RoadVitals

2012 Lexus RX350 Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance reportsComplaints 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.
13
Latest Feb 23, 2019
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
39%
of 33 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
8
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
8

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Lexus RX350 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Feb 23, 2019
Crash reported

BOTH WHEELS ARE NOT STOPPING AT THE SAME TIME. THE CAR HAS A SLIGHT JUMP FORWARD WHEN YOU EXPECT TO BE TOTALLY STOPPED. THE CAR HAS NEW FRONT AND BACK BRAKES.

NHTSA ID
11182086
Incident
Sep 10, 2018
Mileage
75 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 8, 2017

VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED ON HIGHWAY, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, ABS MALFUNCTION, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ALL POPPED UP ON DASHBOARD. DEALERSHIP ERASED THAT LIGHTS, VEHICLE GAVE SAME WARNING LIGHTS WITH POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION LIGHT TOO WITH OTHER WARNING LIGHTS WITHIN 24 HRS, WITH COMPLETE STOP ON ROAD AT SPEED OF 35MPH. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES FOR SAME ISSUE, DEALERSHIP KEPT VEHICLE DEALERSHIP STATING ABS ACTUATOR MALFUNCTION (DUE TO INTERMITTENT OPEN CIRCUIT), REFUSING TO REPLACE THE PART UNDER VEHICLE RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN RECALLS 14V054000, AS THE CODE IS DIFFERENT ON VEHICLE. CAR CAME TO COMPLETE STOP ON HIGHWAY DUE TO THESE FLUCTUATION IN ABS SYSTEM BARELY MISSING AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
11053559
Incident
Sep 27, 2017
Mileage
108,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 13, 2015
Crash reported2 injuries reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS RX350. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A GARAGE DOOR AND INTO A WALL. THE VEHICLE HAD EXTENSIVE DAMAGES TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED WHIP LASH THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE DAMAGES WERE REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,878.

NHTSA ID
10748569
Incident
Aug 8, 2015
Mileage
14,878 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 13, 2015
Crash reported

INITIALLY FELT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCH FOWARD ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AFTER BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE AT WORK AND SHIFTING INTO DRIVE. HAD TO HIT BRAKES, BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP, AND THEN SLOWLY START FORWARD AGAIN. ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN THE DRIVEWAY OF A PRIVATE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK AND FULLY STOPPED.. DRIVER WAS ABOUT TO TURN OFF ENGINE AND, WITH PASSENGER, EXIT THE VEHICLE WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FOR NO REASON, PLOWING STRAIGHT INTO THE GARAGE DOOR OF RESIDENCE. GARAGE DOOR WAS COMPLETELY TORN OFF AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AFTER SMASHING AN INTERIOR WALL AND DOORFRAME. THANKFULLY, NO INJURIES BUT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE IF THE WINDSHIELD HAD BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED ON 3 SIDES AND THE PROPERTY SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE GARAGE DOOR, INTERIOR DRYWALL, DOOR AND DOORFRAME. AGAIN, THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED AND IN PARK WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED.

NHTSA ID
10748382
Incident
Aug 8, 2015
Mileage
14,878 mi
Driver assistanceOther / unspecified
Filed Mar 20, 2015

THE TRACTION LIGHT AND SKID CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON EVEN WHEN VEHICLE IS NOT MOVING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10700646
Incident
Mar 1, 2015
Mileage
29,500 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Jul 8, 2014
Crash reported3 injuries reported

FIRST PART OF COMPLAINT JUST IN CASE IT DID NOT GO THRU THE FIRST TIME. DEAR SIRS, I'M WRITING TO YOU ON BEHALF OF THE OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. THEY HAVE CONTRACTED ME AS A VEHICLE ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTIONIST IN PUERTO RICO. I NEED TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE MADE ANY INQUIRIES IN THE FUEL DELIVERY AND PROPULSION SYSTEM. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS TOYOTA, LEXUS AND HONDA VEHICLES THAT I KNOW OF SO FAR, ARE HAVING SOME KIND OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION ISSUES AND THE COMPUTER DOES NOT CATCH THE PROBLEM. THIS ACCELERATION SURGES THAT I HAVE FOUND OUT ABOUT, ALL HAVE OCCURRED AROUND HIGH ELECTRICITY AREAS. SO FAR THAT I KNOW OFF, THREE OF THESE SURGES HAVE OCCURRED NEXT TO THE ELECTRICAL PLANT CENTER IN PALO SECO PUERTO RICO AND ONE CAUSED TWO DEATHS. THE OTHER ONE IS THE ONE I'M REPRESENTING WHICH OCCURRED IN THEIR HOME TWICE. THE FIRST TIME WAS ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE THIS ACCIDENT BUT THE DRIVER HAD THE CHANCE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND NOTHING HAPPENED. AT THAT TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A CHECKUP AND NOTHING STRANGE SHOWED ON THEIR SYSTEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR UPDATED 3/13/15 *JS

