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2013 Lexus Rx 350

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

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There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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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

24 reports with mileage · 6 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.

  • Service Brakes. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports

What owners actually said

30 reports
90,000 miles · Jan 13, 2021
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS RX 350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL RATTLING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO LEXUS OF TAMPA BAY (5852 N. DALE MABRY HWY, TAMPA, FL 33614) WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE O…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS RX 350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL RATTLING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO LEXUS OF TAMPA BAY (5852 N. DALE MABRY HWY, TAMPA, FL 33614) WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD GOTTEN WORSE OVER TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #11387882

85,000 miles · Nov 8, 2020
Electrical SystemEngineFire

MY CAR BLEW UP. THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. MILE MARKER 372 I95S. I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE AND THEN FIRE STARTED SO I PULLED OVER ON THE LEFT SHOULDER AND THE FIRE BURST INTO FULL FLAMES

NHTSA ODI #11373660

129,550 miles · Sep 8, 2020
Electrical SystemPower TrainSteering

TURNING STEERING WHEEL CAUSING DASH CUTOFF. SEATS AREN'T RESETTING TO ORIGINAL POSITION. BACK HATCH WILL NOT LIFT DEPENDING ON POSITION OF STEERING COLUMN

NHTSA ODI #11353756

Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 2020
Structure

MY LEXUS VEHICLE HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH ITS LOCKS AND TRUNK. SOMETIMES THE TRUNK CANNOT BE OPENED AT ALL EVEN IF I ATTEMPT TO OPEN IT MANUALLY. ALSO, MY DOORS HAVE TO BE MANUALLY LOCKED MOST OF THE TIME. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WILL LOCK/UNLOCK USING THE REMOTE. HOWEVER, MOST OF THE TIME I HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK AND UNLOCK ALL…

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MY LEXUS VEHICLE HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH ITS LOCKS AND TRUNK. SOMETIMES THE TRUNK CANNOT BE OPENED AT ALL EVEN IF I ATTEMPT TO OPEN IT MANUALLY. ALSO, MY DOORS HAVE TO BE MANUALLY LOCKED MOST OF THE TIME. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WILL LOCK/UNLOCK USING THE REMOTE. HOWEVER, MOST OF THE TIME I HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK AND UNLOCK ALL OF THE DOORS. THERE ARE TONS OF VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE ABOUT THIS ISSUE WHICH HAS TO DO WITH THE LOCK ACTUATORS. THERE ARE ALSO A PLETHORA OF FORUMS ON THIS ISSUE AS WELL. MANY INDIVIDUALS HAVE CHOSEN TO NOT REPLACE THE LOCK ACTUATORS THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL DOOR HAS BECAUSE IT IS VERY COSTLY. I HAVE ALSO READ THAT SOMETIMES THE LOCK ACTUATORS WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE, THIS IS A COMMON DESIGN FLAW FOR MY CAR AS WELL AS OTHER LEXUS VEHICLES. EVEN NEWER MODEL LEXUS VEHICLES ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE. OBVIOUSLY THIS ISSUE IS A DESIGN FLAW AND DEFECT AND SHOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS A RECALL THAT LEXUS SHOULD BE MANDATED TO FIX. I ALWAYS HAVE TO CHECK WITH MY SON TO ENSURE THAT HE HAS MANUALLY LOCKED HIS DOOR. WE LIVE IN HOUSTON AND IMAGINE HOW NERVOUS I GET WHEN I APPROACH A RED LIGHT WHERE HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE OFTEN BEGGING FOR MONEY. I HAVE TO MAKE SURE MY DOORS ARE LOCKED BECAUSE SOME INDIVIDUALS ARE BOLD ENOUGH TO PULL ON YOUR DOOR HANDLE AND ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN. THIS HOLD TRUE FOR WHEN I AM EXITING THE VEHICLE. I HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK ALL THE DOORS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE KNOWN FOR PULLING ON YOUR HANDLES AT NIGHT TO SEE IF THEY CAN GET LUCKY. THE RELIABILITY OF THE LEXUS LOCK ACTUATORS IS A TRUE DESIGN FLAW THAT IS LONG OVERDUE FOR LEXUS TO FIX, I AM ASKING THAT YOU HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR MAKING THIS DESIGN FLAW RIGHT WITH ALL LEXUS CAR OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11328944

Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2020
Service Brakes

USE HANDBRAKE EVERY TIME. THERE WILL BE AN EXPLOSION SOUND FROM THE BACK WHEN I RELEASE MY FOOT. THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THIS PROBLEM. I THINK IT IS A DESIGN FLAW. I TRY TO CHANGE THE BRAKE PADS. IT HAS NO EFFECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11328634

