Lexus RX

Where it stands out against its peers

• Air bags: more complaints than 98% of 2021 cars — 68% of its 277 complaints, where an ordinary 2021 car has 7%.
• Seat belts: more complaints than 91% of 2021 cars — 6% of its 277 complaints, where an ordinary 2021 car has 2%.

Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.

Before you buy one

Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.

• AIR BAGS — 172 owners reported this
• SEAT BELTS — 16 owners reported this, 12 involving a crash

Crash test

Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency. 5 versions of this car were tested and they did not score alike, so these are the weakest of them.

Specification

Recalls

Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.

84% of 2021 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 4. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.

• 14V054000

  If this occurs, these systems could become inoperative, reducing the directional control assistance, increasing the risk of a crash.

  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.

• 14V576000

  A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

  Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace any of the suspect fuel delivery pipes free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

• 16V053000

  A defective inflator may increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

  Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the knee air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began March 7, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is GLA.

• 16V198000

  Insufficient brake fluid pressure may cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake actuator, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 4, 2016, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G0I, GLC.

• 18V085000

  If the air bags fail to deploy in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.

  Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sensors as necessary based on their serial numbers, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 12, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are JLA, J0F.

• 18V211000

  A sudden loss of braking assist can increase the risk of a crash.

  Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake booster vacuum pump, free of charge. The recall began on May 9, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371, or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0K/JLD.

• 20V012000

  If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB02 and 20TA02 for Toyota vehicles and 20LB01 and 20LA01 for Lexus vehicles.

• 20V682000

  If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.

2 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.

Regulator investigations

Opened by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation is a question the regulator asked about a possible defect, not a fault it found — most end without a recall.

• Pedestrian alert sounds

  Defect petition, opened January 2023, closed August 2023.

• Hybrid inverter failure - vehicle stall

  Preliminary evaluation, opened February 2011, closed July 2011.

• Unintended and Uncontrolled Acceleration

  Recall query, opened February 2010, closed March 2011.

What the maker told its dealers

Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.

Lexus filed 25 bulletins about the 2026 RX.

• Electrical system: 2
• Engine: 1
• Structure: 1
• Other: 21

• OBSOLETE NOTICE Month ##, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see L-SB-0018-26 · July 2026
• During the manufacturing process, tires are mounted on the vehicle as matched sets to help reduce conditions such as pulling or drifting. If the wheels are replaced or refinished before vehicle… · July 2026
• A battery in a stored vehicle is subject to conditions that can reduce its performance and service life. These conditions include storage period, temperature, parasitic drain, and battery load.… · July 2026
• OBSOLETE NOTICE June 18, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see L-SB-0017-26. · July 2026
• OBSOLETE NOTICE June 15, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see L-SB-0016-26. · July 2026
• Long-term or off-site storage requires special care to maintain vehicle condition. The following guidelines should be performed to minimize vehicle component/part degradation due to extended vehicle… · July 2026
• A 12V auxiliary battery with increased capacity has been released as an optional replacement. · June 2026
• Pre-Delivery Service (PDS) is a critical step in satisfying our new car customers. Customer feedback indicates the following areas deserve special attention when performing PDS: • Careful inspection… · May 2026

17 more.

Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.