2018 Lexus RX350 SUV FWD
Safety Ratings.
NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings help consumers compare vehicle safety when searching for a car. More stars mean safer cars.
Combines Side Barrier and Side Pole Star Ratings into a single side rating.
Combines Side Barrier and Side Pole Star Ratings into a single side rating.
The Rollover Resistance test measures the risk of rollover in a single-vehicle, loss-of-control scenario.
Rollover Risk: 17.9%
19 Complaints
The slightly opened sunroof spontaneously exploded with shattered glass flying outward and some glass pieces falling on my husband while he was driving. The vehicle can be inspected; however, a Lexus dealership replaced the sunroof glass without charge, the next day after the incident. The unexpected loud explosion with flying glass startled my husband while he was driving. Fortunately, there were no cars around him at the time, because the fright caused by the explosion could have caused a multi-vehicle accident. A Lexus dealer inspected the sunroof damage, and though they would not acknowledge this was a manufacturer defect, they did replace the glass without charge, stating it was a "one-time goodwill gesture." The day before the repair, the damage was inspected by Senior Officer Sampson of the Maryland Transportation Authority (phone number 410-537-1197) on December 13, 2021 (not long after the incident). There were no warnings or symptoms of any kind that would have alerted the driver to the spontaneous explosion.
WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS PETAL ONE OF THREE THINGS HAPPEN. 1. NORMAL ACCELERATION WHICH YOU EXPECT AFTER 60 YEARS OF DRIVING AND WHICH WE OBTAIN FROM A 2014 LEXUS RX350 THAT WE OWN. 2. HESITATION OF BETWEEN 1 AND 5 SECONDS BEFORE ACCELERATION BEGINS. 3 EXCESSIVE ACCELERATION ( SURG OF ACCELERATION MUCH MORE THAN EXPECTED). THIS EXCESS ACCELERATION MAY HAPPEN AFTER THE HESITATION OR THERE COULD BE "NORMAL" ACCELERATION AFTER THE HESITATION AND HAPPENS WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER BEING STOPPED.. THE HESITATION AND EXCESS ACCELERATION CAN BE FROM A STOPPED POSITION IE STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT OR WHILE MOVING AND NORMAL SPEEDS. THERE SEEMS TO BE A CONSISTENT HESITATION AT THE 60 TO 65 MPH WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE ON HIGHWAY. AT 70 MPH EVERYTHING SEEMS TO WORK AS EXPECTED. THE SURGING AND HESITATING SEEMS TO BE AT LOWER SPEEDS AND AND WHEN MAKING TURNS IN CITY STREETS AND MOVING UP OR DOWN HILLS AND IN PARKING LOTS WHEN MOVING OUT OF PARKING SPACES, BUT IT HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS UP TO 65 MPH. THE CARS HAS ACCELERATED WITH OUT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR - THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DELAYED ACCELERATION AFTER PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR A HALF BLOCK BEFORE. THIS HAPPENED WITH A LEXUS REPRESENTATIVE WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME - I WAS DRIVING SO HE COULD NOT TELL IF THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED OR IF I ACCELERATED. STARTING IN EARLY 2019 WE HAVE TOLD LEXUS WHEN THE CAR WAS SERVICED( TWICE YEARLY THAT THE CAR BEHAVED IN THIS MANNER. EACH TIME THAT HAVE TOLD US THEY DID NOT RE-CREATE THE DESCRIBED BEHAVIOR AND THE CAR WAS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED.
