Lexus NX: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Lexus NX problems by model year, from 264 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2020 (54%, 14 drivetrain complaints), 2016 (50%, 11 drivetrain complaints) and 2018 (44%, 11 drivetrain complaints). 4 of the 7 Lexus NX years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
Best years on this measure: 2022 (3%), 2017 (19%) and 2015 (28%). 2022, 2017 and 2015 rest on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat them as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2016 (50%) to 2017 (19%), down 31 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2019 drew the most drivetrain complaints (15 of 68 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2021 and 2023 have fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Lexus NX year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 NX | no elevated signal | 28% | 11 | 47 | 5/7 | 3 |
| 2016 NX | high | 50% | 11 | 26 | 2/7 | 1 |
| 2017 NX | no elevated signal | 19% | 5 | 30 | 6/7 | 0 |
| 2018 NX | high | 44% | 11 | 26 | 3/7 | 1 |
| 2019 NX | elevated | 36% | 15 | 44 | 4/7 | 2 |
| 2020 NX | high | 54% | 14 | 27 | 1/7 | 0 |
| 2021 NX | too few to score | – | 4 | 17 | – | 0 |
| 2022 NX | no elevated signal | 3% | 1 | 31 | 7/7 | 2 |
| 2023 NX | too few to score | – | 4 | 16 | – | 3 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Lexus NX years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Lexus NX fuel system recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the Lexus NX involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 7 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2020 | 20V012000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2015 |
| Nov 2020 | 20V682000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2018–2019 |
| Jan 2025 | 25V028000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2019 |
4 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2015 | 15V341000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 2015 |
| Jan 2018 | 18V085000 | air bags: side/window | 2015–2016 |
| Oct 2025 | 25V744000 | back over prevention: display function | 2022 |
| Mar 2026 | 26V162000 | back over prevention: software | 2022 |
What the free pages leave out on the Lexus NX
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Lexus NX
What are the worst years for the Lexus NX?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Lexus NX years are the 2020 (54% of relevant complaints, high), the 2016 (50% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2018 (44% of relevant complaints, high). 4 of 7 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Lexus NX?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Lexus NX years are the 2022 (3%), the 2017 (19%) and the 2015 (28%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Lexus NX have fuel system problems?
In some years. Across the 7 scored years, 68 of 219 relevant NHTSA complaints (31%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is fuel/propulsion system. The years with an elevated share are 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Is the Lexus NX reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 4 of 7 Lexus NX years we score have an elevated complaint share and 3 do not. Pooled across those years, 31% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Lexus NX?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Lexus NX years we track, out of 7 in total: 20V012000 (Jan 2020, 2015), 20V682000 (Nov 2020, 2018–2019), 25V028000 (Jan 2025, 2019). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.