2018 LEXUS RX350 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
4/5
Safety Rating
30
Owner Complaints
1
Recall
17
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2018 LEXUS RX350
The 2018 LEXUS RX350 has received a total of 30 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It earned an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program crash tests. There have been 3 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP. 17 technical service bulletins have been issued by Toyota Motor Corporation for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Fuelpropulsion System (6 complaints), Power Train (4 complaints), and Unknown Or Other (4 complaints).
Recalls for the 2018 LEXUS RX350
NHTSA has recorded 3 recalls for the 2018 LEXUS RX350, potentially affecting up to 5,492,256 vehicles.
Recall 20V012000 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
| 1,830,752 vehicles affected
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March...
Consequence: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are...
View full details →Recall 20V012000 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
| 1,830,752 vehicles affected
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March...
Consequence: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are...
View full details →Recall 20V012000 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
| 1,830,752 vehicles affected
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March...
Consequence: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2018 LEXUS RX350
30 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2018 LEXUS RX350. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuelpropulsion System | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System Gasoline | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilitywiper | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior Lightingheadlights | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebody | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS PETAL ONE OF THREE THINGS HAPPEN. 1. NORMAL ACCELERATION WHICH YOU EXPECT AFTER 60 YEARS OF DRIVING AND WHICH WE OBTAIN FROM A 2014 LEXUS RX350 THAT WE OWN. 2. HESITATION OF BETWEEN 1 AND 5 SECONDS BEFORE ACCELERATION BEGINS. 3 EXCESSIVE ACCELERATION ( SURG OF ACCELERATION MUCH MORE THAN EXPECTED). THIS EXCESS ACCELERATION MAY HAPPEN AFTER THE HESITATION OR THERE COULD BE "NORMAL" ACCELERATION AFTER THE HESITATION AND HAPPENS WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER BEING STOPPED.. THE HESITATION AND EXCESS ACCELERATION CAN BE FROM A STOPPED POSITION IE STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT OR WHILE MOVING AND NORMAL SPEEDS. THERE SEEMS TO BE A CONSISTENT HESITATION AT THE 60 TO 65 MPH WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE ON HIGHWAY. AT 70 MPH EVERYTHING SEEMS TO WORK AS EXPECTED. THE SURGING AND HESITATING SEEMS TO BE AT LOWER SPEEDS AND AND WHEN MAKING TURNS IN CITY STREETS AND MOVING UP OR DOWN HILLS AND IN PARKING LOTS WHEN MOVING OUT OF PARKING SPACES, BUT IT HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS UP TO 65 MPH. THE CARS HAS ACCELERATED WITH OUT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR - THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DELAYED ACCELERATION AFTER PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR A HALF BLOCK BEFORE. THIS HAPPENED WITH A LEXUS REPRESENTATIVE WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME - I WAS DRIVING SO HE COULD NOT TELL IF THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED OR IF I ACCELERATED. STARTING IN EARLY 2019 WE HAVE TOLD LEXUS WHEN THE CAR WAS SERVICED( TWICE YEARLY THAT THE CAR BEHAVED IN THIS MANNER. EACH TIME THAT HAVE TOLD US THEY DID NOT RE-CREATE THE DESCRIBED BEHAVIOR AND THE CAR WAS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED.
WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS PETAL ONE OF THREE THINGS HAPPEN. 1. NORMAL ACCELERATION WHICH YOU EXPECT AFTER 60 YEARS OF DRIVING AND WHICH WE OBTAIN FROM A 2014 LEXUS RX350 THAT WE OWN. 2. HESITATION OF BETWEEN 1 AND 5 SECONDS BEFORE ACCELERATION BEGINS. 3 EXCESSIVE ACCELERATION ( SURG OF ACCELERATION MUCH MORE THAN EXPECTED). THIS EXCESS ACCELERATION MAY HAPPEN AFTER THE HESITATION OR THERE COULD BE "NORMAL" ACCELERATION AFTER THE HESITATION AND HAPPENS WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER BEING STOPPED.. THE HESITATION AND EXCESS ACCELERATION CAN BE FROM A STOPPED POSITION IE STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT OR WHILE MOVING AND NORMAL SPEEDS. THERE SEEMS TO BE A CONSISTENT HESITATION AT THE 60 TO 65 MPH WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE ON HIGHWAY. AT 70 MPH EVERYTHING SEEMS TO WORK AS EXPECTED. THE SURGING AND HESITATING SEEMS TO BE AT LOWER SPEEDS AND AND WHEN MAKING TURNS IN CITY STREETS AND MOVING UP OR DOWN HILLS AND IN PARKING LOTS WHEN MOVING OUT OF PARKING SPACES, BUT IT HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS UP TO 65 MPH. THE CARS HAS ACCELERATED WITH OUT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR - THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DELAYED ACCELERATION AFTER PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR A HALF BLOCK BEFORE. THIS HAPPENED WITH A LEXUS REPRESENTATIVE WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME - I WAS DRIVING SO HE COULD NOT TELL IF THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED OR IF I ACCELERATED. STARTING IN EARLY 2019 WE HAVE TOLD LEXUS WHEN THE CAR WAS SERVICED( TWICE YEARLY THAT THE CAR BEHAVED IN THIS MANNER. EACH TIME THAT HAVE TOLD US THEY DID NOT RE-CREATE THE DESCRIBED BEHAVIOR AND THE CAR WAS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED.
WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS PETAL ONE OF THREE THINGS HAPPEN. 1. NORMAL ACCELERATION WHICH YOU EXPECT AFTER 60 YEARS OF DRIVING AND WHICH WE OBTAIN FROM A 2014 LEXUS RX350 THAT WE OWN. 2. HESITATION OF BETWEEN 1 AND 5 SECONDS BEFORE ACCELERATION BEGINS. 3 EXCESSIVE ACCELERATION ( SURG OF ACCELERATION MUCH MORE THAN EXPECTED). THIS EXCESS ACCELERATION MAY HAPPEN AFTER THE HESITATION OR THERE COULD BE "NORMAL" ACCELERATION AFTER THE HESITATION AND HAPPENS WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER BEING STOPPED.. THE HESITATION AND EXCESS ACCELERATION CAN BE FROM A STOPPED POSITION IE STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT OR WHILE MOVING AND NORMAL SPEEDS. THERE SEEMS TO BE A CONSISTENT HESITATION AT THE 60 TO 65 MPH WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE ON HIGHWAY. AT 70 MPH EVERYTHING SEEMS TO WORK AS EXPECTED. THE SURGING AND HESITATING SEEMS TO BE AT LOWER SPEEDS AND AND WHEN MAKING TURNS IN CITY STREETS AND MOVING UP OR DOWN HILLS AND IN PARKING LOTS WHEN MOVING OUT OF PARKING SPACES, BUT IT HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS UP TO 65 MPH. THE CARS HAS ACCELERATED WITH OUT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR - THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DELAYED ACCELERATION AFTER PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR A HALF BLOCK BEFORE. THIS HAPPENED WITH A LEXUS REPRESENTATIVE WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME - I WAS DRIVING SO HE COULD NOT TELL IF THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED OR IF I ACCELERATED. STARTING IN EARLY 2019 WE HAVE TOLD LEXUS WHEN THE CAR WAS SERVICED( TWICE YEARLY THAT THE CAR BEHAVED IN THIS MANNER. EACH TIME THAT HAVE TOLD US THEY DID NOT RE-CREATE THE DESCRIBED BEHAVIOR AND THE CAR WAS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED.
I TRIED ACCELERATING ON THE HIGHWAY (PCH IN SANTA MONICA, CA) WHILE TRAVELING FORWARD AT ABOUT 45-50 MPH, BUT THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THIS IS THE FORTH TIME THERE HAS BEEN A HESITATION IN ACCELERATION SINCE OWNING THE CAR, BUT THIS TIME THERE WAS A MESSAGE ON MY DASH. THE MESSAGE STATED THAT THERE WAS "AN OBSTRUCTION WITH THE PEDAL AND ACCELERATION WAS RETARDED." I LATER LOOKED DOWN AT THE PEDALS FELT AROUND THE THEM, BUT FOUND NOTHING OBSTRUCTING. AT THE TIME, THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN A QUARTER TANK OF GAS BUT NOT LOW ENOUGH FOR THE LOW FUEL WARNING TO COME ON. AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 15 MORE MILES - THE LOW FUEL WARNING CAME ON. I HAVE ALWAYS PUT PREMIUM FUEL IN THE VEHICLE AND MY WIFE DOESN'T PUT GAS IN THE VEHICLE. A RECALL WAS RECENTLY PERFORMED PERTAINING TO THE FUEL PUMP AT THE DEALER - PERTAINING TO LOW
I TRIED ACCELERATING ON THE HIGHWAY (PCH IN SANTA MONICA, CA) WHILE TRAVELING FORWARD AT ABOUT 45-50 MPH, BUT THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THIS IS THE FORTH TIME THERE HAS BEEN A HESITATION IN ACCELERATION SINCE OWNING THE CAR, BUT THIS TIME THERE WAS A MESSAGE ON MY DASH. THE MESSAGE STATED THAT THERE WAS "AN OBSTRUCTION WITH THE PEDAL AND ACCELERATION WAS RETARDED." I LATER LOOKED DOWN AT THE PEDALS FELT AROUND THE THEM, BUT FOUND NOTHING OBSTRUCTING. AT THE TIME, THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN A QUARTER TANK OF GAS BUT NOT LOW ENOUGH FOR THE LOW FUEL WARNING TO COME ON. AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 15 MORE MILES - THE LOW FUEL WARNING CAME ON. I HAVE ALWAYS PUT PREMIUM FUEL IN THE VEHICLE AND MY WIFE DOESN'T PUT GAS IN THE VEHICLE. A RECALL WAS RECENTLY PERFORMED PERTAINING TO THE FUEL PUMP AT THE DEALER - PERTAINING TO LOW
Safety Rating for the 2018 LEXUS RX350
The 2018 LEXUS RX350 received an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
| Test Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Frontal Crash | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Side Crash | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rollover | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Safety ratings are based on controlled crash tests conducted by NHTSA. A 5-star rating indicates the highest level of occupant protection.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2018 LEXUS RX350
Toyota Motor Corporation has issued 17 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2018 LEXUS RX350. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
Bulletin — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
SPOC: Effective immediately, Lexus is issuing a stop sale on part numbers 85212-YZZ2L-LX & 85212-YZZ2M-LX, which may have a quality concern relating to a missing kit component (mispack). Lexus is requesting the return of ALL Dealer inventory of these parts to your facing PDC for credit and inspection.
