Lexus · NHTSA safety record

2012 Lexus RX350

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

Owners have filed 33 safety complaints about the 2012 Lexus RX350 with the US government. Of those, 11 describe a crash, 2 mention a fire, 13 people were injured and no death is recorded. One recall campaign is open against it, covering the hydraulic brakes.

The most complained-about system is vehicle speed control, named in 10 complaints, 30% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 26,500 miles, the median across the 29 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers December 2011 to July 2020 · How this is counted

What is on file

33 complaints on file

Complaints

Describe a crash

Mention fire

People injured

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 10 · 30% 10 30%

SERVICE BRAKES 5 · 15% 5 15%

AIR BAGS 4 · 12% 4 12%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 4 · 12% 4 12%

ENGINE 4 · 12% 4 12%

POWER TRAIN 4 · 12% 4 12%

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 3 · 9% 3 9%

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 2 · 6% 2 6%

SEAT BELTS 2 · 6% 2 6%

STRUCTURE 2 · 6% 2 6%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 · 3% 1 3%

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 1 · 3% 1 3%

0 8 15

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 33.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2013 at 7.

8 6 4 2

11 2011 12 2012 13 2013 14 2014 15 2015 16 2016 17 2017 18 2018 19 2019 20 2020

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2011 to 2020.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2012 Lexus RX350, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test	SUV AWD	SUV FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover	16.4%	17.9%

Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed. A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

1 on file

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

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

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

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Filed July 8, 2014

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 Filed July 8, 2014

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 Filed August 13, 2015

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 Filed March 2, 2016

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 Filed July 20, 2020

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 Filed January 3, 2020

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 Filed October 15, 2019

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 Filed April 23, 2019

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 Filed April 12, 2019

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 Filed March 4, 2019

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.

Compare

Other years of the Lexus RX350

Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Deaths
2019	31	3	—
2018	18	1	—
2017	46	3	1
2016	58	3	—
2015	42	1	—
2013	59	1	1
2011	30	1	—
2010	94	1	1

Other 2012 Lexus models

ES350 89 CT 43 ES 31 IS 250 17 GX460 8

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every Lexus on this site — 91 vehicles.

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. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

Complaints: NHTSA's ODI complaint file, published October 2, 2026. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall campaign API, newest campaign on this vehicle filed February 12, 2014.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI investigation file, published October 2, 2026.

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 guarledes
Independent developer and analyst