I TRIED ACCELERATING ON THE HIGHWAY (PCH IN SANTA MONICA, CA) WHILE TRAVELING FORWARD AT ABOUT 45-50 MPH, BUT THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THIS IS THE FORTH TIME THERE HAS BEEN A HESITATION IN ACCELERATION SINCE OWNING THE CAR, BUT THIS TIME THERE WAS A MESSAGE ON MY DASH. THE MESSAGE STATED THAT THERE WAS "AN OBSTRUCTION WITH THE PEDAL AND ACCELERATION WAS RETARDED." I LATER LOOKED DOWN AT THE PEDALS FELT AROUND THE THEM, BUT FOUND NOTHING OBSTRUCTING. AT THE TIME, THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN A QUARTER TANK OF GAS BUT NOT LOW ENOUGH FOR THE LOW FUEL WARNING TO COME ON. AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 15 MORE MILES - THE LOW FUEL WARNING CAME ON. I HAVE ALWAYS PUT PREMIUM FUEL IN THE VEHICLE AND MY WIFE DOESN'T PUT GAS IN THE VEHICLE. A RECALL WAS RECENTLY PERFORMED PERTAINING TO THE FUEL PUMP AT THE DEALER - PERTAINING TO LOW
WHILE TRAVELING NORTH ON INTERSTATE 95 IN THE MIDDLE LANE AT APPROXIMATELY 60MPH AFTER SWITCHING INTO LEFT LANE SAW BRAKE LIGHTS AHEAD AND STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL. HEARD SLIGHT POP SOUND, BRAKE PEDAL WENT IMMEDIATELY TO THE FLOOR. CAR DID NOT STOP OR SLOW DOWN. SWERVED TO LEFT TO AVOID DIRECTLY HITTING CAR IN FRONT OF ME BUT HIT JERSEY WALL AND THE CAR. MY CAR KEPT GOING ANOTHER COUPLE HUNDRED YARDS BEFORE IT FINALLY STOPPED. CAR WAS TOTALED.WITHOUT FUNCTIONING BRAKES ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL OR FORWARD COLLISION BRAKING WERE USELESS.
BRIDGESTONE TIRES, TX8A EC1, SIZE P235/55R20, ARE 2 YEARS OLD WITH JUST OVER 14000 MILES, AND ALL TIRE THREAD IS GONE. LOCAL TIRE STORE TELLS ME THAT THEY MUST BE REPLACED AND HE SUSPECTS MANUFACTURING DEFECTS. TIRES WERE ROTATED BY LEXUS AT 5000 MILES AND 10000 MILES.
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN I-75 ON A VERY RAINY DOWNPOUR. SHE TURNED ON THE WIPERS AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPERS DID NOT WORK. SHE ARRIVED HOME AND TOOK THE CAR THE NEXT DAY TO A LEXUS DEALERSHIP. THE BOLTS WERE LOOSE. THERE SHOULD BE A FAIL SAFE TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. OF ALL THE CARS WE HAVE OWNED..........THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE.(INCLUDING A 2007 LEXUS WE ALSO DRIVE).
DEAR CUSTOMERE SERVICES, I GOT A NOTICE FOR RECALL FUEL PUMP MAY FAIL 1- I MAKE AN APPOINT WITH LEXUS OF LAS VEGAS FOR A RECALL ON MAY 06, 2020 LATER ON THE LEXUS OF LAS VEGAS CANCELED MY AN APPOINTMENT DUE TO THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE ' 2- I MAKE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT TO BRING MY CAR FOR A RECALL WITH THE SAME ISSUE AFTER 1 DAY THEY SEND ME AN EMAIL TO CANCELED MY SERVICES DUE TO THE PART IF THE PART NOT AVAILABLE OR LEXUS NEED TO RECALL FOR SAFETY IF THE VEHICHE STALL OCCUR WHILE DRIVING, THIS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF CRASH LEXUS DO NOT NEED TO SEND THE RECALL NOTICE TO THE CONSUMER AND LATER THE LEXUS DEALER CANCEL THE SERVICES DUE TO THA PART NOT AVAILABLE
CAR HAS LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP THAT IF IT FAILS MAY RESULT IN CAR NOT RUNNING, WHICH COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS SHOULD IT HAPPEN WHILE ON FREEWAY. A RECALL WAS ISSUED IN JANUARY BY LEXUS, AND NOW AT THE END OF JUNE, THERE IS STILL NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V012000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. NALLY LEXUS LOCATED AT 2750 COBB PKWY SE, SMYRNA, GA 30080 AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NOTHING YET; THIS IS A PRECAUTIONARY COMPLAINT TO BE NOTIFIED ASAP WHEN REPLACEMENT IS AVAILABLE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V012000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED KEYES LEXUS (5905 VAN NUYS BLVD, VAN NUYS, CA 91401, (818) 538-2990) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE NEEDED TO START THE VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING UPHILL THERE WAS RATTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS 21,500. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
