Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
Owners have filed 42 safety complaints
about the 2015 Lexus RX350 with the US government. Of those, 7 describe a crash, 2 mention a fire, 5 people were injured and no death is recorded. One recall campaign is open against it, covering the gasoline fuel system.
The most complained-about system is the engine,
named in 9 complaints, 21% of the total.
The typical failure was reported at 24,650 miles,
the median across the 38
complaints that gave
an odometer reading.
Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files
· Covers January 2015 to March 2021 · How this is counted
What is on file
42 complaints on file
42
Complaints
7
Describe a crash
2
Mention fire
5
People injured
0
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
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 10 · 24%
10 24%
ENGINE 9 · 21%
9 21%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 7 · 17%
7 17%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 7 · 17%
7 17%
AIR BAGS 5 · 12%
5 12%
STRUCTURE 4 · 10%
4 10%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 3 · 7%
3 7%
POWER TRAIN 2 · 5%
2 5%
SEAT BELTS 2 · 5%
2 5%
SERVICE BRAKES 2 · 5%
2 5%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 · 2%
1 2%
SEATS 1 · 2%
1 2%
0815
Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it.
One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 42.
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 2016 at 10.
12 9 6 3
152015162016172017182018192019202020212021
This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure
happened. The range runs from 2015 to 2021.
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 2015 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
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
14V576000 · September 19, 2014
The defect
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2014 Toyota Avalon, Camry, Sienna, and Highlander and model year 2015 Lexus RX350 vehicles. Fuel may leak from the one of the fuel delivery pipes in the engine compartment.
The risk
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace any of the suspect fuel delivery pipes free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 15,872 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.
AIR BAGS
2 injured · crash · towed · 30,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 LEXUS RX350. WHILE AT A STOP SIGN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT AND THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 09/08/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELTS AND SHOULDER HARNESSES FAILED TO RESTRAIN PASSENGERS*JS
NHTSA complaint 10883269. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
2 injured · crash · 52,000 miles
TAKATA RECALL WHILE STOPPED AT RED LIGHT. MY CAR WAS HIT HEAD-ON BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. MY CAR WAS TOTALED. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN MY CAR. MYSELF AND MY DAUGHTER SEATED ON PAX SEAT WERE INJURED. I WAS THROWN INTO STEERING WHEEL WHICH RESULTED IN BROKEN STERNUM. POLICE WERE SURPRISED THE BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I CONTACTED LEXUS, THEY SAID ATTORNEYS WOULD DISCUSS IT WITH ME. I SAID I JUST WANTED THEM TO LOOK AT THE CAR AND EXPLAIN WHY THE BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY THIS WAS IN MID NOV. THEY SAID ENGINEERING WOULD GO LOOK AT AUTO. [XXX] ENGINEERING WAS TO COORDINATE THE EVENT. THEY KEPT PUTTING IT OFF AND OBVIOUS TO ME THEY JUST WANT TO BURY THE INCIDENT. THE CAR IS AT AUCTION BLOCK AND WILL BE SOLD …
NHTSA complaint 10939585, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
1 injured · crash · towed · 80,000 miles
WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AT 40 MPH, MY CAR WAS HIT BY AN ONCOMING VEHICLE DIRECTLY ACROSS THE FRONT OF MY CAR (BUMPER TO BUMPER IMPACT). I APPLIED MY BRAKES BUT WAS NOT AT A STOP AT TIME OF IMPACT. THE OTHER CAR'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT NONE OF MINE DID. (AT THE START OF THE TRIP, THE CAR SENSORS ACCURATELY DETECTED 3 PASSENGERS.) MY CAR WAS TOTALED, ITS FRAME BENT & ENTIRE FRONT DESTROYED IN THE WRECK. INVESTIGATORS & MECHANICS STATED THEY BELIEVED THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED IN THIS CASE. I SUSTAINED INJURIES, INCLUDING CONCUSSION, WHIPLASH, LACERATIONS & BRUISES.
NHTSA complaint 11170261. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
fire · 4,000 miles
MY CAR CAUGHT FIRE ON ITS OWN. I WAS AWAKEN BY THE POLICE WHO SAID THAT MY PARKED CAR IS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE CONFIRMED THAT THE FIRE STARTED ON ITS OWN FROM THE ENGINE AND THERE IS NO LARCENY. THEY MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A VEHICLE RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEN I SEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND THE RECALL. SEE BELOW NEITHER THE DEALERSHIP (I.E. MCGRAWTH LEXUS) OR THE MANUFACTURER CONTACTED ME. I LOSS MY NEW VEHICLE DUE TO BEEN SOLD A DEFECTIVE NEW VEHICLE
NHTSA complaint 10762139. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
133,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 133,000.
NHTSA complaint 11405765. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
58,000 miles
ENGINE ABRUPTLY STOPS AND I HAVE A 3 SECOND STALL, THEN THE CAR RESUMES NORMAL OPERATION. COULD BE A REAL SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAPPENED IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY FROM A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN OR PULLING OUT ONTO TRAFFIC.
NHTSA complaint 11398045. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW TURNS COMPLETELY OUTWARD WHEN I START MY CAR. IT ALSO HAPPENS WHEN I LOCK THE DOOR. I HAVE TO PHYSICALLY TURN IT BACK TO THE CORRECT POSITION BEFORE I CAN DRIVE. I WENT TO THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST ME OVER $1200 TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I AM A DISABLED SENIOR, AND THIS IS A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP ON ME. BY KEEP TURNING THE MIRROR, I AM AFRAID IT MIGHT BREAK. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THIS TO HAPPEN.
NHTSA complaint 11396002. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
35,000 miles
RECALL FOR FUEL DELIVERY PIPE -REPLACEMENT BECAUSE OF POTENTIAL LEAK, CAUSING A FIRE.
NHTSA complaint 11375433. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHEN INITIALLY ENTERING MY VIN: [XXX] , RESULTS CAME UP AS A 2015 RX 330 WHICH IS INCORRECT. MINE IS AN RX 350. THIS LEFT ME UNSURE WHETHER OR NOT THE INFORMATION WHICH FOLLOWED WAS CORRECT???? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA complaint 11325964. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SEAT BELTS
78,281 miles
ON MARCH 17, 2020 WHEN BUCKLING MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT, THE FEMALE END THAT IS SUPPOSE TO BE BOLTED INTO PLACE WAS ONLY ATTACHED BY WIRES. I LOOKED UNDER THE SEAT AND FOUND WASHER AND NUT ON THE FLOOR. MY SON HELPED ME REATTACH THE PARTS TOGETHER. ON MONDAY, I MADE APPOINTMENT WITH THE WILDE LEXUS OF SARASOTA. THEY REINSTALLED THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE AND RETORQUED IT. I WAS TOLD BY THE COSTUMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT WILDE LEXUS THAT IT MAY HAVE WORKED IT'S WAY LOSE OR IT WAS INSTALLED IMPROPERLY AT FACTORY. EITHER WAY, I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT THIS CAR AND OTHER LEXUS RX350 WOULD NOT HAVE SEAT BELTS FAILING. *TR
NHTSA complaint 11325182. 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. 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.
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 September 19, 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.
G
Compiled and maintained by guarledes Independent developer and analyst