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Lexus · NHTSA safety record

2010 Lexus RX

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

76

Complaints

9

Crashes

0

Fires

3

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2010 Lexus RX have filed 76 safety complaints with NHTSA between July 2009 and July 2026. The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 20 of them (26%). The typical failure was reported at 25,000 miles, the median across the 45 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

No recall campaign was matched to this year, make and model. That is not the same as a clean vehicle: recalls are issued against production ranges, and the only reliable check is your own VIN.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 76.

ENGINE 20 26%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 10 13%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 10 13%
STEERING 9 12%
SERVICE BRAKES 8 11%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 7 9%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 6 8%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 6 8%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 3 4%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 3 4%
POWER TRAIN 3 4%
STRUCTURE 3 4%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2010 at 12.

2009 2010 2026
2009 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1 injured · crash · towed · 250,000 miles

The contact called on behalf of her son who owns a 2010 Lexus RX350. The contact stated that she had taken her son's vehicle to the car wash. The contact stated while at a complete stop, in the carwash drive-through, the vehicle accelerated independently and the driver's side of the vehicle crashed into the wall on the left side of the carwash bay. Heavy metal structures fell on the vehicle. As a result, the windshield was shattered and the ceiling of the vehicle was bent. The air bags failed to deploy. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact sustained two large contusions below the knee of her left leg. The injured area later became swollen and bruised. The contact sought

NHTSA complaint 11497560, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

1 injured · crash

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 - 40 MPH ON THE FREEWAY. I WENT TO MAKE A LANE CHANGE, LOOKED OVER MY SHOULDER TO MAKE SURE LANE WAS CLEAR, AS I TURNED BACK, THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED. I PUT ON MY BRAKES, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM MY BRAKES, THEY DISENGAGED. MY CAR SURGED FORWARD AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MY SEATBELT DID NOT HAVE ANY TENSION, THEREFORE, MY BODY HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. THE ACCIDENT JUST HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA complaint 10409072. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash

The contact owns a 2010 Lexus RX350. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH over thin black ice, the contact lost control of the vehicle, causing the rear passenger's side of the vehicle to crash into the guard rail. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was drivable and the contact drove to the orthopedic for medical assistance. The contact sustained a left shoulder joint fracture. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was inspected, but the vehicle not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the Lexus collision

NHTSA complaint 11612292, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

crash · towed · 1 miles

AS I WAS PULLING IN A BUSINESS CENTER TO PARK, I STEP ON THE BRAKE BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. THE ACCELERATOR CONTINUES AND CAUSED MY CAR TO RUN INTO A POWER BOX AT A BUSINESS. THIS CAUSED THE BUSINESS TO HAVE A POWER OUTAGE FOR THE ENTIRE DAY. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR. IT WAS 11:30AM. THERE WAS NO CAR AROUND THE PARKING LOT MANY SPACES WERE EMPTIED. IM VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE CAR RAN INTO THE POWER BOX OTHERWISE THE CAR WOULD HAVE DRIVEN ITSELF INTO THE STREET! I'M A GREAT DRIVER FOR MORE THAN 20+ YEARS AND NO TICKETS OR ACCIDENTS. INSURANCE CARRIER HAD DECLARED AS TOTAL LOSS DUE FOR THE IMPACT. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED.

NHTSA complaint 11245625. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER

177,000 miles

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2010 Lexus RX 350. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 139,000. It was discovered that the mileage was 177,000 in 2022. The contact contacted the Police, and the contact was advised to file a civil suit.

NHTSA complaint 11753462. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I was looking at common problems associated with the make and model of my car. I came across an issue that could possibly cause engine failure. I am unsure if any one has reported it yet. here are the details - Problem overview An VVT-i oil line on the Lexus RX350 is known to burst. This is a very large leak which covers the ground, engine, and undercarriage. If the oil line ruptures while driving, the low engine oil message and engine oil pressure warnings will illuminate. Continued use after these warnings will result in complete engine failure due to oil starvation. The line is known to be defective, and a revised part has been issued by Toyota, however, this revised part is known for

NHTSA complaint 11734624, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I was not made aware of the recall on the rubber oil cooler hoses. The rubber hoses malfunctioned and all the oil leaked out on 4/13/2026. I paid to have fixed. Lexus kept the hoses. This could have ruined my engine, caused an explosion or fire. When the warning light came on I stopped driving. Lexus would not discuss the issue. I am concerned I was never made aware of this issue. I bought the vehicle in 2012 at the dealership and all service has been done there.

NHTSA complaint 11731327. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING
The suv pulls hard to the right when accelerating and has almost driven me off the road. it does it at random times and its super dangerous

NHTSA complaint 11722501. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Pot affects 2007-2011 RX350/450= 459,285 units. 1. On Friday, [XXX], the oil cooler pipe burst on our 2010 RX350. 2. All six quarts of engine oil were lost in approximately 700 feet while traveling at 70–75 mph on the highway. 3. Massive amounts of smoke poured from the front of the vehicle & through the air vents, causing my wife & daughter to fear for their safety due to risk of a fire & smoke inhalation. 4. No warning lights appeared on the dash, meaning the vehicle could easily have been driven to engine failure had there been no smoke. 5. 2 Colorado Department of Transportation vehicles & a State Trooper stopped to be sure they were ok & monitor the risk of a fire. 8. Towed & Lexus

NHTSA complaint 11699862, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER

183,000 miles

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2010 Lexus RX450H. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase of the vehicle. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of the purchase, the vehicle mileage was 118,000. It was later discovered that the mileage was 183,000.

NHTSA complaint 11691776. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Lexus RX

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 18 4 —
2024 54 4 —
2023 56 3 —
2021 69 1 —
2020 44 1 —
2019 33 1 —
2017 47 0 —

Other 2010 Lexus models

ES350 137 RX350 94 HS 250 Hybrid 76 HS 70 ES 41 IS 250 40 IS 39 GX460 31

Every Lexus on this site — 88 vehicles, 116 recall campaigns and 1 open investigation .

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst