2009 Lexus RX350

Routine

Owners filed 97 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the steering. No safety recall has been issued.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
54,744 milesMedian miles at failure

75 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 50,00060,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Steering27
000
Engine12
000
Unknown or Other6
000
Vehicle Speed Control5
300
Structure › Body5
100
Electrical System5
000
Structure4
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission3
100
Power Train3
000
Exterior Lighting3
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Structure › Interior Panels › Dashboard
Filed Feb 18, 202275,000 milesGA

The contact owns a 2009 Lexus RX350. The contact stated she notice a crack across the dashboard near the airbag on the passenger’s side that had started to expand. The contact notified the dealer and was informed that there was nothing they could do to assist because the recall had already expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.

Structure › Interior Panels › Dashboard
Filed Jul 20, 202190,000 milesAL

The contact owns a 2009 Lexus RX350. The contact stated that a crack had formed on the dashboard extending horizontally from the driver’s side instrument panel to the passenger’s side air bag housing. The contact also stated that the dashboard was sticky and appeared to be melting. The contact notified the dealer of the failure and was insured that the dashboard would not affect any safety features in the vehicle. The manufacturer had also been notified of the failure and was informed that an extended warranty had been placed on the vehicle however, the warranty had expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000. The contact mentioned concerns about whether or not the airbags would deploy on their own without an accident because of the crack.

Engine
Filed Jul 25, 2019132,000 milesIA

UPON ARRIVING HOME AND PARKING IN MY DRIVEWAY, A TRAIL OF OIL LINED MY PATH. AS SOON AS IT WAS IN PARK, OIL BEGAN GUSHING OUT INTO A PUDDLE UNDER THE CAR. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, IT WAS FOUND THAT LEXUS HAD ISSUES WITH THE OIL COOLER HOSE USED DURING MANUFACTURING, BEING RUBBER AND LEAKING OR BURSTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED DIRECTLY TO THE NEAREST AUTHORIZED LEXUS DEALER. UPON CONTACTING LEXUS CORPORATE IN REGARDS TO THE ISSUE, THEY STATED THAT THEY HAD ISSUED AND EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS PROBLEM, THAT EXPIRED IN DECEMBER OF 2018. SINCE THE ISSUE OCCURRED AFTER THE EXPIRATION DATE, THERE WAS NO ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE. MY CONCERN IS, THAT THIS IS AND SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL, DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM. HAD I BEEN DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, WHICH I COMMONLY DO, THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, ENGINE FAILURE, AND WORSE, A FIRE. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. IT IS ABSOLUTELY A MATTER OF SAFETY.

Structure › Body
Filed Jul 13, 2019AR

MY DASH BOARD IS MELTING AND FALLING APART!!! MY FINGERS & HAND STICK TO THE DASHBOARD AND EVERYTHING THAT IS UP THERE GETS STUCK TO IT!!!! I CAN TOUCH IT AND LEAVE A MARK OR PUSH IN IT & IT WILL LEAVE AN IMPRINT!!! SOMETHING IS SO WRONG WITH THIS DASHBOARD, IT'S TOTALLY DEFECTIVE AND HAS CAUSED MY IMPORTANT LEGAL DOCUMENTS TO STICK TO IT AND EVEN GET RIPPED WHEN I TRY TO TAKE THEM OFF THE MELTING DASHBOARD! IT GETS SHINEY AND GLARE IS HARD TO SEE BECAUSE IF THIS ISSUE. ALSO MY EYE GLASSES ACTUALLY GOT STUCK TO IT TOO AND I COULDN'T SEE VERY WELL TO DRIVE. LASTLY, IT'S CRACKING AND SPLITTING IN MANY PLACES TOO, SIMPLY FALLING APART FOR NO REASON!! IT'S JUST MELTING AND TOTALLY DEFECTIVE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS RECTIFIED PLEASE!!

