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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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Contents
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NHTSA Complaints for the 2019 Lexus RX350
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion System | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | |
| Power Train | |
| Service Brakes | |
| Engine | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | |
| Electrical System |
Problems with the Fuel System
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.
Problems with the Engine
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.
Problems with the Structure
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.
Problems with the Electrical System
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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Complaint Data
| Category | Vehicle Speed Control |
| Date | Jul 16, 2021 |
| State | CA |
| Description | The contact owns a 2019 lexus rx350. The contact stated while parking the vehicle in a parking space, as he disengaged the brake pedal to complete the parking, the vehicle accelerated inadvertently and crashed into the pillar of a building. There were no warning lights illuminated. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, then it was towed to an independent mechanic. A police report was filed. The dealer was not made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 21,000. |
| Category | Power Train |
| Date | May 03, 2021 |
| State | FL |
| Description | We took the car in because when the car is cold it does not shift properly. This problem has been happening and getting worse since it was there for a recall on the transmission software. Dealer refuses to acknowledge that there is a problem stating the diagnostic computer shows no error codes, while ignoring the fact when you shift from park to reverse or drive the vehicle jerks and the gear lever requires a lot of force to move into desired gear. Dealer refuses to repair the car or acknowledge the problem, instead they tried to sell me a 5 oil change. Dealer is also refusing to send me any paperwork that my car was there even after calling many times to request it, they promise to send it that day and never send it because "they are busy". Service advisor david ( taou) was very arrogant, condescending and dishonest. |
| Category | Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking, Service Brakes, Vehicle Speed Control |
| Date | Nov 10, 2020 |
| State | FL |
| Description | On a recent 2500 mile trip on 3 separate occasions while on interstate hiways and passing a vehicle the emergency braking system engaged automatically with warning lights and buzzers going off. This occurred with no other vehicles anywhere around for a quarter mile or more. On one occasion it occurred while driving in the right lane and with no vehicles in sight. Lexus special tech inspected the vehicle and had some calibrations performed but they will not tell me what they found in data captured by the vehicle computer or what actions they took and why they think the vehicle is safe to drive. |
| Category | Service Brakes |
| Date | Sep 05, 2020 |
| State | NY |
| Description | Vehicle vibrates when braking, brake pedal pulsates as well when braking, such decreasing the ability for vehicle to stop appropriately. Every 6,000 miles rotors warp badly and need to be changed with normal driving habits. Lexus must recall these defective rotors as they could affect the ability for the vehicle to stop |
| Category | Fuel/propulsion System |
| Date | Jul 07, 2020 |
| State | TX |
| Description | Fuel pump issues. |
| Category | Engine, Fuel/propulsion System, Service Brakes |
| Date | Jul 04, 2020 |
| State | VA |
| Description | Car was pdi and delivered on 06/14/20 with an open recall 20la01 that was likely to be a life-threatening issue. Even after pdi was performed, the breaks were disfunctional, so had to take the vehicle for service on 06/19/20. Lexus found that rotors required resurfacing to fix the breaks and at the same time completed the open recall 20la01. However on 07/03/20, the car stalled in the middle of a highway traffic putting the pax thru a life-threatening situation. Car has been finally towed to the service and I am verbally promised that the car has been fixed to not present any life threatening issues. Since it is just 15 days of purchase and vehicle been into the service review for 3 times with some life-threatening open issues, I am requesting lexus to either refund or provide me a replacement. *tr |
| Category | Power Train |
| Date | Jul 04, 2020 |
| State | PA |
| Description | While driving, I've been encountering hard gear upshifts and downshifts. I have notified my local lexus dealership and they told me that is normal. This is my 3rd car I bought and the first time I've encountered such an issue. Issue usually happens when speeds range between 50-70 mph regardless of weather conditions. This is a safety concern, given that the car is still pretty new. |
| Category | Fuel/propulsion System |
| Date | Jun 15, 2020 |
| State | NY |
| Description | Leased vehicle was brought to lexus brooklyn, ny dealership for recall issue to be addressed. Vehicle is still at the dealership due to recall parts not being available. Lexus legal dept. Has determined they are unable to offer assistance or buy back of vehicle. *tr |
| Category | Fuel/propulsion System |
| Date | Jun 09, 2020 |
| State | TX |
| Description | 2019 model lexus r350l are installed with low efficiency "fuel pump system" and this is a recall form the manufacturer. Still there is no remedy ?? *tr |
| Category | Fuel System, Gasoline |
| Date | May 18, 2020 |
| State | FL |
