2013 Lexus RX350

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 59 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes. It has been recalled 1 time.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
46,000 milesMedian miles at failure

46 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 60,00075,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes10
104
Electrical System9
010
Structure › Body8
111
Unknown or Other5
000
Air Bags5
504
Vehicle Speed Control4
302
Engine4
010
Steering3
000
Fuel/Propulsion System2
000
Wheels1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Electronic Stability Control (esc)14V054000
Filed Feb 12, 2014261,114 vehiclesToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Defect. Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012 and 2013 Toyota Tacoma and Lexus RX350 vehicles and certain model year 2012 Toyota Rav4 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the brake system contains a brake actuator that adjusts the fluid pressure of each wheel cylinder. An electrical component within the actuator may experience an increased resistance resulting in the illumination of various warning lights, including those for the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system, Antilock Brake System (ABS), and Traction Control system.

Risk. If this occurs, these systems could become inoperative, reducing the directional control assistance, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Toyota will notify owners, and Toyota and Lexus dealers will update the software for the Skid Control electronic control unit, free of charge. The recall began on March 28, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate
Filed Mar 23, 202340,000 milesTX

The contact owns a 2013 Lexus RX350. The contact stated that after closing the liftgate door and reversing out of the car port, the liftgate door erroneously opened and struck the car port causing damage to the liftgate. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact stated that recently the liftgate lowered independently. The failure occurred several times while placing items into the back of the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 40,000.

Steering
Filed Mar 10, 202346,000 milesMI

The contact owns a 2013 Lexus RX350. The contact stated that while driving at speeds exceeding 70 MPH, the steering wheel was violently shaking and vibrating. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the failure was no longer covered under an unknown Extended Service Campaign. The local dealer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 46,000. The contact stated that the manufacturer did not want to address the issue due to the vehicle's model year. There was a TSB involving later model years for the same issue, the faulty steering column.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jan 14, 2021OR

NO PROBLEM AS OF NOW SAW IT ON RECALL IN CONSUMER REPORT

Steering
Filed Jan 13, 202190,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS RX 350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL RATTLING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO LEXUS OF TAMPA BAY (5852 N. DALE MABRY HWY, TAMPA, FL 33614) WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD GOTTEN WORSE OVER TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Nov 8, 202085,000 milesMD

MY CAR BLEW UP. THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. MILE MARKER 372 I95S. I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE AND THEN FIRE STARTED SO I PULLED OVER ON THE LEFT SHOULDER AND THE FIRE BURST INTO FULL FLAMES

Electrical System
Filed Sep 8, 2020129,550 milesTX

TURNING STEERING WHEEL CAUSING DASH CUTOFF. SEATS AREN'T RESETTING TO ORIGINAL POSITION. BACK HATCH WILL NOT LIFT DEPENDING ON POSITION OF STEERING COLUMN

Structure › Body
Filed Jul 5, 2020160,000 milesCA

I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW AND ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS ON THIS VEHICLE STARTED TO FAIL - FIRST IT STARTED WITH FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AND NOW IN ADDITION TO FRONT PASSENGER DOOR, THE DRIVER DOOR AND THE REAR RIGHT DOOR AUTOMATIC LOCKS TO NOT ENGAGE WHEN I TRY TO LOCK/UNLOCK. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THESE AT A COST OF ~$1,000 FOR EACH DOOR AND THINK THIS IS UNFAIR SINCE THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS ON THIS MODEL FAILING ONLINE AND IT IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE DOOR ACTUATOR FAILING (BUT NOT RECALLED) (SEE LEXUS OWNER SITE AND YOUTUBE - SEARCH "2013 LEXUS RX350 DOOR LOCKS NOT WORKING" ON GOOGLE FOR DETAILS). I AM CURRENTLY MANUALLY LOCKING/UNLOCKING THESE DOORS AND FEEL UNSAFE AND FEEL MY PERSONAL PROPERTY INSIDE THE CAR IS EXPOSED TO THEFT SINCE SOMETIMES I FORGET TO LOCK THESE 3 DOORS MANUALLY WHEN DRIVING ALONE IN VEHICLE. NOTE THE ABOVE OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, IN MOTION, ON A CITY STREET/HIGHWAY, AND TURNING.

