2012 Lexus RX350: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
33 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
26,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 29 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 33 complaints (30.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 12 | 36.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 12.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 9.1% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 9.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.0% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 10; Service Brakes: 5; Air Bags: 4; Electrical System: 4; Engine: 4; Power Train: 4; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 3; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 4 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 |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 3 |
2011: 2; 2012: 4; 2013: 7; 2014: 2; 2015: 3; 2016: 2; 2017: 4; 2018: 1; 2019: 5; 2020: 3
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 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 10440171 · 2011-12-16 (December 16, 2011)
I BOUGHT THE NEW CAR FROM A LEXUS DEALER IN NJ ON SATURDAY 12/03/2011. RIGHT AFTER THE CAR WAS DELIVERED TO ME AND AS I DROVE THE CAR OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP, I NOTICED THAT RPM SURGED WHENEVER GEAR UPSHIFTED SPECIALLY IN 15-40 MPH RANGE. MY WIFE ALSO NOTICED THE SAME ISSUE. WE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER ON FOLLOWING FRIDAY, 12/9/2011, AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM. WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, IT HAD ~340 MILES ON IT. ONE MECHANIC AT THE DEALER ROAD TESTED THE CAR WITH ME AND NOTICED THE SAME ISSUE. WE LEFT THE CAR…
Owner-reported narrative. 4 miles reported. Look up ODI 10440171 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10441295 · 2011-12-27 (December 27, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ABNORMALLY DEPRESSED INTO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE CODE. THE DEALER THEN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT AIR HAD ENTERED THE BRAKE LINE AND CAUSED THE BRAKE TO BECOME SPONGY. THE DEALER REMOVED THE AIR FROM THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT DID NOT FEEL SAFE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIR…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10441295 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10452684 · 2012-03-22 (March 22, 2012)
I WAS TOLD THAT A CIRCUT BREAKER FAILED UNDER THE DASH ,AS TO THE CAUSE. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW AND HAD SOME STRANGE ELECTRIAL ISSUES. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10452684 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10454193 · 2012-04-04 (April 4, 2012)
THE CAR, A 2012 LEXUS RX350, WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM A CALIFORNIA LEXUS DEALER ON JANUARY 30, 2012. THE PROBLEM, WHICH MANIFESTS EVERY TWO OR THREE DAYS, IS A DELAY OF SEVERAL SECONDS BETWEEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND ACTUAL ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN ACCELERATION EVENTUALLY OCCURS, IT DOES SO WITH A SURGE OR JOLT. THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED IN A VARIETY OF CIRCUMSTANCES. SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO ACCELERATE SAFELY FROM A FREEWAY ON-RAMP INTO FASTER-MOVING FREEWAY TRAFFIC. ON AT LEAST TWO OTHER OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE HA…
Owner-reported narrative. 710 miles reported. Look up ODI 10454193 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10463655 · 2012-06-30 (June 30, 2012)
ON 6/25/2012- AT 7:10 AM, I WAS PULLING INTO THE PARKING SPOT FOR MY VEHICLE IN MY HOSPITAL PARKING LOT FOR A SCHEDULED SURGICAL CASE, WHERE I WORK AS AN OB/GYN PHYSICIAN/SURGEON . AS I TURNED TO THE PARKING SPOT AT THE USUAL, APPROXIMATELY 2-4 MILES /HR SPEED ( THE SPEED AT WHICH NORMALLY ONE PARKS THE CAR), I NOTICED THAT MY ACCELERATOR PEDAL DID NOT BOUNCE BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION AS IT NORMALLY SHOULD OR WOULD. THEN MY RT FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKES TO JUST STOP THE VEHICLE IN MY PARKING SPOT. THEN JUST INSTANTLY THE VEHICLE HAD INCREASED S…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,590 miles reported. Look up ODI 10463655 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10479362 · 2012-10-09 (October 9, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS RX 350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT SHE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD A FEW FEET BUT THEN DECCELERATED AND DRIFTED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS AND EACH TIME THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20 MILES AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,800.
Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 10479362 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10498009 · 2013-02-13 (February 13, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCH AUTOMATICALLY CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10498009 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10505922 · 2013-04-11 (April 11, 2013)
HI, I WOULD LIKE TO INFORM YOU ABOUT A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE I DISCOVERED IN THE LEXUS RX350, THE CAR IS KEYLESS AND YOU JUST NEED TO PUSH A BUTTON TO START AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. THE SAFETY PROBLEM IS THAT THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF WHEN PUSHING THE BUTTON EVEN IF THE CAR IS STILL IN D=DRIVE AND THE CAR WILL ROLL BACK IF PARKED ON A SLOPE LIKE A DRIVEWAY ETC. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS KIDS CAN BE BEHIND THE CAR. PLEASE CHECK THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THANK YOU *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10505922 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
14V054000 · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module
Reported: 2014-02-12 (February 12, 2014)
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012 and 2013 Toyota Tacoma and Lexus RX350 vehicles and certain model year 2012 Toyota Rav4 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the brake system contains a brake actuator that adjusts the fluid pressure of each wheel cylinder. An electrical component within the actuator may experience an increased resistance resulting in the illumination of various warning lights, including those for the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system, Antilock Brake System (ABS), and Traction Control system.
Consequence: If this occurs, these systems could become inoperative, reducing the directional control assistance, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and Toyota and Lexus dealers will update the software for the Skid Control electronic control unit, free of charge. The recall began on March 28, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
NHTSA campaign record ↗