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2009 Lexus RX350

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2009 Lexus RX350 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 29.5.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

75 reports with mileage · 22 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Steering. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

7 reports
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70,000 miles · Jul 26, 2016
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

2009 RX 350 LIFT GATE RUBBER MELTED WHILE VEHICLE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY IN 88 DEGREE HEAT NORTH FLORIDA. ALL PREVIOUS POSTS BY CAR OWNERS WHO HAD SAME ISSUE WERE TOLD THIS WAS DUE TO A CHEMICAL OR ELECTRICAL ISSUE WHICH I AM NOW CONCERNED MAY BE A FIRE HAZARD. RUBBER IS DRIPPING OFF ONTO BACK OF MY CAR, I AM PREGNANT AND DO NOT WAN…

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2009 RX 350 LIFT GATE RUBBER MELTED WHILE VEHICLE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY IN 88 DEGREE HEAT NORTH FLORIDA. ALL PREVIOUS POSTS BY CAR OWNERS WHO HAD SAME ISSUE WERE TOLD THIS WAS DUE TO A CHEMICAL OR ELECTRICAL ISSUE WHICH I AM NOW CONCERNED MAY BE A FIRE HAZARD. RUBBER IS DRIPPING OFF ONTO BACK OF MY CAR, I AM PREGNANT AND DO NOT WANT TO TOUCH THIS MELTED RUBBERY LIQUID AND THEREFORE CANNOT MANUALLY OPEN MY TRUNK. HAVE BEEN TOLD DEALER WILL NOT COVER THE PROBLEM, WHICH IS CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE MATERIAL.

NHTSA ODI #10888854

49,100 miles · May 14, 2015
Electrical System

SWITCH ASSEMBLY BACK DOOR OPENER IS MELTED. IT IS GOOEY AND COMES OFF ON YOUR FINGERS.THIS SWITCH WAS ALREADY LIKE THIS WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10716461

112,000 miles · Dec 27, 2014
Electrical SystemStructure

ON OR ABOUT MARCH 5TH 2014, I ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE TAILGATE ON OUR 2009 LEXUA RX350 AND ENCOUNTERED HOT MELTED RUBBER STICKING TO MY FINGERS. I REMOVED THE STICKY BLACK RUBBER FROM THE LOCK, BUT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE THE TAR-LIKE MATERIAL. AS A CERTIFIED ELECTRICAL TECHNICIAN, I CONCLUDED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SWITCH ON TH…

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ON OR ABOUT MARCH 5TH 2014, I ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE TAILGATE ON OUR 2009 LEXUA RX350 AND ENCOUNTERED HOT MELTED RUBBER STICKING TO MY FINGERS. I REMOVED THE STICKY BLACK RUBBER FROM THE LOCK, BUT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE THE TAR-LIKE MATERIAL. AS A CERTIFIED ELECTRICAL TECHNICIAN, I CONCLUDED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SWITCH ON THAT TAILGATE LOCK STUCK AND HEATED TO A POINT THAT MELTED RUBBER, MAKING A GOO-LIKE MATERIAL. PLEASE NOTE THIS ABOVE REFERENCED CAR WAS NOT IN THE SUN DURING THE TIME THE RUBBER MELTED. WE HAVE BEEN USING THIS VEHICLE WITHOUT USING THE TAILGATE LOCK WITH THE RUBBER BOOT, BECAUSE WE DO NOT LIVE WITHIN 80 MILES OF A LEXUS DEALER, NOT CAN PAY THE $295 TO REPLACE THE BOOT AT THIS TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10668482

28,000 miles · Dec 23, 2014
Electrical SystemStructure

MELTED, GOOEY, RUBBER STRIP ON REAR HATCHBACK OPENER (CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL DOOR OPENER SWITCH OVERHEATING?) *TR

NHTSA ODI #10668025

53,000 miles · May 10, 2014
Electrical SystemVisibility/wiper

EXPLODING PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR I OWN A 2009 LEXUS RX-350. IT'S IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH LIMITED MILEAGE. LAST WEEK, WE WERE STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT WHEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS A VERY LOUD & FRIGHTENING EXPLOSION EMANATING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR. THE MIRROR CAME FLYING OUT OF ITS CASING, HANGING BY ITS WIRES, & WAS CRACKE…

