10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
4,086 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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problem #14

Jun 272019

RX 350

  • miles
there has always been a sound when braking. took it to the dealer on 6/27/2019. service adviser told me to brake harder to break in the brakes.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #13

Dec 012022

RX 350

  • miles
I purchased a 2017 Lexus Rx 450h Fsport last year at Carmax. About 6 months ago, I noticed that every time I pressed the brakes, there was a chirping sound. I figured it could be dust in the calipers. As the months went by, the chirping sound has gotten louder and now it affected the parking brakes. I researched this problem and many people online have also complained that they are hearing this Chirping sound or what the Dealer calls a "Brake Squawking" sound. I received a letter from Lexus saying to bring my vehicle in for a possible Brake Booster and Fuel pump failure. So I brought my car to the dealership. Since it's there I complained about the chirping sounds that it's making every time I step on the brakes and when the parking brake is applied. I told the Advisor at Lexus that a lot of people online have also complained about this problem and it should be a "Recall". He said that it's not a Recall. To make the story short, the Dealership didn't find anything wrong with the Brake Booster and the Fuel pump. What's causing the Chirping or Squawking sounds was the "Brake Actuator". I was quoted $4,327 to have these parts replaced because my Rx was already past the 50,000 miles warranty. I brought my Rx to the Dealership at 55,483 miles. It was a great thing that we purchased the extended warranty at Carmax called the Max Care which I only had to pay a $100 co-pay. Amazing! It took about 2 days to have this completed. Now, the chirping sound has disappeared when I press the brakes and when the parking brake is applied. I truly believe that this should be a Recall by Lexus and be covered. It shouldn't matter how many miles the customer has. This is a safety issue. The brake actuator shouldn't fail this soon. I have a 2007 Lexus GS350 with 225,000 plus miles and I never replaced the Brake Actuator. I don't know if even has one. The bottom line is when I press the brakes on that car, there were never any chirping sounds.

- Mountain House, CA, USA

problem #12

Dec 122022

RX 350

  • miles
Brakes make a squeaking sound when brakes applied. They are loud, this sound is not coming from brake pads or rotors. They are alarming and cause anyone to become startled and could cause crashes.

- Half Moon Bay, CA, USA

problem #11

Oct 242022

RX 350

  • miles
It was found during inspection of front break calipers that rubber dust boots on 3 out of 4 pistons (2 pistons per caliper) were torn apart. Chunks of cut out rubber boots were found inside the pistons. The car never had break work done since the time it was manufactured. The brake pads on both front wheels are still factory original. The only way for dust boots to get damaged is to have improper installation during car assembly process where rubber boot is not tacked fully inside caliper. The issue would result in premature wear of piston seals dust boot supposed to protect. Wearing off seals would result in leak of break fluid and potential sudden loss of break functionality. The workmanship issue is likely to be impacting other vehicles assembled on the same factory floor by the same employee.

- Cumming , GA, USA

problem #10

May 142022

RX 350

  • miles
I was driving up a hill, turning on to a dirt road. I had my foot on the brake as I was going down hill, I bounce from the crevice on the dirt road. My car started going faster, I kept my foot on the brake trying to stop, but it did not STOP. I avoided hitting a parked car and slammed in to a K-rail. My car would not STOP.

- Walnut, CA, USA

problem #9

Feb 152019

RX 350 6-cyl

  • 13,000 miles
Pulled into hotel parking lot at 11:05am (perfect weather - parking lot empty) and, after turning into the parking spot at a slow speed, the car suddenly accelerated and hit the side of the hotel. The building wasn't damaged, but the car had serious frontal damage. The hotel manager didn't call the police so there isn't a police report. The air bags did not go off. I feel there were several possible Lexus problems with this incident: The air bags did not go off even though there was over $17,000 in repairs (even the engine had to be removed),; the automatic braking system didn't engage; and the sudden acceleration of the car from a slow entry into the parking space. Currently the car is at a Lexus dealer waiting for the Lexus hired inspector to examine it. We have pictures and a complete list of repairs if requested. W E do not have a report yet from the Lexus inspection because it hasn't been inspected yet......