ON APRIL 15 2020, WAS ENTERING A PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF A SPROUTS SUPERMARKET AT 12500 WESTHEIMER RD., HOUSTON, TEXAS 77077. THE LEXUS RX350 (2018) FAILED TO STOP AND CRASHED INTO A LARGE BUILDING SUPPORT COLUMN WHICH DID SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE LEXUS AND TO THE COLUMN. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE CAR AND CAME EQUIPPED WITH THE EMERGENCY CRASH SYSTEM. THIS FEATURE DID NOT WORK TO STOP THE CAR FROM HITTING THE BUILDING. IN THE PAST IT HAS STOPPED THE CAR BUT ONLY MOST OFTEN IT DOES NOT WORK...NO ONE WAS INJURED NOR WERE ANY PEOPLE ON THE PARKING AREA AFFECTED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V012000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER HILTON HEAD LEXUS LOCATED AT (540 NEW RIVER PKWY, HARDEEVILLE, SC 29927), AND MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 LEXUS RX350. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 75 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER'S AND REAR PASSENGER'S WINDOWS EXPLODED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LEXUS OF PEMBROKE PINES DEALER, LOCATED AT 16150 PINES BLVD, PEMBROKE PINES, FL 33027, WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO AN IMPACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLORIDA STATE PATROL FILED A REPORT WHICH STATED THAT THERE WAS NO IMPACT. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT AN INVESTIGATION WOULD BE OPENED AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED WITHIN FOUR TO SIX WEEKS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE RELEASED FROM LEASE OBLIGATIONS.*JB
I GOT INTO ACCIDENT AND NO AIRBAG DEPLOYED EVEN AT HIGH IMPACT AND OTHE OTHE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS PROJECTED APPROXIMATELY 75 FEET AHEAD OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE DRIVER TO SEE ANYTHING CLOSE UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NEWPORT LEXUS (949-482-6122, LOCATED AT 3901 MACARTHUR BLVD, NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92660) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE WHO STATED THAT THE MATTER WOULD BE RESEARCHED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT CALLED BACK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000.
I WAS TRAVELING ON A 4 LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY AT 60MPH. WEATHER CONDITION WAS SUNNY AND 10DEG. SUDDENLY I HEARD A LOUD CRACKING NOISE THAT WAS STARTLING. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS AROUND AND THE INTERIOR SHADE WAS CLOSED. I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION TO FIND THE SUNRROOF HAD SHATTERED AND THERE WAS GLASS SHARDS ON THE INTERIOR SHADE. I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR 5 MO., AM THE ONLY DRIVER. THE CAR IS PARKED IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT AND I HAVE NEVER OPENED THE SUNROOF OR THE INTERIOR SHADE. I RETURNED THE CAR WITHIN TWO HOURS OF THE EVENT FOR REPAIR ASSUMING IT WAS A DEFECTIVE SUNROOF. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT IT WILL COST $960 PLUS TAX TO FIX. SINCE MY INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE IS $1000, THIS IS AN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE! I HAVE REPORTED THE EVENT TO THE LEXUS GUEST EXPERIENCE CENTER AND THE REP SAID THAT THEY WILL REVIEW BUT THERE IS NO PROMISE OF REIMBURSEMENT. I AM ALSO REPORTING THIS TO CONSUMER REPORTS. SINCE EXPLODING SUNROOFS HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM FOR YEARS WITH DIFFERENT MAKES AND MODELS, I FEEL IT IS IMPERATIVE THE NHTSA DO MORE TO REGULATE THE MANUFACTURERS.
