IllustrationI WAS TOLD THAT A CIRCUT BREAKER FAILED UNDER THE DASH ,AS TO THE CAUSE. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW AND HAD SOME STRANGE ELECTRIAL ISSUES. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR
2012 Lexus RX350
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2012 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
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
130–25K
625–50K
550–75K
275–100K
3100–150K
0150K+
29 reports with mileage · 4 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.
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
11 crash reports2 fire reports7 injury reports
What owners actually said
33 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ABNORMALLY DEPRESSED INTO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE CODE. THE DEALER THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ABNORMALLY DEPRESSED INTO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE CODE. THE DEALER THEN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT AIR HAD ENTERED THE BRAKE LINE AND CAUSED THE BRAKE TO BECOME SPONGY. THE DEALER REMOVED THE AIR FROM THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT DID NOT FEEL SAFE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. UPDATED 06/05/12*LJ UPDATED 6/6/12 *SD
I BOUGHT THE NEW CAR FROM A LEXUS DEALER IN NJ ON SATURDAY 12/03/2011. RIGHT AFTER THE CAR WAS DELIVERED TO ME AND AS I DROVE THE CAR OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP, I NOTICED THAT RPM SURGED WHENEVER GEAR UPSHIFTED SPECIALLY IN 15-40 MPH RANGE. MY WIFE ALSO NOTICED THE SAME ISSUE. WE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER ON FOLLOWING FRIDAY, 12…
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I BOUGHT THE NEW CAR FROM A LEXUS DEALER IN NJ ON SATURDAY 12/03/2011. RIGHT AFTER THE CAR WAS DELIVERED TO ME AND AS I DROVE THE CAR OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP, I NOTICED THAT RPM SURGED WHENEVER GEAR UPSHIFTED SPECIALLY IN 15-40 MPH RANGE. MY WIFE ALSO NOTICED THE SAME ISSUE. WE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER ON FOLLOWING FRIDAY, 12/9/2011, AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM. WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, IT HAD ~340 MILES ON IT. ONE MECHANIC AT THE DEALER ROAD TESTED THE CAR WITH ME AND NOTICED THE SAME ISSUE. WE LEFT THE CAR AT THE DEALER ON THAT DAY. ON FOLLOWING MONDAY AFTERNOON (12/12/2011), THE DEALER CALLED AND SAID THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILED AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. WE HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE CAR AND RESULTING SAFETY ISSUE: POWER TRAIN IS THE MAIN COMPONENT OF A CAR THAT HAS DIRECT IMPLICATION ON A CAR'S SAFETY. THIS CAR WAS A DEFECT EVEN BEFORE IT WAS DELIVERED TO ME. I ALSO HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE RIGOR OF LEXUS NEW CAR INSPECTION PROCESS BEFORE CUSTOMER DELIVERY. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS KIND OF POWER TRAIN ISSUE CAN LEAD TO A MORE SERIOUS SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM THAT CAUSES DISASTROUS ACCIDENTS. WITH THIS DEFECTED CAR, WE MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT RIGHT AFTER DELIVERY DUE TO POWER TRAIN FAILURE. *TR
Official recalls
114V054000 · Electronic Stability Control (esc); Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module
Feb 12, 2014
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012 and 2013 Toyota Tacoma and Lexus RX350 vehicles and certain model year 2012 Toyota Rav4 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the brake system contains a brake actuator that adjusts the fluid pressure of each wheel cylinder. An electrical component within the actuator may experience an increased resistance resulting in the illumination of various warning lights, including those for the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system, Antilock Brake System (ABS), and Traction Control system.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If this occurs, these systems could become inoperative, reducing the directional control assistance, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and Toyota and Lexus dealers will update the software for the Skid Control electronic control unit, free of charge. The recall began on March 28, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012 and 2013 Toyota Tacoma and Lexus RX350 vehicles and certain model year 2012 Toyota Rav4 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the brake system contains a brake actuator that adjusts the fluid pressure of each wheel cylinder. An electrical component within the actuator may experience an increased resistance resulting in the illumination of various warning lights, including those for the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system, Antilock Brake System (ABS), and Traction Control system.
Consequence: If this occurs, these systems could become inoperative, reducing the directional control assistance, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and Toyota and Lexus dealers will update the software for the Skid Control electronic control unit, free of charge. The recall began on March 28, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012 and 2013 Toyota Tacoma and Lexus RX350 vehicles and certain model year 2012 Toyota Rav4 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the brake system contains a brake actuator that adjusts the fluid pressure of each wheel cylinder. An electrical component within the actuator may experience an increased resistance resulting in the illumination of various warning lights, including those for the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system, Antilock Brake System (ABS), and Traction Control system.
Consequence: If this occurs, these systems could become inoperative, reducing the directional control assistance, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and Toyota and Lexus dealers will update the software for the Skid Control electronic control unit, free of charge. The recall began on March 28, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.