LSB000523 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:FUEL GAUGE
TSB: Some 2013 ? 2020 model year Lexus vehicles may exhibit a hard start and/or MIL ON condition with one or more of the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs): ?DTC P0171 and/or P0174 (System Too Lean Bank 1/Bank 2) ?DTC P0087 Fuel Rail / System Pressure ? Too Low Techstream...
LTT031322 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TT: Some 17-22MY RX350 vehicles with engine serial numbers that start with F or G, may experience an engine oil leak condition from the No.2 Oil pan. This issue is currently under investigation. Please take detailed pictures of the location of the oil pan leak condition before repair. If the...
L-TT-0313-22 — ENGINE
TT: Some 2017-2022 RX350 vehicles may experience an engine oil leak condition from the No.2 Oil pan. This issue is currently under investigation. Please take detailed pictures of the location of the oil pan leak condition before repair.
L-SB-0008-21 Rev — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TSB: Some 2018 ? 2021 model year RX 350 vehicles may exhibit a MIL ON condition with one or more of the following companion cylinder misfire Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) combinations: ?P030100 and P030400 (Cylinders 1 and 4 Misfires Detected). ?P030200 and P030500 (Cylinders 2 and 5 Misfires Detected). ?P030300...
20LC02 - RX - Fr — STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
FAQ: SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN 20LC02
20LE02_Dealer Pa — EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
DP: Lexus has received reports regarding rear inside door handles in certain 2016 ? 2018 model year RX 350 and RX 450h vehicles. These reports have indicated there is a possibility that the inside door handles can break where the latch release cable is attached if the handle is repeatedly...
L-SB-0024-20 Rev — STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
TSB: Some 2016 ? 2019 model year RX 350 and RX 450h vehicles may exhibit a condition in which the inside rear door handle does not open the door. This condition occurs when the rear door handle fatigues, allowing the inside door handle release cable to separate from the door...
20LC03 - Remedy — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
DL: The engine control module in the subject vehicles is equipped with software to manage the emissions systems. Due to improper programming in the software, the emissions monitoring system may clear the system test results which can result in a vehicle not being able to complete emission testing/smog checks.
20LC03 - Remedy — ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC):CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
DL: The engine control module in the subject vehicles is equipped with software to manage the emissions systems. Due to improper programming in the software, the emissions monitoring system may clear the system test results which can result in a vehicle not being able to complete emission testing/smog checks.
Showing 10 of 17 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2018 LEXUS RX350
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the LEXUS RX350
- 2013 LEXUS RX350 — 39 complaints
- 2014 LEXUS RX350 — 22 complaints
- 2015 LEXUS RX350 — 58 complaints
- 2016 LEXUS RX350 — 78 complaints
- 2017 LEXUS RX350 — 69 complaints
- 2018 LEXUS RX350 (current)
- 2019 LEXUS RX350 — 41 complaints
- 2020 LEXUS RX350 — 9 complaints
- 2021 LEXUS RX350 — 2 complaints
- 2022 LEXUS RX350 — 11 complaints
- 2023 LEXUS RX350 — 4 complaints
Other LEXUS Models
- LEXUS ES350 — 1,531 total complaints
- LEXUS RX — 1,154 total complaints
- LEXUS IS 250 — 938 total complaints
- LEXUS ES300 — 862 total complaints
- LEXUS RX300 — 849 total complaints
- LEXUS ES — 817 total complaints
- LEXUS IS — 765 total complaints
- LEXUS RX330 — 659 total complaints