Exterior Lighting › Tail LightsFire
Filed Jun 14, 201998,000 milesIL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED BY A NEIGHBOR THAT THE REAR PASSENGAR SIDE TAILGATE GLASS WAS BROKEN. THE CONTACT OPENED THE DOOR AND THE VEHICLE WAS WET INSIDE, INCLUDING CONTENTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS ATTACHED TO THE DOOR OF THE VEHICLE, INDICATING THERE WAS A FIRE THAT WAS PUT OUT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THERE WERE NO OCCUPANTS AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THAT WAS ALL THE CONTACT KNEW AT THE TIME AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY COUNTED THE VEHICLE AS A TOTAL LOSS SINCE THERE WAS FIRE AND WATER DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE DEALER (LAND ROVER SCHAUMBURG 920 W GOLF RD, SCHAUMBURG, IL 60194 (847) 252-7800) APOLOGIZED AND OFFERED TO SELL THE CONTACT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

Engine
Filed Jun 3, 201992,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 LEXUS RX350. WHILE AT A FUEL STATION, THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED BY ANOTHER PERSON THAT THERE WAS OIL LEAKING UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD AAA TOW THE VEHICLE BACK HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO LEXUS OF ROCKVILLE CENTRE (700 SUNRISE HWY, ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY 11570, (516) 665-0166) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A HOSE WAS LEAKING OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

Engine
Filed May 31, 2019TX

IN MOTION.I REPEATEDLY ASKED FOR THE PAPERWORK STATING THE FULL VEHICLE INSPECTIONS COMPLETED AND MY CONTRACT BUT FIRSTTX HONDA SALES REFUSED. RESPONDED BUT ALERTED THE SALES REP AFTER GOING IN PERSON FOR THE PAPERWORK. INSPECTION PAPERWORK TO MATCH THEIR WORD. FROM MY RESEARCH THIS COMMON ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR YEARS BACK PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE IN NOV 2017. OVER A WEEK AGO THE CAR SUDDENLY SPLASHED MASSIVE OIL EVERYWHERE WHILE DRIVING LONG DISTANCE (HAVE PIC). SPOKE WITH LEXUS AUSTIN DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT AND IMMEDIATELY THEY KNEW THE ISSUE BUT REFERRED ME TO CORPORATE OFFICE. RECALL DEPT ALSO IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AND ADVISED ME TO SEEK MECHANIC. BECAUSE THE WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT VZL FOR FREE REPAIR BY LEXUS EXPIRED FEB 2019 THIS YEAR. THEREFORE, IT'S NO LONGER THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR THIS ONGOING COMMON PROBLEM WITH LEXUS RX 350 LEXUS I'M STRANDED PLUS, I HAVE A FINANCE CA THAT WILL ALSO NEGATIVELY AFFECT MY CREDIT RATING DUE TO THIS ONGOING COMMON PROBLEM LEXUS AND FIRST TX HONDA FAIL TO OWN RESPONSIBILITY. THE CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN AT ALL DUE TO LIFE THREATENING,. YET SOMEHOW, I'M PLACED IN THE POSITION TO PAY REPAIRS (WITH MONEY I DON'T HAVE) FINANCE NOTE FOR LEXUS AND/OR WHEREVER ELSE ERRONEOUS BEHALF. IT'S NOT MY FAULT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED AFTER THE FEB 2019 EXPIRATION DATE FOR LEXUS TO TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY AND REPAIR. HOWEVER N WEBSITE:HTTPS://CARS.USNEWS.COM/CARS-TRUCKS/LEXUS/RX-350/OWNERS STATING, ' LEXUS IS ALSO OFFERING FREE REPLACEMENT

Unknown or Other
Filed May 15, 2019TX

DASHBOARD MELTING AND CRACKED

Power Train
Filed Feb 12, 2019141,000 milesCA

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, GOING 65 MPH AND STRAIGHT, AND SOMEONE FLAGGED ME DOWN TO LET ME KNOW THAT MY CAR WAS SMOKING. NONE OF MY SAFETY LIGHTS HAD APPEARED ON MY DASH. I PULLED OVER AND SAW THAT THE BACK OF MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY COVERED IN OIL AND I HAD A FAST OIL LEAK UNDERNEATH MY CAR TOWARD THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. I CERTAINLY SPRAYED OIL ON THE CARS BEHIND ME ON THE HIGHWAY, POTENTIALLY CAUSING VISIBILITY ISSUES FOR OTHER DRIVERS. I ALSO LEAKED OIL ON THE HIGHWAY, CAUSING A POTENTIAL CONCERN FOR OTHER DRIVERS. IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, THIS MALFUNCTION, COUPLED WITH HIGHWAY SPEED, COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO SEIZE AND POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WOULD HAVE BEEN INSTANTLY LOST. FOUND A NEARBY AUTO SHOP AND CHECKED MY OIL DIP STICK - IT WAS COMPLETELY DRY. NEARLY ALL OF MY OIL HAD LEAKED OUT. I WAS TOWED 100 MILES HOME AND TOOK MY CAR TO THE LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP. THEY DID AN ASSESSMENT AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A GROSS OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE OIL COOLER PIPE (MADE OF RUBBER) WHICH RUNS FROM THE FILTER ADAPTER TO THE ENGINE BLOCK. LEXUS IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND ISSUED A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT NOTIFICATION (ATTACHED) FOR THE FAULTY PART, BUT THE PART HAS NOT YET BEEN RECALLED.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Jan 20, 201988,500 milesOK

