Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 76 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2010 Lexus RX. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 76 · page 1 of 4
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2010 Lexus RX 350. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 139,000. It was discovered that the mileage was 177,000 in 2022. The contact contacted the Police, and the contact was advised to file a civil suit.
I was looking at common problems associated with the make and model of my car. I came across an issue that could possibly cause engine failure. I am unsure if any one has reported it yet. here are the details - Problem overview An VVT-i oil line on the Lexus RX350 is known to burst. This is a very large leak which covers the ground, engine, and undercarriage. If the oil line ruptures while driving, the low engine oil message and engine oil pressure warnings will illuminate. Continued use after these warnings will result in complete engine failure due to oil starvation. The line is known to be defective, and a revised part has been issued by Toyota, however, this revised part is known for the same issue. To repair the issue, the line must be replaced, and the engine bay and undercarriage must be cleaned thoroughly. The problem has occured generally around 120k miles. Here is the link to the website that has collected information from 116 users. Requesting you to please check if this a problem that needs a recall? [XXX] ely report it. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I was not made aware of the recall on the rubber oil cooler hoses. The rubber hoses malfunctioned and all the oil leaked out on 4/13/2026. I paid to have fixed. Lexus kept the hoses. This could have ruined my engine, caused an explosion or fire. When the warning light came on I stopped driving. Lexus would not discuss the issue. I am concerned I was never made aware of this issue. I bought the vehicle in 2012 at the dealership and all service has been done there.
The suv pulls hard to the right when accelerating and has almost driven me off the road. it does it at random times and its super dangerous
Pot affects 2007-2011 RX350/450= 459,285 units. 1. On Friday, [XXX], the oil cooler pipe burst on our 2010 RX350. 2. All six quarts of engine oil were lost in approximately 700 feet while traveling at 70–75 mph on the highway. 3. Massive amounts of smoke poured from the front of the vehicle & through the air vents, causing my wife & daughter to fear for their safety due to risk of a fire & smoke inhalation. 4. No warning lights appeared on the dash, meaning the vehicle could easily have been driven to engine failure had there been no smoke. 5. 2 Colorado Department of Transportation vehicles & a State Trooper stopped to be sure they were ok & monitor the risk of a fire. 8. Towed & Lexus dealership confirmed seen many 3rd gen RXs with this same issue, some with seized engines because no dash warnings were triggered. 9. Lexus updated part from RUBBER to STEE, acknowledging design flaw. Major Safety Concerns This failure represents a serious safety risk that could have resulted in fire, injury, death, or catastrophic engine/property damage. - Oil spray on hot engine components like the headers & exhaust pipes (700-1100F) poses a legitimate fire hazard considering oil flashpoint (400-700F). - Oil sprayed onto the brakes increased the risk of loss of braking & traction control in sudden/emergency maneuvers. - Engine seizing/stop due to loss of oil could result in an accident if the vehicle stops suddenly on the highway when it seizes, loses control, or the electric steering, braking &/or other safety systems fail. - If this had occurred on a mountain descent from the Rockies into Denver or any other long descent, a fire caused by oil spraying on 700-800F brake rotors or loss of control could have occurred. - Entire underside of the vehicle is coated in oil, contaminating the rear brakes, potentially damaging wiring, solenoids, & other safety-critical components, as well as representing an additional fire risk due to oil on the exhaust pipe. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATIO
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2010 Lexus RX450H. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase of the vehicle. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of the purchase, the vehicle mileage was 118,000. It was later discovered that the mileage was 183,000.
unknown
I purchased this vehicle. It was advertised with 117,000 miles and I did an auto check and I was asked to verify if that was the correct mileage on the vehicle because the last check-in showed the vehicle to have over 250,000 miles on it so I am concerned that this vehicle misrepresented the mileage and possibly turned back the odometer.