| Description | Tl* the contact owns a 2019 lexus rx350. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v012000 (fuel system, gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact called the lexus of winter park, florida located at 305 n semoran blvd, winter park, fl 32792, (407) 678-2000, and it was confirmed that the parts were not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.*dt*jb |
| Category | Engine, Fuel System, Gasoline |
| Date | May 13, 2020 |
| State | FL |
| Description | Tl* the contact owns a 2019 lexus rx350. The contact stated that while driving 35-40 mph, there was abnormally loud sound coming from the vehicle. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v012000 (fuel system, gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. A dealer was not made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided the contact with a loaner vehicle. The failure mileage was 5,500. Vin tool confirms parts not available. |
| Category | Fuel System, Gasoline |
| Date | May 13, 2020 |
| State | NJ |
| Description | Tl* the contact owns a 2019 lexus rx350. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v012000 (fuel system, gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. An unknown dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available. |
| Category | Fuel System, Gasoline |
| Date | May 07, 2020 |
| State | NJ |
| Description | Tl* the contact owns a 2019 lexus rx350. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v012000 (fuel system, gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Lexus of atlantic city (3169 fire rd, egg harbor township, nj 08234, (609) 641-0008) was contacted and confirmed the part was not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available. |
| Category | Fuel System, Gasoline |
| Date | May 04, 2020 |
| State | MI |
| Description | Tl* the contact owns a 2019 lexus rx350. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v012000 (fuel system, gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Lexus of mishawaka (4325 grape rd, mishawaka, in 46545, (888) 415-3755) was contacted and confirmed that the part was not available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. Vin tool confirms parts not available. |
| Category | Fuel System, Gasoline |
| Date | Apr 22, 2020 |
| State | TX |
| Description | Tl* the contact owns a 2019 lexus rx350. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v012000 (fuel system, gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Neither the manufacturer nor the dealer were made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available. |
| Category | Fuel System, Gasoline |
| Date | Apr 03, 2020 |
| State | CA |
| Description | Tl* the contact owns a 2019 lexus rx350. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v012000 (fuel system, gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact called lexus escondido (1205 auto park way, escondido, ca 92029, (760) 747-2300), who stated that the remedy parts were not available. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact had not experienced a failure. The manufacturer was contacted however, no further assistance was provided. Vin tool confirms parts not available. |
| Category | Fuel/propulsion System |
| Date | Apr 03, 2020 |
| State | PA |
| Description | Tl* the contact owns a 2019 lexus rx350. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v012000 (fuel system gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Lexus of lehigh valley (4500 broadway, allentown, pa 18104), confirmed that part was not yet available. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact stated that there was a hesitation while attempting to accelerate since the vehicle was purchased. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 1,000. Vin tool confirms parts not available. *bf*jb |
| Category | Fuel/propulsion System |
| Date | Apr 02, 2020 |
| State | CA |
| Description | Tl* the contact owns a 2019 lexus rx350. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v012000 (fuel system, gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that lexus san diego located at (4970 kearny mesa rd, san diego, ca 92111), exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. *bf*jb |
| Category | Fuel/propulsion System |
| Date | Mar 26, 2020 |
| State | NY |
| Description | Tl* the contact owns a 2019 lexus rx350. The contact was notified through the lexus app that the vehicle was included in nhtsa campaign number 20v012000 (fuel system, gasoline). The contact reached out to lexus of orange county located at (3496 route us-6 middletown, new york, 10940, (845)589-5435, and was informed that the part to do the recall would be available the beginning of the fall season. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not contacted or made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available. |
| Category | Fuel/propulsion System |
| Date | Mar 18, 2020 |
| State | CA |
| Description | Tl* the contact owns a 2019 lexus rx350. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v012000 (fuel system, gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that dch lexus of oxnard (located at 1640 auto center dr, oxnard, ca 93036), exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. |
| Category | Fuel/propulsion System |
| Date | Mar 17, 2020 |
| State | FL |
| Description | While driving on a city street the warning lights came on and the car stalled. I was alone in the car and in downtown city traffic with honking cars behind me. I was able to restart the car after a few attempts. A few days after this incident, while driving on a very busy hwy at 55mph the car engine was skipping as if about to stall. I had a passenger in my car who experienced this rough ride and made a comment about it. A few days later, on march 8,2020, I received an email from lexus enform services with a vehicle health report informing me that my vehicle requires attention due to a safety recall 20la01. When I leased my vehicle, I was never informed of this recall which goes back to 01/13/2020. Safety is a top concern for me and I fully communicated this to the salesperson when I leased my car but I was not informed of this recall at that time. I have exactly 2800 miles on my car. I am not able to use it because the service department at lexus does not have a remedy available to fix the low -pressure fuel pump and they do not know when they will have it. I want to drive a vehicle that is safe not one that increases the risk of having a crash. |