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EXPLODING PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR I OWN A 2009 LEXUS RX-350. IT'S IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH LIMITED MILEAGE. LAST WEEK, WE WERE STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT WHEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS A VERY LOUD & FRIGHTENING EXPLOSION EMANATING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR. THE MIRROR CAME FLYING OUT OF ITS CASING, HANGING BY ITS WIRES, & WAS CRACKED. MOREOVER, THE FLUID THAT'S IN THESE AUTO-DIMMING MIRRORS SPRAYED/DRIPPED ONTO VARIOUS PANELS, DAMAGING THE PAINT. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. NO BIKER, PERSON, OR CRAZY BIRD HIT MY MIRROR, NOR WAS I SHOT AT. IT WAS ALSO NOT TEMP-RELATED. SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE IN DIVERSE MAKES & MODELS: HTTP://WWW.PLANETLEXUS.COM/LEXUS-FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=2787 HTTP://COMMUNITY.CARTALK.COM/DISCUSSION/2129791/SPONTANEOUS-EXPLOSION-OF-RIGHT-SIDE-MIRROR HTTP://WWW.JUSTANSWER.COM/MERCEDES/1KS72-POSSIBLE-SIDEMIRROR-RIGHT-OUSIDE-EXPLODE.HTML HTTPS://ANSWERS.YAHOO.COM/QUESTION/INDEX?QID=20100730125750AANPD6F HTTP://WWW.MYFORDFREESTYLE.COM/FORUMS/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=8&T=4095&VIEW=NEXT HTTP://WWW.TOYOTANATION.COM/FORUM/8-GENERAL-DISCUSSION/102512-REAR-VIEW-MIRROR-EXPLODED-FREEWAY.HTML HTTP://WWW.MAZDAS247.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?123702932-[XXX]-IT!!-(SIDE-MIRROR-COVER-EXPLODED!!) HTTP://WWW.JAGUARFORUMS.COM/FORUM/XK8-XKR-17/ANYONE-EVER-EXPERIENCE-REAR-VIEW-MIRROR-EXPLODING-INTERNALLY-27371/ SOMETHING IS DEFECTIVE. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN WHILE YOU WERE DRIVING, IT COULD HAVE VERY SERIOUS SAFETY IMPLICATIONS. IN THE LAST LINK ABOVE, THE DEFECT HAPPENED IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. WHAT IF THE MIRROR HAD ALSO EXPLODED & THE GLASS SHARDS WENT IN SOMEONE'S FACE? IN ANOTHER LINK ABOVE, THE MIRROR EXPLODED & THE DRIVER SAW PIECES FLYING THROUGH THE AIR BEHIND HIM. WHAT IF A PASSENGER WERE IN THE FRONT SEAT WITH THE WINDOW DOWN AND THE EXPLOSION HAPPENED? THANK YOU FOR LOOKING INTO THIS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587595

500 miles · Dec 24, 2010
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

WHEN THE SUV SHIFTS FROM 1ST TO 2RD GEAR THE ENGINE REVS UP ABOUT 1000 RPMS AND HESITATES 2-5 SECONDS BEFORE THE SHIFT TAKES PLACE. I CAN'T RELY ON POWER WHEN NEEDED BECAUSE OF THIS. IT'S NOT CONSTANT, ABOUT 30% OF THE TIME IT OCCURS. THE SAME THING HAPPENS WHEN DOWN SHIFTING. THE DEALER, KENDALL LEXUS OF EUGENE OREGON (RICK S…

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WHEN THE SUV SHIFTS FROM 1ST TO 2RD GEAR THE ENGINE REVS UP ABOUT 1000 RPMS AND HESITATES 2-5 SECONDS BEFORE THE SHIFT TAKES PLACE. I CAN'T RELY ON POWER WHEN NEEDED BECAUSE OF THIS. IT'S NOT CONSTANT, ABOUT 30% OF THE TIME IT OCCURS. THE SAME THING HAPPENS WHEN DOWN SHIFTING. THE DEALER, KENDALL LEXUS OF EUGENE OREGON (RICK STRONG-SERVICE MANAGER) IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND SAYS "TOYOTA WON'T PUT OUT A NEW CHIP TO FIX THE PROBLEM". RICK STRONG ALSO SAID" I TOLD THE SALESMAN HE SHOULD INFORM POTENTIAL BUYERS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE THEY PURCHASE A VEHICLE". THIS PROBLEM IS ONGOING SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10373067

15,240 miles · Aug 2, 2010
Electrical System

THE RADIO/CD UNIT WHEN CHANGING STATIONS WILL TURN UNIT OFF AND EJECT A CD FROM THE UNIT. THIS OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION THE BACKLIGHT DISPLAY FLASHES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER STATES THAT NO PROBLEM HAS BEEN FOUND WHEN TROUBLESHOOTING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10346722

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.