The the VVI oil line failed in April of 2024. Contacted Lexus corporate via phone and problem was never resolved. Fast forward to November 2024 and after paying to have VVI oil line replaced the motor failed on the highway. Mechanic said complete engine failure. THIS CAR WAS A CERTIFIED USED LEXUS AND THEY FAILED TO REPLACE THE VVI DURING THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS! Prior to buying this used car from an individual I called Hendricks Lexus 6935 W Frontage Rd, Merriam, KS 66203 and spoke to service advisor Willie who said if you have any problems with that vehicle bring it in and Lexus IS making good on the hybrid vehicles. After purchase I went to Hendricks 9300 NW Prairie View Rd, Kansas City, MO 64153 multiple times for parts and service history. I spoke to parts manager, service manager and several others and NOT ONE PERSON INFORMED ME OF THE PROBLEM AND IMMEDIATE NEED FOR CONCERN! HOW DID THIS CAR GET CERTIFIED PRIOR TO THE PREVIOS OWNER BUYING THE VEHICLE “CERTIFIED”? I BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT HAD BEEN COMPLETELY CERTIFIED AND GIVEN THE 6 year additional warranty to the owner I purchased it from, although they were still considerably below the miles guaranteed with the certification. How did Lexus allow this vehicle to pass the certification without replacing a $100 part that could result in catastrophic failure. THIS CAR WAS SOLD AT A PREMIUM BECAUSE OF THE CERTIFICATION, YET A PART THAT HAD BEEN RECONFIGURED AND IDENTIFIED AS CONTRIBUTING TO A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AS EARLY AS 2012 WAS LEFT ON THE VEHICLE!
The contact owns a 2010 Lexus RX350. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH over thin black ice, the contact lost control of the vehicle, causing the rear passenger's side of the vehicle to crash into the guard rail. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was drivable and the contact drove to the orthopedic for medical assistance. The contact sustained a left shoulder joint fracture. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was inspected, but the vehicle not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the Lexus collision center for assistance. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, another vehicle that was driving at an undisclosed speed rear-ended the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was drivable. The contact sustained lower back pain and sought physical therapy assistance. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.
When parked and turning the steering wheel or driving at low speed you hear a clunk / clunck noise vehicle makes knocking noises as it jumps up and down (bumpy) or vibrates when driving You can also feel it in your hands. Also it rattles and makes noises when turning. It feels like there is no lubrication. The drive feels not only unstable but also is very distractive while driving. Took car to Lexus and was told it is steering column or shaft or both; quote around $4000 with labor. Seems like a lot of people had same problems and the steering is manufacturing defect that should be recalled as a safety concern.
The transmission to oil cooler hose erupted!! Oil was sprayed everywhere along highways. Destroying environment This is an environmental safety issue. As well as a vehicle killer. It is a well documented problem with Toyota and lexus vehicles. Just Google it. Many have been recalled. This is a serious design flaw. The government needs to address this. Every mechanic is stunned at how ridiculous it was to use rubber instead of metal. Toyota/ Lexus needs to recall all vehicles snd repair this. And reimburse those who already fixed them or lost their vehicles. One mechanic said this could result in vehicle fires I realize my vehicle is old. But this is an ongoing issue with multiple years involved. Thank you
ABS TCS lights came on and check brakes warning was displayed. The power assist failed making the brake pedal very hard to press in order to stop.
There is a known issue in the form of a Warranty Policy Bulletin and I believe a recall in Canada for a faulty engine oil cooler line that was made of rubber and fails under heat (now replaced by metal lines). This happened to my daughter after a hot day and she pulled away from the driveway the next day. Almost all of the oil leaked out and we stopped the car and had it towed to a Lexus dealership. When it was inspected, it was confirmed this was the issue, and there was a noise in the engine. I have a concern that further engine problems may have resulted in a loose bearing needing compete replacement. This has yet to be confirmed, but seems consistent with the many discussion boards that mention this exact issue.
Abs actuator failure causing wheels to lock up in wet conditions along with loss of control..I nearly crashed into pedestrians when it failed. suddenly check abs light came on along with abs system malfunction...I could've been killed or killed someone. lexus will not cover the repair though they did for customers under 50k miles and under warranty which is completely criminal. Any lexus of Toyota highlander with abs assembly part # 44510-48080 needs to be recalled and replaced at Toyota and lexus immediately. They want $4000 to fix the system knowing they sold a critical safety part that malfunctions.
ABS System failure Suddenly while driving in wet conditions abs malfunction appears check brake system appears, brakes locked up several times under light braking pressure first occurred two months ago. Dealer inspected estimated repair 3700$ Not isolated event as I see many complaints online from other owners
In about 2016, ABS light went on and I took it for repair at an independent auto shop for $400. A few months later,received a notice from Lexus of ABS issues so after speaking to Lexus, USA and sending a copy of receipt,I received a credit for having already paid to fix it. Fast forward to feb 2023 and ABS, brake,etc..lights all go on. Received estimate from Southbay lexus for over $5200 to fix Abs actuator assembly and hoses and pump kit, etc.. Found out today online after turning it in for repair at Lexus Southbay that there was primary coverage and secondary coverage offered for this exact issue and a safety/recall letter was supposed to be sent out starting in 9/2020 to owners of Lexus 2010-2012 RX450H vehicles. I never received that letter, so I missed that deadline to receive an inspection/service. Was I and my family in danger? After basic coverage expired at 48k miles, Primary coverage expired in 12/31/21 and secondary expired for owners of 10 yrs or 150k miles or less whichever comes first for this exact issue. I don’t drive much, especially since Covid started so my 2010 Lexus as of today only has only 73,124 miles. Less than 1/2 of 150k miles for secondary miles. I was never informed that there would further issues with ABS SYSTEM nor this extra primary and secondary coverage was available.
