RoadVitals

2011 Lexus RX Hybrid Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
12
Latest Oct 30, 2025
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
10
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

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2011 Lexus RX Hybrid, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Engine318.8%
  • Brakes318.8%
  • Driver assistance212.5%
  • Electrical212.5%
  • Seat belts16.3%
  • Body & structure16.3%
  • Visibility16.3%
  • Fuel system16.3%
  • Interior & seats16.3%
  • Powertrain (other)16.3%

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

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE OIL COOLER PIPE BROKE ON MY 2011 LEXUS RX450H STARVING THE ENGINE OF OIL AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. THE PART IS CURRENTLY UNDER WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT BY LEXUS AND IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON MY MODEL YEAR OF VEHICLE. THE MALFUNCTION IS PARTICULARLY INSIDIOUS AS OIL ONLY LEAKS WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING, HOWEVER WITH A HYBRID WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPS THE ENGINE STOPS AND SO DOES THE LEAK AT LEAST UNTIL YOU HAVE REACHED A HIGH ENOUGH SPEED FOR THE ENGINE TO KICK BACK ON AGAIN. IN MY SITUATION I RECEIVED NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS, OIL LIGHTS OR ANY OTHER INDICATION OTHER THEN SUDDENLY IT FELT LIKE MY ENGINE WAS RUNNING A LITTLE ROUGH. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER (I WAS JUST ON A CITY STREET) AND FOUND THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE WAS COVERED IN OIL. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE LOCAL LEXUS DEALERSHIP WHO IDENTIFIED THE ISSUE AS THE OIL COOLER PIPE AND LEXUS CORPORATE PAID FOR THE REPAIR UNDER THEIR WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT. WHEN I PICKED THE VEHICLE UP FROM LEXUS OF ALBUQUERQUE I DIDN'T EVEN MAKE IT TWO MILES AWAY FROM THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE I STARTED GETTING ALL KINDS OF LIGHTS FLASHING ON MY DASH AND THE ONLY POWER I HAD TO MOVE THE VEHICLE WAS THE ELECTRIC HYBRID DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO LEXUS WHICH INFORMED ME A FEW DAYS LATER THAT THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED. I OPENED A NEW CASE WITH LEXUS CORPORATE CONCERNING THE ENGINE ISSUES SINCE MY ENGINE FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF THE WARRANTIED PART FAILING. LEXUS'S ULTIMATE ANSWER WAS SORRY, BUT WE ARE UNWILLING TO HELP YOU AS WELL AS THE ANSWER FROM THE DEALERSHIP. IM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND IT HAS ONLY EVER BEEN SERVICED AT LEXUS DEALERSHIPS, AND NOT ONCE DID A SERVICE ADVISOR/MANAGER INFORM ME THAT THIS PART WAS A POTENTIAL PROBLEM. FOR SUCH AN INTEGRAL PART THAT WAS POORLY MANUFACTURED AND CAN CAUSE SUCH EXPENSIVE AND CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE THE OIL COOLER PIPE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.

NHTSA ID 11353208 · filed Sep 4, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LEXUS RX450H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS DRIVING, THERE WAS BLACK SMOKE COMING OUT FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE DRIVER COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LEXUS OF ALBUQUERQUE, 4821 PAN AMERICAN FWY, , ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87109, AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL COOLER PIPE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AFTER THE REPAIR THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE SAME DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER CLOSED THE CASE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000. *DT CONSUMER STATED OIL LEAKS WHEN ENGINE IS RUNNING. ALSO, CONSUMER HAD NO CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR OR OIL LIGHTS DURING THE INITIAL FAILURE.*JB

NHTSA ID 11350701 · filed Aug 21, 2020

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

ABS, BRAKE, TRACTION CONTROL & YIELD LIGHTS ARE ON AND BEEPING SOUND. ALSO BRAKE PEDAL IS HARD!!!!!

NHTSA ID 11696697 · filed Oct 30, 2025

The contact owns a 2011 Lexus RX450H. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to stop immediately. The ABS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic; however, the vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the vehicle warranty had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 121,000.

NHTSA ID 11519025 · filed Apr 26, 2023

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

ABS, BRAKE, TRACTION CONTROL & YIELD LIGHTS ARE ON AND BEEPING SOUND. ALSO BRAKE PEDAL IS HARD!!!!!

