Lexus RX: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Lexus RX problems by model year, from 1,037 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: 2019 (51%, 33 drivetrain complaints), 2011 (49%, 27 drivetrain complaints) and 2018 (39%, 17 drivetrain complaints). 5 of the 14 Lexus RX years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
Best years on this measure: 2021 (11%), 2013 (19%) and 2020 (24%). 2020 rests on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat it 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 2019 (51%) to 2020 (24%), down 27 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2010 drew the most drivetrain complaints (54 of 283 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.
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 RX year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 RX | no elevated signal | 30% | 54 | 192 | 9/14 | 1 |
| 2011 RX | high | 49% | 27 | 67 | 2/14 | 1 |
| 2012 RX | no elevated signal | 26% | 11 | 48 | 11/14 | 1 |
| 2013 RX | no elevated signal | 19% | 14 | 90 | 13/14 | 1 |
| 2014 RX | no elevated signal | 30% | 7 | 30 | 8/14 | 0 |
| 2015 RX | elevated | 37% | 22 | 67 | 4/14 | 1 |
| 2016 RX | no elevated signal | 33% | 27 | 93 | 6/14 | 3 |
| 2017 RX | no elevated signal | 31% | 29 | 103 | 7/14 | 3 |
| 2018 RX | elevated | 39% | 17 | 47 | 3/14 | 2 |
| 2019 RX | high | 51% | 33 | 68 | 1/14 | 4 |
| 2020 RX | no elevated signal | 24% | 8 | 55 | 12/14 | 1 |
| 2021 RX | no elevated signal | 11% | 2 | 71 | 14/14 | 1 |
| 2022 RX | no elevated signal | 29% | 10 | 39 | 10/14 | 0 |
| 2023 RX | elevated | 34% | 22 | 67 | 5/14 | 3 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Lexus RX years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Lexus RX fuel system recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the Lexus RX involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2014 | 14V576000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 2015 |
| Jan 2020 | 20V012000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2017–2019 |
| Nov 2020 | 20V682000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2017–2019 |
| Feb 2021 | 21V043000 | fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap | 2019 |
| Jan 2025 | 25V028000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2019 |
11 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2011 | 11V377000 | service brakes, hydraulic | 2011 |
| Jun 2012 | 12V305000 | vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal | 2010 |
| Feb 2014 | 14V054000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module | 2012–2013 |
| Feb 2016 | 16V053000 | air bags: knee bolster | 2016 |
| Apr 2016 | 16V198000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 2016 |
| Jan 2018 | 18V085000 | air bags: side/window | 2016 |
| Apr 2018 | 18V211000 | service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum | 2017 |
| Dec 2023 | 23V865000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification | 2020–2021 |
| Jan 2025 | 25V040000 | steering: column | 2023 |
| Oct 2025 | 25V744000 | back over prevention: display function | 2023 |
| Mar 2026 | 26V162000 | back over prevention: software | 2023 |
What the free pages leave out on the Lexus RX
- 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 RX
What are the worst years for the Lexus RX?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Lexus RX years are the 2019 (51% of relevant complaints, high), the 2011 (49% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2018 (39% of relevant complaints, elevated). 5 of 14 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Lexus RX?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Lexus RX years are the 2021 (11%), the 2013 (19%) and the 2020 (24%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Lexus RX have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 14 scored years, 283 of 873 relevant NHTSA complaints (32%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2011, 2015, 2018, 2019 and 2023.
Is the Lexus RX reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 5 of 14 Lexus RX years we score have an elevated complaint share and 9 do not. Pooled across those years, 32% 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 RX?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Lexus RX years we track, out of 16 in total: 20V682000 (Nov 2020, 2017–2019), 21V043000 (Feb 2021, 2019), 25V028000 (Jan 2025, 2019), and earlier ones. 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.