The contact called on behalf of her son who owns a 2010 Lexus RX350. The contact stated that she had taken her son's vehicle to the car wash. The contact stated while at a complete stop, in the carwash drive-through, the vehicle accelerated independently and the driver's side of the vehicle crashed into the wall on the left side of the carwash bay. Heavy metal structures fell on the vehicle. As a result, the windshield was shattered and the ceiling of the vehicle was bent. The air bags failed to deploy. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact sustained two large contusions below the knee of her left leg. The injured area later became swollen and bruised. The contact sought medical assistance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The vehicle was then towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V305000 (Vehicle Speed Control). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they would send a field inspector to retrieve the Event Date Recorder (EDR) in order to determine the cause of the failure. A case was opened; however, the manufacturer had not followed up with the contact. The failure mileage was approximately 250,000.
2010 LEXUS RX 350. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO AN OIL LINE RUPTURE.
The speakers in my car made a loud noise and I thought someone hit my car. Ever since then it’ll keep happening and it’ll startle me when I’m driving. Sometimes my speakers would have really loud static sound and it’s impossible to turn it off. It’s extremely dangerous to be startled like that when I’m driving.
My AWD check system keeps going on and off every few days. I took it to Mavis who gave me codes and stated that there is a TSB found to the issues my vehicle read. I took it to lexus of Brooklyn who basically disregard the recommendations just so I javelin to pay them again to diagnosis whay was already diagnosed.
The Power steering had started to feel hard and squeaking some time ago. I was driving day before yesterday and I noticed a few times that the steering was very difficult to turn which could have been dangerous. While doing some research I found that this has happened to some RX models. I went to the dealer and they told me that there is no recall for this issue and any fix would be out of pocket.
Water leakage problem in the trunk area causing water buildup on and around the spare tire. A rust issue and potential electric short circuit issue.
We were 2 hours into a 9 hour drive when I noticed smoke in the rear view mirror. I continued to drive as I thought it may have been coming from another vehicle. I drove to the nearest gas station (about 3 mi) and pulled in. Upon exiting the vehicle, we found the back window and the entire back of the SUV covered in oil. There were no warning lights and no engine noises. We checked the oil and it was so low that it did not register on the dip stick. We added 2 quarts of oil which then registered on the tip of the dip stick. We then added another quart of oil and drove to a nearby service station (1/2 mi). The mechanic could not diagnose the problem since he couldn't put it on his lift (it was occupied by another vehicle). He contacted two other service stations in the area and found one less than a mile away that had a lift open. We added 2 more quarts of oil and drove to the next service station. The mechanic put the vehicle on the lift and quickly found the problem - a pin hole in the oil line. He was able to find a replacement part (not the original part as it had been discontinued) and get us up and running the same day. We were very fortunate that I noticed the smoke - if I had not noticed it and continued to drive (we were 10 minutes from driving over a bridge tunnel) it could have been catastrophic. We finished the 7 additional hours of driving that day and after being gone for a week, have now returned home (another 9 hours). The mechanic told me the part had been recalled, but when I searched this sight, I found lots of similar reports - but no recall. Coincidentally, I had had the oil changed 4 days before beginning this trip. It is surprising that there are so many reports of this incident, but no recall by Lexus.
Driving along normally, started seeing a flashing "low oil pressure warning". Within seconds, engine started revving uncontrollably and would not make power. Was able to coast into a parking lot. On dipstick inspection, engine had lost ALL engine oil and entire car was covered in oil. Suspect that oil spilled out at some point on the road- danger to other cars. Vehicle was towed to local dealer, diagnosed as a blown oil cooler pipe, causes all engine oil to spray out in seconds. This is a known problem, addressed in Lexus Technical Service Bulletin L-SB-0154-11 and a recalled part in Canada, but not in the US. Factory part is a rubber oil line that deteriorates and bursts, Lexus has an upgraded medal line available. Service invoice can be updated once service completed if needed.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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