2013 Lexus RX 350
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2013 Lexus RX 350 has 48 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is brakes problems (19% of all complaints), specifically: i was driving on i-59 north with wife as passenger with radar cruise control set at 70 mph approaching departure exit. i tapped the brake pedal to release the cc and it did not release. thinking i had not tapped it hard enough, i made the turn and tapped the brake pedal harder. the cc did not releas. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.
48
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.6x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
BRAKES
9 complaints- • I WAS DRIVING ON I-59 NORTH WITH WIFE AS PASSENGER WITH RADAR CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70 MPH APPROACHING DEPARTURE EXIT. I TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO RELEASE THE CC AND IT DID NOT RELEASE. THINKING I HAD NOT TAPPED IT HARD ENOUGH, I MADE THE TURN AND TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDER. THE CC DID NOT RELEAS
- • WAS DRIVING IN SNOW 10 MPH WHEN ANTILOCK BRAKES QUIT WORKING. LEXUS SAID IT WAS THE BRAKER ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY. *TR ## VIN FAILED ##
- • THE ENTIRE BODY OF THE CAR SHOOK WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE. I HAVE BEEN NOTICING IT BEFORE AND IT WAS MORE SUBTLE BUT THIS TIME IT WAS NOT. I'VE ALSO NOTICED THAT SOMETIMES I WAS NOT SURE IF THE BRAKES WOULD STOP THE CAR IN TIME. AFTER THAT TRIP I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL SO I BROUGHT THE VEH
“I WAS DRIVING ON I-59 NORTH WITH WIFE AS PASSENGER WITH RADAR CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70 MPH APPROACHING DEPARTURE EXIT. I TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO RELEASE THE CC AND IT DID NOT RELEASE. THINKING I HAD NOT TAPPED IT HARD ENOUGH, I MADE THE TURN AND TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDER. THE CC DID NOT RELEAS”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
6 complaints- • BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH IS DEFECTIVE, JUST LIKE THE RECALL ISSUED TO 2004 LEXUS MODELS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
- • DRIVING DOWN I-85S IN BETWEEN MORELAND AND GRANTVILLE, GA MY CAR MADE A THUMP SOUND AND THEN CUTOFF. I PULL THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE TO SEE WHY IT CUT OFF. I EXITED THE CAR WITH MY PASSENGERS AND WE NOTICED SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE AREA. THE NEXT THING WE NOTICE IS THAT THE CAR CAUGHT F
- • SEVERAL ECUS FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY. CAR WOULD NOT START, STEERING LOCKED. LUCKILY, MY CAR WAS PARKED SO I DID NOT LOOSE STEERING WHILE MOVING.
“BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH IS DEFECTIVE, JUST LIKE THE RECALL ISSUED TO 2004 LEXUS MODELS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SPEED CONTROL
5 complaints- • I WAS DRIVING ON I-59 NORTH WITH WIFE AS PASSENGER WITH RADAR CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70 MPH APPROACHING DEPARTURE EXIT. I TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO RELEASE THE CC AND IT DID NOT RELEASE. THINKING I HAD NOT TAPPED IT HARD ENOUGH, I MADE THE TURN AND TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDER. THE CC DID NOT RELEAS
- • THE CAR WAS PARKED ON A FLAT SURFACE ON THE TOP OF A DRIVEWAY THAT GOES DOWNHILL. THE CAR WAS TURNED ON AND WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE WAS RELEASED, THE CAR IMMEDIATELY SHOT DOWN THE HILL LIKE A BULLET AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP OR SLOW DOWN THE CAR. WE WENT THROUGH 3 FENCES BEFOR
- • VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED FROM A STANDING STOP COLLIDED WITH OTHER VEHICLES AND WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. TOYOTA EXAMINED THE EVENT DATA RECORDER. THEY SAID THEY TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE (IMPOSSIBLE AS IT WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN). THEY SAID THE FLOOR MAT WAS UNSECURED (NOT SO I CHECKED IT AS
“I WAS DRIVING ON I-59 NORTH WITH WIFE AS PASSENGER WITH RADAR CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70 MPH APPROACHING DEPARTURE EXIT. I TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO RELEASE THE CC AND IT DID NOT RELEASE. THINKING I HAD NOT TAPPED IT HARD ENOUGH, I MADE THE TURN AND TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDER. THE CC DID NOT RELEAS”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