Structure › Body
Filed Jun 15, 2020TX

MY LEXUS VEHICLE HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH ITS LOCKS AND TRUNK. SOMETIMES THE TRUNK CANNOT BE OPENED AT ALL EVEN IF I ATTEMPT TO OPEN IT MANUALLY. ALSO, MY DOORS HAVE TO BE MANUALLY LOCKED MOST OF THE TIME. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WILL LOCK/UNLOCK USING THE REMOTE. HOWEVER, MOST OF THE TIME I HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK AND UNLOCK ALL OF THE DOORS. THERE ARE TONS OF VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE ABOUT THIS ISSUE WHICH HAS TO DO WITH THE LOCK ACTUATORS. THERE ARE ALSO A PLETHORA OF FORUMS ON THIS ISSUE AS WELL. MANY INDIVIDUALS HAVE CHOSEN TO NOT REPLACE THE LOCK ACTUATORS THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL DOOR HAS BECAUSE IT IS VERY COSTLY. I HAVE ALSO READ THAT SOMETIMES THE LOCK ACTUATORS WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE, THIS IS A COMMON DESIGN FLAW FOR MY CAR AS WELL AS OTHER LEXUS VEHICLES. EVEN NEWER MODEL LEXUS VEHICLES ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE. OBVIOUSLY THIS ISSUE IS A DESIGN FLAW AND DEFECT AND SHOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS A RECALL THAT LEXUS SHOULD BE MANDATED TO FIX. I ALWAYS HAVE TO CHECK WITH MY SON TO ENSURE THAT HE HAS MANUALLY LOCKED HIS DOOR. WE LIVE IN HOUSTON AND IMAGINE HOW NERVOUS I GET WHEN I APPROACH A RED LIGHT WHERE HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE OFTEN BEGGING FOR MONEY. I HAVE TO MAKE SURE MY DOORS ARE LOCKED BECAUSE SOME INDIVIDUALS ARE BOLD ENOUGH TO PULL ON YOUR DOOR HANDLE AND ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN. THIS HOLD TRUE FOR WHEN I AM EXITING THE VEHICLE. I HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK ALL THE DOORS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE KNOWN FOR PULLING ON YOUR HANDLES AT NIGHT TO SEE IF THEY CAN GET LUCKY. THE RELIABI

Electrical System
Filed Jun 14, 202062,100 milesTX

MY 2013 LEXUS AWD RX 350 HAS A FAULTY WIRE HARNESS WHICH HAS SHORTED OUT ITS GPS NAVIGATION SYSTEM, RADIO, AND MEDIA CENTER. I REPLACED THE HEADLAMP ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE AND THE BLAST, BUT THE 15 AMP FUSE CONTINUES TO BLOW OUT. THEREFORE, THE FAULTY WIRE HARNESS HAS CAUSED MY HEADLIGHTS, GPS NAVIGATION SYSTEM, AND RADIO TO NO LONGER WORK.

Electrical System
Filed Jun 14, 202062,100 milesTX

MY 2013 LEXUS AWD RX 350 HAS A FAULTY WIRE HARNESS WHICH HAS SHORTED OUT ITS GPS NAVIGATION SYSTEM, RADIO, AND MEDIA CENTER. I REPLACED THE HEADLAMP ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE AND THE BLAST, BUT THE 15 AMP FUSE CONTINUES TO BLOW OUT. THEREFORE, THE FAULTY WIRE HARNESS HAS CAUSED MY HEADLIGHTS, GPS NAVIGATION SYSTEM, AND RADIO TO NO LONGER WORK.

Service Brakes
Filed Jun 13, 2020CA

USE HANDBRAKE EVERY TIME. THERE WILL BE AN EXPLOSION SOUND FROM THE BACK WHEN I RELEASE MY FOOT. THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THIS PROBLEM. I THINK IT IS A DESIGN FLAW. I TRY TO CHANGE THE BRAKE PADS. IT HAS NO EFFECT. *TR

Unknown or Other
Filed Apr 29, 2020SC

THE SOFTWARE LOCATOR IS DEFECTIVE & WILL SEND YOU TO THE WRONG PLACE. LEXUS HAS A CAMPAIGN TO FIX IT THRU 2022 WHERE THEY UPDATE THE SOFTWARE. UNFORTUNATELY THEY DO NOT UPDATE THE NAVIGATION SOFTWARE AT THE SAME TIME AND THAT SHOULD BE A REQUIREMENT BECAUSE THE LOCATION SOFTWARE AND THE NAVIGATION SOFTWARE WORK CONJUNCTIVELY. INSTEAD THEY WANT TO CHARGE YOU $400 FOR NAVIGATION UPDATE. NOT SATISFACTORY. I ESCALATED THIS AT LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE & IT WAS NOT ADDRESSED PROPERLY. SO LEXUS WANTS TO DO THE SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR THE LOCATION SERVICES BUT THEY WANT YOU TO PAY $400 FOR THE NAVIGATION UPDATE THAT WORKS ALONGSIDE IT? SOUNDS LIKE A BAIT AND SWITCH TO ME.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jan 11, 202068,000 milesGA