HEADLIGHTS FILL WITH WATER

Steering
Filed Nov 12, 2018CA

MY DEALER JUST TOLD ME THAT THE STEERING RACK KIT LEAKINGAND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. THIS COMMON PROBLEM IN LEXUS,IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS, LEXUS SHOULD BE PAYING FOR IT, NOT ME. THE QUOTE IS FOR $1315

Steering
Filed Aug 28, 201819,278 milesMI

MY LEXUS HAS UNDER 20,000 MILES ON IT AND IT HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT AND NOT SEEN WINTERS. MY DEALER JUST TOLD ME THAT THE STEERING GEARBOX NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. THIS CAR IS IN PERFECT SHAPE AND HAS HARDLY BEEN DRIVEN. IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS, LEXUS SHOULD BE PAYING FOR IT, NOT ME. THE QUOTE IS FOR $1450.

Engine
Filed Aug 10, 2018103,000 milesOH

MY CAR NEVER LEAKED OIL, AND NO SENSOR LIGHTS WERE ON. REGULAR MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED ON THE CAR. WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ON CRUISE CONTROL ABOUT 70 MPH (2,000 RPM) ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED UP TO 3,000-3,500 RPM. I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY WITHIN 0.25 MILES, THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR CAME ON AT THE END OF THE EXIT RAMP. I DROVE APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS AWAY FROM THE EXIT RAMP TO REACH A SIDE STREET AND BY THEN THE CAR WAS BARELY MOVING, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, AND SEVERAL OTHER SENSOR LIGHTS WERE ALSO ON. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A SERVICE GARAGE THAT TOLD ME THE OIL COOLANT LINES HAD LEAKED CAUSING THE LOW PRESSURE CONDITION IN THE ENGINE. AFTER THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE OIL COOLER LINES AND PERFORMED AN OIL AND FILTER CHANGE THEY FOUND "LARGE QUANTITIES OF METAL SHAVINGS IN OIL FILTER CARTRIDGE INDICATING INTERNAL DAMAGE OF ENGINE." SEVERE INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED AND ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IN MY EXPERIENCE, IT SEEMS THAT A LARGE QUANTITY OF OIL WAS LOST VERY QUICKLY, AND IF I HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY WITHIN A MATTER OF SECONDS THE CAR COULD HAVE SEIZED UP AND I COULD HAVE GOTTEN IN AN ACCIDENT.

Engine
Filed Jul 30, 2018152,390 milesIL

I JUST BOUGHT CAR AND 5 DAYS LATER THE OIL COOLER LINE FAILED AND I LOST ALL OIL. IF THIS WAS HANDLED AS A RECALL (I SEARCHED FOR RECALLS BEFORE PURCHASING CAR) IT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF ALREADY, AT THE VERY LEAST I WOULD HAVE KNOWN TO GET IT DONE. LEXUS EXTENDED WARRANTY IS 150,000 MILES UNFORTUNATELY MINE HAS 152,400, SO THEY ARE DENYING COVERAGE.

Wheels
Filed Jul 3, 2018139,932 milesNC

VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH TWO-PIECE LUG NUTS CONSISTING OF A PHYSICAL LUG NUT AND A DECORATIVE CAP. LUG NUTS ARE 21MM IN SIZE. OVER TIME, ESPECIALLY IN HUMID CLIMATES OR WHERE ROAD SALT IS USED, LUG NUTS SWELL BETWEEN DECORATIVE CAP AND PHYSICAL LUG NUT DUE TO CORROSION. SWELLING CAN CAUSE 21MM TOOLS INCLUDING VEHICLE LUG WRENCH TO NOT FIT ON LUG NUT. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE A FLAT TIRE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CHANGE TIRES.

