2020 Lexus RX Airbags Problems

I am submitting this correspondence to formally report a serious safety incident involving my 2020 Lexus RX 350 and to request a thorough investigation. On Saturday, February 7, while attempting to park the vehicle, I experienced a sudden loss of control, resulting in the vehicle accelerating forward and colliding with a metal gate. The exact cause of this event is unknown. During the incident, the vehicle’s pre-collision and automatic braking system failed to engage despite an obstruction being present. Additionally, the airbags did not deploy at the time of impact. A minor child was present in the vehicle, properly secured in a child's safety seat. While no injuries occurred, the vehicle sustained extensive damage and was rendered inoperable. I would also like to note that this vehicle was subject to an airbag recall on November 29, 2025, which was serviced prior to this incident. Despite completing the recall service, the airbags failed to deploy during the accident. After the vehicle was towed, the airbags unexpectedly deployed while it was being lifted onto the tow truck using a crane, further raising concerns regarding the reliability and safety of the airbag system.

NHTSA ID

11718294

Incident

Feb 7, 2026

The contact owns a 2020 Lexus RX350. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V365000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ID

11686349

Incident

Sep 10, 2025

I have reached out to my dealer over the past 5 yrs and Corporate as well about the recall on my 2020 Lexus RX 350. I have since paid the car off and feel the remedy has fell on death ears. The last two services I inquired about a fix, Sterling McCall lexus in Clear Lake texas never responded back to me. I need some kind of resolution to this recall. Vehicle has 31K miles on it and the only place I can trade it in is Lexas.

NHTSA ID

11685590

Incident

Oct 31, 2020

There was a recall on my car like 2 years ago. The air bag is not working. However, they didn’t fix my car and didn’t give me an estimation on this. It is not safe to drive a car without air bag.

NHTSA ID

11682929

Incident

Dec 20, 2023

The contact owns a 2020 Lexus RX 450H. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ID

11681713

Incident

Dec 19, 2023

The contact owns a 2020 Lexus RX-350. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts for the recall repair was not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ID

11677577

Incident

Jul 31, 2025

This vehicle, and those of its generation, have had an active passenger airbag recall since December 2023. There has been no news on a remedy, nor any meaningful updates on progress. I am unable to transport passengers in my front seat as I am afraid for their safety and my own liability.

NHTSA ID

11668757

Incident

Dec 1, 2023

I received a notice that there was a recall on my car. I received this notice on December 20, 2023. This issue still has not been addressed.

NHTSA ID

11667822

Incident

Dec 20, 2023

The contact owns a 2020 Lexus RX. The contact stated while his wife and children were stopped in traffic, a vehicle had crashed into the rear of the contact's vehicle, which then caused a five-car chain reaction crash. The contact stated that none of the air bags had deployed. The contact stated that the rear end of his vehicle was crushed as well as the front end. The contact stated that the police and emergency services had arrived on the scene. The contact stated that his wife and son were transported to the hospital. The contact stated that his wife had suffered neck whiplash, cuts, and abrasions to her face, arms, and knees. The contact stated that his son also had whiplash, and had suffered a broken jaw. The contact stated that his son had cuts on his face and inside his mouth that required stitches. The police had written a report. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot and declared a total loss by his insurance provider. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 46,000.

NHTSA ID

11662427

Incident

May 17, 2025

Mileage

46,000 mi

The contact owns a 2020 Lexus RX450H. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11661219

Incident

May 15, 2025

The contact owns a 2020 Lexus RX350. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID

11656116

Incident

Apr 22, 2025

The contact owns a 2020 Lexus RX 350. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID

11637562

Incident

Dec 20, 2023

The contact owns a 2020 Lexus RX 350. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID

11632620

Incident

Dec 27, 2024

The contact owns a 2020 Lexus RX350. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID

11630189

Incident

Dec 11, 2024

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA ID

11628986

Incident

Nov 15, 2024

The contact owns a 2020 Lexus RX350. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID

11626606

Incident

Nov 21, 2024

The contact owns a 2020 Lexus RX-350. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID

11620635

Incident

Oct 7, 2024

A safety recall was issued for my Lexus RX450h on 12/19/2023. I immediately contacted the dealership from whom I purchase the vehicle from. They informed me that "the part was on back order and would be there in September. On 09/12/2024, my partner took the vehicle in due to a nail in the tire and additionally to schedule for the vehicle to have the safety recall repaired, as they told us they would have the parts in September. I was already quite upset that they weren't going to have the parts for over 9 months after the safety recall was issued, especially one as important as an airbag, as this could be the difference between someone living or dying in a car accident. When we went back to the dealership, they told my partner that it was "more of a passive recommendation than a recall and that it was going to be updated next month about what is actually supposed to be done." I find this very concerning especially given that it is endangering the life of whomever sits in the passenger side of my vehicle. I don't know who to contact for help the dealership as it has become evident they have no intention of assisting me in this very important safety matter. I'm attaching a photo of the recall that still shows up on my app. I also have Tire & Wheel protection and my tire had a nail in it and it was taken to have a plug put in it and my partner was told that the leak (after pulling out the nail) was plugged. This was Thursday September 12th. However, I'm attaching a photo showing how much air had leaked out of the "plugged tired" Just a note - This is in addition to telling me that things needed to be done that didn't (which I found out from other auto body shop who reviewed the service record) and them lying to me about what services had been recently completed.

NHTSA ID

11614772

Incident

Sep 12, 2024

The contact owns a 2020 Lexus RX350. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID

11589937

Incident

May 21, 2024

The contact owns a 2020 Lexus RX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID

11588666

Incident

May 14, 2024

Just after topping a hill on an Interstate Highway, both lanes of traffic ahead of us came to a sudden and complete stop. I was in left lane and reacted quickly and applied full braking power and managed to stop a foot or 2 from the rear of the stopped car ahead of us. A few seconds later we were hit from the rear by two cars, one, a Black late model Camry, which almost stopped and a 2nd, a large, new German-maker grey SUV, which never applied brakes, destroyed the black Camry behind us and then destroyed our car, when it hit the left rear and after impact continued pushing the front of the car into the steel cables separating our lane of travel from the oncoming traffic in the other lane of the Interstate, until the steel cables stopped us. Neither the electronic collision alert system, the air bags or the emergency braking system activated. The electronic system in our new Lexus then came on and told us that the collision alert/airbag activation system was defective and to contact our dealer for inspection and repair. However, our car was totalled destroyed and taking it to a dealer for "inspection" was neither possible nor practical, but my wife and I walked away without any known injuries. Lexus was advised of the defect, the extent of damage, and told where car was and invited to inspect it. Not sure if Lexus ever inspected it.

NHTSA ID

11432569

Incident

Sep 11, 2020