RoadVitals

2010 Lexus RX Hybrid

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Jan 27, 2019
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Jun 29, 2012
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 8 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2010 Lexus RX Hybrid, most frequently naming the engine, brakes and electrical categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 35 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine325.0%
  • Brakes216.7%
  • Electrical216.7%
  • Fuel system216.7%
  • Driver assistance18.3%
  • Powertrain (other)18.3%
  • Body & structure18.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

Jun 29, 2012
164,601 units potentially affected
The defect: Toyota is recalling certain model year 2010 Lexus RX350 and RX450h vehicles, manufactured from November 28, 2008, through September 1, 2010, and model year 2008 through 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles manufactured from September 1, 2007, through September 5, 2011. In July 2012, Toyota filed a defect report to recall certain model year 2010 Lexus RX350 and RX450h vehicles. In November 2012, Toyota informed the agency that it was including an additional 10,565 vehicles including certain model year 2008 through 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 164,601. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat.
The risk: A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
The remedy: Toyota and Lexus will notify owners of affected vehicles and dealers will modify or replace the accelerator pedal and replace any driver's floor mat not specified for the vehicle. Owners of the Lexus vehicles were notified during August 2012. Toyota has not yet provided a notification schedule for the additional Land Cruiser vehicles. Owners may contact Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331 or Lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
Toyota Motor Engineering & ManufacturingManufacturer number 90LView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed Jan 27, 2019

I WAS DRIVING LAST MONTH (APPROX 1,07000 MILES) AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY DASHBOARD DISPLAY HAD LIGHTS AND FLASHING MESSAGES THAT SAID THERE WAS AN ABS BRAKE MALFUNCTION. I DROVE IT THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER (ROYAL PALM BEACH, FLORIDA) AND THEY GOT THE ERROR CODE C 1391 ABNORMAL LEAK IN ACCUMULATOR PUMP AND THEY WANT THE ABS ACTUATOR REPLACED. MY 100K TOYOTA/LEXUS EXTENDED WARRANTY IS EXPIRED AND I AM LEFT WITH NO OPTIONS. I SENT THE COMPLAINT TO LEXUS AND THEY REPLIED BACK AND ASKED ME TO TAKE IT TO THE LOCAL LEXUS DEALERSHIP FOR THE DIAGNOSIS, AFTER SPENDING $350 FOR DIAGNOSIS IN TOYOTA AND LEXUS, ITS THE SAME ISSUE ABS ACTUATOR FAILED AND IT WILL COST ME $3720 TO FIX IT. ALSO, DURING ABS DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AT LEXUS DEALER @ WEST PALM BEACH, THE CAR FAILED TO START AND WAS IN THE DEALERS LOT FOR 2 DAYS BEFORE THEY FIXED THE ISSUE (REPLACED SOME COMPUTER). LEXUS OFFERED ME $1000 AS PARTIAL PAYMENT TO FIX THE ABS ISSUE, AND AS SOON AS I STARTED TALKING ABOUT FILING A COMPLAINT WITH NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) , THEY RESCINDED THE OFFER AND SENT ME A EMAIL STATING THAT I AM FREE TO REPORT TO NHTSA. I WAS WONDERING HOW MANY LEXUS OWNERS TOOK PARTIAL PAYMENT TO FIX ABS AND NOT REPORT IT? DID LEXUS REPORT ALL THOSE CASES TO NHTSA ? I DOUBT SO! I THINK THIS IS CUSTOMER SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BY NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) AND A RECALL ISSUED FOR LEXUS ABS. I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT A WELL ENGINEERED CAR LIKE THE LEXUS WOULD RISK CUSTOMER SAFETY.

