← New search

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

Other model years Selected year
Compare all RX350 years →

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
108,000 miles · Jan 24, 2014
Engine

WHILE DRIVING IN THE VERY BUSY FREEWAY, THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING OR ANY SIGNAL. UPON LEXUS DEALER INSPECTION, THE CAUSE WAS , BOLTS USED TO SECURE THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING CONTROL DEVICE CAN BECOME LOOSE, ONE OF THE BOLTS CAME OUT AND CAUSED THE TIMING CHAIN TO BREAK AND IT BROKE THE ENGINE HEAD, CAUSI…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING IN THE VERY BUSY FREEWAY, THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING OR ANY SIGNAL. UPON LEXUS DEALER INSPECTION, THE CAUSE WAS , BOLTS USED TO SECURE THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING CONTROL DEVICE CAN BECOME LOOSE, ONE OF THE BOLTS CAME OUT AND CAUSED THE TIMING CHAIN TO BREAK AND IT BROKE THE ENGINE HEAD, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP WHILE BEING DRIVEN. LEXUS HAS NOT RECALLED THE RX 350 MODELS, HOWEVER ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2013 LEXUS HAS RECALLED IS 350, IS 350C AND GS 350 VEHICLES FOR THE EXACT SAME REASON. MY CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED AT LEXUS DEALER. ACCORDING TO LEXUS SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THERE WAS NO WAY FOR ME TO PREVENT THIS OR TO KNOW. THE SUDDEN STOP OF THE VEHICLE IN THE FREEWAY AS THE RESULT OF THIS ENGINE FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT WHICH WAS VERY LIFE THREATENING. THESE ENGINES HAS TO BE RECALLED FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR BY LEXUS. LEXUS DID NOT ACCEPT THE FAULT EVEN THOUGH THEY ACCEPTED TO PAY PARTIAL PART OF THE COST OF THE REBUILDING THE ENGINE AS A COURTESY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10561350

70,410 miles · Jan 2, 2014
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 LEXUS RX 350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PLANETARY ASSEMBLY HAD BECOME DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE AP…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 LEXUS RX 350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PLANETARY ASSEMBLY HAD BECOME DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,410. UPDATED 2/11/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED AAMCO RE-BUILT THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION. THEY FOUND THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURE WAS THE PINS HAD WORKED THEMSELVES OUT ON THE REAR PLANET ASSEMBLY GEARS, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. UPDATED 02/14/14

NHTSA ODI #10558151

94,000 miles · Nov 23, 2013
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

AFTER A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND MAINTENANCE SERVICE AT 94,000 I WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION NEEDS REPLACEMENT FOR A FEE OF $1854, PLUS BRAKE PAD AND REPLACEMENT AND RESURFACING OF THE REAR ROTORS FOR $385. I FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF OIL LEAKAGE ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10553496

52,000 miles · Oct 31, 2013
Steering

I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR REGULAR SERVICE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND THEY RECOMMENCED SEVERAL THINGS, INCLUDING REPLACING THE POWER STEERING RACK DUE TO A LEAK. I GOT A SECOND OPINION BEFORE REPLACING IT AND THEY SAID IT SEEMED VERY ODD TO HAVE THAT AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. I THEREFORE DID LOTS OF RESEARCH TO SEE IF I WAS JUST UNLUCKY AN…

Read full complaint

I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR REGULAR SERVICE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND THEY RECOMMENCED SEVERAL THINGS, INCLUDING REPLACING THE POWER STEERING RACK DUE TO A LEAK. I GOT A SECOND OPINION BEFORE REPLACING IT AND THEY SAID IT SEEMED VERY ODD TO HAVE THAT AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. I THEREFORE DID LOTS OF RESEARCH TO SEE IF I WAS JUST UNLUCKY AND HAVE FOUND MANY PEOPLE THAT OWN A LEXUS OR TOYOTA HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. I HAVE ONLY EVER TAKEN MY CAR TO BE SERVICED AT LEXUS AS THEY STATE NEEDED, AND THEREFORE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE HAPPENING AND THINK IT'S COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR THIS. IF THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN (MY CAR DID NOT PASS INSPECTION DUE TO IT) HOW CAN LEXUS NOT RECALL THE PART AFTER SO MANY INCIDENTS? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10550375

