2011 Lexus RX350

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2011 Lexus RX350 has 49 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is brakes problems (20% of all complaints), specifically: 2011 lexus rx350. consumer states after turning a half circle, the vehicle suddenly skidded and hit the left curb and the left front tire ruptured and vehicle kept moving toward the driver's side despite consumer trying to stop the vehicle *tgw the consumer stated he crashed into a nearby concrete. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 25 crash reports 15 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BRAKES

10 complaints

20%

• 2011 LEXUS RX350. CONSUMER STATES AFTER TURNING A HALF CIRCLE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SKIDDED AND HIT THE LEFT CURB AND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE RUPTURED AND VEHICLE KEPT MOVING TOWARD THE DRIVER'S SIDE DESPITE CONSUMER TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE CRASHED INTO A NEARBY CONCRETE
• BRAKES FELT SPONGY FIRST DAY, WORSE SECOND DAY. THIRD DAY, WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. PUMPED PEDAL TO STOP ROLLING, SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. DROVE DIRECTLY TO DEALER, LESS THAN 1/2 MILE. DIAGNOSIS IS FAILURE OF MASTER CYLINDER. *TR
• TURNED INTO PARKING SPACE. CAR BEGAN ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. I APPLIED THE BRAKES CONTINUOUSLY, THREW THE CAR INTO PARK TO NO AVAIL. THE CAR JOLTED FORWARD, CRASHING INTO THE STOREFRONT, BREAKING GLASS WINDOWS. THE (APPROX) 2 FEET OF BLOCK WALL STOPPED THE CAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MY CONTROL IN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 8 crashes

“2011 LEXUS RX350. CONSUMER STATES AFTER TURNING A HALF CIRCLE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SKIDDED AND HIT THE LEFT CURB AND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE RUPTURED AND VEHICLE KEPT MOVING TOWARD THE DRIVER'S SIDE DESPITE CONSUMER TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE CRASHED INTO A NEARBY CONCRETE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

9 complaints

18%

• I HAVE A 2011 LEXUS GX 460. IT LACKS POWER WHEN IT IS COLD AND THERE IS EXHAUST FUMES THAT ARE COMING INTO THE VEHICLE AFTER I MERGE ON T THE HIGHWAY IT IS ALMOST A INSTANT HEADACHE THE SMELL IS SO STRONG ITS SMELLS LIKE SULFUR THERE IS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND GAS MILEAGE NOT NORMAL . I HAVE USED
• I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION (SUA) IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY APARTMENT ON MARCH 3RD, 2012. IT WAS A SUNNY DAY, AND THE ROAD CONDITION WAS GOOD. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING LEXUS RX 350 2011 MODEL (MILEAGE: 2124MILES). MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE SITTING ON THE BACK SEATS. SHE WAS SLOWING DOWN
• 1) ENGINE OIL LEAK AT 15,000 MILES ONLY ON MAY 8, 2013 (AFTER MERELY "2 YEARS OLD") 2) ANOTHER 3 LEAKS IN YEAR 2015 ALONE A) ENGINE OIL LEAK AGAIN ON MARCH 27, 2015 ( 33,802 MILES ONLY ) B) LESS THAN 2 MONTHS, ENGINE OIL LEAK AGAIN ON MAY 7, 2015 ( 35,284 MILES ONLY ) C) REPEAT THE 4TH TIME

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“I HAVE A 2011 LEXUS GX 460. IT LACKS POWER WHEN IT IS COLD AND THERE IS EXHAUST FUMES THAT ARE COMING INTO THE VEHICLE AFTER I MERGE ON T THE HIGHWAY IT IS ALMOST A INSTANT HEADACHE THE SMELL IS SO STRONG ITS SMELLS LIKE SULFUR THERE IS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND GAS MILEAGE NOT NORMAL . I HAVE USED”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

8 complaints

16%

• 2011 LEXUS RX350. CONSUMER STATES AFTER TURNING A HALF CIRCLE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SKIDDED AND HIT THE LEFT CURB AND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE RUPTURED AND VEHICLE KEPT MOVING TOWARD THE DRIVER'S SIDE DESPITE CONSUMER TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE CRASHED INTO A NEARBY CONCRETE
• I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION (SUA) IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY APARTMENT ON MARCH 3RD, 2012. IT WAS A SUNNY DAY, AND THE ROAD CONDITION WAS GOOD. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING LEXUS RX 350 2011 MODEL (MILEAGE: 2124MILES). MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE SITTING ON THE BACK SEATS. SHE WAS SLOWING DOWN
• WHILE PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY, MY WIFE TOOK HER FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR AND CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND RAN INTO WALL OF HOUSE DAMAGING FRONT OF CAR AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO HOUSE AND CONTENTS. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 7 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

