Lexus RZ Recalled Over Software Fault That Can Kill Drive Power

If you're driving a Lexus RZ500e around Perth or anywhere else in WA, pay attention — Lexus Australia has issued a recall for a software fault that can shut down your electric drive system while you're moving.

The number of vehicles affected is small, but the risk is real. A bug in the high-voltage battery Electronic Control Unit (ECU) can cause the electric drive system to cut out entirely, triggering an 'EV System Malfunction' warning and lighting up multiple dashboard indicators at once.

The vehicles involved are the **Lexus RZ500e Luxury** and **RZ500e Sports Luxury**.

What Actually Happens — And Why It Matters

Lexus is clear in its recall notice: a loss of motive power while driving increases the risk of an accident, potentially causing injury or death to occupants and other road users. That's not marketing language — that's a genuine hazard.

The one silver lining is that power steering and power-assisted braking continue to work even if the drive system goes down. So you won't lose control outright, but you will suddenly have a very expensive, very stationary luxury SUV in the middle of traffic — not ideal on the Kwinana Freeway during peak hour, and potentially far worse on a regional WA road where the next town is 200km away.

This is the same software issue that triggered a recall of more than 1,100 Toyota bZ4X vehicles recently. The RZ and bZ4X share a platform, so the same fault has followed across both brands. It's a pattern worth keeping in mind as EV platforms get shared more widely across manufacturer lineups.

What Lexus RZ Owners in WA Need to Do

The fix is straightforward — a software update to the battery ECU, carried out by your preferred Lexus dealer at no cost to you. Lexus Australia will contact affected owners directly to arrange this.

If you haven't heard from Lexus yet but believe your vehicle may be affected, don't wait around. Get in touch proactively:

• **Phone:** 1800 023 009 (Lexus Customer Assistance Centre)
• **Email:** enquiries@lexusenquiries.com.au

WA owners should factor in that dealer access can be more limited outside the metro area. If you're in regional WA — Bunbury, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie or further out — book your service appointment as early as possible to avoid delays. A software update is a relatively quick job, but workshop availability in regional areas can stretch out wait times.

Bottom line: this is a free fix for a fault that carries genuine safety implications. If your RZ500e is affected, sort it sooner rather than later.