2010 Lexus RX450H Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2010 Lexus RX450H, 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
- Engine422.2%
- Airbags316.7%
- Electrical316.7%
- Brakes211.1%
- Fuel system211.1%
- Steering15.6%
- Other / unspecified15.6%
- Seat belts15.6%
- Driver assistance15.6%
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2010 Lexus RX450H. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine cooler line fractured and the vehicle lost oil very quickly. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine cooler line needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but the vehicle was out of the warranty. The failure mileage was 185,000.
TL *THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS RX450H. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE OIL FROM THE ENGINE DEPLETED AND THE ENGINE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SEWELL LEXUS IN FORT WORTH, TEXAS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL COIL HOSE RUPTURED, WHICH DEPLETED ALL OF THE OIL, AND THE ENGINE SEIZED AND FRACTURED. HENDRICK LEXUS KANSAS CITY IN MERRIAM, KANSAS AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,022. *TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
WE WERE IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT IN MAY OF 2015 AND AIR BAGS EXPLODED AND SHOT FRAGMENTS OUT AT US AND WE HAD TO BE BROUGHT TO ER BY AMBULANCE. AND I HAD TO HAVE SURGERY.
LEXUS RX450 WAS TRAVELING DOWN A ONE-WAY ROAD AND APPROACHED A STOP SIGN GOING 35 MPH. AFTER RUNNING THROUGH THE STOP SIGN DURING LATE HOURS OF THE NIGHT, THE LEXUS DROVE DIRECTLY INTO A DARK PRIVATE PARKING LOT, CONTINUING AT THE 35 MPH, BOUNCING THROUGH A DEEP POTHOLE AT THE PARKING LOT ENTRANCE (BREAKS WERE PUSHED BUT NOT ENGAGED) WHICH LED TO THE COLLISION WITH A PERPENDICULAR, PROPERLY PARKED LIMO. NO BRAKE IMPRESSIONS ON THE GROUND ALTHOUGH BRAKES WERE PUSHED. AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY. PASSENGER WAS KNOCKED OUT, SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND HAD TO BE PULLED OUT OF VEHICLE. CAR WAS RETITLED AS SALVAGE, AS WELL AS THE LIMO THAT WAS HIT. *TR
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
OUTER MIRROR, DRIVER'S SIDE, TURNS DOWN WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE AND WILL STAY IN THE DOWN POSITION. OCCASIONALLY IT WILL TURN DOWN ON ITS OWN WHEN CHANGING FROM PARK. WHEN GOING TO DRIVE, THERE IS NO WAY TO SEE ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON THE LEFT WITHOUT TURNING HEAD AND LOOKING: SOMETHING A DRIVER ISN'T EXPECTING. THIS ALWAYS OCCURS GOING FROM STATIONARY TO MOTION. OCCURANCE IN RANDOM.
RADIO WILL CHANGE AUTOMATICALLY BY ITSELF FROM RADIO TO OTHER SOURCE CD, CHANGE TO SAT AND EJECT A CD WITHOUT TOUCHING ANYTHING. LEXUS COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WHEN TAKEN IN. THEY UPDATED THE FIRMWARE, BUT IT STILL CONTINUES TO CHANGE FROM RADIO TO SAT AND EJECTS CD'S. I ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL OR OTHER KNOW COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. I WAS TOLD NO BY LEXUS. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND I FIND THIS HAPPENS TO OTHER CUSTOMERS SO I WANTED TO DOCUMENT THIS DEFECT. *TR
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
LEXUS RX450 WAS TRAVELING DOWN A ONE-WAY ROAD AND APPROACHED A STOP SIGN GOING 35 MPH. AFTER RUNNING THROUGH THE STOP SIGN DURING LATE HOURS OF THE NIGHT, THE LEXUS DROVE DIRECTLY INTO A DARK PRIVATE PARKING LOT, CONTINUING AT THE 35 MPH, BOUNCING THROUGH A DEEP POTHOLE AT THE PARKING LOT ENTRANCE (BREAKS WERE PUSHED BUT NOT ENGAGED) WHICH LED TO THE COLLISION WITH A PERPENDICULAR, PROPERLY PARKED LIMO. NO BRAKE IMPRESSIONS ON THE GROUND ALTHOUGH BRAKES WERE PUSHED. AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY. PASSENGER WAS KNOCKED OUT, SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND HAD TO BE PULLED OUT OF VEHICLE. CAR WAS RETITLED AS SALVAGE, AS WELL AS THE LIMO THAT WAS HIT. *TR
1/11/13 - WHILE DRIVING, VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS ON DASH BEGIN TO FLASH ' CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM, CHECK AWD SYSTEM, AND CHECK ABS, THEN CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATES. VEHICLE ENGINE BEGINS TO DE-RATE AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECOMES INOPERABLE. BRAKES STILL FUNCTION. STOPPED VEHICLE, TURNED IT OFF, AND RE-STARTED. ENGINE WAS UNSTABLE AND THE RPM WAS OSCILLATING. THE HYBRID SYSTEM WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DIAGNOSIS: FAULTY FUEL PUMP. MAINTENANCE ACTION: R&R FUEL PUMP, FILTER, & SUCTION PLATE. VEHICLE WAS RETUNED ON 1/19/13. ON 2/10/13 THE SAME EXACT SITUATION OCCURRED AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DIAGNOSIS: FAULTY FUEL PUMP/SYSTEM. MAINTENANCE ACTION: PENDING. DEALERSHIP IS WORKING WITH LEXUS ENGINEERS AND TESTING VARIOUS THEORIES. AS OF 2/25/13, THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT DEALERSHIP. ACCORDING TO MAINTENANCE RECORDS, SAME SITUATION OCCURRED ON 8/27/12 (PREVIOUS OWNER). DIAGNOSIS: FAULTY FUEL PUMP. MAINTENANCE ACTION: R&R FUEL PUMP, FILTER, & SUCTION PLATE. HISTORICALLY ' NO ACCIDENTS AND ALL SERVICES AND MAINTENANCE PERFORMED BY DEALERSHIP. *TR