| Category | Fuel/propulsion System |
| Date | Mar 14, 2020 |
| State | CA |
| Description | On jan 13, 2020 lexus announced that my 2019 rx350 has a low pressure fuel pump that could fail resulting in an increase in the risk of a crash. Lexus has informed me that a fix is not available. I left the car at the dealer on jan. 27, 2020. The car is still there after 6 weeks. There is still not fix to the problem and I will not let my wife drive this car with this issue. Any suggestions? |
| Category | Fuel/propulsion System |
| Date | Mar 03, 2020 |
| State | ME |
| Description | Tl* the contact owns a 2019 lexus rx350. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v012000 (fuel system, gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Berlin city toyota of portland located at (191 riverside st, portland, me 04103), confirmed that parts were not available. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The maintenance required warning indicator is illuminated. Vin tool confirms parts were not available. |
| Category | Fuel/propulsion System |
| Date | Feb 25, 2020 |
| State | CA |
| Description | Tl* the contact owns a 2019 2019 lexus rx350. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v012000 (electrical system) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to exceed 50 mph while driving. The contact was unsure if the failure to exceed 50 mph was connected to the recall. The manufacturer was not contacted or informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 6,903. Vin tool confirms parts not available. |
| Category | Fuel/propulsion System |
| Date | Jan 21, 2020 |
| State | NY |
| Description | Tl* the contact owns a 2019 lexus rx350. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v012000 (fuel system, gasoline). The contact stated that lexus of queens (located at 40-40 northern blvd, long island city, ny 11101, (833) 457-3255) exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer had not been made aware of the issue. The part was not available for the repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. *js |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Jan 14, 2020 |
| State | CA |
| Description | Floor/carpet wet at front passenger side under dash due air conditioning/defrost usage. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Dec 05, 2019 |
| State | FL |
| Description | Blind spot monitoring on passenger side only works about 50% of the time. Driver's side is fine. System on passenger side does not register or "see" about half of the vehicles when overtaking or being overtaken. |
| Category | Engine, Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control, Power Train, Vehicle Speed Control |
| Date | Aug 30, 2019 |
| State | CA |
| Description | Tl* the contact owns a 2019 lexus rx350. While driving with the adaptive cruise control activated and set at 72 mph, the driver reduced the speed to approximately 60 mph when switching lanes. After releasing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle continued to accelerate past the set cruise control speed of 72 mph and continued to accelerate to approximately 80 mph. After deactivating the cruise control feature, the vehicle continued to accelerate and the rpms increased before the speed eventually was reduced. The cause of the failure was not determined. Lexus escondido (1205 auto park way, escondido, ca) and the manufacturer were notified of the failure. Prior to the failure, the vehicle hesitated while accelerating and was serviced. The same lexus dealer reprogrammed/flashed the transmission, but the failures continued. The failure mileage was 2,800. |
| Category | Power Train, Vehicle Speed Control |
| Date | Apr 01, 2019 |
| State | CA |
| Description | The car abruptly jerks forwards or slows down when switching gears. There is a knocking sound when you accelerate. The rpm increase to 6k-7k before the next gear is engaged and then car abruptly thrusts forward. The car accelerates and decelerates randomly. This car cannot be driven safely in this condition. The car only have 1116 miles and is a 2019 model. |
| Category | Electrical System, Structure |
| Date | Mar 18, 2019 |
| State | SC |
| Description | Tl* the contact owns a 2019 lexus rx350. When it rained, water entered the vehicle and caused the park assist system to malfunction. The instrument panel illuminated as if the vehicle was about to rear end the preceding vehicle and the "lexus park assist not available" indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to lexus of greenville (864-551-2359, located at 2660 laurens rd, greenville, sc 29607) where it was diagnosed that there was a design flaw. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and had twenty-four hours to call the contact back. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact traded in a 2018 model for the current vehicle due to the same failure. The failure mileage was 980. |
| Category | Structure:body |
| Date | Feb 20, 2019 |
| State | CA |
| Description | The vehicle back door hatchback is is very havey once the to close button is pressed there is no way to stop and door crashed every thing on its way. This door has no sensor it must be fixed immediately before it would result in a child death or a major injury! |
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About the Author:
Brian Jones spent more than 20 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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