Owners have filed 15 complaints
about the 2011 Lexus GX with NHTSA between 2011 and 2025.
The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
Across this model's run it ranks 3 of 9 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 40
Against the median year of the Lexus GX. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 69
13.3% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 100
63% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2011 Lexus GX
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Airbags
426.7%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 137,000 mi
Engine & Cooling
426.7%
Median failure at 190,000 miles
Other & Unspecified
213.3%
Median failure at 95,125 miles
Steering
213.3%
Median failure at 375 miles
Tires
16.7%
Median failure at 500 miles
Suspension
16.7%
Median failure at 250 miles
Body & Structure
16.7%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
562.5%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
112.5%
150,000+ miles
225.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Aug 2011peak 3Oct 2025
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 137,000 milesPorter, TXCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
The contact owned a 2011 Lexus GX 460. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH while crossing an intersection, a vehicle turned in front of the contact's vehicle. The contact's vehicle broadsided the other vehicle, where it came to a stop. No warning light was illuminated. The front driver-side, front passenger-side, or side curtain air bags deploy. The contact was taken to the hospital by ambulance. The contact sustained nerve damage to both hands and neck. Both legs have bruises, and she has pain in her chest and abdomen. There was a police report filed. The vehicle was towed to a towing yard. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The insurance company was notified and declared the vehicle a total loss. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 137,000.
NHTSA complaint #11690823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 137,000 milesPorter, TXCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
The contact owned a 2011 Lexus GX 460. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH while crossing an intersection, a vehicle turned in front of the contact's vehicle. The contact's vehicle broadsided the other vehicle, where it came to a stop. No warning light was illuminated. The front driver-side, front passenger-side, or side curtain air bags deploy. The contact was taken to the hospital by ambulance. The contact sustained nerve damage to both hands and neck. Both legs have bruises, and she has pain in her chest and abdomen. There was a police report filed. The vehicle was towed to a towing yard. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The insurance company was notified and declared the vehicle a total loss. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 137,000.
NHTSA complaint #11690823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jacksonville, FL
ENGINE
Timing cover leaks oil
NHTSA complaint #11653072 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dumont, NJ
STRUCTURE:BODY
There is significant rust on the frame of the vehicle
NHTSA complaint #11504602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Charlotte, NC, NC
ENGINE
THE ENGINE WAS FOUND TO HAVE A LEAKING VALLEY PLATE AND CAM TOWER COVER WITH LITTLE OVER 82,000 MILES ON IT. AN ONLINE SEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM SHARED ACROSS THE LEXUS (GX460) AND TOYOTA (TUNDRA) PLATFORMS WITH THIS ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #11360504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Simpsonville, SC
ENGINE
THE TIMING COVER GASKET BEGAN TO LEAK OIL AT 65,000 MILES. THIS IS A KNOWN MANUFACTURING DEFECT FOR THIS ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #11326648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 190,000 milesSlidell, LA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
10.6.19 RADIATOR BLEW.WHILE DRIVING.ON BRIDGE ON INTERSTATE. ENGINE OVER HEATED. ENGINE WAS SUPPOSED TO SHUT DOWN. ENGINE BLEW HEAD GASKET. ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON FROM A EMISSION SYSTEMS RECALL. I WAS NOT AWARE THAT ENGINE WAS OVER HEATING. NO ALERTS. HAD AN APPOINTMENT ON 10.13.19 TO FIX RECALLED EMISSIONS SYSTEM. NEED NEW ENGINE AND RADIATOR. COST $10,000 MINIMIUM
NHTSA complaint #11268894 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 190,000 milesSlidell, LA
ENGINE
10.6.19 RADIATOR BLEW.WHILE DRIVING.ON BRIDGE ON INTERSTATE. ENGINE OVER HEATED. ENGINE WAS SUPPOSED TO SHUT DOWN. ENGINE BLEW HEAD GASKET. ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON FROM A EMISSION SYSTEMS RECALL. I WAS NOT AWARE THAT ENGINE WAS OVER HEATING. NO ALERTS. HAD AN APPOINTMENT ON 10.13.19 TO FIX RECALLED EMISSIONS SYSTEM. NEED NEW ENGINE AND RADIATOR. COST $10,000 MINIMIUM
NHTSA complaint #11268894 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bellevue, WA
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL IT HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR, AND STILL "INCOMPLETE" WITHOUT SOLUTION.