NHTSA ID 11696697 · filed Oct 30, 2025

I WAS PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY AFTER I FULLY STOPPED MY CAR ( I WAS WAITING FOR ANOTHER CAR TO PULL OUT OF DRIVEWAY FIRST). WHEN I BRAKED TO STOP MY CAR IT DID NOT RESPOND INITIALLY. I COULD NOT STOP IT FAST ENOUGH TO AVOID COLLISION W A PARKED CAR IN DRIVEWAY. THIS WAS SO STRANGE BECAUSE I WAS MOVING MY CAR VERY SLOWLY. I THEN PUT IT IN REVERSE TO BACK UP A COUPLE FEET SO I COULD ASSESS DAMAGE TO CARS. WHEN I DID THIS AND PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR MY CAR ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL INTO STREET. ONCE AGAIN THE BRAKING WAS INSUFFICIENT TO STOP MY CAR AS DESIRED. NORMALLY THE BRAKES STOP THIS CAR ON A DIME (NOT REALLY ON A DIME, BUT NORMALLY THE BRAKES ARE EXCELLENT). THE LATER ACCELERATION WAS WITNESSED BY THE OWNER OF THE NOW REAR-ENDED CAR IN DRIVEWAY. NO DAMAGE TO MY CAR OTHER THAN TO MY LICENSE PLATE. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE PARKED CAR IN DRIVEWAY. THE DAMAGED CAR WAS AN OLDER CAR, A 1970-SOMETHING BMW, SO IT DIDN'T HAVE THE COOL NEW BUMPERS THAT CAN ABSORB A LOW SPEED IMPACT. VERY SCARY IN SPITE OF THE RELATIVELY THE LOW SPEEDS AND SHORT DISTANCE & DURATION OF EVENT, THIS ISSUE COULD HURT SOMEONE. *JS

NHTSA ID 10585404 · filed Apr 28, 2014

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

ABS, BRAKE, TRACTION CONTROL & YIELD LIGHTS ARE ON AND BEEPING SOUND. ALSO BRAKE PEDAL IS HARD!!!!!

NHTSA ID 11696697 · filed Oct 30, 2025

SOMETHING IN THE DASHBOARD CONSOLE BY THE RADIO HAS OVERHEATED, MELTING THE AC VENT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. LITTLE FLECKS OF PLASTIC STARTED BLOWING OUT OF THE VENT, AND WHEN I LOOKED INSIDE THE VENT, I COULD SEE WHERE THE LOUVERED PIECES ARE MELTED.

NHTSA ID 11130908 · filed Sep 24, 2018

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

I DROVE TO A NEIGHBORHOOD SUBWAY FOR LUNCH. I WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE THE SEAT BELT WHEN PUSHING THE SEAT BELT RELEASE BUTTON. FORTUNATELY, I AM RATHER SMALL AND SLIGHT IN STATURE, 5'9" AND 150 LBS., AND WAS ABLE TO LOOSEN THE BELT AND SQUIRM FREE. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND RECEIVED A LOANER CAR WHILE THEY FIXED THE VEHICLE OVERNIGHT. THOUGHT I SHOULD REPORT THIS AS IF THERE HAD BEEN A FIRE OR I HAD DRIVEN INTO A FLOODED AREA, I WOULD HAVE BEEN A FATALITY. *TR

NHTSA ID 10628856 · filed Aug 27, 2014

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

VEHICLE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN MULTIPLE NEAR MISSES RESULTING FROM LATERAL MIRRORS BULKINESS AND LACK OF VISIBILITY FOR DRIVER WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT IN AN INTERSECTION. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT HAD CLEAR ROAD RIGHT CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES FRONT ENDS, THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE POSITION OF THE LATERAL MIRRORS WHICH ARE HUGE AND THE ROOF SUPPORT CORNER SIDE BAR OF THE VEHICLE MAKES IT TO HAVE A BLIND SPOT WHERE YOU SIMPLY ARE NOT ABLE TO SEE VEHICLE THAT IS CLOSELY APPROACHING IN THE OTHER DIRECTION. IN ORDER TO AVOID THIS ISSUE THE DRIVER NEEDS TO MOVE SIDE-FRONT AT ALL TIMES WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT.. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL MULTIPLE NEAR MISSES BECAUSE THE EXTRA PRECAUTION THE DRIVER HAS EXERCISED. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SAFETY CONCERN THAT LEXUS NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF IMMEDIATELY. *TR

