Lexus RX problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 9 model years (2018–2026), NHTSA has logged 441 owner complaints and 12 safety recalls for the Lexus RX. That averages 11.7 complaints per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical (index 0.29 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Luxury SUVs segment it ranks #3 of 9 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest); the segment average is 14.2.
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
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 111% above the 2018 and 2019 models (36 early complaints per model year versus 18).
The 2024 model year has the highest rate (21.5 complaints per year) and the 2018 model year the lowest (5.3). Model years 2023 and 2024 run at least 50% above this model's average of 11.7 complaints per year on the road across its tracked model years. The 2018 model year runs at least 40% below this model's average of 11.7 complaints per year on the road.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Airbags & seat belts (18.4% of complaints), followed by Electrical (14.7%) and Unspecified or other (13.6%). Airbags & seat belts complaints are 4.8 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. 53 complaints (12.0%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 38 injuries and 0 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 118 complaints versus 119 in the previous 12 months — down 1%. The 2023 model year generated the most recent reports (31). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 29 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 12 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2025 (5). 1 NHTSA investigation has covered this model; the latest is “Pedestrian alert sounds” (defect petition, opened 2023-01-27, closed 2023-08-07).
Within its segment it has more complaints per year than Lexus NX and Audi Q7, but fewer than Mercedes-Benz GLE, Audi Q5, Mercedes-Benz GLC and BMW X3.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Fewest complaints | 47 | 5.3 | 0.13 | 5 | 2 | Brakes | View › |
| 2019 | 68 | 8.7 | 0.22 | 5 | 4 | Fuel system | View › |
| 2020 | 55 | 8.1 | 0.2 | 8 | 1 | Airbags & seat belts | View › |
| 2021 | 71 | 12.3 | 0.3 | 7 | 1 | Airbags & seat belts | View › |
| 2022 | 39 | 8.1 | 0.2 | 9 | 0 | Unspecified or other | View › |
| 2023 ▲50%+ | 67 | 17.7 | 0.44 | 31 | 3 | Unspecified or other | View › |
| 2024 ▲50%+ | 60 | 21.5 | 0.53 | 24 | 4 | Electrical | View › |
| 2025 Too new to rank | 24 | 13.4 | 0.33 | 19 | 4 | Electrical | View › |
| 2026 Too new to rank | 10 | 10.0 | 0.25 | 10 | 3 | Electrical | View › |
▲50%+ = 50%+ above this model's average yearly rate. “Too new to rank”: under two years on the road, so the model year cannot be named the one with the fewest complaints yet. 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: 118 · Previous 12 months: 119 Within ±30% year on year
Problem areas
Airbags & seat belts ›
81 · 18.4% · 4.84 vs. all vehicles · Falling
Electrical ›
65 · 14.7% · 0.94 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Unspecified or other ›
60 · 13.6% · 1.51 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Engine ›
55 · 12.5% · 0.56 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Body & structure ›
41 · 9.3% · 1.02 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Fuel system ›
40 · 9.1% · 2.09 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Brakes
32 · 7.3% · 1.2 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Transmission / powertrain
25 · 5.7% · 0.49 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Driver-assist systems
16 · 3.6% · 0.63 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Wheels, tires & suspension
14 · 3.2% · 1.27 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Lighting
4 · 0.9% · 0.58 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Steering
4 · 0.9% · 0.14 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Other
4 · 0.9% · 0.49 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 29 months
What owners report
While driving in the [XXX] on the [XXX] my sunroof exploded. the noise was so loud and startling that i injured my back as a result. I had glass all over myself and the passenger seat.
On XXX, our 2018 Lexus RX 350L was involved in a high-speed collision in [XXX]. The vehicle struck a Jersey/concrete barrier with the left front of the vehicle. The collision caused extensive damage to the left-front corner of the vehicle.
My 2024 Lexus RX 500h experiences an intermittent failure to respond when I press the accelerator pedal. During these episodes, pressing the pedal does not produce the expected acceleration, making the vehicle’s response unpredictable.
There is an extreme dark shadow or cutoff line on the driver-side headlight
Air conditioner quit working. Dealership states a rock went through my grill, “damaged” my condenser. Out of pocket expense quoted $1600.00. Only 11,841 miles. 2025 Lexus RX 350. Only 1 year old, purchased, September 2025
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 | Lexus NX | 237 | 6.7 | 0.17 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 9 | Electrical |
| 2 | Audi Q7 | 364 | 6.8 | 0.17 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 20 | Engine |
| 3 | Lexus RX | 441 | 11.7 | 0.29 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 12 | Airbags & seat belts |
| 4 | Mercedes-Benz GLE | 498 | 12.4 | 0.31 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 2 | Engine |
| 5 | Audi Q5 | 575 | 12.8 | 0.32 | Stable | Rising | 19 | Electrical |
| 6 | Mercedes-Benz GLC | 529 | 13.3 | 0.33 | Worsening | Rising | 8 | Engine |
| 7 | BMW X3 | 665 | 15.9 | 0.39 | Improving | Rising | 40 | Electrical |
| 8 | BMW X5 | 825 | 22.8 | 0.56 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 44 | Electrical |
| 9 | Acura MDX | 981 | 26.6 | 0.66 | Stable | Rising | 16 | Engine |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 12
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 0
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2018 (2) · 2019 (4) · 2020 (1) · 2021 (1) · 2022 (0) · 2023 (3) · 2024 (4) · 2025 (4) · 2026 (3)
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…