NHTSA complaint #11010213 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Colorado Springs, CO
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL. RECALL HAS BEEN OPEN SINCE MAY 2016, BUT NO PARTS AVAILABLE YET.
NHTSA complaint #10949784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Marietta, GA
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL. I AM FILING A COMPLAINT THAT LEXUS HAS FAILED TO REMEDY THIS DEFECT WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME. BEING UNABLE TO UTILIZE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY INCONVENIENT FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. I HAVE CONTACTED MY LOCAL LEXUS DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES ONLY FOR THEM INFORM ME THAT THE DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS. ITS'S BEEN NEARLY 6 MONTHS NOW SINCE I WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10910901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 250 milesPalmdale, CA
STEERING
NEW LEXUS GX460 HAS A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT FREEWAY SPEED. THE VIBRATION CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO DRIFT INTO THE NEXT LANE. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO BALANCE THE EXISTING WHEELS AND TIRES TWO TIMES. THIS DID NOT WORK. THE DEALER THEN REPLACED THE WHEELS AND TIRES. THIS DID NOT WORK. DEALER CALLED TOYOTA TECH. ALL STEERING, WHEEL, AND SUSPENSION PARTS WERE CHECKED AND FOUND TO BE OK. CAR STILL HAS THE SAME VIBRATION, AND IS STILL AT THE DEALER. CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN THIS CONDITION.
NHTSA complaint #10425127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 250 milesPalmdale, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NEW LEXUS GX460 HAS A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT FREEWAY SPEED. THE VIBRATION CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO DRIFT INTO THE NEXT LANE. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO BALANCE THE EXISTING WHEELS AND TIRES TWO TIMES. THIS DID NOT WORK. THE DEALER THEN REPLACED THE WHEELS AND TIRES. THIS DID NOT WORK. DEALER CALLED TOYOTA TECH. ALL STEERING, WHEEL, AND SUSPENSION PARTS WERE CHECKED AND FOUND TO BE OK. CAR STILL HAS THE SAME VIBRATION, AND IS STILL AT THE DEALER. CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN THIS CONDITION.
NHTSA complaint #10425127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 250 milesPalmdale, CA
SUSPENSION
NEW LEXUS GX460 HAS A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT FREEWAY SPEED. THE VIBRATION CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO DRIFT INTO THE NEXT LANE. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO BALANCE THE EXISTING WHEELS AND TIRES TWO TIMES. THIS DID NOT WORK. THE DEALER THEN REPLACED THE WHEELS AND TIRES. THIS DID NOT WORK. DEALER CALLED TOYOTA TECH. ALL STEERING, WHEEL, AND SUSPENSION PARTS WERE CHECKED AND FOUND TO BE OK. CAR STILL HAS THE SAME VIBRATION, AND IS STILL AT THE DEALER. CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN THIS CONDITION.
NHTSA complaint #10425127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 500 milesNEW York, NY
STEERING
2011 LEXUS GX460 CONSTANT SHAKING/VIBRATIONS IN THE STEERING WHEEL MAINLY IN THE FRONT END. ALL 5 TIRES REPLACED AND SWITCHED TO A DIFFERENT BRAND, 4WHEEL ROAD FORCE BALANCE, RACK AND PINION STEERING ADJUSTED WHICH RESULTED IN MORE "PLAY" AND LESS CONTROL OFF THE TRUCK, STILL SHAKING/VIBRATING REMAINS AND LEXUS EXECUTIVES SAY THERE IS NO FIX FOR IT! SOMETIMES IT'S SO BAD YOU WONDER IF THE TRUCK IS GOING TO SHAKE OFF THE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #10422313 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 500 milesNEW York, NY
TIRES
2011 LEXUS GX460 CONSTANT SHAKING/VIBRATIONS IN THE STEERING WHEEL MAINLY IN THE FRONT END. ALL 5 TIRES REPLACED AND SWITCHED TO A DIFFERENT BRAND, 4WHEEL ROAD FORCE BALANCE, RACK AND PINION STEERING ADJUSTED WHICH RESULTED IN MORE "PLAY" AND LESS CONTROL OFF THE TRUCK, STILL SHAKING/VIBRATING REMAINS AND LEXUS EXECUTIVES SAY THERE IS NO FIX FOR IT! SOMETIMES IT'S SO BAD YOU WONDER IF THE TRUCK IS GOING TO SHAKE OFF THE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #10422313 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.