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE HYBRID COMPUTER SYSTEM SHORTED DUE TO A LEAK WHERE THE ROOF RACK CONNECTS TO THE ROOF. THIS COMPUTER IS BELOW THE REAR SEAT AND IS NEXT TO THE HYBRID BATTERIES. THIS COMPARTMENT SHOULD BE SEALED TO PREVENT WATER INTRUSION, AND IN NO SITUATION SHOULD WATER FROM THE ROOF BE ABLE TO REACH THIS COMPARTMENT. WATER ENTERING THIS AREA IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE OR THE CAR TO CEASE FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY WHILE IT IS IN MOTION.
1/11/13 - WHILE DRIVING, VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS ON DASH BEGIN TO FLASH ' CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM, CHECK AWD SYSTEM, AND CHECK ABS, THEN CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATES. VEHICLE ENGINE BEGINS TO DE-RATE AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECOMES INOPERABLE. BRAKES STILL FUNCTION. STOPPED VEHICLE, TURNED IT OFF, AND RE-STARTED. ENGINE WAS UNSTABLE AND THE RPM WAS OSCILLATING. THE HYBRID SYSTEM WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DIAGNOSIS: FAULTY FUEL PUMP. MAINTENANCE ACTION: R&R FUEL PUMP, FILTER, & SUCTION PLATE. VEHICLE WAS RETUNED ON 1/19/13. ON 2/10/13 THE SAME EXACT SITUATION OCCURRED AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DIAGNOSIS: FAULTY FUEL PUMP/SYSTEM. MAINTENANCE ACTION: PENDING. DEALERSHIP IS WORKING WITH LEXUS ENGINEERS AND TESTING VARIOUS THEORIES. AS OF 2/25/13, THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT DEALERSHIP. ACCORDING TO MAINTENANCE RECORDS, SAME SITUATION OCCURRED ON 8/27/12 (PREVIOUS OWNER). DIAGNOSIS: FAULTY FUEL PUMP. MAINTENANCE ACTION: R&R FUEL PUMP, FILTER, & SUCTION PLATE. HISTORICALLY ' NO ACCIDENTS AND ALL SERVICES AND MAINTENANCE PERFORMED BY DEALERSHIP. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE STEERING LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED IN THE LOCKED POSITION WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. ALTHOUGH IN THIS INSTANCE THERE WAS NO SAFETY HAZARD, IT SEEMS POSSIBLE THAT THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, WHICH WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE STEERING TO LOCK AND CONSEQUENT LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I INFORMED LEXUS US ABOUT THIS FAILURE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
CPSC: LEXUS HYBRID: CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND THE A WARNING MESSAGE OF HYBRID ENGINE BRAKE AND AWD FAILURE ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE ACCELERATOR STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER. THE GARAGE REPORTED THE FUEL PUMP AND THE FUEL SOLENOID HAD FAILED. BOTH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE VAPOR RECOVERY SYSTEM. *JB
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS RX 450H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER 'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A UTILITY POLE. THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANTS AND THE FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CHEST INJURIES AS A RESULT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A SALVAGE LOT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 02/11/2014 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS HIT BY A VEHICLE, THAT RAN A RED LIGHT. SHE WAS THEN PUSHED INTO A UTILITY POLE, AND THE FRONT END WAS CRUSHED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO, THE SHOULDER PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT, DID NOT RESTRAIN HER, AND SHE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS RX450 HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V305000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT EXHIBIT ANY ACCELERATION FAILURES PRIOR TO THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE REPAIR WHILE PARKING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE ACCELERATION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 33,000.
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .