vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

2009 Lexus RX: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

34 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

73,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 34 complaints (29.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior617.6%
Braking behavior25.9%
Engine operation12.9%
Electrical and battery issues12.9%

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.

Unknown Or Other
10
Engine
9
Steering
5
Air Bags
3
Electrical System
2
Engine And Engine Cooling
2
Structure:Interior Panels:Dashboard
2
Tires
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Unknown Or Other10
Engine9
Steering5
Air Bags3
Electrical System2
Engine And Engine Cooling2
Structure:Interior Panels:Dashboard2
Tires2

Unknown Or Other: 10; Engine: 9; Steering: 5; Air Bags: 3; Electrical System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Structure:Interior Panels:Dashboard: 2; Tires: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
3
50,000 to 74,999
6
75,000 to 99,999
3
100,000 to 149,999
5
150,000 and above
3
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0002
25,000 to 49,9993
50,000 to 74,9996
75,000 to 99,9993
100,000 to 149,9995
150,000 and above3

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 3

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 12 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.

2010
2
2014
4
2015
3
2016
1
2017
2
2019
4
2020
4
2021
4
2022
2
2023
5
2025
1
2026
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20102
20144
20153
20161
20172
20194
20204
20214
20222
20235
20251
20262

2010: 2; 2014: 4; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2019: 4; 2020: 4; 2021: 4; 2022: 2; 2023: 5; 2025: 1; 2026: 2

Pattern summary

Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10302636 · 2010-01-27 (January 27, 2010)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 LEXUS RX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, PROCEEDING TO TURN AT AN INTERSECTION. THERE WAS PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, FOLLOWED BY NO POWER RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE RESUMED OPERATION AFTER TWO SECONDS OF A DELAY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN UNINTENDED FORCEFUL AND AGGRESSIVE ACCELERATION. THE FAILURES OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURES. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE…

Owner-reported narrative. 75 miles reported. Look up ODI 10302636 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10323323 · 2010-04-01 (April 1, 2010)

2009 LEXUS 400H HYBRID BRAKES DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKING OVER ROUGH SURFACE, IT GIVES THE IMPRESSION OF ACCELERATING. I HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH 2006 LEXUS 400H, BUT THE 2009 RECENTLY HAS BEEN HAVING MORE FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH THIS SITUATION.

Owner-reported narrative. 30,121 miles reported. Look up ODI 10323323 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10577144 · 2014-04-03 (April 3, 2014)

THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD WITH GREAT UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 33,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10577144 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10596159 · 2014-06-04 (June 4, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 LEXUS RX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, SHE UNEXPECTEDLY SWERVED OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG THAT WAS MOUNTED INSIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE CHEST AND NECK AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A SALVAGE FACILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10596159 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10604969 · 2014-06-21 (June 21, 2014)

I TOOK MY LEXUS RX350 TO MY TIRE SHOP FOR ALIGNMENT AND NEW TIRES. UPON, INSPECTION OF STEERING RACK THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED RACK AND PINION RIGHT BOOT WAS WET WITH POWER STEERING FLUID. THE SHOP RECOMMENDED THAT STEERING RACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE OWNED TOYOTAS AND LEXUS ALL MY LIFE AND NEVER HAVE STEERING RACK ISSUES BEFORE. ESPECIALLY AT THIS LOW MILEAGE. I AM DISAPPOINTED WITH LEXUS OF NOT RECALLING THIS STEERING RACK ISSUE. IF LEXUS FAILED TO REPLACE MY STEERING RACK FREE OF CHARGE. I WILL NEVER BUY A TOYOTA AND LEXUS AGAIN. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10604969 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10640155 · 2014-09-30 (September 30, 2014)

I TOOK CAR IN FOR REGULAR SERVICING AND THE MECHANIC SAID THERE IS A POWER STEERING LEAK AND THE RACK AND PINION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE LEXUS RX 350. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL? *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 59,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10640155 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10682685 · 2015-02-11 (February 11, 2015)

I HAD VISITED THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES TO TELL THEM FIRST ABOUT MY LEATHER SEATS. THE LEATHER HAS CRACKED AND THE LAYER HAS PEELED. AND MY DASHBOARD HAS CRACKS AND IT IS MELTED. EVERY TIME THE CAR WENT INTO SERVICE I HAD SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL ADVISORS AND 2-3 SERVICE MANAGERS. THEY TOOK PICTURES AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WILL GET BACK TO ME. I MADE SURE I DID ALL OF THIS BEFORE THE FACTORY WARRANTY EXPIRED. TILL THIS DATE MY LEXUS LOOKS LIKE BRAND NEW OUTSIDE, AND THE INSIDE LOOKS LIKE IT IS 100 YEARS OLD. I WILL NEVER BUY A LEXUS MODEL EVER AGAIN…

Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10682685 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10731442 · 2015-07-01 (July 1, 2015)

WATER PUMP FAILED WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OF FAILURE. I WAS GOING ON HIGHWAY AND ALL OF SUDDEN VSC LIGHT CAME UP . AFTER DRIVING A MILE ENGINE LIGHT CAME UP. SINCE NEXT EXIT WAS 3 MILES I DROVE THROUGH EXIST AND PULL CAR ON SAFE PARKING LOT. BY THE TIME I STOPPED VEHICLE, I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF ENGINE. I HAD TO CALL AAA AND GET IT TOWED TO LOCAL MECHANIC FOR PRIMARY DIAGNOSTIC BEFORE I TOWED IT OVER TO LEXUS DEALERSHIP 25 MILES AWAY. CALLED LEXUS DEALERSHIP BUT THEY REFUSED TO COVER UNDER LEXUS POWER TRAIN WARRANTY ( 72 MONTHS OR 7…

Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10731442 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.