MY VEHICLE STALLS FREQUENTLY ON THE EXPRESSWAY WHEN THE SPEED IS INTERRUPTED BY A SUDDEN STOP. IT WILL STALL WHEN I ATTEMPT TO START BACK IN TRAFFIC. I'VE COME VERY CLOSE TO HAVING A REAR END COLLISION.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Dec 11, 201980,000 milesMA

DRIVING IN SNOW STORM ON SIDE ROAD. GOING APPROX 20 MPH ROAD SLIGHT INCLINE AND CURVES TO LEFT. TRIED TO TURN LEFT AND CAR CONTINUED GOING STRAIGHT. ANTI LOCK BRAKES WERE PUMPING CAR SEEMED TO ACCELERATE CAR HEADED TO TELEPHONE POLE AND HIT VERY DIRECTLY. CAR WAS TOTALED TELEPHONE POLE CRACKED IN HALF I WAS THROWN INTO STEERING WHEEL WINDSHIELD AND CENTER CONSOLE. AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. I BROKE MY RIBS AND WAS SEVERLY BRUISED AND HAD PAINFUL IMPACT INJURIES. WHAT DID THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOY?

Steering
Filed Oct 30, 201935,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS RX 350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED, RATTLED, LOOSENED, AND WAS COMING OUT OF PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEXUS OF PALM BEACH (5700 OKEECHOBEE BOULEVARD, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33427, (561)-291-6004) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. THE SAME DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE CODE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT STALLED SINCE THE REPLACEMENT. THE STEEERING SHAFT WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. *LN *TR

Tires
Filed Sep 23, 201972,500 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS RX 350 EQUIPPED WITH COOPER MASTERCRAFT TIRES, SIZE: 235/16R18 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE TIRES AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NEW COUNTRY LEXUS OF WESTPORT (1317 POST RD E, WESTPORT, CT 06880, (203) 255-1531) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRE THREAD WAS SEPARATING AND ALL FOUR TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

Air BagsCrash
Filed Aug 2, 201987,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 LEXUS RX-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE MAKING A RIGHT HYDROPLANED AND CRASHED INTO THE CONTACTS DRIVER FRONT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE POLICE WAS PRESENT, BUT NO REPORT FILED. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT AND THEN TO THE INSURANCE LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

Engine
Filed Jul 16, 201943,000 milesFL

LEXUS RX350 HAD A SLIGHT GRINDING NOISE AT AROUND 43,000. IT WAS NOT VERY CLEAR INITIALLY ESPECIALLY WHEN THE AC WAS ON. NOW AT 76,000 MILES, THE NOISE IS VERY LOUD AND LEXUS SAID IT IS THE WATER PUMP SLOWLY GOING BAD. NOW THE CAR, AFTER 70,000 MILES IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVE SEEN REPORTS ONLINE WITH COMMON BEARINGS FAILURE ON TOYOTA/LEXUS WATER PUMPS. I WOUNDER IF THIS IS A SYSTEMIC ISSUE GIVEN THE WELL KNOW RELIABILITY OF THE LEXUS BRAND.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed May 9, 20195 milesIL

WATER PUMP NOISE

Electrical System
Filed May 9, 2019102,000 milesGA

SEVERAL ECUS FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY. CAR WOULD NOT START, STEERING LOCKED. LUCKILY, MY CAR WAS PARKED SO I DID NOT LOOSE STEERING WHILE MOVING.

20 of 59 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2007
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20234100Routine
202210010Routine
20211100Routine
20207100Routine
201931300Routine
201818100Routine
201746301Fatalities reported
201658310Routine
201542120Routine
201415000Routine
2013 — this page59131Fatalities reported
201233120Routine
201130120Routine
201094161Fatalities reported
200997010Routine
2008126040Routine
2007167110Routine
20060100Routine
20050100Routine
20040100Routine

Compare every RX350 year →

Reading this record

1 death reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

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.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Feb 12, 2014. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.