Alternator completely shut down on Sunday,XXX. Battery warning light came on out of the blue on Sat, XXX at 8:45 PM in Independence, MO in front of Walmart on [XXX], had to go autozone on [XXX] in [XXX]. Test came back showing Alternator failure. Now power steering is gone and prob battery too. All interior electric systems shut down also. Headlight bulbs became affected within 1 month of purchase from dealership on XXX. Replacement bulbs for dims done last week. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2012 Lexus RX
Owners filed 12 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine. No safety recall has been issued.
| Component | Reports | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Electrical System | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Structure › Body | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Power Train | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Electrical System › Instrument Panel › Speedometer/Odometer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Air Bags | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
What owners reported
Newest filingsFailed Brake Actuator
Pearl White (077) paint is delaminated from metallic car surfaces. The paint appears to be separating from the surface and peeling/cracking, not consistent with normal wear alone. I previously reported this concern to Lexus Corporate.
Odometer Fraud. The contact owns a 2012 Lexus RX350. The contact purchased the vehicle, and it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of the purchase, the mileage was 127,832. The contact stated that at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 257,193.
Air bag issue light turn on, it said b1608 front satellite sensor bus initialization error LH code
The contact owns a 2012 Lexus RX 350. The contact stated that the four rear tires were replaced with Blackhawk Tires, Tire Line: Street HH11, Tire Size: 235/45/R18, DOT Number: 1YJEERYLY. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the low tire pressure warning light illuminated, and the vehicle started pulling to the right. The contact started pumping the brake pedal and was able to pull over safely. The contact observed that the driver's side rear tire had a gash on the side wall. The contact stated that the tires were replaced on June 10, 2025. The contact stated that Roadside Assistance arrived at the scene and replaced the tire with the spare. The dealer was contacted and suggested that the vehicle be brought to their location. The contact was informed that the tire would have to be replaced out of pocket. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle failure mileage was 30,171. The tire failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2012 Lexus RX350. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the ABS warning light illuminated, and the ABS seized. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road. The vehicle was restarted and functioned as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, no cause for the failure was found. The contact stated that the failure persisted. Upon investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V054000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
My car powers off while driving and then cuts back home within a second. It also has electrical issues the lights so flash during the night when you’re driving and then the front and shakes so bad that it shakes you just about off the road when you hit the brakes
The engine shuts off for a second while driving
October 20, '23 Our recent DEAD STOP! Whistle blower! Did you know that when the alternator goes out on a Lexus, that the car draws down energy from the battery to keep the car going? That's only for about a mile or so, then the car shuts down! You can't steer and THE ENGINE STOPS RUNNING and you have no power as you come to a dead stop, whether on the freeway, or one lane mountain pass road, where we would have been later. What would we have done? Scary! Luckily, our Lexus stalled on a city street nearing our on-ramp to the freeway. (needing to be towed.) Lexus has a serious engineering-defective-design-flaw that probably is responsible for accidents. Thanks, [XXX] . Pass it on please! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Sunroof exploded while driving in middle lane of 5 lane interstate. Cars, semi trucks all around me, center section of sunroof glass blew up and back into a pickup truck directly behind me. Pieces of glass flew in all directions. Luckily the moonroof/sunroof and interior panel were closed. No one was hurt. Other than a loud POP! then 2-3 seconds later an explosive BOOM! no warning light or message came on. Took the car to a local windshield shop, then a local Lexus dealer, another repair shop next week - all within 10 mi radius from where I live. Problem could not be reproduced, no one will confirm how it could have happened. Filed this report after reading about other Lexus - other mfg - having same issue.
Lexus never informed me or the dealer that the hatchback lift will fail if the weather is below 60 degrees. Sometimes even warmer. I replaced the hatchback lift when I was up in WV and loading up my vehicle and the hatchback almost knocked me out! It happened on several occasions. When I called the dealer they informed me that is normal. Normal. It could of killed me or knocked me out and given me concussion. Came back to Florida and it did the same thing this time high 60's low 70's. I replaced them and it happened again. These hatchback lifts should not happen. A mechanic had a gash in his forehead because I was explaining it to him and the damn hatchback came down on him. He couldn't catch it on time. It came down so quickly. Well, I have to replace the hatchback lift again. This is so wrong. This products especially on a Lexus should not be doing this. Very very dangerous.
12 of 12 complaints, reproduced as filed.
Across model years
Worst on record: 2010| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Deaths | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2025 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2024 | 55 | 4 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2023 | 61 | 3 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2022 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Routine |
| 2021 | 69 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2020 | 46 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2019 | 34 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2018 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2017 | 47 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2016 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2015 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Routine |
| 2014 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Fatalities reported |
| 2013 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Routine |
| 2012 — this page | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2011 | 29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | Routine |
| 2010 | 76 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2009 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2008 | 70 | 0 | 2 | 0 | Routine |
| 2007 | 58 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Routine |
| 2006 | 32 | 1 | 2 | 0 | Routine |
| 2005 | 27 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Routine |
| 2004 | 40 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Routine |
| 2003 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2002 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2001 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2000 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 1999 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
Reading this record
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.