2012 Lexus Rx350 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Vehicle Speed Control (10) · Service Brakes (5) · Power Train (3)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Lexus Rx350 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
29 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Electronic Stability Control (Esc) 2014-02-12 · campaign 14V054000 · 261,114 vehicles
Defect: Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012 and 2013 Toyota Tacoma and Lexus RX350 vehicles and certain model year 2012 Toyota Rav4 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the brake system contains a brake actuator that adjusts the fluid pressure of each wheel cylinder. An electrical component within the actuator may experience an increased resistance resulting in the illumination of various warning lights, including those for the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system, Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Risk: If this occurs, these systems could become inoperative, reducing the directional control assistance, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and Toyota and Lexus dealers will update the software for the Skid Control electronic control unit, free of charge. The recall began on March 28, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Service bulletins (221)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2022-12-01 · KLG Technical In · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ti: 19le05 expired december 1, 2022
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2022-12-01 · KLG Dealer Packa · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
dp: limited service campaign klg expired december 01, 2022
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2022-12-01 · 19LE05 Technical · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ti: 19le05 expired december 1, 2022
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2022-12-01 · 19LE05 Dealer Pa · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
dp: customer support program 19le05 expired december 1, 2022.
Equipment 2022-04-13 · Safety Recall 22 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
lexus safety recall and service campaign - technician certification requirements 4.13.2022
Equipment 2022-03-09 · L-SB-0006-22 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
tsb: this service bulletin includes procedures to replace damaged or loose front carpet floor retainer(s) without replacing the carpet assembly. follow the repair procedure in this bulletin to replace the loose or damaged carpet floor retainer(s).
Showing the 6 most recent of 221 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2020-07-20 · Service Brakes · 110,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2012 lexus rx330. the contact stated that while driving 30 mph, the abs and brake system warning lights illuminated when the brake pedal was depressed. the contact stated that the vehicle hesitated to respond. the vehicle was taken to audi pensacola located at 6303 pensacola blvd, pensacola, fl 32505, (844) 313-0046, and the …”
2020-07-05 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 92,988 mi · 🔥 fire“the cfei (certified fire & explosion investigator) fire lieutenant/investigator with the city of ft. lauderdale's fire dept, who also responded to my 911 call, had pointed out and explained to me the intensity of flame, heat and burn pattern in the engine and stated that this was caused by a mechanical engine malfunction. what happened: i had…”
2020-01-03 · Air Bags · 84,500 mi · 💥 crash“i was broadsided on my drivers door and not 1 airbag went off. the officer said she was driving at least 40mph. i had left the stop sign to make my left hand turn when it occured. my car was totaled…”
2019-10-15 · Service Brakes · 66,123 mi · 💥 crash“i am the original owner of a 2013 lexus rx350. on august 14, 2019 as i was parking my car and rolling into a parking spot, with my foot only on the brake pedal, the engine revved and the car accelerated forward. the car hit a curb and gave me the time to react and applied enough brake pressure to stop the vehicle before it went into the street into…”
2019-04-23 · Engine · 65,000 mi“during driving in the highway suddenly the whole vehicle is shaking and reduced speed suddenly; all kind of engine warning lights are turned on as have to pull aside on the highway. have to tow the car to the dealership and found that cylinder valve spring inside the engine has broken as the car only has about 65000 miles. this causing vehicle to…”
2019-04-12 · Steering · 32,000 mi“vehicle current mileage is 32k apprx garage kept. front passenger belt locks frequently. also the steering got hard. no leaking of any sort of oil too. currently the vehicle is being used but scared if steering motion would freeze.…”
2019-03-04 · Structure:body · 108,068 mi“while driving on i-15 near st. george on an overcast, but dry road, we heard a loud bang or thump on our vehicle. traffic was light and no other vehicles were near. we could find no evidence of damage. while listening to a news report last evening, involving a problem with spontaneous shattering of sunroofs, i immediaely went to my garage to look…”
2019-02-23 · Service Brakes · 75 mi · 💥 crash“both wheels are not stopping at the same time. the car has a slight jump forward when you expect to be totally stopped. the car has new front and back brakes.…”
2018-11-17 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification · 65,000 mi“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…”
2017-12-08 · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) · 108,000 mi“vehicle suddenly stalled on highway, check engine light, abs malfunction, traction control lights all popped up on dashboard. dealership erased that lights, vehicle gave same warning lights with power steering malfunction light too with other warning lights within 24 hrs, with complete stop on road at speed of 35mph. vehicle was taken to dealershi…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.