms you mentioned. Can you give more details on your vehicle? Mileage, recent repairs or modifications, anything that could help narrow down potential problems? Hope this helps! Let us know how things turn out.

Hey! Thanks for the reply and sharing your experience! Noted on the accelerator pedal module, I'm nowhere near an expert but it's handy to know where to start. As for additional details, my RX has clocked about 117,812 KM with the latest service done not too long ago. Interestingly, no major issues or repairs prior to this. It's been a dream ride bar this problem. Will be taking it to the local garage soon, fingers crossed the issue gets sorted. I'm taking all suggestions at the moment, so really appreciate your input. Will keep you updated on how things roll! Cheers!

Hey! No worries at all, glad I could help, even if it's just a starting point. It's these strange problems that make you scratch your head, but they can also be a fun challenge to solve. With your RX being well serviced and without any major repairs, I'd say you're in better shape than a lot might be in this situation. Being just over 117K KM, it's got plenty of life left. Since you'll be heading to the garage soon, along with the accelerator pedal module, also ask your mechanic to look into the throttle position sensor and throttle body, based on the symptoms you've mentioned. Those can also contribute to similar problems, and due to wear and tear over time, these parts could become faulty. Be patient and hopefully, your mechanic will find the root of the problem. Excited to hear how it all pans out. Fingers crossed for you! Cheers!

Hey! Thank you so much for the additional advice! I'll definitely mention the throttle position sensor and throttle body to the mechanics. It's slightly overwhelming, dealing with all of this, but your advice definitely eased it. It'll be interesting to see what finally clears up the issue. Fingers double-crossed here too. Will reach out with some updates once the mechanics have had a proper look. Really appreciate you taking the time to help out a fellow Lexus owner in distress! Cheers!