1.CONSTANT JERKING SENSATION OCCURS BEFORE VEHICLE SHIFTS INTO LOWER GEARS WHILE AT RELATIVELY LOW SPEEDS AND THROTTLE SETTINGS (25-45 MPH, STOP AND GO CITY DRIVING, MAINTAINING SPEED). 2.WHEN MINIMAL INCREASE IN POWER IS NEEDED OR A MILD GRADE IS ENCOUNTERED, ADDITIONAL THROTTLE PRESSURE SEEMS ONLY TO RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER UNTIL THE TRANSMISSIONS SHIFTS INTO SOME LOWER GEAR. THE VEHICLE THEN ACCELERATES TOO RAPIDLY, FOLLOWED BY THE NEED TO REDUCE THROTTLE PRESSURE ' OR APPLY BRAKES - WHICH IN TURN CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT BACK TO A HIGHER GEAR. THE SEQUENCE THEN REPEATS ITSELF. 3.NOTE: POOR DRIVABILITY ISSUES ARE REDUCED WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD. ALSO KEEPING RPM ABOVE 2000 HELPS. 4.DEPENDING ON DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE WELL WHILE SHIFTING UP THROUGH THE GEARS BUT SEEMS TO LOOSE POWER AS RPM DROPS, FORCING A DOWNSHIFT OR INCREASED THROTTLE POSITION. 5.WHEN UNDER SLIGHT ENGINE LOAD, THE SUSPENSION SEEMS TO AMPLIFY ROAD BUMPS, TO THE EXTENT OF FINDING BUMPS WHERE THERE ARE NONE. THIS CONDITION IS REDUCED WHILE AT IDLE THROTTLE SETTINGS AND COASTING. 6.A RECENT DRIVE THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS PROMPTED ME TO RESORT TO MANUALLY SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION TO IMPROVE DRIVABILITY BECAUSE OF HILLS AND CURVES. 7.I FREQUENTLY RESORT TO DRIVING IN S4 EXCEPT FOR INTERSTATE DRIVING SO AS TO KEEP RPM ABOVE 2000 TO IMPROVE DRIVABILITY. 8.FREQUENTLY THE ENGINE FEELS TO BE MISSING, RESULTING IN VIBRATION THROUGH STEERING WHEEL AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL. 9.ON FOUR OCCASIONS SINCE OWNERSHIP THE RX HAS SUDDENLY AND EXPECTANTLY ACCELERATED FOR UNKNOWN REASONS, FORCING EMERGENCY BREAKING. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE. 10.WHEN USING CRUISE CONTROL (~65 MPH) AND IF THE SET SPEED IS REDUCED A COUPLE OF MPH, THE RPM JUMPS TO 6,000. 11.TRANSMISSION SLOW TO CHOOSE A GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING INTO TRAFFIC.
HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION. THE ENGINE DOES NOT RESPOND IN A LINEAR MANNER WHEN PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL.
1 Recalls
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, 2018 Avalon, Corolla, 2014 FJ Cruiser, 2017 Sienna and Lexus 2018 ES 350, 2018-2019 GS 300, 2013-2014 GS350, 2014-2015 GX 460, IS 350 and LX 570, 2014 IS F, 2018-2019 IS 350, LC 500H and LS 500H, 2013-2015 LS 460, 2015 NX 200T and RC350, 2017 RC 200T and RX 350. Toyota also removed the 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser and 2018-2019 Lexus GX 460 and LX 570 and 2019 NX300 from inclusion in this recall. On March 19, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include 2015 Lexus GS350 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
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Combines Driver and Passenger star ratings into a single frontal rating. The frontal barrier test simulates a head-on collision between two similar vehicles, each moving at 35 mph.