6 complaints

12%

• I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION (SUA) IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY APARTMENT ON MARCH 3RD, 2012. IT WAS A SUNNY DAY, AND THE ROAD CONDITION WAS GOOD. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING LEXUS RX 350 2011 MODEL (MILEAGE: 2124MILES). MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE SITTING ON THE BACK SEATS. SHE WAS SLOWING DOWN
• I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE CAR FELT LIKE IT JUMPED / ACCELERATED FROM NOWHERE, AND I COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME IN A REAR-END COLLISION. DAMAGED CAUSED TO MY ENTIRE FRONT END AND THE OTHER VEHICLES BACK END. IMPACT SPEED IS UNKNOWN BUT IT FELT LIKE 5-10MPH AND DEFINITELY NOT A R
• 1) ENGINE OIL LEAK AT 15,000 MILES ONLY ON MAY 8, 2013 (AFTER MERELY "2 YEARS OLD") 2) ANOTHER 3 LEAKS IN YEAR 2015 ALONE A) ENGINE OIL LEAK AGAIN ON MARCH 27, 2015 ( 33,802 MILES ONLY ) B) LESS THAN 2 MONTHS, ENGINE OIL LEAK AGAIN ON MAY 7, 2015 ( 35,284 MILES ONLY ) C) REPEAT THE 4TH TIME

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION (SUA) IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY APARTMENT ON MARCH 3RD, 2012. IT WAS A SUNNY DAY, AND THE ROAD CONDITION WAS GOOD. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING LEXUS RX 350 2011 MODEL (MILEAGE: 2124MILES). MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE SITTING ON THE BACK SEATS. SHE WAS SLOWING DOWN ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

6 complaints

12%

• WE WERE STOPPED FOR A RED LIGHT IN A LEFT TURN LANE. AT 9;30 AT NIGHT THE LIGHT IS SLOW TO CHANGE. IN ABOUT 2 MINUTES IT TURNED GREEN. I COULD SEE CARS STOPPING IN THE LANES. I PULLED OUT ONLY TO BE HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE FRONT END. FHP ESTIMATED HIS SPEED AT 50MPH. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DE
• MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING A ACCIDENT MY CAR WAS TOTAL AND I PUSH DOWN ON MY BRAKES IT HIT THE BACK OF A TRUCK MY INJURY WERE REALLY BAD I FELT THAT MY BRAKES AND AIRBAG
• I WANT TO KNOW IF MY CAR'S AIR BAGS ARE SAFE. I RECENTLY WAS TOLD MANY OLDER LEXUS SUV'S HAD DANGEROUS AIR BAGS AND THE CAR OWNERS WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE SAFE CARS FROM LEXUS.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“WE WERE STOPPED FOR A RED LIGHT IN A LEFT TURN LANE. AT 9;30 AT NIGHT THE LIGHT IS SLOW TO CHANGE. IN ABOUT 2 MINUTES IT TURNED GREEN. I COULD SEE CARS STOPPING IN THE LANES. I PULLED OUT ONLY TO BE HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE FRONT END. FHP ESTIMATED HIS SPEED AT 50MPH. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 49 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BRAKES: 2011 LEXUS RX350. CONSUMER STATES AFTER TURNING A HALF CIRCLE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SKIDDED AND HIT THE LEFT CURB AND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE RUPTURED AND VEHICLE KEPT MOVING TOWARD THE DRIVER'S SIDE DESPITE CONSUMER TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE CRASHED INTO A NEARBY CONCRETE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: I HAVE A 2011 LEXUS GX 460. IT LACKS POWER WHEN IT IS COLD AND THERE IS EXHAUST FUMES THAT ARE COMING INTO THE VEHICLE AFTER I MERGE ON T THE HIGHWAY IT IS ALMOST A INSTANT HEADACHE THE SMELL IS SO STRONG ITS SMELLS LIKE SULFUR THERE IS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND GAS MILEAGE NOT NORMAL . I HAVE USED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SPEED CONTROL: 2011 LEXUS RX350. CONSUMER STATES AFTER TURNING A HALF CIRCLE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SKIDDED AND HIT THE LEFT CURB AND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE RUPTURED AND VEHICLE KEPT MOVING TOWARD THE DRIVER'S SIDE DESPITE CONSUMER TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE CRASHED INTO A NEARBY CONCRETE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION (SUA) IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY APARTMENT ON MARCH 3RD, 2012. IT WAS A SUNNY DAY, AND THE ROAD CONDITION WAS GOOD. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING LEXUS RX 350 2011 MODEL (MILEAGE: 2124MILES). MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE SITTING ON THE BACK SEATS. SHE WAS SLOWING DOWN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)