2010 Lexus RX Steering Problems

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

NHTSA ID

11722501

Incident

Jan 2, 2026

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.

NHTSA ID

11579120

Incident

Mar 10, 2024

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.

NHTSA ID

11459357

Incident

Mar 30, 2022

STEERING COLUMN RATTLE NOISE ON VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING ON UNEVEN SURFACES (LIKE PATCHED UP OR REPAIRED ROADS, ROADS WITH GRAVEL ON IT) OR TURNING. THIS ISSUE WAS LISTED IN THE L-SB-0026-11 BUT IT IS EXPIRED NOW. THE STABILITY MAY BE AFFECTED AS YOU DRIVE OVER BUMP EVEN ON LOW SPEED. THIS ISSUE AFFECTED A LOT OF CARS AND LEXUS WAS REPLACING THIS PART AS MENTIONED IN THE BULLETIN. I ACQUIRED THIS CAR RECENTLY AND IT HAS THE PROBLEMATIC STEERING WHEEL THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER CARED LESS TO REPLACE. I FEEL THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED AS LEXUS REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT (BULLETIN ISSUED) WHEN I RECENTLY CONTACTED CORPORATE OFFICE ABOUT IT LEAVING ME WITH $4000 REPAIR ON THIS LOW MILES CAR FOR ITS AGE WITH THAT SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT IS A PART OF SUSPENSION AND VIBRATES AND MAKES NOISES.

NHTSA ID

11375109

Incident

Sep 26, 2020

STEERING WHEEL IN 79,000 MILES NO ACCIDENTS VEHICLE MAKES KNOCKING NOISES AS IT JUMPS UP AND DOWN (BUMPY) OR VIBRATES WHEN DRIVING OVER UNEVEN ROADS (GRAVEL). YOU CAN 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. THERE WAS BULLETIN ISSUED BUT MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY NOW WHEN THE PROBLEM BECAME PROMINENT. THERE SHOULD BE NO TIME LIMIT FOR THAT.

NHTSA ID

11363506

Incident

Sep 29, 2020

Mileage

79,000 mi

WE BOUGHT A LEXUS 450H 3 MONTH AGO. ON LAST SATURDAY, WHEN THE CAR HIT CURB AT STARTING SPEED, THE STEER WHEEL TURNS 90 DEGREE. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAS ONLY VERY SMALL IMPACT, SOME DUST MARK CAN BE EASILY WIPED OFF. THE CAR IS STILL DRIVABLE, BUT WE ARE AFRAID THAT THIS CAR MAY LOSS CONTROL VERY EASILY, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS OFF ROAD ON BUMPY ROAD. DEALER IS STILL TALKING WITH THE FACTORY TO CHECK WHETHER THE FACTORY WARRANTY WILL COVER THE DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10357966

Incident

Sep 25, 2010

Mileage

5,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS RX450H. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH OVER A BUMPY ROAD SURFACE. THERE WAS PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN WHICH THERE WAS A DELAY POWER RESPONSE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE IN OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER ENCOUNTERING A BUMPY ROAD SURFACE. IN ADDITION, DURING ACCELERATION THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE WHICH OCCURRED INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETECT A PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900. UPDATED 03/15/10 *BF UPDATED 10/05/10

NHTSA ID

10312190

Incident

Nov 28, 2009

Mileage

900 mi

LEXUS HYBRID SUV 2010 RX450H. CAR WAS IN SNOW SETTING AND WHEN I TRIED TO BRAKE ON A LIGHT SNOW SURFACE, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE BRAKES AND I ALSO WAS UNABLE TO STEER. I CONTINUED FORWARD UNTIL I REACHED CLEAR PAVEMENT AND WAS THEN ABLE TO BRAKE. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES TODAY UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS. LUCKILY NO CARS WERE COMING OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT BROADSIDE ON A BUSY STREET. *CN

NHTSA ID

10307676

Incident

Feb 8, 2010

Mileage

13,999 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS RX458. WHENEVER THE STEERING BASE WAS ADJUSTED AN ITEM COULD FALL BETWEEN THE STEERING BASE AND IT PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM MAKE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK SINCE A PART OF HIS KEY CHAIN WAS CAUGHT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40.

NHTSA ID

10302190

Incident

Jan 24, 2010

Mileage

40 mi