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2013 Lexus RX: engine and transmission complaints

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
19%
14 of 75 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2013 Lexus RX. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 19% of relevant complaints.

Better than 88% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 15 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 16%).

NHTSA data checked September 13, 2026
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Drivetrain complaints
14
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
90
this model year
Fires reported
4
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
1
15 crashes · 16 injuries

Complaints by component

SERVICE BRAKES20 · 22%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER18 · 20%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM14 · 16%
STRUCTURE12 · 13%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL10 · 11%
AIR BAGS10 · 11%

The years either side

2010
30%
53 of 191
2011
49%
27 of 67
2012
24%
10 of 47
2013
19%
14 of 90
2014
32%
7 of 29
2015
37%
22 of 67
2016
33%
27 of 93
2017
31%
29 of 103
2018
37%
16 of 46
2019
51%
33 of 68
2020
24%
8 of 54
2021
11%
2 of 70
2022
29%
10 of 38
2023
33%
21 of 66

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

What owners reported

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SP03/11/2013CRASH1 INJURED
I WAS DRIVING ON I-59 NORTH WITH WIFE AS PASSENGER WITH RADAR CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70 MPH APPROACHING DEPARTURE EXIT. I TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO RELEASE THE CC AND IT DID NOT RELEASE. THINKING I HAD NOT TAPPED IT HARD ENOUGH, I MADE THE TURN AND TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDER. THE CC DID NOT RELEASE. I APPLIED THE BRA…
ENGINE03/15/2025
When I was driving down the road there have been times that I smelled smoke and was concerned my car was on fire. I checked the oil and inspected around my car, and didn't find the source. Today when I took my car in for service I found out the source of the smoke has been for the past 4 months. There is engine oil …
POWER TRAIN08/17/2022
Had so many issues with this car. Transmission went out at 52k (was replaced under warranty), and at 86k, it went out again. Car overheated and won't move in traffic. Had to push and move it to the side. Had a independent shop rebuild the transmission. Notified Lexus, but won't help due to it was not taken into their d…

Three of 14 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on this model year (1)

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
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, t…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2013 Lexus RX

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.