134 of the
1,271 complaints filed about the Lexus RX
are about the transmission —
11% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1999.
134
Complaints
11%
Share of all complaints
4
Crashes
0
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
The vehicle exhibits a severe, load-based mechanical transmission whine strictly during active acceleration. The pitch of the whining sound rises and falls in direct proportion to the engine's RPMs. This vehicle utilizes the Toyota/Lexus 8-speed automatic transmission architecture, which has a well-documented manufacturing flaw involving internal bearing wear, gear misalignment, and fluid starvation.This mechanical defect poses an immediate and severe safety hazard. The continuous internal wear and gear friction create an unpredictable risk of sudden transmission lock-up, unexpected dropping out of gear, or complete engine stalling while operating at high highway speeds. A sudden loss of motive power on a fast-moving highway leaves the driver completely unable to accelerate out of harm's way, creating an imminent risk of a severe rear-end collision or a catastrophic traffic accident. The manufacturer has failed to issue a safety recall for this known powertrain failure."
NHTSA complaint #11758409 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2023 Lexus RX 500h. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shaking erratically, and the vehicle stopped independently. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated and the message to “See the Dealer” was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The failure reoccurred. The failure was a persistent failure. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The failure reoccurred. In addition, the contact stated that the self-parking feature was deactivated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer. The technician test drove the vehicle, and the failure reoccurred twice. The contact was informed that a report was sent to the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and several cases were filed. The engineer was scheduled to inspect the vehicle. The inspection was completed; however, the vehicle information was incorrect on the documents. The contact was informed that another inspection would be scheduled. The failure mileage was approximately 10,637.
NHTSA complaint #11757971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving on [XXX] in [XXX] with my young child in the vehicle, my 2023 Lexus RX 350 F Sport suddenly lost acceleration. The vehicle initially would not accelerate beyond 50 mph and then progressively lost power, eventually being unable to accelerate beyond 40 mph. This occurred during rush-hour traffic, with vehicles traveling faster than me and passing closely. I attempted to move farther onto the shoulder because I felt unsafe being so close to traffic, but the vehicle became completely unable to drive. I had to stop and attempt to determine what was wrong with the vehicle. There were no warning lights, dashboard warnings, or notifications through the Lexus app before or during the incident. I had driven approximately 200 miles that day and had not noticed any unusual noises, odors, and nothing sounded abnormal prior to the failure. The vehicle had been regularly serviced every 5,000–10,000 miles. Its most recent service was in late March 2026, four months before this incident, and I was not informed of any transmission problems at that time. The vehicle had 80,000 miles at the time of the failure, and the scheduled transmission service/check was not due until 90,000 miles. The vehicle was taken to Lexus for diagnosis. Lexus determined that the transmission needed to be replaced and is holding my vehicle as transmissions are on back order. Lexus has agreed to cover the replacement transmission and is charging me $1800 for labor costs. I am reporting this incident because the sudden loss of acceleration and eventual complete loss of the ability to drive occurred while traveling on a freeway with a child in the vehicle and surrounding traffic, creating a significant safety concern. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11757831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
First incident. 71 mph, 101 degrees out traveling along a straight highway, I hit the seat cooler button and when I did, my car lost power. I could not get any response when I hit the accelerator. I tried several times. This was on XXX with around 500 miles on the car in the odometer. I had it less than a week. Second incident on XXX 25 mph, 105 degrees outside with 1300 miles in the odometer, I again, lost power and was unable to accelerate. I was on a windy road that required the use of both hands on the wheel. With this incident I lost the AC in the cabin. I had to pull over both times and turn off my vehicle and turn back on. There were no lights, or warnings or beeps letting me know that my car was going to lose or lost power. I took the vehicle to Crown Lexus in Ontario, they had it for 7 days and they could not find anything wrong with it. When they ran a diagnostic on it, there were no codes other than they said I put the car in neutral while driving. Which did not happen. My husband was with me both times. I then had the car towed to Lexus of [XXX] and we went for a test drive, as they wanted to see how I drive to rule out human error and to see if the car would have another incident. It did not. They kept it overnight and could not find anything. The first dealer drove it about 70 miles and the second around 10 miles to diagnose. The green ready light was on the dash. As to what component failed? I am not sure other than I could not accelerate and the ac went out. My safety and my husbands, along with other drivers, was put at risk due to the fact my car was traveling at a high rate of speed and it just lost power. I could have been rear ended. I could have been on a road without a shoulder to move over to. This could have been a major catastrophe. The dealer(s) have been unable to reproduce the incidents. There has been no inspection other than at the dealer, and during both incidents, no warning lights, or beeps were seen or heard INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA)
