
2010 Lexus RX
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2010 Lexus RX has 106 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (22% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2010 lexus rx450h. while driving approximately 55 mph, the vehicle began to unintentionally decelerate. during the failure the check engine, all wheel drive and hybrid system lights were illuminating. the vehicle was then towed to an authorized dealer where they were in the pr.
106
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
1.3x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
23 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS RX450H. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO UNINTENTIONALLY DECELERATE. DURING THE FAILURE THE CHECK ENGINE, ALL WHEEL DRIVE AND HYBRID SYSTEM LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE IN THE PR
- • SERVICE BRAKES, MARCH 13, 2011 - MANSFIELD MA I PURCHASED MY 2010 LEXUS RX 450H IN DECEMBER 2010. EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT, I HAVE NOTICED THAT FROM TIME TO TIME, WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR SEEMS TO SURGE FORWARD(!) MOMENTARILY BEFORE IT SLOWS DOWN. THIS HAPPENS MOST FREQUENTLY. IT WILL HA
- • THE VVT-I OIL LINE ON MY LEXUS RX350 BURST WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY. IT WAS A VERY LARGE LEAK WHICH COVERED THE GROUND, ENGINE, AND UNDERCARRIAGE. THE LOW ENGINE OIL MESSAGE AND ENGINE OIL PRESSURE WARNINGS CAME ON WHEN IT HAPPENED. COMPLETE LOSS OF OIL AND NO VISIBLE OIL ON THE DIP STICK. AFTER L
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS RX450H. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO UNINTENTIONALLY DECELERATE. DURING THE FAILURE THE CHECK ENGINE, ALL WHEEL DRIVE AND HYBRID SYSTEM LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE IN THE PR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BRAKES
19 complaints- • LEXUS HYBRID SUV 2010 RX450H. CAR WAS IN SNOW SETTING AND WHEN I TRIED TO BRAKE ON A LIGHT SNOW SURFACE, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE BRAKES AND I ALSO WAS UNABLE TO STEER. I CONTINUED FORWARD UNTIL I REACHED CLEAR PAVEMENT AND WAS THEN ABLE TO BRAKE. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES TODAY UNDER THE SAME C
- • TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS RX450H. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH OVER A BUMPY ROAD SURFACE. THERE WAS PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN WHICH THERE WAS A DELAY POWER RESPONSE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE IN OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER ENCOUNTERING A BUMP
- • I PURCHASED MY 2010 LEXUS RX 450H IN JULY OF 2009. EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT, I HAVE NOTICED THAT FROM TIME TO TIME, WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR SEEMS TO SURGE FORWARD(!) MOMENTARILY BEFORE IT SLOWS DOWN. THIS HAPPENS MOST FREQUENTLY WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPY ROADS. AND IT WILL HAPPEN EVEN I
“LEXUS HYBRID SUV 2010 RX450H. CAR WAS IN SNOW SETTING AND WHEN I TRIED TO BRAKE ON A LIGHT SNOW SURFACE, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE BRAKES AND I ALSO WAS UNABLE TO STEER. I CONTINUED FORWARD UNTIL I REACHED CLEAR PAVEMENT AND WAS THEN ABLE TO BRAKE. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES TODAY UNDER THE SAME C”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
11 complaints- • I AM WRITING TO YOU TO DESCRIBE A VERY DANGEROUS CHARACTERISTIC OF THE LEXUS RX 450H. I AM LUCKY THAT A GUARDRAIL PREVENTED ME FROM GOING OFF A CLIFF AND I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT OTHER DRIVERS WILL NOT BE SO FORTUNATE. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A SLIGHT INCLINE ON AN INCH OF SO OF FRESH SNOW IN INCLINE
- • THE RADIO AND CD PLAYER AND SIRIUS RADIO STATIONS WILL SWITCH FROM FM TO SIRIUS RADIO STATION. OR, THE CD PLAYER WILL STOP AND EJECT THE CD AND SWITCH TO SIRIUS RADIO STATION. OR, THE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM WILL JUST SHUT OFF AND YOU HAVE TO TRY TO GET IT BACK ON BY PUSHING BUTTONS ON AND OFF. THI
- • OIL COOLING LINE BUSTED AND COMPLETELY EMPTIED OIL ALL OVER THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING. WAS MAKING LOUD NOISES AND HAD TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND PULL OVER
“I AM WRITING TO YOU TO DESCRIBE A VERY DANGEROUS CHARACTERISTIC OF THE LEXUS RX 450H. I AM LUCKY THAT A GUARDRAIL PREVENTED ME FROM GOING OFF A CLIFF AND I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT OTHER DRIVERS WILL NOT BE SO FORTUNATE. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A SLIGHT INCLINE ON AN INCH OF SO OF FRESH SNOW IN INCLINE ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SPEED CONTROL
