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Reflected light safety issue on the RX350
In December of 09 I purchased a 2010 RX350 that according to the build ID was manufactured in Dec 09. Here is my problem. On darker streets, at night time, not so much on the ordinary brightly lighted streets; I notice a reflection of the bottom ¼ of the Navi screen on the front windshield just to the left of the rear view mirror. Also, if I look out the left window (driver’s side) I see a reflection of the complete instrument panel, just to the left of the outside rear view mirror. Notified the dealer and the shop foreman took another new RX350 out for a test drive at night. He noticed the same thing and is filing a report with Lexus immediately. Have any of you good people driving a new 2010 RX350 noticed this? If you do I suggest you notify your dealer so he can file a report also. The more reports the better, as this is a definite safety factor. It could very easily confuse what you see out of the inside rear view mirror and the left hand side rear view mirror. Thanks for your interest as I would be interested if any of you notice the same thing.
Rpac :confuse:
Rpac :confuse:
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Comments
At least lexus has other strange problems :confuse: compared to engine and transmission problems in other cars like audi and bmw :sick:
Deciding to buy a car is definitely not an easy task!
Ur issue is very unique :surprise:
I think that the discussed reflections can be reduced and are not inherent safety issues.
Display OFF...!!
Nothing but a distraction anyway, especially in gps guidance mode. Or even better, buy a portable Garmin.
Back when I often used my RXes GPS (before buying the Garmin) I would turn the display off and rely only on the voice prompting. I don't think I will ever again buy a car with a captive gps/nav.
But.
IMMHO you are being a bit over demanding.
Of what use, SAFE use, is the nav display while underway...??
I have long thought that Lexus should have firmware that simply turns the display off after a few seconds of non-use, non-interactive use. That's what they already do with the HVAC and radio display aspects so why not the gps/nav aspects....?
When I first got my RX300 I often kept the gps/nav DVD door open in order to avoid the "I agree" issue and prevent the continous map display. Within a few years I discovered and installed a remotely controlled relay system that allowed me to "open" and close the DVD door from the driver's seat.
Now that I have the Garmin I simply leave the DVD door open all the time.
i'm not exactly sure what Acura did, but for 2010, they did something to change the shape or angle that the plastic screen sits in front of the nav screen so that it did not cause the reflection anymore; so far I haven't seen or heard of any 2010 TSX owners complaining about that anymore; I only suggest it because for 2009, Acura got rid of the touchscreen and recessed the 8inch nav screen up high at the top of the dash similar to what Lexus did on the 2010 RX nav system
even if I'm wrong and it isn't just the plastic cover protecting the nav screen, you might be having a similar problem but with your actual windows!
just a thought to keep in mind, but like I said, I don't have an RX so I can't be sure if this is the exact cause of the problem but as soon as I read your post it rang a bell with what I remember reading about the 2009 TSX!!
Best of Luck Getting it Solved with Lexus!!
By way of disclosure, I am not associated with Lexus in any way. I own a 2004 LS430, a 2010 RX350 with Nav, and owned in the past the 2005 RX330. I'd rather not state my age, height, or weight.
Do you know, understand, why...??
If you feel the reflection is potentially a distraction or visibility hazard then you have a duty under the "I agree" "terms" to turn the screen off.
One of the solutions that the dealer came up with is to paint the area of the windshield right around the rear view mirror with a flat black paint. This would eliminate the reflection on the windshield and would not interfere with your view. So life goes on.
Thanks everyone!
Right after I got our new 01 RX300 w/nav I came to the realization that the very LAST thing I wanted to have happen, even inadvertently, was to be confused upon entering a decision point and (be tempted) to glance over at the nav for last minute corrective guidance.
I decided that it would be much better, much more safe, to commit to a decision as if the nav didn't even exist. So my solution was to ALWAYS turn off the display when relying on the nav for guidance and use voice guidance only.
But I have also since found that the Garmin supplies much better guidance, even with the current DVD update for the Lexus.