- Gainesville, VA, USA

problem #8

Feb 052019

RX 350

  • 9,500 miles
Sometimes when I try to start the car, the brake pedal will not depress, I get a message that says “brake power low”, and the car won’T start. There is a recall on 2017 rxs for an improperly installed brake booster, but it doesn’T cover this VIN. From reading about similar complaints from other rx owners that are able to solve the problem by replacing the brake booster, I think that is the problem. Because of that, I think the recall does not cover all vehicles affected and should be expanded.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #7

Sep 262018

RX 350

  • 6,847 miles
The emergency assistance brake system was activated and it reduced speed when vehicle was stopped ahead of me but would not respond to my braking. My vehicle slid into other vehicle at 6.8 mph (see attached report). I tried to apply more pressure to brakes but the vehicle did not respond to my brake pressurei was proceeding straight on city road

- Scottsdale, AZ, USA

problem #6

Nov 202018

RX 350

  • miles
The contact owns a 2017 Lexus RX350. While driving approximately 60 mph, the automatic braking system became inoperative and the contact rear ended a truck. The contact applied significant pressure to the brake pedal, but the brakes did not respond. There were no warning indicators illuminated. A police report was filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to the police department impound lot in conyers, Georgia. The contact's insurance company was made aware of the crash and requested the contact's approval for the vehicle to be assessed for damages by a Lexus dealer. It was not determined whether or not the vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the crash and provided case number: 1811210065. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Lithonia, GA, USA

problem #5

Apr 282018

RX 350

  • 17,000 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Lexus RX350. While driving 140 mph, the brake pedal was depressed and failed to stop the vehicle. In addition, the pre-collision warning indicator illuminated. As a result, the contact rear ended another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was taken to a collision repair facility where the body damage was repaired. The vehicle was also taken to westside Lexus sales (12000 katy fwy, houston, tx 77079, (281) 558-3030) where the contact was informed that the vehicle did not have a failure and the crash was his fault. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 17,000.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #4

May 172018

RX 350

  • 3,000 miles
The transmission on this vehicle is bad! the dealer keeps saying it's normal in the learning phase, but there is no way all of this sputtering and hesitation is normal for any vehicle, let alone a luxury one. The tachometer jumps, jerks and sputters as well if you watch it. The pre-collision break system is also severely flawed. It has braked so hard that it screetched and no one was even around me!!!!! this clearly almost gave me a heart attack three times now. It has happened twice when slowly backing out of a parking spot, and one time while driving down the street at a normal rate of speed and no one was around me at all.

- San Marcos, CA, USA

problem #3

Nov 172017

RX 350

  • 1,561 miles
I purchased the new car in September 2017. On November 17, 2017, at approximately 1,500 miles, after the car was sitting in the garage for 2 days, it would not start--the message on the console stated "brake power low stop in a safe place." The car was towed to the dealer where the brake power booster was replaced. On February 3, 2018, at approximately, 2,893 miles the same event occurred after the car sat in the garage for two days and the car was towed to the dealer again. The service consultant stated "there seems to be an issue with pressure in the brake system". the service consultant stated Lexus is aware of the issue, but a fix has not been found. The consultant stated the workaround is to depress the brake pedal as hard as you can, wait for the ignition key symbol to show on the console and then press the ignition key. On February 16, 2018, I received a text from the dealership that there was a software upgrade out for the low brake pressure. I returned the car to the dealer. On 2/21/2018, I received a text from the dealer stating the car is ready for pickup. The workorder simply stated "technician performed tsb# L-sb-0004-18". the service consultant would not explain what the tsb was fixing or how it remedied the problem. I contacted Lexus customer service and they said the tsb upgraded the meter control logic unit. Ongoing problem: If the car sits for more than 1 day, the brake pedal must be depressed with much force before the car is able to start. This indicates the brake booster is still losing pressure. Concern: If the brake booster loses pressure while sitting in the garage for more than a day, will it fail on the highway while driving. Losing brake pressure is not a good thing under any circumstances, and is totally unexpected on a "luxury" SUV. Please investigate this Lexus brake power issue. Thank you.

- Carlsbad, CA, USA

problem #2

Sep 242017

RX 350

  • 2,000 miles
In order to start the car, the brake must be pressed. However, if the car sits without use for several days, the brake pedal cannot be pressed down and the car will not start. A warning light indicates that "brake power is low, stop in a safe place". attached is a picture of the warning light. The car can generally be subsequently started by either waiting several minutes or exerting a lot of pressure on the brake pedal, and the warning light disappears. I've had many conversations with Lexus service and Lexus corporate office. They've said that this condition exists with "every 2016-2018 rx 350" and is not unique to my car. They've also said this condition cannot be repaired, despite the fact that the warning light indicates it is dangerous to drive the car. Lexus confirmed that despite the fact the condition occurs after the car has sat for a period of time, it is not a battery issue and likely occurs because of pressure lost in the brake system. Although I question Lexus' statements that this condition exists with every car, it is disconcerting that they cannot or will not fix a condition that may be dangerous to continue driving, as indicated by the car's warning light. This condition occurs regularly.

- Santa Barbara, CA, USA

problem #1

Jun 162017

RX 350

  • 4,300 miles
When attempting to start the vehicle an error message displays that braking power is low. It states stop in a safe place. Dealer has advised this condition is "normal" and no repairs recommended. The vehicle is stationary and can not be started.

- Lacey, WA, USA