Problems · by component

2009 Lexus RX350 steering problems

33 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Lexus RX350 cite steering, 25% of all 131 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
33
25% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the steering

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“MECHANIC/CAR INSPECTOR FOUND LEAKAGE OF POWER STEERING AND RACK AND PINION FAULTY, NEEDING REPLACEMENT RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY WHEN I TOOK CAR FOR MARYLAND INSPECTION. IT FAILED. CAR PURCHASED AT DULLES MOTORCARS/ KIA SUBARU IN LEESBURG, VIRGINIA WITH 56,000 MILES. COST OF REPAIR IS $1800.00. DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, HOWEVER FAILED INSPECTION. CAR WAS BOUGHT ON $/1/2021 AND INSPECTION ON 4/2/2021.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 4, 2021Steering, Unknown or otherODI 11406335
“MY 2009 LEXUS RX350 HAS 84000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE JUST FOUND OUT THAT THE RACK AND PINION IS LEAKING OIL. THE CAR HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND CAREFULLY DRIVEN SINCE IT WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW SO IT IS A SURPRISE. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE, IT TURNS OUT IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND A SAFETY ISSUE. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE VOICED THEIR CONCERN WHILE LEXUS HAS NOT RECALLED THIS 2009 MODEL AS THEY HAVE DONE FOR 2008.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 28, 2019SteeringODI 11258677
“MY DEALER JUST TOLD ME THAT THE STEERING RACK KIT LEAKINGAND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. THIS COMMON PROBLEM IN LEXUS,IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS, LEXUS SHOULD BE PAYING FOR IT, NOT ME. THE QUOTE IS FOR $1315”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 12, 2018SteeringODI 11151104
“MY LEXUS HAS UNDER 20,000 MILES ON IT AND IT HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT AND NOT SEEN WINTERS. MY DEALER JUST TOLD ME THAT THE STEERING GEARBOX NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. THIS CAR IS IN PERFECT SHAPE AND HAS HARDLY BEEN DRIVEN. IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS, LEXUS SHOULD BE PAYING FOR IT, NOT ME. THE QUOTE IS FOR $1450.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 28, 2018SteeringODI 11122889
“MY CAR NEVER LEAKED OIL, AND NO SENSOR LIGHTS WERE ON. REGULAR MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED ON THE CAR. WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ON CRUISE CONTROL ABOUT 70 MPH (2,000 RPM) ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED UP TO 3,000-3,500 RPM. I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY WITHIN 0.25 MILES, THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR CAME ON AT THE END OF THE EXIT RAMP. I DROVE APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS AWAY FROM THE EXIT RAMP TO REACH A SIDE STREET AND BY THEN THE CAR WAS BARELY MOVING, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, AND SEVERAL OTHER SENSOR LIGHTS WERE ALSO ON. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A SERVICE GARAGE THAT TOLD ME THE OIL COOLANT LINES HAD LEAKED CAUSING THE LOW PRESSURE CONDITION IN THE ENGINE. AFTER THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE OIL COOLER LINES AND PERFORMED AN OIL AND FILTER CHANGE THEY FOUND "LARGE QUANTITIES OF METAL SHAVINGS IN OIL FILTER CARTRIDGE INDICATING INTERNAL DAMAGE OF ENGINE." SEVERE INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED AND ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IN MY EXPERIENCE, IT SEEMS THAT A LARGE QUANTITY OF OIL WAS LOST VERY QUICKLY, AND IF I HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY WITHIN A MATTER OF SECONDS THE CAR COULD HAVE SEIZED UP AND I COULD HAVE GOTTEN IN AN ACCIDENT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 10, 2018Steering, EngineODI 11118970
“MY LEXUS HAS JUST 50,000 MILES ON IT GARAGE KEPT, JUST WAS TOLD MY RACK&PINION GEAR WAS LEAKING TO THE TUNE OF 1800.00 DOLLARS. I WAS LOOKING UP LEXUS FORUMS ON LINE, THERE IS QUITE OF LEXUS OWNER'S THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. AND IF YOU DON`T TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM IT COULD BE QUITE DANGEROUS. I THINK LEXUS SHOULD REIMBURSE OWNER'S FOR THERE OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 2, 2018Steering, SuspensionODI 11082435

Showing 6 of 33 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.