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U.S. public vehicle records

2009 Lexus RX350: complaints, problems and recalls

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.

Examples from the source records

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

Owner report 10245040 · 2008-10-10 (October 10, 2008)

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING CAR AFTER PICKING KIDS UP FROM SCHOOL. DURING DRIVING MY 8Y/O DAUGHTER DISCONNECTED REAR SEAT BELT TO REACH DOWN AND PICKUP A DROPPED TOY. SEAT BELT RETRACTED AROUND MY DAUGHTERS NECK CHOKING HER. MY STOPPED CAR AND TRIED TO GET BELT TO RELEASE. IT JUST GOT TIGHTER AROUND MY DAUGHTERS THROAT. POLICE WERE CALLED BY CELL PHONE AND HAD TO CUT BELT TO RELEASE IT FROM MY DAUGHTERS NECK. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10245040 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 10280041 · 2009-08-10 (August 10, 2009)

WHILE TRAVELING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED THE FRONT TIRE OUTER SIDEWALL SHREDDED COMPLETELY AND UNIFORMLY AROUND THE ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE SIDEWALL, RESULTING IN COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE TIRE. THE TIRE / CAR HAS 5,000 MILES. MICHELIN BRAND. I DO NOT KNOW THE DOT NUMBER, TYPE OF TIRE OR SIZING OTHER THAN IT IS A MICDHELIN TIRE, OR VIN NUMBER; SO GUESSES FOR THE SAME HAVE BEEN INSERTED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10280041 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10291396 · 2009-11-08 (November 8, 2009)

MY 2009 LEXUS SUV TOOK OFF ON ITS OWN OUT OF A DRIVEWAY WHILE I WAS TRYING TO BACK OUT. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, AND THE ENGINE BEGIN TO REV AND THEN THE CAR WAS UNCONTROLLABLE. IT ACCELERATED OUT THE DRIVEWAY, ACROSS THE STREET, INTO A YARD, AND FINALLY STOPPED WHEN IT HIT A HUGE TREE. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10291396 at NHTSA ↗

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 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 10308514 · 2010-02-10 (February 10, 2010)

VEHICLE WILL AT RANDOM BEGIN TO PULL TO THE LEFT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10308514 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10308629 · 2010-02-10 (February 10, 2010)

LEXUS RX 350 BACK DOOR DOES NOT REMAIN UP WHEN THERE IS SNOW ON THE ROOF OR SNOW ON THE DOOR. IT GOES UP AUTOMATICALLY VIA KEY OR DASHBOARD ENTRY OR USE OF REAR DOOR OPENER, BUT WHEN IT GETS UP AND YOU ARE UNPACKING FROM THE REAR CARGO AREA, IT COMES DOWN WITHOUT WARNING AND TWICE HIT MY WIFE IN THE HEAD. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10308629 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.