Fuel system, engine, structure and electrical system issues among the top complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
When a customer wants a high-end vehicle, they naturally turn to the 2019 Lexus RX350. After all, the automaker claims it offers “captivating craftsmanship.” However, it doesn’t take long to realize that this vehicle is outfitted with a faulty fuel system, defective engine, shoddy structure and glitchy electrical system.
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The fuel system pumps the gasoline into the engine, which propels the car. When there is a fault, the engine can’t run the way it should, as seen with this RX350.
One NHTSA complaint states, “Leased vehicle was brought to [dealership] for recall issue to be addressed. Vehicle is still at the dealership due to recall parts not being available. Lexus Legal Department has determined they are unable to offer assistance or buy back the vehicle.”
Basically, this customer is paying on a vehicle that can’t be driven and Lexus has given no timeframe for the repair. It’s clear that the company is overwhelmed trying to get enough parts since NHTSA Campaign Number 20V012000 is in effect on nearly two million cars. This recall says that the fuel pump could fail, which could cause the engine to stall. Meanwhile, customers are anxiously awaiting the replacement of the fuel pump, which only serves to prove that there was no expert craftsmanship going on with these models.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion System | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| Power Train | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | |
| Engine | |
| Service Brakes | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Electrical System | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking |
Even when the fuel system is working as intended, the engine is nothing but a disappointment.
Here is one Edmunds review discussing some troubles. “The engine is the worst feature. The car jerks forward with acceleration and then backs right off without letting up on the gas. Typical Toyota engine that has to think about it before accelerating. Does not like higher speeds – it feels like I’m dragging a boat without a trailer.”
Lexus wants to “help” customers. That’s why the automaker launched Service Bulletin #L-TT-0288-20 Rev, which asks technicians to get feedback from owners about a surging and hesitation issue. Lexus is such an expert in “craftsmanship” that they really need customers’ help understanding how the engine works! That’s priceless.
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As a luxury car, there are a lot of expectations that the structure will be solidly built of premium materials, but once again, the RX350 is a disappointment.
One Edmunds review says, “This is my third Lexus. Because my old ES350 and RX350 made me choose Lexus again. My first requirement for the car was comfort and quiet. My old Lexus kept very good, but this 2019 RX350 made me feel very disappointed, the internal gap was very big, the noise control of the car was not good, when the speed When there are more than 50 Miles, there will be wind whistling noise. When the speed exceeds 70 miles, it feels like the window is not completely closed. I contacted Lexus and they told me this is normal. This is very abnormal, it is not like a 50K car. Also, when the engine speed reaches 2K, vibration noise will appear. Seriously, this will be my last Lexus, I am currently looking for a new car!”
Again, Lexus isn’t really trying to hide the issues. In fact, Service Bulletin #L-SB-0024-20 states second row occupants might not be able to use the inside rear door handle to get out of the SUV. It turns out; the rear door handle becomes fatigued, which allows the cable to separate. This condition is only a positive if the owner is looking to trap someone in the backseat; otherwise, it could be a pain.
A final look at the electrical system further debunks claims of high-quality craftsmanship.
One Edmunds user went to the Internet to air lots of dirty laundry about this model, including “1. Gas mileage is 14 mph at best. 2. Tech features including navigation don’t work. 3. Enform app locks and unlocks doors at random. 4. No alert if you accidentally leave headlights on. 5. Call center for navigation assist and other issues is a call center in foreign country that has no idea where California or Arizona are. 6. Rear door has multiple settings for opening height, but none are normal settings that are functional and don’t hit garage door. 7. Remote start on app works about 25% of the time. 8. Vehicle locate on app works about 30% of the time. 9. No automatic update for daylight savings time. 10. Seat requires readjustment each time you get into the vehicle.”
That’s a lot of issues in one automobile. Yet, there’s even more. Service Bulletin #L-TT-0281-20 states that customers have been complaining about Bluetooth connectivity issues. The problems stem from difficulty pairing the phone, intermittent connectivity and a lack of functionality while connected. However, Lexus isn’t willing to take credit for these problems and prefers to tell customers that it’s a problem with the phone itself. Apparently, if a customer wants to take advantage of the superior “craftsmanship” of the RX350, they must have a particular phone too.
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Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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