Steering
Filed Apr 2, 201850,026 milesPA

MY LEXUS HAS JUST 50,000 MILES ON IT GARAGE KEPT, JUST WAS TOLD MY RACK&PINION GEAR WAS LEAKING TO THE TUNE OF 1800.00 DOLLARS. I WAS LOOKING UP LEXUS FORUMS ON LINE, THERE IS QUITE OF LEXUS OWNER'S THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. AND IF YOU DON`T TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM IT COULD BE QUITE DANGEROUS. I THINK LEXUS SHOULD REIMBURSE OWNER'S FOR THERE OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES.

Steering
Filed Dec 23, 201776,500 milesTN

SERIOUS STEERING RACK POWER STEERING FAILURE/LEAKAGE, MECHANIC SAYS COMMON LEXUS AND TOYOTA PRODUCTS AND CAN LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT BY LOSING STEERING AT HIGH SPEEDS. THANK GOD, NO ACCIDENT YET, JUST FACING $1600 REPAIR. PARTS AND LABOR, ONE YEAR WARRANTY. DO MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE THIS IS ADDRESSED??

Structure › BodyCrash
Filed Oct 25, 2017102,736 milesOH

TAKATA RECALL - MY AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED ON IMPACT. AS I WAS BRAKING TO PARK OUTSIDE MY GARAGE DOOR, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED EXTREMELY FAST. MY LEXUS WENT THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR AND I WAS BRAKING BUT MY SUV DIDN'T STOP UNTIL IT HIT THINGS IN THE GARAGE THAT STOPPED ME. I EVEN PLOWED INTO A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT WENT OUT THE BACK WALL OF THE GARAGE

Steering
Filed Oct 16, 201779,000 milesMD

I TOOK MY RX350 FOR REGULAR SERVICE AND ASKED FOR THE STEERING TO BE CHECKED SINCE IT MADE NOISE AND DID NOT FEEL SECURE WHEN MAKING HARD OR SHARP TURNS AND WHEN PARKING IN TIGHT SPOTS. I WAS INFORMED THAT MY RACK & PINION ASSEMBLY WAS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID AND IT COULD BE HAZARDOUS IF NOT ADDRESSED. IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LEXUS ESTIMATE WAS $2000! GIVEN THE AGE, I HAD LESS THAN 80K MOSTLY LOCAL AND HIGHWAY MILES ON THE SUV. WHEN I RESEARCHED COST ESTIMATES I FOUND THAT THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. I BELIEVE LEXUS SHOULD ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AND RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND REIMBURSE THE OWNERS WHO HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET! AFTER I SAVED UP TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR THE COST WAS $2058.11!

Engine
Filed Aug 31, 2017132,500 milesKY

OIL COOLANT MANIFOLD. RUBBER HOSES WHICH ARE HIGH PRESSURE HOSES BURST. ENGINE ISSUES AFTERWARDS DUE TO IMMEDIATE AND EXTREME OIL LOSS. DRIVING AT 55 MPH ON HIGHWAY. LEXUS DEALER STATED THE REPLACEMENT PART IS ON "NATIONAL BACK ORDER, MORE THAN 3,000 UNITS". I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FIXED AS IT IS A PRIMARY VEHICLE FOR MY FAMILY. LEXUS STATES THEY WILL NOT REIMBURSE UNLESS IT IS FIXED AT A LEXUS DEALER....THOUGH THEY DO NOT HAVE THE REPLACEMENT PART! NO LOANER WAS OFFERED. COST $321.00 FOR AFTERMARKET PART. THERE IS A SERVICE CAMPAIGN ON THIS ISSUE; SCZLC AS OF 08/01/2014, OBVIOUSLY THEY ARE AWARE OF AN ISSUE.

20 of 97 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2007
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20234100Routine
202210010Routine
20211100Routine
20207100Routine
201931300Routine
201818100Routine
201746301Fatalities reported
201658310Routine
201542120Routine
201415000Routine
201359131Fatalities reported
201233120Routine
201130120Routine
201094161Fatalities reported
2009 — this page97010Routine
2008126040Routine
2007167110Routine
20060100Routine
20050100Routine
20040100Routine

Compare every RX350 year →

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.