I think, were I you, I would buy a Garmin and mount it in a position more in the driver's line of sign. But I would still caution that it would be best NOT to use the display at all while underway.
My wife has decided I will be buried in our treasured 1978 Porsche 911 Targa.
It's the newest excuse. :-)
Semi driver blames GPS for missing low-clearance trestle (KTVB)
Thank you all once again.
Hope you all have a wonderful day!
I don't go so far as Wwest's recommendation and turn the display off, but the kinds of reports like the one I linked are becoming more common (not to mention the ones where people drive onto snow covered forest service roads because they relied on their navigation system to send the most direct route to their destination).
Steve was simply linking to an interesting story where a driver had an accident and ends up blaming it on his NAV system. Essentially, the driver is saying "I was looking my NAV and didn't see impending disaster right in front of me." Obviously, the driver was at fault for the accident he caused but he tries to shift blame to something else.
A careful driver, like yourself, would never put himself into such a situation.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
The solution..
You may note that once the vehicle is undeway at a relatively low speed the Nav firmware is programmed to disallow new directional inputs.
So don't be too surprised if "the solution" becomes simply blanking the Nav display in the same manner/time. Easy and inexpensive to implement ("reflash") and retrofit in the field.
I was driving home from work last night and at a stop light, I looked all over trying to figure out where such a reflection might be. And lo and behold, there it was, just as you said, up and to the left of (more or less) the rearview mirror.
I never noticed the reflection before, having driven my 2010 RX350 about seven months now. I don't believe that I would have ever noticed the reflection during normal driving because to see the reflection, I had to concentrate while looking up and to the right, taking my eyes completely off the road (and everything else) for several seconds.
I'll admit that it could be a bit distracting if you focus on it, as I found myself doing later on the drive home (is it still there?). I wonder if the fact that it is there and you know that it is there is affecting your driving now? I mean, like a subliminal message ("look at me ... look at me"). Seriously though, if the Lexus people are taking this seriously (and I believe that they tend to take almost everything seriously), then you are probably on to something. Please keep us posted. Thanks!
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Bob
Anyway, many thanks for your input. Lexus is being very cooperative and I do have great faith in them.
Now, I must say this. This old guy is more than a million times grateful for all your posts. Especially the fact that Hosts, Steve and Tidester have entered the forum. I do not have words to thank you for all your genuine concern for me as an individual.
Thanks to all of you and will try to keep you posted.
I checked but did not see a reflection in the left window.
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Bob
Thanks again for your most welcome post rlm51, it is most appreciated. And I wait to hear if you are able to see anything out your driver’s window. If not, then it is the tinted glass causing a reflection.Thanks so very much!
Rpac
Now I can see a reflection of the dash objects in the driver's side window above the outside mirror at night. And as you say, to a lesser degree than the Nav reflection on the front.
I do not have the Navi Traffic, which I think requires XM. I have Sirius, the remainder of a subscription that was moved from my trade-in vehicle (Honda Ridgeline).
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Bob
Thanks so much for your post.
Rpac
PS: I heard something today from a friend of mine. Said he read somewhere where 4 people were killed in a Toyota because the accelerator 'stuck'. Investigators found all of the car mats in the trunk of the car while investigating the accident. As you know, Toyota makes Lexus. I am beginning to wonder!!! :mad:
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
You have me paranoid now...I have an '08 RX400h and now I'm going to be looking around for any weird/distracting reflections. Can't say that I recall any to this point after almost 19K miles. On my '04 Maxima under certain circumstances I could see a reflection of the RED light (that was behind the speedometer illuminating the needle) in the side window and it freaked me out the first time. You know how it is, whenever you see a RED light, it gives you pause.
I'm reading this forum because my lease is up on the 400h in November and am looking to see what's going on with the latest generation RX. I have to say, so far I am not blown away. Harsher ride, NAV still sux, no touchscreen, styling is not an improvement IMO... I may have to REFLECT on this further...