NHTSA ID 10483146 · filed Nov 2, 2012

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

VEHICLE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN MULTIPLE NEAR MISSES RESULTING FROM LATERAL MIRRORS BULKINESS AND LACK OF VISIBILITY FOR DRIVER WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT IN AN INTERSECTION. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT HAD CLEAR ROAD RIGHT CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES FRONT ENDS, THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE POSITION OF THE LATERAL MIRRORS WHICH ARE HUGE AND THE ROOF SUPPORT CORNER SIDE BAR OF THE VEHICLE MAKES IT TO HAVE A BLIND SPOT WHERE YOU SIMPLY ARE NOT ABLE TO SEE VEHICLE THAT IS CLOSELY APPROACHING IN THE OTHER DIRECTION. IN ORDER TO AVOID THIS ISSUE THE DRIVER NEEDS TO MOVE SIDE-FRONT AT ALL TIMES WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT.. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL MULTIPLE NEAR MISSES BECAUSE THE EXTRA PRECAUTION THE DRIVER HAS EXERCISED. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SAFETY CONCERN THAT LEXUS NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF IMMEDIATELY. *TR

NHTSA ID 10483146 · filed Nov 2, 2012

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

I BOUGHT A 2011 LEXUS RX450H NEW AT THE DEALERSHIP FEBRUARY OF 2011. FAST FORWARD TO SUMMER OF 2014. DRIVING DOWN I-20 IN EAST TEXAS, MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, CAR SUDDENLY HAS NO POWER, I BARELY GET IT ON THE SHOULDER. MESSAGE ON DASH "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM". TOW TRUCK TO DEALER. FAILED OR BROKEN FUEL PUMP. THREE YEAR OLD CAR WITH 34,336 MILES. REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. FAST FORWARD TO SPRING OF 2015. DRIVING ON I-55 NORTH. CAR DIES WHILE HIGHWAY DRIVING. 41,452 MILES. OUT OF WARRANTY. BUT, LEXUS HAS 1 YEAR WARRANTY PARTS AND LABOR ON REPAIRS. LEXUS SAYS, OH, YOU HAD BAD GAS, DON'T HAVE TO HONOR REPAIR WARRANTY!! CHARGE WAS ABOUT $ 1,200. THEY ALLOWED $ 500 CREDIT. HAD TO PAY $655.89 OUT OF POCKET. TALKED TO KROGER FUEL, WHERE I HAD PURCHASED PREMIUM FUEL. NOT ONE COMPLAINT FROM ANYONE ELSE ABOUT FUEL FROM THAT STATION. SECOND BAD FUEL PUMP. FUEL PURCHASED BEFORE 1ST FUEL PUMP FAILED WAS FROM DALLAS STATION, NOT KROGER. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN CAR STOPS ON INTERSTATE. FLOORBOARDING GAS PEDAL, CAR GOING LESS THAN 10 MPH AND SLOWING, AND THEN REFUSED TO MOVE. WOULD NEVER BUY ANOTHER LEXUS. OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH FUEL PUMPS. ALSO, LEXUS DOES NOT HONOR 1 YEAR REPAIR WARRANTY. POOR BUSINESS PRACTICE.

NHTSA ID 10732033 · filed Jul 5, 2015

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

FOOT OF BACKSEAT PASSENGER SITTING BEHIND THE DRIVER WAS TRAPPED AND PAINFULLY MASHED UNDER SEAT POSITIONING MECHANISM WHEN SEAT AUTOMATICALLY MOVED BACK WHEN CAR IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. THERE NEEDS TO BE A SENSOR THAT DETECTS WHEN SEAT MOTION IS OBSTRUCTED AND STOPS OR REVERSES SEAT MOTION RATHER THAN CRUSHING WHATEVER IS IN THE WAY INCLUDING BODY PARTS. *TR

NHTSA ID 10490349 · filed Dec 28, 2012

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THE COOLANT LEAKED IN MY GARAGE. ENGINE MAKING SOME NOISES WHILE THE CAR IS STATIONARY. DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A BAD WATER PUMP CAUSING A COOLANT LEAK.

NHTSA ID 11196835 · filed Apr 17, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .