Lexus RX problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 7 model years (2019–2025), NHTSA has logged 303 owner complaints and 8 safety recalls for the Lexus RX. That averages 11.3 complaints per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical (index 0.27 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Luxury SUVs segment it ranks #3 of 9 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 15.1.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
Across seven model years from 2019 to 2025, the Lexus RX has recorded 303 owner complaints and 8 safety recalls, averaging 11.3 complaints per year which is far fewer than typical at an index of 0.27 against all tracked vehicles. While the overall trend is worsening with 2023 and 2024 models running 194% above earlier years, the most common problem area remains Airbags & seat belts accounting for 25.4% of complaints, which are 6.7 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Owners report 30 injuries and 0 deaths with 35 complaints describing a crash or fire, while recurring terms in owner reports include "notification air", "bags recall", "air bags", "confirms" and "tool". Eight recall campaigns have been issued across the tracked model years, most received in 2025, with half of all reported incidents occurring within 27 months of a model year's start.
Summary drafted by an AI model running on our own server from the figures on this page, and checked number by number against the data before publishing. The statistics and the analysis above come from our fixed methodology, not from the model.The trend is worsening. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 194% above the 2020 and 2021 models (35 early complaints per model year versus 9).
The 2024 model year has the highest rate (20.9 complaints per year) and the 2020 model year the lowest (8.1). Model years 2023 and 2024 run at least 50% above the model's own average — the ones to research most carefully.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Airbags & seat belts (25.4% of complaints), followed by Electrical (16.2%) and Interior & equipment (15.2%). Airbags & seat belts complaints are 6.7 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Recurring terms in owner reports: “notification air”, “bags recall”, “air bags”, “confirms” and “tool”. 35 complaints (11.6%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 30 injuries and 0 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 95 complaints versus 113 in the previous 12 months — a steady pace. The 2023 model year generated the most recent reports (30). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 27 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 8 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2025 (4). 1 NHTSA defect investigation has covered this model; the latest is “Pedestrian alert sounds” (opened 2023-01-27, closed 2023-08-07).
Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Audi Q7 and Lexus NX; Mercedes-Benz GLE, Mercedes-Benz GLC, Audi Q5 and BMW X3 have more.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Complaints in first 2 years on the road | vs. same-year average | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | — | View › |
| 2020 Fewest complaints | 54 | 8.1 | 0.19 | 11 | 0.19 | 9 | 1 | Airbags & seat belts | View › |
| 2021 | 70 | 12.3 | 0.29 | 8 | 0.13 | 8 | 1 | Airbags & seat belts | View › |
| 2022 | 38 | 8.1 | 0.19 | 14 | 0.19 | 10 | 0 | Electrical | View › |
| 2023 Years to research carefully | 65 | 17.7 | 0.42 | 30 | 0.36 | 30 | 3 | Body & structure | View › |
| 2024 Years to research carefully | 56 | 20.9 | 0.5 | 41 | 0.58 | 22 | 4 | Electrical | View › |
| 2025 | 20 | 12.0 | 0.29 | — | — | 16 | 4 | Electrical | View › |
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 95 · Previous 12 months: 113 Steady
Problem areas
Airbags & seat belts ›
77 · 25.4% · 6.65 vs. all vehicles · Falling
- notification air45
- bags recall43
- air bags53
- confirms36
Interior & equipment ›
46 · 15.2% · 1.69 vs. all vehicles · Falling
- sunroof20
- exploded17
- glass15
- shattered7
Engine
33 · 10.9% · 0.49 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- gas10
- normal10
- sent5
- engine15
Body & structure
29 · 9.6% · 1.04 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- rain7
- sunroof6
- glass6
- outer3
Transmission / powertrain
15 · 5.0% · 0.43 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- transmission10
- loss7
- drivability3
- powertrain4
Brakes
13 · 4.3% · 0.71 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- brake8
- actuator3
- forward5
- filed4
Wheels, tires & suspension
13 · 4.3% · 1.72 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- premier ltx4
- michelin premier4
- tire9
- bridgestone ecopia3
Driver-assist systems
11 · 3.6% · 0.63 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- suddenly4
- engaged3
- brand3
- front3
Fuel system
10 · 3.3% · 0.77 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- fuel8
- gasoline5
- pump4
- received4
Other
3 · 1.0% · 0.55 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Steering
3 · 1.0% · 0.15 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Lighting
1 · 0.3% · 0.21 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Common terms in reports
- notification air45
- bags recall43
- air bags59
- confirms38
- tool37
- aware72
- received notification47
- amount recall45
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 27 months
What owners report
Car unintentionally accelerated striking a garage door and parked car.