NHTSA ID
11172383
Incident
Dec 9, 2018
Mileage
107,000 mi
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Apr 8, 2018

VEHICLE SAT IN MY DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT DURING A HEAVY RAIN THAT TURNED INTO FREEZING RAIN. THE NEXT MORNING WHEN I WENT TO START THE CAR A WARNING CAME ON TO CHECK THE HYBRID SYSTEM. WHEN CALLED, LEXUS SAID THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION/REPAIR. AFTER VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY FLATBED CARRIER TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION/REPAIR AND UNLOADED AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE VEHICLE FILLED WITH SMOKE AND LEXUS TECHNICIAN SAID LUCKILY ONE OF THE DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEES SAW THE SMOKE, LET HIM KNOW, AND HE DISCONNECTED THE HYBRID ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND HAD HE NOT DONE SO, IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE. THE WATER PENETRATION WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE COME FROM THE TOP REAR ROOF/BODY SEAM WHERE TWO PIECES OF BODY METAL JOIN. EXACTLY THE SAME SPOT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR LEAKED. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS DAMAGE OR CORROSION AT THE LOCATION OF THE LEAKS AND NO EVIDENCE OF PRIOR OR PROLONGED LEAKING. ONCE THE WATER GOT INTO THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS NOTHING TO PREVENT IT FROM GETTING TO THE HYBRID BATTERIES AND THEIR RELATED ELECTRONICS, THEREFORE ALLOWING WATER THAT GOT INTO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE TO CAUSE THE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM AND CREATE THE FIRE RISK. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED BY THE DEALER. THERE IS NO REASON WATER SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THROUGH TWO DIFFERENT BODY SEAMS THAT HAD NOT BEEN DAMAGED. MORE IMPORTANTLY, THERE SHOULD BE NO WAY THAT ANY LIQUID THAT GETS INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO REACH THE HYBRID BATTERIES AND CREATE THIS DAMAGE AND THE RISK OF SYSTEM FAILURE AND FIRE.

NHTSA ID
11083871
Incident
Feb 21, 2018
Mileage
105,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 15, 2018
Fire reported

OIL COOLER HOSE COMPLETE RUPTURE WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, NO OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. LESS THAN A MINUTE LATER ALL OIL DRAINED OUT, BLUE FIRE BALL IGNITED OUT BACK OF CAR & ENGINE FROZE UP HAVING CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES. THANKFULLY MY DAUGHTER WAS NOT INJURED ONLY STRANDED. HOWEVER CAR IS DEAD. 8 YEARS OF REGULARLY MAINTENANCE SERVICING AT THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP & BUYING A NEW LEXUS, NO ONE EVER MENTIONED THIS OIL COOLER HOSE DEFECT ISSUE

NHTSA ID
11079583
Incident
Mar 7, 2018
Mileage
168,022 mi
Filed Feb 15, 2018

I HAVING BEEN HAVING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS STARTING MY CAR THAT ARE BECOMING WORSE. THE PROBLEM STARTED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, MID-2017. THE DEALERSHIP HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO DEFINITIVELY DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM, BUT SAID THEY ADJUSTED THE BRAKE SENSOR. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE CAR APPEARS TO START, BUT IT DOESN'T ALLOW YOU TO SHIFT INTO GEAR, AND APPEARS TO NOT BE ACTUALLY STARTED BUT IN AUXILIARY MODE WITH NO ACTIVE ENGINE ENGAGEMENT. IF THIS IS A BRAKE SENSOR PROBLEM, COULD IT TURN IN TO SOMETHING WORSE THAN BEING STUCK AWAY FROM HOME BECAUSE THE CAR WON'T START? THE PROBLEM HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED AND YOU TRY TO START IT.

NHTSA ID
11073121
Incident
Feb 6, 2018
Mileage
61,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Jan 27, 2017

IN OCTOBER MY WIFE WAS RETURNING FROM A 9.5 HOURS TRIP WITH 1 FUEL STOP APPROX 4 HOURS FROM HOME. EXITING I95 THE CAR HAD NUMEROUS WARNING LIGHTS WITH A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER (VSC, CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM, AWD SYSTEM AND OTHERS). SHE COASTED THE CAR TO A PARKING LOT, ATTEMPTED TO TURN IT OFF AND BACK ON, BUT THERE WAS STILL NO ENGINE OR DRIVE POWER. ALL DASH LIGHTS WORKING. WE HAD THE CAR TOWEDTO OUR HOME AND I TESTED THE BATTERY AND CHARGING VOLTAGE, THEN HAD THE BATTERY LOAD TESTED AND FOUND TO BE BAD. PURCHASED AN OPTIMA YELLOW TOP BATTERY AND ALL OTHER DASH WARNINGS CEASED. IN NOVEMBER, AGAIN RETURNING FROM A TRIP EXITING I95 THE CAR STALLED AND DISPLAYED ONLY THE CHECK HYBRID AND AWD LIGHTS. THIS TIME TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR 30 SECONDS AND THEN BACK ON. THE ENGINE TURNED ON AND HYBRID MOTOR FUNCTION RESUMED WITH THE "CHECK HYBRID LIGHT" STILL ILLUMINATED. I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY FOR A MINUTE AND ALL WARNING LIGHTS WENT OFF WITH NORMAL ENGINE AND HYBRID DRIVE FUNCTION. I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT LEXUS IF IT OCCURRED AGAIN. ONE MONTH LATER AGAIN RETURNING FROM A TRIP, EXITED I95 AND ONCE THE CAR WAS SLOWED TO ABOUT 35 MPH CAR LOST POWER, WARNING LIGHTS "AWD" AND "CHECK HYBRID" ILLUMINATED AND CAR HAD ENTERED A "LIMP" TYPE OF MODE WITH SOME POWER WITH THE GAS PEDAL AND LIMITED SPEED. POWER DISTRIBUTION SCREEN SHOWED NO POWER MOVEMENT FROM THE ENGINE/BATTERY/WHEEL CHARGING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED. PULLED TO A PARKING LOT TURNED OFF MOMENTARILY AND THEN BACK ON, RESUMING NORMAL FUNCTION. "AWD" WARNING WENT AWAY, BUT "CHECK HYBRID" AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS WERE BOTH ON. ONE DAY PRIOR TO THE APPT AT LEXUS THE CAR WAS USED WITH THE WARNING LIGHTS STILL ILLUMINATED, STILL FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. THE LIGHTS, AT SOME POINT DURING THE DRIVE WENT OUT ON THEIR OWN. THE SERVICE APPOINTMENT WAS AGAIN CANCELLED ON THE WEDNESDAY BEFORE THE SCHEDULE.

NHTSA ID
10947927
Incident
Jan 23, 2017
Mileage
45,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 28, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS RX 450 HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK HYBRID WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

NHTSA ID
10650741
Incident
Sep 15, 2014
Mileage
46,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Dec 15, 2011
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS RX450 HYBRID. AR APPROXIMATELY 6:10AM ON SATURDAY DEC. 10TH, IN CLEAR WEATHER, WHILE OPERATING HER VEHICLE, SHE ENTERED A PARKING AREA AND BACKED INTO A YELLOW BARRIER POST AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, BUT THE VEHICLE AGAIN REVERSED. THE VEHICLE THEN MOVED FORWARD, APPROACHING THE STREET. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT IT WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED IN A FORWARD MOTION WITH APPARENT ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE LEFT, DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES AGAIN, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED FORWARD WITH FURTHER ACCELERATION. APPROACHING A STOP SIGN APPROX. 30 YARDS FROM THE PARKING AREA AND NOT BEING ABLE TO HALT OR SLOW THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT PROCEEDED THROUGH IT, TURNING RIGHT, ONTO A SERVICE ROAD. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE AND ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER TO ANOTHER GEAR, BUT NEITHER RESPONDED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE A SENSE OF ACCELERATION. AT A POINT APPROX. 140 YARDS FROM THE STOP SIGN, THE CONTACT OPENED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND JUMPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE AS IT MOVED FORWARD AT APPROX. 25-30 MPH. THE CONTACT'S RIGHT ELBOW, WRIST AND LEFT ARM HIT THE GROUND. AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO FLAG DOWN PASSING MOTORIST, THE VEHICLE RAN UP AGAINST THE CURB AND FINALLY GROUND TO A HALT AGAINST THE GRANITE CURB. APPROX. 60 YARDS FROM THE CONTACT'S EXIT POINT. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ENGAGED IN DRIVE WHEN THE CONTACT APPROACHED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 01/06/12 *BF

