2011 Lexus RX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
29 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
125,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 29 complaints (34.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 17.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.4% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 3.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 10 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
| Structure:Body | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Electrical System:Instrument Panel:Speedometer/Odometer | 1 |
Engine: 10; Unknown Or Other: 5; Air Bags: 4; Service Brakes: 4; Structure:Body: 4; Electrical System: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Electrical System:Instrument Panel:Speedometer/Odometer: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 4
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 17 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 4 |
2012: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 4; 2020: 3; 2021: 6; 2022: 2; 2023: 2; 2024: 4; 2025: 1; 2026: 4
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11256477 · 2019-09-18 (September 18, 2019)
I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES PER HOUR AND BEGAN BREAKING BEHIND TRAFFIC AT A STOP LIGHT. I WAS PRESSING DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HARD AS I COULD, THE TIRES BEGAN TO GRIND AND I COULD HEAR AND FEEL THE ENGINE REVVING BECAUSE THE CAR WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE FORWARD. WHEN THE CAR WAS FAILING TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, I PUT THE CAR IN THE "PARK" GEAR. THE CAR QUICKLY CORRECTED WHAT WAS GOING WRONG. THIS WAS THE THIRD OCASSION AND MOST SEVERE. IT'S BEEN MORE THAN TWO YEARS OR SO SINCE THE FIRST TWO OCCURRENCES. I REPORTED THE F…
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11256477 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11394490 · 2021-02-03 (February 3, 2021)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LEXUS RX 450H. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE AT A STANDSTILL, THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER LEXUS OF RICHMOND (9703 MIDLOTHIAN TURNPIKE, RICHMOND, VA 23235, [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE BRAKE BOOSTER TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 168,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 168,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11394490 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11585271 · 2024-04-25 (April 25, 2024)
Tranmission failure around 100k miles. Spoke to few others with similar engine and transmission from lexus who had similar issues. This could be a widespread issue. Costs between 6 to 9 thousand dollars to fix.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11585271 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11323323 · 2020-05-05 (May 5, 2020)
AS WE WERE DRIVING, MY CAR SUDDENLY STARTED RUNNING ROUGH, ENGINE STARTED SPUTTERING, CAR THEN SLOWED DOWN, SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, AND THEN CAR ABRUPTLY STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. WE HAD TO PUSH THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN A SAFE PLACE UNTIL A TOW TRUCK ARRIVED TO TOW IT AWAY. I RESEARCHED AND LEARNED THRU SEVERAL MEDIA RELEASES THAT A SAFETY RECALL WAS RECENTLY ISSUED AND CURRENTLY IN AFFECT TO COVER THIS SAME EXACT ISSUE IN SEVERAL TOYOTA AND LEXUS MODELS. 1.8 MILLION CARS …
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11323323 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11532457 · 2023-07-15 (July 15, 2023)
On Saturday July 15, 2023, at between about 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. CDST the vehicle was parked overnight in a garage, spontaneously caught fire and burned and was a total loss. There was a smell I would associate with an electrical fire. People reported hearing a car alarm and a "popping sound" before the fire. The fire department extinguished the fire and had the car towed out of the garage of a condominium association. Fire damage to property (except the subject car) was minimal but there was extensive smoke. In my opinion based on this inciden…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11532457 at NHTSA ↗