My wife was driving the subject car She intended to come off the road to give a way to on coming car. She got in naghbour's drive way and intended move 10 feet.
Battery drains which locks car unexpectedly. No warning, even with car FOB inside car which creates a safety issue if child or someone is in the car. All doors lock and with no access to FOB cannot open the door with manual key.
I have tried to get Stevenson Lexus in Lakewood Colorado to replace the head rests , they have not ever had the parts to complete the recall. I have been waiting for over a year.
The vehicle exhibits a severe, load-based mechanical transmission whine strictly during active acceleration. The pitch of the whining sound rises and falls in direct proportion to the engine's RPMs.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Luxury SUVs
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Audi Q7 | 349 | 7.3 | 0.17 | Improving | Steady | 20 | Engine |
| 2 | Lexus NX | 123 | 8.0 | 0.19 | Worsening | Steady | 7 | Electrical |
| 3 | Lexus RX | 303 | 11.3 | 0.27 | Worsening | Steady | 8 | Airbags & seat belts |
| 4 | Mercedes-Benz GLE | 476 | 12.8 | 0.3 | Worsening | Steady | 2 | Engine |
| 5 | Mercedes-Benz GLC | 510 | 13.9 | 0.33 | Worsening | Steady | 3 | Engine |
| 6 | Audi Q5 | 553 | 14.1 | 0.33 | Stable | Rising | 19 | Electrical |
| 7 | BMW X3 | 606 | 14.6 | 0.35 | Improving | Rising | 41 | Electrical |
| 8 | BMW X5 | 768 | 22.4 | 0.53 | Worsening | Steady | 42 | Electrical |
| 9 | Acura MDX | 923 | 27.9 | 0.66 | Stable | Rising | 16 | Engine |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 8
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 0
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2019 (1) · 2020 (1) · 2021 (1) · 2022 (0) · 2023 (3) · 2024 (4) · 2025 (4)
Investigations
- Pedestrian alert sounds Closed
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and ele…
Frequently asked questions
Which Lexus RX model year has the most complaints?
The 2024 model year has the highest rate (20.9 complaints per year) and the 2020 model year the lowest (8.1).
Is the Lexus RX getting better or worse?
The trend is worsening. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 194% above the 2020 and 2021 models (35 early complaints per model year versus 9). In the last 12 months owners filed 95 complaints versus 113 in the previous 12 months — a steady pace.
What are the most common Lexus RX problems?
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Airbags & seat belts (25.4% of complaints), followed by Electrical (16.2%) and Interior & equipment (15.2%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “notification air”, “bags recall”, “air bags”, “confirms” and “tool”.
How does the Lexus RX compare with other Luxury SUVs?
Within the Luxury SUVs segment it ranks #3 of 9 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 15.1. Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Audi Q7 and Lexus NX; Mercedes-Benz GLE, Mercedes-Benz GLC, Audi Q5 and BMW X3 have more.
Does the Lexus RX have recalls or open investigations?
Recalls: 8 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2025 (4). 1 NHTSA defect investigation has covered this model; the latest is “Pedestrian alert sounds” (opened 2023-01-27, closed 2023-08-07).