80,000 miles · Dec 11, 2019
Air BagsCrashInjury

DRIVING IN SNOW STORM ON SIDE ROAD. GOING APPROX 20 MPH ROAD SLIGHT INCLINE AND CURVES TO LEFT. TRIED TO TURN LEFT AND CAR CONTINUED GOING STRAIGHT. ANTI LOCK BRAKES WERE PUMPING CAR SEEMED TO ACCELERATE CAR HEADED TO TELEPHONE POLE AND HIT VERY DIRECTLY. CAR WAS TOTALED TELEPHONE POLE CRACKED IN HALF I WAS THROWN INTO STEERIN…

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DRIVING IN SNOW STORM ON SIDE ROAD. GOING APPROX 20 MPH ROAD SLIGHT INCLINE AND CURVES TO LEFT. TRIED TO TURN LEFT AND CAR CONTINUED GOING STRAIGHT. ANTI LOCK BRAKES WERE PUMPING CAR SEEMED TO ACCELERATE CAR HEADED TO TELEPHONE POLE AND HIT VERY DIRECTLY. CAR WAS TOTALED TELEPHONE POLE CRACKED IN HALF I WAS THROWN INTO STEERING WHEEL WINDSHIELD AND CENTER CONSOLE. AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. I BROKE MY RIBS AND WAS SEVERLY BRUISED AND HAD PAINFUL IMPACT INJURIES. WHAT DID THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOY?

NHTSA ODI #11288444

35,000 miles · Oct 30, 2019
Electrical SystemSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS RX 350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED, RATTLED, LOOSENED, AND WAS COMING OUT OF PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEXUS OF PALM BEACH (5700 OKEECHOBEE BOULEVARD, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33427, (561)-291-6004) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS RX 350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED, RATTLED, LOOSENED, AND WAS COMING OUT OF PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEXUS OF PALM BEACH (5700 OKEECHOBEE BOULEVARD, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33427, (561)-291-6004) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. THE SAME DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE CODE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT STALLED SINCE THE REPLACEMENT. THE STEEERING SHAFT WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. *LN *TR

NHTSA ODI #11277170

72,500 miles · Sep 23, 2019
Tires

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS RX 350 EQUIPPED WITH COOPER MASTERCRAFT TIRES, SIZE: 235/16R18 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE TIRES AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NEW COUNTRY LEXUS OF WESTPORT (1317 POST RD E, WESTPORT, CT 06880, (203) 255-1531) WHERE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS RX 350 EQUIPPED WITH COOPER MASTERCRAFT TIRES, SIZE: 235/16R18 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE TIRES AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NEW COUNTRY LEXUS OF WESTPORT (1317 POST RD E, WESTPORT, CT 06880, (203) 255-1531) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRE THREAD WAS SEPARATING AND ALL FOUR TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #11257513

43,000 miles · Jul 16, 2019
Engine

LEXUS RX350 HAD A SLIGHT GRINDING NOISE AT AROUND 43,000. IT WAS NOT VERY CLEAR INITIALLY ESPECIALLY WHEN THE AC WAS ON. NOW AT 76,000 MILES, THE NOISE IS VERY LOUD AND LEXUS SAID IT IS THE WATER PUMP SLOWLY GOING BAD. NOW THE CAR, AFTER 70,000 MILES IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVE SEEN REPORTS ONLINE WITH COMMON BEARINGS FAILURE ON …

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LEXUS RX350 HAD A SLIGHT GRINDING NOISE AT AROUND 43,000. IT WAS NOT VERY CLEAR INITIALLY ESPECIALLY WHEN THE AC WAS ON. NOW AT 76,000 MILES, THE NOISE IS VERY LOUD AND LEXUS SAID IT IS THE WATER PUMP SLOWLY GOING BAD. NOW THE CAR, AFTER 70,000 MILES IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVE SEEN REPORTS ONLINE WITH COMMON BEARINGS FAILURE ON TOYOTA/LEXUS WATER PUMPS. I WOUNDER IF THIS IS A SYSTEMIC ISSUE GIVEN THE WELL KNOW RELIABILITY OF THE LEXUS BRAND.

NHTSA ODI #11232212

102,000 miles · May 9, 2019
Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other

SEVERAL ECUS FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY. CAR WOULD NOT START, STEERING LOCKED. LUCKILY, MY CAR WAS PARKED SO I DID NOT LOOSE STEERING WHILE MOVING.

NHTSA ODI #11206577

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.