NHTSA ID
10609024
Incident
Apr 30, 2014
Mileage
26,500 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Jul 8, 2014
Crash reported3 injuries reported

CONTINUATION OF MY REPORT. ABOUT A MONTH LATER THE SAME SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURRED BUT IN REVERSE AS THE DRIVER WAS LEAVING HER HOME AND THIS TIME SHE COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE, GOING THRU THE CONCRETE FENCE OF HER FRONT NEIGHBOR TAKING A SIDE OF THE NEIGHBOR HOUSE, DOWN A HILL AND HITTING TWO AIR CONDITIONER UNITS AND AN ELECTRICAL GENERATOR, DAMAGING THE WHOLE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE REAR, BRAKING THE REAR DRIVE TRAIN AND GETTING STUCK IN A CONCRETE WALL WHICH SAVE THEIR LIFE. IF THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE GONE 10 MORE FEET IT WOULD HAVE DROP IN AN APPROXIMATELY 800 TO 900 FEET CLIFF AND PROBABLY WOULD HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. ACCORDING TO THE DRIVER SHE PUT ON HER BRAKES AND THEY DID NOT WORK. ACCORDING TO THE WITNESSES THERE WAS ONLY ONE TIRE BRAKE TRACK ON THE ROAD WHICH IT WAS GONE BY THE TIME I WENT TO INVESTIGATE. MY THEORY IS THAT ELECTRIC SURGES FROM THIS HIGH INTENSITY CABLES INTERFERE WITH THE THROTTLE CONTROL AND ACCELERATE THIS VEHICLES. IT IS THE ONLY LOGICAL EXPLANATION. IF THERE IS A WAY TO TEST THIS THEORY I SURE WOULD APPRECIATE IT. PLEASE ANSWER ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR UPDATED 3/13/15 *JS

NHTSA ID
10609022
Incident
Apr 30, 2014
Mileage
26,500 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 8, 2013
Crash reported

AFTER EXITING A PARKING LOT BY BACKING OUT, LEXUS RX 350 DRIVER PRECEDED TO THE PARKING LOT EXIT. UPON MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN TOWARDS THE EXIT, THE CAR IMMEDIATELY LURCHED FORWARD AND DESPITE THE DRIVERS ATTEMPT TO STOP THE CAR BY APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE CAR HIT ANOTHER PARKED CAR. THE RX 350 CAME TO A STOP ONLY AFTER HITTING THE CURBING OF THE PARKING LOT. THE CAR THAT WAS HIT WAS UNOCCUPIED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE DRIVER OF THE RX 350. *TR

NHTSA ID
10547211
Incident
Sep 5, 2013
Mileage
20,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 25, 2013

I WISH TO INFORM YOU ABOUT A SERIOUS INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2013 WHILE DRIVING MY LEXUS 350 AWD 2012. I WAS PARKING THE CAR. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BREAK PEDAL AND I WAS ABOUT TO REVERSE WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY SELF ACCELERATED AND WENT UP A 45 DEGREE EMBANKMENT. THE CAR DROVE OVER VERY LARGE BOULDERS THAT WERE AT THE HEAD OF THE PARKING SPACE. THE UNDERBELLY OF THE CAR RAMMED INTO A VERY LARGE BOULDER THAT RAISED THE LEFT REAR WHEEL OFF THE GROUND AND STOPPED THE CAR FROM CONTINUING UP THE INCLINE. THE ACCELERATION OVER THE BOULDERS AND UP THE EMBANKMENT WAS CONSISTENTLY FAST MOVING AND THE BREAK PEDAL WAS USELESS. LEXUS WAS INFORMED AND ADVISED THAT WOULD SEND AN INSPECTOR. THE LIFE ON MYSELF AND THE PASSENGERS WERE SERIOUSLY PUT AT RISK. I DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE UNPREDICTABILITY AND LIFE THREATENING RISK THE CAR POSES BECAUSE OF THE SELF ACCELERATION ISSUE. I KINDLY REQUEST YOUR OFFICE REVIEW THIS SERIOUS MATTER. I AM SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR MY UP-FRONT FINANCIAL COMMITMENT OR A TRADE-IN FOR A DEPENDABLE VEHICLE. *LN UPDATED 1/8/2013 *JS

NHTSA ID
10545307
Incident
Sep 21, 2013
Mileage
5,299 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 22, 2013
Crash reported

I HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH MY 2012 LEXUS ON 5/1/13. I PULLED OUT OF A GAS STATION UNTO THE ROAD AND STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT BEHIND A CAR CARRIER WHICH WAS STOPPED ALREADY. WHEN I STOPPED, MY CAR ACCELERATED AND HIT THE BACK OF THE TRUCK. WHEN THE POLICE CAME, THEY CITED ME BECAUSE I HIT THE TRUCK. WHEN WE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND I EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED, HE SAID HE HAD A SIMILAR CASE A MONTH BEFORE. WITH THAT, I SEARCHED GOOGLE AND REALIZED THAT I WASN'T LOOSING MY MIND AND THAT MY CAR ACCELERATED UNINTENTIONALLY. I CALLED LEXUS AND THEY SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND AFTER EXAMINING THE CAR, HIS FINDINGS WERE THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. I CALLED TWO ATTORNEYS AND THEY HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING BUT BECAUSE I WASN'T HURT, THEY WOULDN'T TAKE MY CASE. I CALLED "8 ON YOUR SIDE" AND THEY SAID TO EMAIL YOU AND THAT A GENTLEMAN FROM THERE "MIGHT" GET IN TOUCH WITH ME. I AM OUT $4,500 FOR THE REPAIRS AND NOW MY CAR DEPRECIATED $5,000 BECAUSE IT WAS HIT. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN BUT I WORRY EVERY TIME I COME TO A STOP. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO SO I COULD GET REIMBURSED FROM LEXUS OR TRADE MY CAR IN AND NOT LOSE THIS SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT. I HAVE HAD LEXUS SINCE 1996 AND I CANNOT BELIEVE THEY WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR REPLY! *TR

NHTSA ID
10536785
Incident
May 1, 2013
Mileage
14,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 29, 2013

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT APPROX. 3 MPH AND BEING LESS THAN A FOOT FROM WHERE I WOULD HAVE FULLY STOPPED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY AS THE ENGINE RACED AT A VERY HIGH RPM. I WAS ABLE TO TURN MY WHEEL QUICKLY TO THE LEFT TO AVOID HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. AT THAT SAME TIME WITH MY FOOT THAT WAS ALREADY ON THE BRAKE AND I BRAKED VERY HARD, THEN SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. I HAD A SMALL PIECE OF WOOD FLOORING ON THE BACK SEAT WHICH CAME FLYING TO THE FRONT AND CUT THE PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD. I JUST REPORTED THE ISSUE TO LEXUS AND THEY SUGGEST I BRING THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP ASAP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10509833
Incident
Apr 24, 2013
Mileage
10,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 9, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS RX 350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT SHE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD A FEW FEET BUT THEN DECCELERATED AND DRIFTED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS AND EACH TIME THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20 MILES AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,800.

NHTSA ID
10479362
Incident
Apr 14, 2012
Mileage
20 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 30, 2012
Crash reported

ON 6/25/2012- AT 7:10 AM, I WAS PULLING INTO THE PARKING SPOT FOR MY VEHICLE IN MY HOSPITAL PARKING LOT FOR A SCHEDULED SURGICAL CASE, WHERE I WORK AS AN OB/GYN PHYSICIAN/SURGEON . AS I TURNED TO THE PARKING SPOT AT THE USUAL, APPROXIMATELY 2-4 MILES /HR SPEED ( THE SPEED AT WHICH NORMALLY ONE PARKS THE CAR), I NOTICED THAT MY ACCELERATOR PEDAL DID NOT BOUNCE BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION AS IT NORMALLY SHOULD OR WOULD. THEN MY RT FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKES TO JUST STOP THE VEHICLE IN MY PARKING SPOT. THEN JUST INSTANTLY THE VEHICLE HAD INCREASED SPEED AND BEFORE I COULD STOP THE VEHICLE, IT RAN FORWARD UNCONTROLLABLY AND CLIMBED UP THE CEMENT PATHWAY AND HIT THE TREE JUST IN FRONT OF THAT PARKING SPOT. I WAS PRESSING ON THE BRAKES AND IT DID NOT STOP THE ENGINE RAVING AND I STOPPED THE ENGINE BY TURNING IT OFF. THE FRONT OF THE CAR IS SEVERELY DAMAGED INCLUDING BENT FRAME AND THE ENGINE IS PUSHED INSIDE ACCORDING TO THE BODY SHOP. I FELT I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT RAN ON ITS OWN. IT WAS THE SCARIEST FEELING. IMAGINE THE DAMAGE AND CASUALTY IT COULD HAVE CAUSED IF IT HAPPENED AT THE SIGNAL CROSSING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10463655
Incident
Jun 25, 2012
Mileage
2,590 mi

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 .