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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

97 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 2018
Steering

MY DEALER JUST TOLD ME THAT THE STEERING RACK KIT LEAKINGAND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. THIS COMMON PROBLEM IN LEXUS,IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS, LEXUS SHOULD BE PAYING FOR IT, NOT ME. THE QUOTE IS FOR $1315

NHTSA ODI #11151104

19,278 miles · Aug 28, 2018
Steering

MY LEXUS HAS UNDER 20,000 MILES ON IT AND IT HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT AND NOT SEEN WINTERS. MY DEALER JUST TOLD ME THAT THE STEERING GEARBOX NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. THIS CAR IS IN PERFECT SHAPE AND HAS HARDLY BEEN DRIVEN. IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS, LEXUS SHOULD BE PAYING FOR IT, NOT ME. THE QUOTE IS FOR $1450.

NHTSA ODI #11122889

103,000 miles · Aug 10, 2018
EngineSteering

MY CAR NEVER LEAKED OIL, AND NO SENSOR LIGHTS WERE ON. REGULAR MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED ON THE CAR. WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ON CRUISE CONTROL ABOUT 70 MPH (2,000 RPM) ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED UP TO 3,000-3,500 RPM. I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY WITHIN 0.25 MILES, THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR CAME ON AT THE END OF THE EXIT …

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MY CAR NEVER LEAKED OIL, AND NO SENSOR LIGHTS WERE ON. REGULAR MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED ON THE CAR. WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ON CRUISE CONTROL ABOUT 70 MPH (2,000 RPM) ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED UP TO 3,000-3,500 RPM. I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY WITHIN 0.25 MILES, THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR CAME ON AT THE END OF THE EXIT RAMP. I DROVE APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS AWAY FROM THE EXIT RAMP TO REACH A SIDE STREET AND BY THEN THE CAR WAS BARELY MOVING, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, AND SEVERAL OTHER SENSOR LIGHTS WERE ALSO ON. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A SERVICE GARAGE THAT TOLD ME THE OIL COOLANT LINES HAD LEAKED CAUSING THE LOW PRESSURE CONDITION IN THE ENGINE. AFTER THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE OIL COOLER LINES AND PERFORMED AN OIL AND FILTER CHANGE THEY FOUND "LARGE QUANTITIES OF METAL SHAVINGS IN OIL FILTER CARTRIDGE INDICATING INTERNAL DAMAGE OF ENGINE." SEVERE INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED AND ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IN MY EXPERIENCE, IT SEEMS THAT A LARGE QUANTITY OF OIL WAS LOST VERY QUICKLY, AND IF I HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY WITHIN A MATTER OF SECONDS THE CAR COULD HAVE SEIZED UP AND I COULD HAVE GOTTEN IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #11118970

152,390 miles · Jul 30, 2018
Engine

I JUST BOUGHT CAR AND 5 DAYS LATER THE OIL COOLER LINE FAILED AND I LOST ALL OIL. IF THIS WAS HANDLED AS A RECALL (I SEARCHED FOR RECALLS BEFORE PURCHASING CAR) IT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF ALREADY, AT THE VERY LEAST I WOULD HAVE KNOWN TO GET IT DONE. LEXUS EXTENDED WARRANTY IS 150,000 MILES UNFORTUNATELY MINE HAS 1…

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I JUST BOUGHT CAR AND 5 DAYS LATER THE OIL COOLER LINE FAILED AND I LOST ALL OIL. IF THIS WAS HANDLED AS A RECALL (I SEARCHED FOR RECALLS BEFORE PURCHASING CAR) IT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF ALREADY, AT THE VERY LEAST I WOULD HAVE KNOWN TO GET IT DONE. LEXUS EXTENDED WARRANTY IS 150,000 MILES UNFORTUNATELY MINE HAS 152,400, SO THEY ARE DENYING COVERAGE.

NHTSA ODI #11114535

139,932 miles · Jul 3, 2018
Wheels

VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH TWO-PIECE LUG NUTS CONSISTING OF A PHYSICAL LUG NUT AND A DECORATIVE CAP. LUG NUTS ARE 21MM IN SIZE. OVER TIME, ESPECIALLY IN HUMID CLIMATES OR WHERE ROAD SALT IS USED, LUG NUTS SWELL BETWEEN DECORATIVE CAP AND PHYSICAL LUG NUT DUE TO CORROSION. SWELLING CAN CAUSE 21MM TOOLS INCLUDING VEHICLE LUG WRENCH …

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VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH TWO-PIECE LUG NUTS CONSISTING OF A PHYSICAL LUG NUT AND A DECORATIVE CAP. LUG NUTS ARE 21MM IN SIZE. OVER TIME, ESPECIALLY IN HUMID CLIMATES OR WHERE ROAD SALT IS USED, LUG NUTS SWELL BETWEEN DECORATIVE CAP AND PHYSICAL LUG NUT DUE TO CORROSION. SWELLING CAN CAUSE 21MM TOOLS INCLUDING VEHICLE LUG WRENCH TO NOT FIT ON LUG NUT. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE A FLAT TIRE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CHANGE TIRES.

