What breaks most · 2007 to 2023 model years
Lexus RX 350 problems by year
Owners have filed 808 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Lexus RX 350 across model years 2007 to 2023. Two years stand out: 2007 for engine complaints and 2008 for body and structure complaints. The quietest years are 2021, 2020 and 2014.
- Years to check closely: 2007, 2008
- Fewest complaints: 2021, 2020, 2014
- Complaints on file
- 8082007 to 2023, all trims
- Worst year
- 2007167 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 12921 fires · 79 injuries · 2 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 46kMedian 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 167 | 17 | 1 | Engine (36) | |
| 126 | 11 | 0 | Body and structure (24) | |
| 97 | 7 | 0 | Steering (28) | |
| 94 | 23 | 1 | Speed control and throttle (38) | |
| 30 | 15 | 1 | Brakes (9) | |
| 33 | 11 | 1 | Speed control and throttle (10) | |
| 29 | 4 | 1 | Body and structure (7) | |
| 15 | 5 | 0 | Air bags (4) | |
| 42 | 7 | 1 | Unknown or other (10) | |
| 58 | 11 | 3 | Unknown or other (19) | |
| 46 | 12 | 3 | Brakes (9) | |
| 18 | 3 | 1 | Fuel system (6) | |
| 31 | 1 | 3 | Fuel system (13) | |
| 7 | 0 | 1 | Fuel system (4) | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | Body and structure (1) | |
| 10 | 1 | 0 | Unknown or other (3) | |
| 4 | 1 | 1 | Air bags (1) |
What fails on the 2007 Lexus RX 350
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EngineEngine gaskets and seals | 22% |
36 | 0 | Shop engine parts for the 2007 Lexus RX 350 |
| SteeringPower steering pumps, racks and hoses | 15% |
25 | 0 | Shop steering parts for the 2007 Lexus RX 350 |
| Speed control and throttleThrottle and pedal sensors | 13% |
22 | 11 | Shop all speed control and throttle parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Air bags | 13% |
22 | 4 | Check recalls for air bags on NHTSA.gov |
| Body and structureDoors, latches and body hardware | 13% |
21 | 2 | Shop body and structure parts for the 2007 Lexus RX 350 |
| Unknown or other | 7% |
12 | 0 | — |
| Engine and coolingRadiators, thermostats and cooling | 7% |
12 | 0 | Shop engine and cooling parts for the 2007 Lexus RX 350 |
| Exterior lightingHeadlights, tail lights and bulbs | 7% |
11 | 1 | Shop exterior lighting parts for the 2007 Lexus RX 350 |
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.
-
Oil started spewing from underneath the car while it was in motion on a highway . The car was towed to a local shop and the oil coolant lines (black rubber hoses) were replaced with metal hoses.
-
The rubber cover of the liftgate sensor melted. I am concerned about it catching fire. I have read multiple complaints online from owners with the same issue. The black rubber melts and sticks to fingers. I also causes the sensor to malfunction since the rubber piece interferes with the sensor.
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 350 years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2007, 2008 carry the most filings on the Lexus RX 350. The 2007 alone has 167 complaints, led by engine.
What is the most common Lexus RX 350 problem?
On the 2007 model year, the most-reported component is engine with 36 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Lexus RX 350 problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Lexus RX 350 complaints that include mileage is about 46,000 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.