45,000 miles · Sep 4, 2013
Steering

DEALERSHIP SAID THERE IS A LEAK . THE STEERING COULD FAIL. NEED TO REPLACE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10541754

51,000 miles · Aug 13, 2013
Steering

WENT TO LEXUS DEALERSHIP FOR OIL CHANGE TODAY & WAS TOLD THAT RACK & PINION STEERING ASSEMBLY IS LEAKING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 51,000 MILES ON IT & HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY AT DEALER. NOTICED MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ON LEXUS RX VEHICLES. THIS SHOULD BE A MANUFACTURE RECALL! AVERAGE CO…

Read full complaint

WENT TO LEXUS DEALERSHIP FOR OIL CHANGE TODAY & WAS TOLD THAT RACK & PINION STEERING ASSEMBLY IS LEAKING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 51,000 MILES ON IT & HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY AT DEALER. NOTICED MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ON LEXUS RX VEHICLES. THIS SHOULD BE A MANUFACTURE RECALL! AVERAGE COST TO REPLACE IS $1500. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10535095

54,744 miles · Jul 18, 2013
Steering

DURING VEHICLE SERVICE,WAS TOLD THE RACK AND PINION, POWER STEERING WAS LEAKING. AFTER LOOKING ON LINE I DISCOVERED THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH RX VEHICLES. MOST WITH LOW MILEAGE OR AGE. LEXUS APPARENTLY ORDERED NO RECALL OR UPGRADED THEIR PARTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10525611

Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 2013
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHT CONDENSATION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE; MANUFACTURER DEFECTED LEAD TO A TSB AND CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT; DEALER DO NOT WANT TO REPAIR UNDER DUE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10509817

Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2013
Air BagsCrashInjury

2009 LEXUS RX 350. ATTORNEY REPRESENTING CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIR BAG MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO THE SIDE OF HER VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO A LETTER FROM TOYOTA, THE IMPACT WAS DIRECTED AT THE LEFT FRONT DOOR, WHICH WAS A MORE YIELDING PORTION OF THE VE…

Read full complaint

2009 LEXUS RX 350. ATTORNEY REPRESENTING CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIR BAG MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO THE SIDE OF HER VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO A LETTER FROM TOYOTA, THE IMPACT WAS DIRECTED AT THE LEFT FRONT DOOR, WHICH WAS A MORE YIELDING PORTION OF THE VEHICLE. THE B-PILLAR WAS NOT IMPACTED AND DEPLOYMENT WAS NOT WARRANTED. THE SIDE TORSO AIR BAGS WERE DESIGNED TO HELP MITIGATE SERIOUS INJURY TO THE OCCUPANTS TORSO, AND IT WOULD NOT HAVE PREVENTED THE TYPE OF INJURY THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED.

NHTSA ODI #10495441

64,000 miles · Nov 13, 2012
Equipment

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE GLOBAL POSITION SYSTEM UPDATED VERSION INSTALLED, HOWEVER THE GLOBAL POSITION SYSTEM FAILED TO REGISTER THE LOCATION AND THE MONITOR FACE BECAME BLANK. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE GLOBAL POSITION SYSTEM UPDATED VERSION INSTALLED, HOWEVER THE GLOBAL POSITION SYSTEM FAILED TO REGISTER THE LOCATION AND THE MONITOR FACE BECAME BLANK. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000. UPDATED 12/21/12*LJ THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM WAS REPAIRED IN OCTOBER 2012. UPDATED 01/09/13. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10484525

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.