10 complaints- • TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS RX450H. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH OVER A BUMPY ROAD SURFACE. THERE WAS PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN WHICH THERE WAS A DELAY POWER RESPONSE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE IN OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER ENCOUNTERING A BUMP
- • I WAS DRIVING A 2010 LEXUS RX450H ON A HIGHWAY AT @60 MPH WHEN IT ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN TO @80 MPH WITHIN A FEW SECONDS. IT RESPONDED TO THE BRAKE AND I EXITED THE HIGHWAY. I HAD THE VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY CHECKED BY THE DEALER, RALLYE LEXUS IN GLEN COVE NY, AND THEY SAID THEY WERE NO PROBLEMS. THE DE
- • I PURCHASED MY 2010 LEXUS RX 450H IN JULY OF 2009. EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT, I HAVE NOTICED THAT FROM TIME TO TIME, WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR SEEMS TO SURGE FORWARD(!) MOMENTARILY BEFORE IT SLOWS DOWN. THIS HAPPENS MOST FREQUENTLY WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPY ROADS. AND IT WILL HAPPEN EVEN I
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS RX450H. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH OVER A BUMPY ROAD SURFACE. THERE WAS PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN WHICH THERE WAS A DELAY POWER RESPONSE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE IN OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER ENCOUNTERING A BUMP”
— NHTSA complaint filing
STEERING
9 complaints- • TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS RX458. WHENEVER THE STEERING BASE WAS ADJUSTED AN ITEM COULD FALL BETWEEN THE STEERING BASE AND IT PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM MAKE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK SINCE A PART OF HIS KEY CHAIN WAS CAUGHT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE
- • LEXUS HYBRID SUV 2010 RX450H. CAR WAS IN SNOW SETTING AND WHEN I TRIED TO BRAKE ON A LIGHT SNOW SURFACE, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE BRAKES AND I ALSO WAS UNABLE TO STEER. I CONTINUED FORWARD UNTIL I REACHED CLEAR PAVEMENT AND WAS THEN ABLE TO BRAKE. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES TODAY UNDER THE SAME C
- • TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS RX450H. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH OVER A BUMPY ROAD SURFACE. THERE WAS PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN WHICH THERE WAS A DELAY POWER RESPONSE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE IN OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER ENCOUNTERING A BUMP
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS RX458. WHENEVER THE STEERING BASE WAS ADJUSTED AN ITEM COULD FALL BETWEEN THE STEERING BASE AND IT PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM MAKE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK SINCE A PART OF HIS KEY CHAIN WAS CAUGHT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE”
— 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 106 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS RX450H. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO UNINTENTIONALLY DECELERATE. DURING THE FAILURE THE CHECK ENGINE, ALL WHEEL DRIVE AND HYBRID SYSTEM LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE IN THE PR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BRAKES: LEXUS HYBRID SUV 2010 RX450H. CAR WAS IN SNOW SETTING AND WHEN I TRIED TO BRAKE ON A LIGHT SNOW SURFACE, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE BRAKES AND I ALSO WAS UNABLE TO STEER. I CONTINUED FORWARD UNTIL I REACHED CLEAR PAVEMENT AND WAS THEN ABLE TO BRAKE. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES TODAY UNDER THE SAME C
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: I AM WRITING TO YOU TO DESCRIBE A VERY DANGEROUS CHARACTERISTIC OF THE LEXUS RX 450H. I AM LUCKY THAT A GUARDRAIL PREVENTED ME FROM GOING OFF A CLIFF AND I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT OTHER DRIVERS WILL NOT BE SO FORTUNATE. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A SLIGHT INCLINE ON AN INCH OF SO OF FRESH SNOW IN INCLINE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐SPEED CONTROL: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS RX450H. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH OVER A BUMPY ROAD SURFACE. THERE WAS PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN WHICH THERE WAS A DELAY POWER RESPONSE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE IN OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER ENCOUNTERING A BUMP
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Lexus RX — Year Comparison
How does 2010 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 106
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 0
- Crash reports
- 8
- Injury reports
- 2
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2010 Lexus RX