2012 Lexus RX350

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Lexus RX350 has 46 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is speed control problems (22% of all complaints), specifically: on 6/25/2012- at 7:10 am, i was pulling into the parking spot for my vehicle in my hospital parking lot for a scheduled surgical case, where i work as an ob/gyn physician/surgeon . as i turned to the parking spot at the usual, approximately 2-4 miles /hr speed ( the speed at which normally one parks. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 16 crash reports 21 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

SPEED CONTROL

10 complaints

22%

• ON 6/25/2012- AT 7:10 AM, I WAS PULLING INTO THE PARKING SPOT FOR MY VEHICLE IN MY HOSPITAL PARKING LOT FOR A SCHEDULED SURGICAL CASE, WHERE I WORK AS AN OB/GYN PHYSICIAN/SURGEON . AS I TURNED TO THE PARKING SPOT AT THE USUAL, APPROXIMATELY 2-4 MILES /HR SPEED ( THE SPEED AT WHICH NORMALLY ONE PARKS
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS RX 350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT SHE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD A FEW FEET BUT THEN DECCELERATED AND DRIFTED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ON T
• WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT APPROX. 3 MPH AND BEING LESS THAN A FOOT FROM WHERE I WOULD HAVE FULLY STOPPED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY AS THE ENGINE RACED AT A VERY HIGH RPM. I WAS ABLE TO TURN MY WHEEL QUICKLY TO THE LEFT TO AVOID HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. AT THAT SA

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

“ON 6/25/2012- AT 7:10 AM, I WAS PULLING INTO THE PARKING SPOT FOR MY VEHICLE IN MY HOSPITAL PARKING LOT FOR A SCHEDULED SURGICAL CASE, WHERE I WORK AS AN OB/GYN PHYSICIAN/SURGEON . AS I TURNED TO THE PARKING SPOT AT THE USUAL, APPROXIMATELY 2-4 MILES /HR SPEED ( THE SPEED AT WHICH NORMALLY ONE PARKS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

6 complaints

13%

• 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
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FELT ABNORMAL AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. TWO WEEKS LATER, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A U TURN, THE BRAKES SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIA
• JULY 11TH 2017 AT AROUND 220PM PST, THE LEXUS RX350 2012, EXPERIENCE A VERY DANGEROUS FAILURE. EARLIER THAT WEEK I NOTICED ISSUE WITH THE BATTERY, WHERE IT WOULD TAKE ONE OR MORE PUSHES TO THE START BUTTON FOR THE CAR TO TURN ON. BUT ON THIS DATE, I HAD JUST PARKED THE CAR ON A ROAD WITH AN SLIGHT I

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

“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 ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

5 complaints

11%

• I WAS STOPPED TURNING RIGHT FORM ONE CITY STREET ONTO ANOTHER CITY STREET WHEN I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY NOR DID THE SEAT BELT STOP ME FROM CAREENING FORWARD IN THE SEAT CAUSING MY HEAD TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. I RECEIVED A CUT OVER MY RIGHT EYE FROM THE IMPACT.
• FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR IS NOT WORKING, IT LIGHTS UP, STANDING, IM MOTION ALL THE TIME, I AM AFRAID IF I HAVE A WIFE OR LOVE ONE ON THAT SEAT
• FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR IS NOT WORKING, IT LIGHTS UP, STANDING, IM MOTION ALL THE TIME, I AM AFRAID IF I HAVE A WIFE OR LOVE ONE ON THAT SEAT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“I WAS STOPPED TURNING RIGHT FORM ONE CITY STREET ONTO ANOTHER CITY STREET WHEN I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY NOR DID THE SEAT BELT STOP ME FROM CAREENING FORWARD IN THE SEAT CAUSING MY HEAD TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. I RECEIVED A CUT OVER MY RIGHT EYE FROM THE IMPACT.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

4 complaints

• 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
• THE CAR, A 2012 LEXUS RX350, WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM A CALIFORNIA LEXUS DEALER ON JANUARY 30, 2012. THE PROBLEM, WHICH MANIFESTS EVERY TWO OR THREE DAYS, IS A DELAY OF SEVERAL SECONDS BETWEEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND ACTUAL ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN ACCELERATION EVENTUALLY OCCURS, I
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING INTO PARK AND POWERING OFF THE VEHICLE, SHE ATTEMPTED TO EXIT WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ROLLED AWAY. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE ROLLED OVER HER BUTTOCKS. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT RE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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 ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

4 complaints

• I 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
• HI, I WOULD LIKE TO INFORM YOU ABOUT A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE I DISCOVERED IN THE LEXUS RX350, THE CAR IS KEYLESS AND YOU JUST NEED TO PUSH A BUTTON TO START AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. THE SAFETY PROBLEM IS THAT THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF WHEN PUSHING THE BUTTON EVEN IF THE CAR IS STILL IN D=DRIVE AND THE
• JULY 11TH 2017 AT AROUND 220PM PST, THE LEXUS RX350 2012, EXPERIENCE A VERY DANGEROUS FAILURE. EARLIER THAT WEEK I NOTICED ISSUE WITH THE BATTERY, WHERE IT WOULD TAKE ONE OR MORE PUSHES TO THE START BUTTON FOR THE CAR TO TURN ON. BUT ON THIS DATE, I HAD JUST PARKED THE CAR ON A ROAD WITH AN SLIGHT I

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

“I 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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 46 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
SPEED CONTROL: ON 6/25/2012- AT 7:10 AM, I WAS PULLING INTO THE PARKING SPOT FOR MY VEHICLE IN MY HOSPITAL PARKING LOT FOR A SCHEDULED SURGICAL CASE, WHERE I WORK AS AN OB/GYN PHYSICIAN/SURGEON . AS I TURNED TO THE PARKING SPOT AT THE USUAL, APPROXIMATELY 2-4 MILES /HR SPEED ( THE SPEED AT WHICH NORMALLY ONE PARKS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: I WAS STOPPED TURNING RIGHT FORM ONE CITY STREET ONTO ANOTHER CITY STREET WHEN I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY NOR DID THE SEAT BELT STOP ME FROM CAREENING FORWARD IN THE SEAT CAUSING MY HEAD TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. I RECEIVED A CUT OVER MY RIGHT EYE FROM THE IMPACT.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)