Problems · NHTSA complaints
2018 Lexus RX350 problems
Owners filed 44 complaints about the 2018 Lexus RX350 with NHTSA between Nov 2018 and Sep 2026. The most-cited component is service brakes (9).
Complaints
44
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Service brakes9
- Fuel/propulsion system8
- Engine7
- Vehicle speed control5
- Structure4
- Power train4
- Visibility/wiper3
- Electrical system3
- Fuel system, gasoline3
- Air bags2
- Forward collision avoidance2
- Steering1
- Suspension1
- Back over prevention1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
3
12
2
2
3
8
7
5
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 12 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 5 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Service brakes
9 reports4 crashes
“1. At [XXX] on [XXX], I was pulling into my gym's parking lot, when I stepped on the break to park my car, instead of stopping, the car accelerates rapidly and crashed through the other side of the sidewalk where there were light pole and cement walls, throwing me forward and backward with seat belt on, I was in total shock! 2. My insurance sent a field inspector to the body shop 2X in hope to repair my car but ended up declaring it a Total Loss. 3. Lexus said they would send a field tech to get the EDR (Event Data Recorder) data from my 2018 Lexus RX350 within 30 days, but the results won't be available for 30-45 days after that. Lexus's slow response to this accident concerns and disappoints me b/c it was a serious crash that Lexus should treat it seriously and promptly. 4. The disbelief of a 'young' car with only 12297 miles could have issues like this puzzled me and drove me to do a lot of online research, then I came across this site [XXX] which contains an article titled '10 Common Problems of A Lexus RX350'. Problem #5 described exactly what had happened to me: 'ONE RECURRING PROBLEM THIS CAR HAS IS THAT THE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS SEVERELY. THIS TYPICALLY…”
Fuel/propulsion system
8 reports
“The fuel pump sensor electrically shorted. The assembly failed. (tube assembly, fuel suction w/ pump and gage), gasket, fuel suction tube set. It is available for inspection. The car could stall at any time because the fuel pump sensor cannot accurately determine the fuel level or how much fuel is being injected into the engine. There was a warning light. Lexus covered two other fuel pump safety issues for this make and model (2018 RX 450h), one under a manufacturer recall and one through a customer support program. This is a THIRD defect with the fuel pumps on these vehicles for which Lexus has NOT offered coverage or notified its customers.”
Engine
7 reports
“This car just send me a warning light last night about the all wheel drive system and issues about the engine, I was in the dealer this morning and I tell them the problem with the car but they was charging me for everything and left the lexus repair shop I work in my car and this not supposed to be happen I care of my car really good but now I hace to stop working because all this issues with the car. Now the car just stop working and I'm stock in middle of the city without another way to work and I don't have money for nothing. Please help me!”
Vehicle speed control
5 reports2 crashes
“Car displaying parking brake malfunction and and cruise control malfunction intermittent when using the parking break, seem that TSB (T-SB-0168-19) was open for Camay from 2018 to 2020 exhibiting the same issue but not for this car. This a safety concern since parking brake becomes disable, this issue resets after restarting the car again.”
Structure
4 reports1 crash
“The contact owns a 2018 Lexus RX 350. The contact stated that upon arriving to the residence and parking the vehicle, the front driver’s side door failed to open while pulling on the interior door handle. The contact rolled down the window and was able to open the front driver’s side door while pulling the exterior door handle. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the front driver’s side door handle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to Lexus Special Service Campaign Number: 20LC02. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 47,518.”
Power train
4 reports
“WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS PETAL ONE OF THREE THINGS HAPPEN. 1. NORMAL ACCELERATION WHICH YOU EXPECT AFTER 60 YEARS OF DRIVING AND WHICH WE OBTAIN FROM A 2014 LEXUS RX350 THAT WE OWN. 2. HESITATION OF BETWEEN 1 AND 5 SECONDS BEFORE ACCELERATION BEGINS. 3 EXCESSIVE ACCELERATION ( SURG OF ACCELERATION MUCH MORE THAN EXPECTED). THIS EXCESS ACCELERATION MAY HAPPEN AFTER THE HESITATION OR THERE COULD BE "NORMAL" ACCELERATION AFTER THE HESITATION AND HAPPENS WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER BEING STOPPED.. THE HESITATION AND EXCESS ACCELERATION CAN BE FROM A STOPPED POSITION IE STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT OR WHILE MOVING AND NORMAL SPEEDS. THERE SEEMS TO BE A CONSISTENT HESITATION AT THE 60 TO 65 MPH WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE ON HIGHWAY. AT 70 MPH EVERYTHING SEEMS TO WORK AS EXPECTED. THE SURGING AND HESITATING SEEMS TO BE AT LOWER SPEEDS AND AND WHEN MAKING TURNS IN CITY STREETS AND MOVING UP OR DOWN HILLS AND IN PARKING LOTS WHEN MOVING OUT OF PARKING SPACES, BUT IT HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS UP TO 65 MPH. THE CARS HAS ACCELERATED WITH OUT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR - THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DELAYED ACCELERATION AFTER PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR A HALF BLOCK BEFORE. THIS HAPPENED…”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.