Problems · NHTSA complaints

2017 Lexus RX450H problems

Owners filed 57 complaints about the 2017 Lexus RX450H with NHTSA between Feb 2018 and Aug 2026. The most-cited component is engine (11).

Complaints
57
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
10
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine11
  2. Service brakes9
  3. Electrical system7
  4. Air bags5
  5. Forward collision avoidance4
  6. Structure4
  7. Vehicle speed control3
  8. Fuel/propulsion system2
  9. Latches/locks/linkages2
  10. Seats2
  11. Lane departure2
  12. Visibility2
  13. Service brakes, hydraulic1
  14. Tires1

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 Oct 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20184
20192
20202
20215
202215
20239
20247
20257
20266

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine

11 reports1 crash
“3 months before the accident the power steering light came on twice and went off. The day of the accident the brake light came on when I started the car that day. It disappeared when I was put in drive. I was entering onto the highway to merge with the traffic. Another car waiting for the light to turn green so he could enter also. My car didn’t stop because my brakes failed and the collision avoidance system didn’t work either. No sounds nor warnings. I have photos of the message that was displayed on the dashboard. Tried sending photos but it didn’t work.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 23, 2025Electrical system, Service brakes, EngineCrash reportedODI 11675681

Service brakes

9 reports3 crashes
“My vehicle is experiencing a mechanical failure of the brake actuator/booster assembly, manifested by a "squawk/bark" noise and abnormal pedal feel during braking. This is a known defect recognized by Lexus under Customer Support Program 23LE04. The dealership technician confirmed the noise is present and recommended a full replacement of the ABS actuator. However, Lexus is denying coverage because the onboard computer has not yet triggered a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC). By denying the repair, Lexus is requiring me to operate a vehicle with a confirmed mechanical brake malfunction, which increases the risk of a crash, increased stopping distance, or total brake power assist failure. March 2021 (60k miles): Actuator was replaced under warranty for this exact failure. December 2021 (74k miles): The failure recurred. Lexus and the dealer refused to cover the diagnosis/bleed, forcing me to drive a defective vehicle. February 2026 (110k miles): A Lexus dealer confirmed the part is failing again and quoted $3,000 for replacement. Despite a manufacturer program (CSP 23LE04) existing for this exact part, Lexus refuses to honor it without an electronic code, even…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 15, 2026Service brakesODI 11718075

Electrical system

7 reports1 crash
“On 5/8/2020, Northtown Lexus replaced or repaired the vacuum pump. Northtown Lexus required the vehicle to be returned for repair twice, following the initial repair on 5/8/2020. After three attempts, the vehicle's vacuum pump (per a factory recall) is not functioning properly. Northtown Lexus refuses to further diagnosis this defective vacuum pump and continued to decline any and all requests for repair. The vehicle operates abnormally ever since this factory recall was originally addressed by Northtown Lexus on 5/8/2020.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 26, 2022Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 11486423

Air bags

5 reports3 crashes
“After slowly making a left into a parking space at Dunkin Donuts and trying to deploy my brakes, my car lunged forward spontaneously accelerating, jumped two curbs and hit a barrier and the window of the store. The impact of the crash wrecked my front end and the radiator was damaged and was laying on the ground. With this intense impact, the airbags did not deploy on impact. My insurance agency totaled the car. After the crash the warning came on the screen that the Collision System had malfunctioned.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 14, 2026Air bags, Forward collision avoidanceCrash reportedODI 11757073

Forward collision avoidance

4 reports3 crashes
“I WAS SITTING AT A COMPLETE STOP FOR MORE THAN 45 MINUTES BEHIND A FATALITY ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY THEY HAD CLOSED WHILE OCCASIONALLY REMOVING FOOT FROM BRAKE TO INCH FORWARD A FEW FEET A BEST AND THEN STOP AGAIN NEVER TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR WHEN I REALIZED AT ONE POINT TRAFFIC BESIDE ME WAS MOVING, I THOUGHT, IT WAS MY RX 350 WHILE PRESSING BRAKE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH NO RESISTANCE I ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO SEE IF IT WAS SLOW ME DOWN AS AN UPCOMING CRASH WAS UNAVOIDABLE. NO BRAKE ASSIST, PRECOLLISON WARNING OR ASSIST, NO EMERGENCY BRAKING, NO RESISTANCE FROM BRAKE PEDAL AND ***NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AT ALL PRIOR TO IMPACT WITH THE BACK OF A STOPPED SEMI TRUCK** and during the entire incident the speedometer remained at zero or moved a tiny bit off of zero as if it was pulsing somehow and the accelerator was never touched while car felt like I was being pushed from behind, randomly accelerating on its own before impact.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 7, 2023Unknown or other, Forward collision avoidanceCrash reportedODI 11543106

Structure

4 reports
“The contact owns a 2017 Lexus RX350. The contact stated that upon attempting to exit the vehicle through the driver's side, the door failed to open. The contact was able to exit the vehicle after reaching through the open window to open the door using the exterior door handle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 24,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 10, 2023Latches/locks/linkages, StructureODI 11537710
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026

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