4 complaints- • I WAS DRIVING ON I-59 NORTH WITH WIFE AS PASSENGER WITH RADAR CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70 MPH APPROACHING DEPARTURE EXIT. I TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO RELEASE THE CC AND IT DID NOT RELEASE. THINKING I HAD NOT TAPPED IT HARD ENOUGH, I MADE THE TURN AND TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDER. THE CC DID NOT RELEAS
- • SUBMISSION FROM CONSTITUENT RE VEHICLE DEFECT; POSSIBLE CRASH, INJURY OR DEATH 2013 LEXUS RX 350. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED DURING THE 15, 4000 MILES SHE PUT ON THE VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASE, SHE EXPERIENCED FOUR EPISODES OF FREE WHEELING, WHEREIN THE VEHICLE, WAS IN THE DRIVE POSITION, BUT SUDDENLY W
- • TAKATA RECALL . I BOUGHT THIS SUV JUST ABOUT YEAR AGO WITH 61K MILES ON IT AND NOW IT HAVE ABOUT 71K WHICH MEANS I ONLY DROVE IT FOR 10K MILES KEPT IT LIKE A BABY AND THE TRANSMISSION BUSTED AND PARTS FELL OUT HAVE TWO BIG HOLES . I REALLY NEED HELP .LEXUS DEALERSHIP WONT COVER IT BECAUSE THEY ARE S
“I WAS DRIVING ON I-59 NORTH WITH WIFE AS PASSENGER WITH RADAR CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70 MPH APPROACHING DEPARTURE EXIT. I TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO RELEASE THE CC AND IT DID NOT RELEASE. THINKING I HAD NOT TAPPED IT HARD ENOUGH, I MADE THE TURN AND TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDER. THE CC DID NOT RELEAS”
— NHTSA complaint filing
AIR BAGS
4 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH, HE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT
- • THE CAR WAS PARKED ON A FLAT SURFACE ON THE TOP OF A DRIVEWAY THAT GOES DOWNHILL. THE CAR WAS TURNED ON AND WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE WAS RELEASED, THE CAR IMMEDIATELY SHOT DOWN THE HILL LIKE A BULLET AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP OR SLOW DOWN THE CAR. WE WENT THROUGH 3 FENCES BEFOR
- • VEHICICLE SHOT FORWARD GAINING SPEED WITH BRAKES FULLY APPLIED WHCH DID NOT ENGAGE THE BRAKE OVERRIDE OF ACCELERATION. RAN THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR GAINING SPEED THEN COLLIDED WITH THE GARAGE BACK WALL. THERE WAS NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE ADJACENT KITCHEN WALL COLLAPSED WHICH MOVED THE REFRIG
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH, HE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 48 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐BRAKES: I WAS DRIVING ON I-59 NORTH WITH WIFE AS PASSENGER WITH RADAR CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70 MPH APPROACHING DEPARTURE EXIT. I TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO RELEASE THE CC AND IT DID NOT RELEASE. THINKING I HAD NOT TAPPED IT HARD ENOUGH, I MADE THE TURN AND TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDER. THE CC DID NOT RELEAS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH IS DEFECTIVE, JUST LIKE THE RECALL ISSUED TO 2004 LEXUS MODELS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐SPEED CONTROL: I WAS DRIVING ON I-59 NORTH WITH WIFE AS PASSENGER WITH RADAR CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70 MPH APPROACHING DEPARTURE EXIT. I TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO RELEASE THE CC AND IT DID NOT RELEASE. THINKING I HAD NOT TAPPED IT HARD ENOUGH, I MADE THE TURN AND TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDER. THE CC DID NOT RELEAS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: I WAS DRIVING ON I-59 NORTH WITH WIFE AS PASSENGER WITH RADAR CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70 MPH APPROACHING DEPARTURE EXIT. I TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO RELEASE THE CC AND IT DID NOT RELEASE. THINKING I HAD NOT TAPPED IT HARD ENOUGH, I MADE THE TURN AND TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDER. THE CC DID NOT RELEAS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Lexus RX 350 — Year Comparison
How does 2013 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 48
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 4
- Crash reports
- 12
- Injury reports
- 22
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2013 Lexus RX 350