Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
33
Complaints
11
Crashes
2
Fires
13
Injuries
0
Deaths
Owners of the 2012 Lexus RX350 have filed 33
safety complaints with NHTSA
between December 2011 and July 2020.
The most complained-about system is vehicle speed control,
named in 10 of them
(30%). The typical failure was reported at 26,500 miles, the median
across the 29 complaints that gave an
odometer reading.
NHTSA has issued 1 recall covering this
vehicle.
Recalls (1)
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
14V054000 · February 12, 2014
The 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.
The risk
If this occurs, these systems could become inoperative, reducing the directional control assistance, increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 261,114 vehicles across all model years covered
What owners report
Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add
up to more than 33.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 10 30%
SERVICE BRAKES 5 15%
AIR BAGS 4 12%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 4 12%
ENGINE 4 12%
POWER TRAIN 4 12%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 3 9%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 2 6%
SEAT BELTS 2 6%
STRUCTURE 2 6%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 3%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 1 3%
When the complaints arrived
By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures
happened. They peaked in 2013 at 7.
2011 to 2020
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
3 injured · crash · 26,500 miles
CONTINUATION OF MY REPORT. ABOUT A MONTH LATER THE SAME SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURRED BUT IN REVERSE AS THE DRIVER WAS LEAVING HER HOME AND THIS TIME SHE COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE, GOING THRU THE CONCRETE FENCE OF HER FRONT NEIGHBOR TAKING A SIDE OF THE NEIGHBOR HOUSE, DOWN A HILL AND HITTING TWO AIR CONDITIONER UNITS AND AN ELECTRICAL GENERATOR, DAMAGING THE WHOLE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE REAR, BRAKING THE REAR DRIVE TRAIN AND GETTING STUCK IN A CONCRETE WALL WHICH SAVE THEIR LIFE. IF THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE GONE 10 MORE FEET IT WOULD HAVE DROP IN AN APPROXIMATELY 800 TO 900 FEET CLIFF AND PROBABLY WOULD HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. ACCORDING TO THE DRIVER …
NHTSA complaint 10609022, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
3 injured · crash · 26,500 miles
FIRST PART OF COMPLAINT JUST IN CASE IT DID NOT GO THRU THE FIRST TIME. DEAR SIRS, I'M WRITING TO YOU ON BEHALF OF THE OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. THEY HAVE CONTRACTED ME AS A VEHICLE ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTIONIST IN PUERTO RICO. I NEED TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE MADE ANY INQUIRIES IN THE FUEL DELIVERY AND PROPULSION SYSTEM. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS TOYOTA, LEXUS AND HONDA VEHICLES THAT I KNOW OF SO FAR, ARE HAVING SOME KIND OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION ISSUES AND THE COMPUTER DOES NOT CATCH THE PROBLEM. THIS ACCELERATION SURGES THAT I HAVE FOUND OUT ABOUT, ALL HAVE OCCURRED AROUND HIGH ELECTRICITY AREAS. SO FAR THAT I KNOW OFF, THREE OF THESE SURGES HAVE OCCURRED NEXT TO THE ELECTRICAL PLANT CENTER IN PALO SECO …
NHTSA complaint 10609024, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2 injured · crash · 14,878 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS RX350. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A GARAGE DOOR AND INTO A WALL. THE VEHICLE HAD EXTENSIVE DAMAGES TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED WHIP LASH THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE DAMAGES WERE REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,878.
NHTSA complaint 10748569. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
POWER TRAIN
2 injured · 42,450 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING INTO PARK AND POWERING OFF THE VEHICLE, SHE ATTEMPTED TO EXIT WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ROLLED AWAY. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE ROLLED OVER HER BUTTOCKS. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,450.
NHTSA complaint 10839443. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SERVICE BRAKES
110,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ABS AND BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUDI PENSACOLA LOCATED AT 6303 PENSACOLA BLVD, PENSACOLA, FL 32505, (844) 313-0046, AND THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V054000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL), HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
NHTSA complaint 11340501. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
1 injured · crash · towed · 84,500 miles
I WAS BROADSIDED ON MY DRIVERS DOOR AND NOT 1 AIRBAG WENT OFF. THE OFFICER SAID SHE WAS DRIVING AT LEAST 40MPH. I HAD LEFT THE STOP SIGN TO MAKE MY LEFT HAND TURN WHEN IT OCCURED. MY CAR WAS TOTALED
NHTSA complaint 11297031. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SERVICE BRAKES
crash · towed · 66,123 miles
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2013 LEXUS RX350. ON AUGUST 14, 2019 AS I WAS PARKING MY CAR AND ROLLING INTO A PARKING SPOT, WITH MY FOOT ONLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD. THE CAR HIT A CURB AND GAVE ME THE TIME TO REACT AND APPLIED ENOUGH BRAKE PRESSURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT WENT INTO THE STREET INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE NEXT DAY I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO MY LOCAL LEXUS DEALERSHIP. THEY HAD THE CAR FOR THE ENTIRE DAY AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. ON AUGUST 17, 2019, THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED AS I WAS AGAIN ROLLING INTO A PARKING SPOT. AGAIN WITH MY FOOT ONLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE CAR ACCELERATED …
NHTSA complaint 11268446, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
65,000 miles
DURING DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY SUDDENLY THE WHOLE VEHICLE IS SHAKING AND REDUCED SPEED SUDDENLY; ALL KIND OF ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON AS HAVE TO PULL ASIDE ON THE HIGHWAY. HAVE TO TOW THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND FOUND THAT CYLINDER VALVE SPRING INSIDE THE ENGINE HAS BROKEN AS THE CAR ONLY HAS ABOUT 65000 MILES. THIS CAUSING VEHICLE TO MISFIRE AND VEHICLE IS SHAKING. THERE ARE MULTIPLE RECALL OF LEXUS MODEL ON VALVE SPRING AND THIS OBVIOUSLY SEEMS AN MANUFACTURER DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint 11203185. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SEAT BELTS
32,000 miles
VEHICLE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 32K APPRX GARAGE KEPT. FRONT PASSENGER BELT LOCKS FREQUENTLY. ALSO THE STEERING GOT HARD. NO LEAKING OF ANY SORT OF OIL TOO. CURRENTLY THE VEHICLE IS BEING USED BUT SCARED IF STEERING MOTION WOULD FREEZE.
NHTSA complaint 11195846. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
STRUCTURE:BODY
108,068 miles
WHILE DRIVING ON I-15 NEAR ST. GEORGE ON AN OVERCAST, BUT DRY ROAD, WE HEARD A LOUD BANG OR THUMP ON OUR VEHICLE. TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE NEAR. WE COULD FIND NO EVIDENCE OF DAMAGE. WHILE LISTENING TO A NEWS REPORT LAST EVENING, INVOLVING A PROBLEM WITH SPONTANEOUS SHATTERING OF SUNROOFS, I IMMEDIAELY WENT TO MY GARAGE TO LOOK AT MY SUNROOF AND SURE ENOUGH IT WAS SHATTERED.
NHTSA complaint 11184007. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
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
Complaints: NHTSA's ODI
complaint file
, published August 20, 2026. One
complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall
campaign API
, most recent campaign filed August 12, 2026.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI
investigation file
, published 2026-08-19.
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.
G
Compiled and maintained by guarledes Independent developer and analyst