NHTSA ODI #11105375

50,026 miles · Apr 2, 2018
SteeringSuspension

MY LEXUS HAS JUST 50,000 MILES ON IT GARAGE KEPT, JUST WAS TOLD MY RACK&PINION GEAR WAS LEAKING TO THE TUNE OF 1800.00 DOLLARS. I WAS LOOKING UP LEXUS FORUMS ON LINE, THERE IS QUITE OF LEXUS OWNER'S THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. AND IF YOU DON`T TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM IT COULD BE QUITE DANGEROUS. I THINK LEXUS SHOULD REIMBURS…

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MY LEXUS HAS JUST 50,000 MILES ON IT GARAGE KEPT, JUST WAS TOLD MY RACK&PINION GEAR WAS LEAKING TO THE TUNE OF 1800.00 DOLLARS. I WAS LOOKING UP LEXUS FORUMS ON LINE, THERE IS QUITE OF LEXUS OWNER'S THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. AND IF YOU DON`T TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM IT COULD BE QUITE DANGEROUS. I THINK LEXUS SHOULD REIMBURSE OWNER'S FOR THERE OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES.

NHTSA ODI #11082435

76,500 miles · Dec 23, 2017
Steering

SERIOUS STEERING RACK POWER STEERING FAILURE/LEAKAGE, MECHANIC SAYS COMMON LEXUS AND TOYOTA PRODUCTS AND CAN LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT BY LOSING STEERING AT HIGH SPEEDS. THANK GOD, NO ACCIDENT YET, JUST FACING $1600 REPAIR. PARTS AND LABOR, ONE YEAR WARRANTY. DO MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE THIS IS ADDRESSED??

NHTSA ODI #11056179

102,736 miles · Oct 25, 2017
Service BrakesStructureVehicle Speed ControlCrash

TAKATA RECALL - MY AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED ON IMPACT. AS I WAS BRAKING TO PARK OUTSIDE MY GARAGE DOOR, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED EXTREMELY FAST. MY LEXUS WENT THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR AND I WAS BRAKING BUT MY SUV DIDN'T STOP UNTIL IT HIT THINGS IN THE GARAGE THAT STOPPED ME. I EVEN PLOWED INTO A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT WENT OUT…

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TAKATA RECALL - MY AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED ON IMPACT. AS I WAS BRAKING TO PARK OUTSIDE MY GARAGE DOOR, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED EXTREMELY FAST. MY LEXUS WENT THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR AND I WAS BRAKING BUT MY SUV DIDN'T STOP UNTIL IT HIT THINGS IN THE GARAGE THAT STOPPED ME. I EVEN PLOWED INTO A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT WENT OUT THE BACK WALL OF THE GARAGE

NHTSA ODI #11039557

79,000 miles · Oct 16, 2017
Steering

I TOOK MY RX350 FOR REGULAR SERVICE AND ASKED FOR THE STEERING TO BE CHECKED SINCE IT MADE NOISE AND DID NOT FEEL SECURE WHEN MAKING HARD OR SHARP TURNS AND WHEN PARKING IN TIGHT SPOTS. I WAS INFORMED THAT MY RACK & PINION ASSEMBLY WAS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID AND IT COULD BE HAZARDOUS IF NOT ADDRESSED. IT NEEDED TO BE RE…

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I TOOK MY RX350 FOR REGULAR SERVICE AND ASKED FOR THE STEERING TO BE CHECKED SINCE IT MADE NOISE AND DID NOT FEEL SECURE WHEN MAKING HARD OR SHARP TURNS AND WHEN PARKING IN TIGHT SPOTS. I WAS INFORMED THAT MY RACK & PINION ASSEMBLY WAS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID AND IT COULD BE HAZARDOUS IF NOT ADDRESSED. IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LEXUS ESTIMATE WAS $2000! GIVEN THE AGE, I HAD LESS THAN 80K MOSTLY LOCAL AND HIGHWAY MILES ON THE SUV. WHEN I RESEARCHED COST ESTIMATES I FOUND THAT THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. I BELIEVE LEXUS SHOULD ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AND RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND REIMBURSE THE OWNERS WHO HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET! AFTER I SAVED UP TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR THE COST WAS $2058.11!

NHTSA ODI #11033886

132,500 miles · Aug 31, 2017
Engine

OIL COOLANT MANIFOLD. RUBBER HOSES WHICH ARE HIGH PRESSURE HOSES BURST. ENGINE ISSUES AFTERWARDS DUE TO IMMEDIATE AND EXTREME OIL LOSS. DRIVING AT 55 MPH ON HIGHWAY. LEXUS DEALER STATED THE REPLACEMENT PART IS ON "NATIONAL BACK ORDER, MORE THAN 3,000 UNITS". I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FIXED AS IT IS A PRIMARY VEHICLE FOR MY FAM…

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OIL COOLANT MANIFOLD. RUBBER HOSES WHICH ARE HIGH PRESSURE HOSES BURST. ENGINE ISSUES AFTERWARDS DUE TO IMMEDIATE AND EXTREME OIL LOSS. DRIVING AT 55 MPH ON HIGHWAY. LEXUS DEALER STATED THE REPLACEMENT PART IS ON "NATIONAL BACK ORDER, MORE THAN 3,000 UNITS". I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FIXED AS IT IS A PRIMARY VEHICLE FOR MY FAMILY. LEXUS STATES THEY WILL NOT REIMBURSE UNLESS IT IS FIXED AT A LEXUS DEALER....THOUGH THEY DO NOT HAVE THE REPLACEMENT PART! NO LOANER WAS OFFERED. COST $321.00 FOR AFTERMARKET PART. THERE IS A SERVICE CAMPAIGN ON THIS ISSUE; SCZLC AS OF 08/01/2014, OBVIOUSLY THEY ARE AWARE OF AN ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11020754

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.