vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

2009 Lexus RX350 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

97 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

54,744 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 75 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 28 of 97 complaints (28.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior2525.8%
Braking behavior1515.5%
Transmission and shifting88.2%
Electrical and battery issues44.1%
Engine operation11.0%

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.

Steering
28
Engine
12
Unknown Or Other
8
Electrical System
7
Structure
7
Vehicle Speed Control
6
Power Train
5
Structure:Body
5
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Steering28
Engine12
Unknown Or Other8
Electrical System7
Structure7
Vehicle Speed Control6
Power Train5
Structure:Body5

Steering: 28; Engine: 12; Unknown Or Other: 8; Electrical System: 7; Structure: 7; Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Power Train: 5; Structure:Body: 5

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
16
25,000 to 49,999
15
50,000 to 74,999
21
75,000 to 99,999
11
100,000 to 149,999
11
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00016
25,000 to 49,99915
50,000 to 74,99921
75,000 to 99,99911
100,000 to 149,99911
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 21; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 1

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 22 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.

2008
2
2009
3
2010
17
2011
1
2012
5
2013
7
2014
17
2015
9
2016
11
2017
9
2018
6
2019
8
2021
1
2022
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20082
20093
201017
20111
20125
20137
201417
20159
201611
20179
20186
20198
20211
20221

2008: 2; 2009: 3; 2010: 17; 2011: 1; 2012: 5; 2013: 7; 2014: 17; 2015: 9; 2016: 11; 2017: 9; 2018: 6; 2019: 8; 2021: 1; 2022: 1

Pattern summary

Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 25 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 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 10293953 · 2009-11-30 (November 30, 2009)

TRAVELING EAST BOUND ON TEXAS HIGHWAY 380 IN DENTON COUNTY, TX. TRAFFIC SLOWED AS IT APPROACHED ENTRANCE RAMP TO I35 SOUTHBOUND. I APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL AND SLOW VEHICLE, NOTHING HAPPENED. DID THIS SEVERAL TIMES AND ALSO TRIED TO TURN CRUISE OFF FROM STEERING COLUMN LEVER. CRUISE DID NOT DISENGAGE, CAR DID NOT SLOW, MY VEHICLE RAN INTO THE REAR END OF THE ROCK HAULER TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10293953 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10371103 · 2010-12-17 (December 17, 2010)

I WAS DRIVING MY 2009 LEXUS RX 350 DOWN A MAJOR SURFACE STREET WHEN MY POWER BRAKES AND STEERING WENT OUT. I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE AGAIN AFTER MOVING TO A SIDE STREET, AND MY STEERING AND BRAKES WENT OUT 2 MORE TIMES, I THEN HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO MY LEXUS DEALER. THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE REASON FOR THE PROBLEM. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10371103 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10305853 · 2010-02-04 (February 4, 2010)

FOOT SLIPS BETWEEN GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE CAUSING CAR TO ACCELERATE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10305853 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10251093 · 2008-12-08 (December 8, 2008)

UPON TAKING DELIVERY OF NEW RX350 I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED A TRANSMISSION WHINE. I FEEL IT IS A SAFETY FACTOR BECAUSE I AM CONSTANTLY THINKING OF THE PROBLEM AS I DRIVE. MY MIND IS NOT ON DRIVING AS IT SHOULD BE. I IMMEDIATELY WENT BACK TO DEALER AND SHOP FOREMAN DROVE THE CAR AND HEARD THE NOISE. HE SAID DON'T WORRY AS I HAVE A WARRANTY. THIS IS NOT A VIABLE ANSWER TO MY PROBLEM. WHAT IF I BREAK DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. TALKED WITH SALES MANAGER AND HE STATED WAIT UNTIL THE 2010 MODEL COMES OUT. HE WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 26 miles reported. Look up ODI 10251093 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10349151 · 2010-08-13 (August 13, 2010)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 LEXUS RX 350. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED WHILE DRIVING INTO A PARKING SPACE, WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND DROVE OVER THE CURB. SHE ATTEMPTED TO USE THE BRAKES WHICH DID NOT WORK AT FIRST TO STOP THE VEHICLE. SHE THEN DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH EXTREME FORCE AND SHIFTED INTO PARK WHICH STOPPED THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT COULD COLLIDE WITH A PLATE GLASS WINDOW. THE VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY HAD SLIGHT ACCELERATION PROBLEMS BUT WHEN SPEAKING TO THE DEALER IN JANUARY, THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTH…

Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10349151 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10668025 · 2014-12-23 (December 23, 2014)

MELTED, GOOEY, RUBBER STRIP ON REAR HATCHBACK OPENER (CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL DOOR OPENER SWITCH OVERHEATING?) *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10668025 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10668482 · 2014-12-27 (December 27, 2014)

ON OR ABOUT MARCH 5TH 2014, I ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE TAILGATE ON OUR 2009 LEXUA RX350 AND ENCOUNTERED HOT MELTED RUBBER STICKING TO MY FINGERS. I REMOVED THE STICKY BLACK RUBBER FROM THE LOCK, BUT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE THE TAR-LIKE MATERIAL. AS A CERTIFIED ELECTRICAL TECHNICIAN, I CONCLUDED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SWITCH ON THAT TAILGATE LOCK STUCK AND HEATED TO A POINT THAT MELTED RUBBER, MAKING A GOO-LIKE MATERIAL. PLEASE NOTE THIS ABOVE REFERENCED CAR WAS NOT IN THE SUN DURING THE TIME THE RUBBER MELTED. WE HAVE BEEN USING THIS VEHICLE W…

Owner-reported narrative. 112,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10668482 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10956604 · 2017-02-23 (February 23, 2017)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL COOLER PIPE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. UPDATED 06/01/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE WARRANTY. UPDATED 10/18/2017*JS

Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10956604 at NHTSA ↗