NHTSA ID
10440049
Incident
Dec 10, 2011
Mileage
18,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Nov 29, 2011

HYBRID VEHICLE + KELSEY IGNITION = DEADLY COMBINATION. WE ACCIDENTALLY LEFT OUR 2010 LEXUS RX450H IN THE GARAGE WITH THE IGNITION "ON" AND TURNED IN FOR THE NIGHT. SINCE IT IS A HYBRID, IT MAKES NO SOUND - EVEN WHEN "RUNNING". SO WE WERE UNAWARE THE IGNITION WAS STILL ON. MUCH LATER IN THE EVENING, AFTER THE BATTERY HAD DEPLETED, THE GAS ENGINE CAME ON, FILLING OUR GARAGE WITH CARBON MONOXIDE. HAD I NOT GONE BACK OUT TO RETRIEVE SOMETHING FROM THE GARAGE AND NOTICED THAT BY THIS TIME THE CAR'S GAS ENGINE WAS RUNNING, I LIKELY WOULDN'T BE WRITING THIS E-MAIL. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS FLAW IN AN OTHERWISE GREAT CAR. THE TINY RED VS. GREEN LED ON THE IGNITION BUTTON IS NOT ENOUGH INDICATION THAT THE CAR IS RUNNING. AN AUDIBLE ALARM OR SOME TYPE OF POSITIVE INTERLOCK IS NEEDED. ## VIN FAILED ## LEXUS RX 450H 2010 ## *KB

NHTSA ID
10437757
Incident
Nov 29, 2011

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

L-SB-0030-24 Rev2

STRUCTURE:BODY

Some 2005 – 2026 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interior of the vehicle for odor remediation. Refer to the applicable model and model year Repair Manuals and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) website for the most up-to-date safety and precautionary guidelines. This Service Bulletin is to provide a general overview and direction for the odor remediation process.

L-SB-0017-19 Rev1

STRUCTURE:BODY

Some 2010 – 2026 model year Lexus vehicles may exhibit paint stains after the removal of Rapgard™. The paint stains may appear to be under the clear coat but are usually under wrinkles in the Rapgard™. The wrinkles may trap water and cause the paint to stain from the trapped moisture, especially on horizontal surfaces such as the hood, roof, and trunk.

L-SB-0017-19 Rev1

STRUCTURE:BODY

Some 2010 – 2026 model year Lexus vehicles may exhibit paint stains after the removal of Rapgard™. The paint stains may appear to be under the clear coat but are usually under wrinkles in the Rapgard™. The wrinkles may trap water and cause the paint to stain from the trapped moisture, especially on horizontal surfaces such as the hood, roof, and trunk.

L-SB-0030-24 Rev1

STRUCTURE:BODY

Some 2005 – 2024 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interior of the vehicle for odor remediation. Refer to the applicable model and model year Repair Manuals and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) website for the most up-to-date safety and precautionary guidelines. This Service Bulletin is to provide a general overview and direction for the odor remediation process.

L-SB-0030-24 Rev1

STRUCTURE:BODY

Some 2005 – 2024 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interior of the vehicle for odor remediation. Refer to the applicable model and model year Repair Manuals and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) website for the most up-to-date safety and precautionary guidelines. This Service Bulletin is to provide a general overview and direction for the odor remediation process.

L-SB-0030-24

STRUCTURE:BODY

Some 2005 – 2024 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty smell is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interior of the vehicle for odor remediation. Refer to all model and model year specific Repair Manuals and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) website for the most up-to-date safety and precautionary guidelines. This Service Bulletin is to provide a general overview and direction for the odor remediation process.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Lexus RX Hybrid by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026000
2025120
2024130
2023020
2022001
2021011
2020211
2019301
2018301
2017100144.5
2016721
2015501
2014201
2013120147.3
2012301
2011120154.7
2010Viewing810
2009000
2008571154.4
2007593360.1
20061545359.4
2005211
2004011

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.