What breaks most · 1999 to 2026 model years
Lexus RX problems by year
Owners have filed 940 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Lexus RX across model years 1999 to 2026. Three years stand out: 2010 for engine complaints, 2008 for brakes complaints and 2021 for air bags complaints. The quietest years are 2003, 2012 and 2014.
- Years to check closely: 2010, 2008, 2021
- Fewest complaints: 2003, 2012, 2014
- Complaints on file
- 9401999 to 2026, all trims
- Worst year
- 201076 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 9012 fires · 65 injuries · 1 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 87kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 19Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 1 | 0 | Powertrain and transmission (29) | |
| 29 | 1 | 0 | Powertrain and transmission (25) | |
| 19 | 1 | 0 | Powertrain and transmission (14) | |
| 12 | 3 | 0 | Powertrain and transmission (5) | |
| 4 | 1 | 0 | Speed control and throttle (1) | |
| 40 | 1 | 1 | Body and structure (12) | |
| 27 | 1 | 1 | Unknown or other (5) | |
| 31 | 1 | 1 | Electrical system (10) | |
| 58 | 1 | 0 | Brakes (13) | |
| 70 | 5 | 0 | Brakes (15) | |
| 34 | 1 | 0 | Unknown or other (10) | |
| 76 | 9 | 0 | Engine (20) | |
| 29 | 4 | 0 | Engine (10) | |
| 11 | 0 | 0 | Electrical system (3) | |
| 19 | 3 | 0 | Unknown or other (7) | |
| 11 | 3 | 0 | Brakes (2) | |
| 20 | 1 | 0 | Unknown or other (5) | |
| 28 | 1 | 0 | Body and structure (7) | |
| 47 | 8 | 0 | Unknown or other (14) | |
| 25 | 3 | 0 | Unknown or other (6) | |
| 34 | 10 | 1 | Fuel system (11) | |
| 45 | 6 | 1 | Air bags (21) | |
| 69 | 9 | 1 | Air bags (47) | |
| 28 | 5 | 0 | Unknown or other (8) | |
| 61 | 4 | 3 | Unknown or other (14) | |
| 55 | 1 | 4 | Electrical system (18) | |
| 18 | 5 | 4 | Electrical system (5) | |
| 5 | 1 | 2 | Electrical system (3) |
What fails on the 2010 Lexus RX
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EngineEngine gaskets and seals | 26% |
20 | 0 | Shop engine parts for the 2010 Lexus RX |
| Speed control and throttleThrottle and pedal sensors | 13% |
10 | 2 | Shop speed control and throttle parts for the 2010 Lexus RX |
| Unknown or other | 13% |
10 | 0 | — |
| SteeringPower steering pumps, racks and hoses | 12% |
9 | 0 | Shop all steering parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| BrakesBrake pads, rotors and calipers | 11% |
8 | 2 | Shop brakes parts for the 2010 Lexus RX |
| Brakes (hydraulic)Brake pads, rotors and calipers | 9% |
7 | 3 | Shop brakes (hydraulic) parts for the 2010 Lexus RX |
| Fuel systemFuel pumps and injectors | 8% |
6 | 0 | Shop fuel system parts for the 2010 Lexus RX |
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 8% |
6 | 0 | Shop electrical system parts for the 2010 Lexus RX |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
-
My AWD check system keeps going on and off every few days. I took it to Mavis who gave me codes and stated that there is a TSB found to the issues my vehicle read. I took it to lexus of Brooklyn who basically disregard the recommendations just so I javelin to pay them again to diagnosis whay was already diagnosed.
-
While trying to leave my driveway my brakes went out almost causing me to go through a pasture fence. On the dash board popped up ABS and VSC warning. Now the module and regulator is making a horrible sound. And clicks
-
The drain system failed to properly route water out of the car after heavy rain and an automatic car wash in two separate incidents. The water would leak through the sunroof along the edges and leak down into the passenger side compartment and land on the floor mats.
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 6, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Lexus RX years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2010, 2008, 2021 carry the most filings on the Lexus RX. The 2010 alone has 76 complaints, led by engine.
What is the most common Lexus RX problem?
On the 2010 model year, the most-reported component is engine with 20 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Lexus RX problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Lexus RX complaints that include mileage is about 87,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.