2013 Lexus RX350

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Lexus RX350 has 39 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is body/structure problems (18% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2013 lexus rx350. the contact stated that the rear hatchback door started to close automatically while she was in the rear area, striking the contact without warning. the contact mentioned that it took extreme force to make the door reverse. the vehicle was taken to the dealer. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 7 crash reports 4 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BODY/STRUCTURE

7 complaints

18%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCHBACK DOOR STARTED TO CLOSE AUTOMATICALLY WHILE SHE WAS IN THE REAR AREA, STRIKING THE CONTACT WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IT TOOK EXTREME FORCE TO MAKE THE DOOR REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER
• ON THE GARAGE DRIVEWAY, SUDDENLY MY CAR ACCELERATED IN THE REVERSE GEAR AND COULD NOT BE STOPPED EVEN AFTER PRESSING THE BRAKE. THE CAR COMPLETELY WENT OUT OF CONTROL IN THE REVERSE AND CRASHED INTO MY BACKYARD FENCE, PLOWED THROUGH IT AND FINALLY CAME TO A STOP AFTER HITTING MY RAISED PATIO!
• CPSC:2013 LEXUS RX 350 VACUUMING THE REAR CARGO AREA WHEN THE REAR DOOR AUTOMATICALLY BEGAN TO CLOSE AND IT STARTED TO TRAP ME BETWEEN THE DOOR AND THE FLOOR OF THE CARGO AREA. AFTER PUSHING UP ON THE DOOR WITH ALL MY STRENGTH I WAS ABLE TO SQUEEZE OUT. *BF UPDATED 05/09/2017*JS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCHBACK DOOR STARTED TO CLOSE AUTOMATICALLY WHILE SHE WAS IN THE REAR AREA, STRIKING THE CONTACT WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IT TOOK EXTREME FORCE TO MAKE THE DOOR REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

7 complaints

18%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED AN ABNORMAL ODOR WHICH CAUSED THE OCCUPANTS TO BECOME ILL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ODOR WAS CAUSED BY MOISTURE BUILD UP AROUND THE AIR CONDITIONING FILTER BUT NO REMEDY WAS AVAILA
• UNDER ACCELERATION ON TO THE HIGHWAY EXHAUST SMELLS WILL ENTER THE VEHICLE THRU THE AIR CONDITIONING VENTS WHEN A/C IS IN RECIRCULATE MODE. SMELLS WILL SUBSIDE WHEN CRUISING SPEEDS ARE REACHED. WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN ACCELERATING TO PASS VEHICLES THE SMELLS WILL MOMENTARILY ENTER THE CABIN UND
• MY SUNROOF EXPLODED . HEARD THE POP WHILE ON THE FREEWAY WITH NOTHING ABOVE ME OR NEAR ME. MY INSIDE COVER WAS CLOSED BUT WHEN I GOT OUT AND SHUT THE DOOR THE SHATTERED GLASS FELL ON THE THE COVER. I'M 99% SURE NOTHING HIT ME BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ONE EVEN CLOSE. IT JUST POPPED AND SHATTERED. I WAS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED AN ABNORMAL ODOR WHICH CAUSED THE OCCUPANTS TO BECOME ILL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ODOR WAS CAUSED BY MOISTURE BUILD UP AROUND THE AIR CONDITIONING FILTER BUT NO REMEDY WAS AVAILA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

5 complaints

13%

• MY 2013 LEXUS AWD RX 350 HAS A FAULTY WIRE HARNESS WHICH HAS SHORTED OUT ITS GPS NAVIGATION SYSTEM, RADIO, AND MEDIA CENTER. I REPLACED THE HEADLAMP ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE AND THE BLAST, BUT THE 15 AMP FUSE CONTINUES TO BLOW OUT. THEREFORE, THE FAULTY WIRE HARNESS HAS CAUSED MY HEADLIGHTS, GPS NAVIG
• THE DOOR LOCK ACCUATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS INOPERABLE.I HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR THEN OPEN THE PASSENGER DOOR AND LEAN INTO THE CAR AND REACH OVER TO UNLOCK THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR EACH TIME I NEED TO OPEN THE DOOR. COST TO REPAIR IS $600.00 (PARTS & LABOR) I FEEL THIS IS EXCESSIV
• DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY WENT BAD IN DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. DOOR CANNOT BE LOCKED USING DOOR LOCK BUTTON AND HAS TO BE LOCKED MANUALLY. DOOR ALSO DOES NOT LOCK USING REMOTE OR KEYLESS ENTRY. MECHANIC STATED THAT HE'S SEEN A NUMBER OF THESE PROBLEMS.

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

“MY 2013 LEXUS AWD RX 350 HAS A FAULTY WIRE HARNESS WHICH HAS SHORTED OUT ITS GPS NAVIGATION SYSTEM, RADIO, AND MEDIA CENTER. I REPLACED THE HEADLAMP ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE AND THE BLAST, BUT THE 15 AMP FUSE CONTINUES TO BLOW OUT. THEREFORE, THE FAULTY WIRE HARNESS HAS CAUSED MY HEADLIGHTS, GPS NAVIG”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

4 complaints

10%

• APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW VEHICLE COMING TO A STOP SIGN, THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP AND THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT LIKE THE TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGED, THE BRAKE RESISTED AND MADE A GRINDING NOISE, THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED,THERE WERE NO LIGHT INDICATORS ON THE DASH. I CONTINUED FOR ABOUT 1/4 MILE WITH 2 MORE STOP
• ON THE GARAGE DRIVEWAY, SUDDENLY MY CAR ACCELERATED IN THE REVERSE GEAR AND COULD NOT BE STOPPED EVEN AFTER PRESSING THE BRAKE. THE CAR COMPLETELY WENT OUT OF CONTROL IN THE REVERSE AND CRASHED INTO MY BACKYARD FENCE, PLOWED THROUGH IT AND FINALLY CAME TO A STOP AFTER HITTING MY RAISED PATIO!
• BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON "CHECK BRAKES" KNOWN ISSUE WITH LEXUS. RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE AND IT WAS REPAIRED IN 2015 PRIOR TO MY OWNING THE VEHICLE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW VEHICLE COMING TO A STOP SIGN, THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP AND THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT LIKE THE TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGED, THE BRAKE RESISTED AND MADE A GRINDING NOISE, THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED,THERE WERE NO LIGHT INDICATORS ON THE DASH. I CONTINUED FOR ABOUT 1/4 MILE WITH 2 MORE STOP ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

4 complaints

10%

• ON THE GARAGE DRIVEWAY, SUDDENLY MY CAR ACCELERATED IN THE REVERSE GEAR AND COULD NOT BE STOPPED EVEN AFTER PRESSING THE BRAKE. THE CAR COMPLETELY WENT OUT OF CONTROL IN THE REVERSE AND CRASHED INTO MY BACKYARD FENCE, PLOWED THROUGH IT AND FINALLY CAME TO A STOP AFTER HITTING MY RAISED PATIO!
• 2013 LEXUS R-350. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE ACCIDENT. *SMD *TR
• SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2018 I STARTED MY DAY BY FIRST GOING TO THE BANK. I ENTERED THE PARKING LOT OF SUNTRUST BANK ON RACE TRACK ROAD, IN BOWIE MD. UPON ENTERING INTO THE PARKING LOT A CAR EXITING THE BANK OF AMERICA DRIVE THRU SHOULD HAVE STOP FOR ME TO HAVE THE RIGHT AWAY, BUT DID NOT, SO I CAME

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

“ON THE GARAGE DRIVEWAY, SUDDENLY MY CAR ACCELERATED IN THE REVERSE GEAR AND COULD NOT BE STOPPED EVEN AFTER PRESSING THE BRAKE. THE CAR COMPLETELY WENT OUT OF CONTROL IN THE REVERSE AND CRASHED INTO MY BACKYARD FENCE, PLOWED THROUGH IT AND FINALLY CAME TO A STOP AFTER HITTING MY RAISED PATIO!”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 39 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCHBACK DOOR STARTED TO CLOSE AUTOMATICALLY WHILE SHE WAS IN THE REAR AREA, STRIKING THE CONTACT WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IT TOOK EXTREME FORCE TO MAKE THE DOOR REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED AN ABNORMAL ODOR WHICH CAUSED THE OCCUPANTS TO BECOME ILL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ODOR WAS CAUSED BY MOISTURE BUILD UP AROUND THE AIR CONDITIONING FILTER BUT NO REMEDY WAS AVAILA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: MY 2013 LEXUS AWD RX 350 HAS A FAULTY WIRE HARNESS WHICH HAS SHORTED OUT ITS GPS NAVIGATION SYSTEM, RADIO, AND MEDIA CENTER. I REPLACED THE HEADLAMP ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE AND THE BLAST, BUT THE 15 AMP FUSE CONTINUES TO BLOW OUT. THEREFORE, THE FAULTY WIRE HARNESS HAS CAUSED MY HEADLIGHTS, GPS NAVIG
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW VEHICLE COMING TO A STOP SIGN, THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP AND THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT LIKE THE TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGED, THE BRAKE RESISTED AND MADE A GRINDING NOISE, THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED,THERE WERE NO LIGHT INDICATORS ON THE DASH. I CONTINUED FOR ABOUT 1/4 MILE WITH 2 MORE STOP
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)