CSR
Check a VIN

Look up

About

Lexus · NHTSA safety record

2023 Lexus RX

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

Owners have filed 62 safety complaints about the 2023 Lexus RX with the US government. Of those, 4 describe a crash, 5 people were injured and no death is recorded. 3 recall campaigns are open against it, covering back-over prevention and the steering.

The most complained-about system is the power train, named in 13 complaints, 21% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 8,250 miles, the median across the 8 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers July 2023 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

62 complaints on file

62

Complaints

4

Describe a crash

0

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 14 · 23%
POWER TRAIN 13 · 21%
ENGINE 11 · 18%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10 · 16%
STRUCTURE 7 · 11%
LANE DEPARTURE 4 · 6%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 3 · 5%
AIR BAGS 2 · 3%
BACK OVER PREVENTION 2 · 3%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 2 · 3%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2 · 3%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 2 · 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 62.

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 2026 at 25.

28 21 14 7
23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2023 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA has not crash tested the 2023 Lexus RX. Its New Car Assessment Program tests a selection of each year's vehicles and does not reach motorcycles, heavy trucks, motorhomes or most low-volume models, so an absence here says nothing about how the vehicle would perform. It is not a low score.

What owners have reported about this vehicle is below, and it is a different question: a crash test measures what happens to the people inside in a controlled impact, while a complaint records what broke during ordinary use.

Recall campaigns

3 on file

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

26V162000 · March 18, 2026

The defect
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2025 Lexus NX350, NX250, 2023-2026 RX350, and 2024-2026 TX350 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
The risk
A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will update the rearview camera software or replace the rearview camera, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 15, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 26LB02 and 26LA02.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 144,200 vehicles across all model years covered

BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION

25V744000 · October 30, 2025

The defect
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or display a blank screen when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
The risk
A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB13 and 25LB06. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE25.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 1,024,407 vehicles across all model years covered

STEERING:COLUMN

25V040000 · January 29, 2025

The defect
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Tacoma, Lexus RX350, 2023-2024 NX250, and NX350 vehicles that may have been incorrectly repaired under previous NHTSA recall number 23V-480. An electrical connection inside the steering column's spiral cable assembly may be insufficiently welded, causing the connection to separate and deactivate the driver's air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
The risk
A deactivated driver's air bag will not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 25TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 25LA02.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 1,716 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 · 7,000 miles

The contact loaned a 2023 Lexus RX 350. The contact stated that while driving with the cruise control feature set at 65 MPH, the vehicle was rear-ended, hit the median wall, and was then catapulted back into oncoming traffic. The contact stated that the driver's side air bag did not deploy however all the other air bags did deploy as intended. In addition, the contact stated that the front driver-side seat belt failed to secure the driver during the incident. The contact sustained shoulder, hip, leg, and arm injuries and the front passenger sustained left arm injuries. Medical attention was received via the hospital for both occupants. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a

NHTSA complaint 11610031, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed

My air bags did not deploy with a head on collision.

NHTSA complaint 11657632. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1 injured · crash · towed · 18,000 miles

The contact owned a 2023 Lexus RX 350. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stopped at a traffic light, it suddenly accelerated without warning. While driving in a parking lot, the vehicle again surged forward approximately 20 feet. The contact was able to swerve to avoid striking a pedestrian. The vehicle became uncontrollable, and the brakes were inoperable. The vehicle ultimately crashed into a dumpster fence, which fell onto the vehicle. The contact sustained injuries to her mouth, including cuts to the inside and outside of her mouth, and medical attention was provided by a plastic surgeon. The fire department responded to the scene. The air bags did not deploy during the

NHTSA complaint 11723281, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 injured

The sunroof of my 2023 Lexus SUV had a defect and shattered/exploded outwards due to a defect in the tempered glass while driving on the highway. The glass shards fell from the sunroof and cut my face while driving. I had to have a nurse remove the glass shards from my face. Fortunately in this scenario, it did not cause me to lose control of my vehicle on a congested highway. The sunroof defects with Toyota and Lexus vehicles have been documented by several customers online and through several class action lawsuits. The vehicle has been sent to a local Toyota/Lexus dealership for inspection and repair. There were no warnings, messages or other symptoms that the sunroof shattering/exploding

NHTSA complaint 11610669, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
The transmission is jerking at times and it failed to accelerate at one point after coming to a complete stop. Notified Lexus and still working to fully resolve the issue but they just denied my request to reevaluate the issue.

NHTSA complaint 11767782. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
Battery drains which locks car unexpectedly. No warning, even with car FOB inside car which creates a safety issue if child or someone is in the car. All doors lock and with no access to FOB cannot open the door with manual key. Also, safety issue if this happens at night or in a parking lot etc. Cannot open doors at all - There is obviously an issue with the battery draining after only a few days. Dealer solution - plug in a battery maintainer - problem if you are parking the car at an airport for multiple days. No place to plug the car in... Lexus needs to figure out what is draining the battery or some fix to stop this from happening - I drive my car several times a week 30 miles at

NHTSA complaint 11759669, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
The vehicle exhibits a severe, load-based mechanical transmission whine strictly during active acceleration. The pitch of the whining sound rises and falls in direct proportion to the engine's RPMs. This vehicle utilizes the Toyota/Lexus 8-speed automatic transmission architecture, which has a well-documented manufacturing flaw involving internal bearing wear, gear misalignment, and fluid starvation.This mechanical defect poses an immediate and severe safety hazard. The continuous internal wear and gear friction create an unpredictable risk of sudden transmission lock-up, unexpected dropping out of gear, or complete engine stalling while operating at high highway speeds. A sudden loss of

NHTSA complaint 11758409, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

10,637 miles

The contact owns a 2023 Lexus RX 500h. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started shaking abnormally and stalled. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated during the failure. The failure was a recurring failure. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure, and the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and an engineer was sent to inspect the vehicle; however, the contact was informed that the vehicle had passed the inspection; however, the failure persisted. The failure mileage was approximately 10,637.

NHTSA complaint 11757964. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

towed · 10,637 miles

The contact owns a 2023 Lexus RX 500h. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shaking erratically, and the vehicle stopped independently. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated and the message to “See the Dealer” was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The failure reoccurred. The failure was a persistent failure. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The failure reoccurred. In addition, the contact stated that the self-parking feature was deactivated. The vehicle was taken back to

NHTSA complaint 11757971, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
While driving on [XXX] in [XXX] with my young child in the vehicle, my 2023 Lexus RX 350 F Sport suddenly lost acceleration. The vehicle initially would not accelerate beyond 50 mph and then progressively lost power, eventually being unable to accelerate beyond 40 mph. This occurred during rush-hour traffic, with vehicles traveling faster than me and passing closely. I attempted to move farther onto the shoulder because I felt unsafe being so close to traffic, but the vehicle became completely unable to drive. I had to stop and attempt to determine what was wrong with the vehicle. There were no warning lights, dashboard warnings, or notifications through the Lexus app before or during the

NHTSA complaint 11757831, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Lexus RX

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2026 9 3 —
2025 20 4 —
2024 57 4 —
2021 70 1 —
2020 46 1 —
2019 34 1 —
2017 47 0 —
2010 77 0 —

Other 2023 Lexus models

NX 15 LX 13 RZ 11 ES 10

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

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