NHTSA complaint #11756092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle has exhibited intermittent drivability and safety-related concerns after a prior collision repair. The concerns include delayed acceleration/engagement, abnormal jerking or stopping behavior, and elevated RPM behavior during real-world driving. The most recent documented event occurred on July 27, 2026, while the vehicle was in Drive at approximately 50 mph with cruise/driver-assist indicators illuminated. The tachometer appeared near the 4,000 RPM range. The event was captured by video/screenshot and the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The issue creates a safety concern because delayed acceleration, unexpected jerking/stopping, or abnormal RPM behavior could affect the driver’s ability to safely merge, maintain speed, respond to traffic, or control the vehicle during highway or road driving. The problem has been intermittent and has not always produced an active warning lamp. A Lexus dealer inspected/scanned the vehicle on May 21, 2026 and discussed Eco Mode/Normal Drive Mode, but the symptoms continued afterward. The vehicle has a documented post-repair history involving transmission cooler replacement, transmission-fluid concerns, and prior transmission/powertrain/electronic-control diagnostic code history. Lexus Brand Engagement has also been notified under an active case, but there is currently no clear authorized Lexus repair path. The exact failed component is UNKNOWN. Based on the symptoms and repair history, the concern may involve the power train, speed control, electrical/electronic control system, or related driver-assistance systems.
NHTSA complaint #11755401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1. Ignition System: While driving the key in the ignition lock came out loose! Exremely frightened and managed to pull the car over to a driveway. But, the car could NOT be stoped using the key fob. Key will not work to stop the engine. Very unusual and unexpected incidence. 2. Lighting system switch: Suddenly the knob of the light switch came out loose with a plastic shaft and will not turn on the light. Very unsafe while driving and it became dark due to storm and rain, and I wanted to turn the headlights for safety. I beleive it is a manufaturing defect and causes severe safety issue.
NHTSA complaint #11754996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
had transmission replaced 2 times and update to transmission. this is a brand new car purchased in 2023. first transmission replaced at 20,963 miles, 2nd replaced at 33,543 miles, 35,221 miles transmission update. It was cumulative 33 out of service. We feel this vehicle is unsafe to drive. Even after all the transmissions replaced om the is vehicle had 2 more incidents. One was loss of power in traffic and another was on a highway transmission would not shift into higher gear. This is not new there have been hundreds of people with the same exact problems. Lexus has internal TSB L-SB-0059-23 detailing these problems.
NHTSA complaint #11754621 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While on a long road trip on a hot day, on the interstate, the car suddenly lost speed and would not accelerate. It was like the car had shifted into neutral. I was coasting on the interstate, steadily slowing, and was forced to pull over to the shoulder. I turned the car off and waited a couple of minutes then turned the car back on. No error messages were displaying at that time. About 5-10 minutes later, I pulled over for a planned stop. My husband assumed driving responsibilities when we got back into the car. Upon trying to get back on the interstate, the car would not accelerate, and multiple errors error messages appeared, including: ""System Malfunction/Visit Your Dealer," "Check Engine/Visit Your Dealer," "Drive-Start Control Malfunction/Visit Your Dealer," "Secondary Collision Brake System Malfunction/Visit Your Dealer," and "Traction Control Turned Off." He pulled into a nearby parking lot where we had to have the car towed to the dealership. It felt like the car was in neutral when this happened both times.
NHTSA complaint #11754510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On July 21st, 2026 while stopped at a red light and upon turning green stepped on the accelerator to transition from stop to start, the vehicle suffered a sudden, catastrophic loss of motive power. The engine failed to respond to accelerator input, leaving the vehicle stranded in active traffic. This created an immediate rear-end collision hazard in a busy intersection. I was forced to coast the vehicle out of traffic to the side of the road, cycle the ignition off, and reset and temporarily regain powertrain functionality. Also on July 25th, 2026 I lost the power to accelerate on the highway when I was cutoff. I put the car in neutral and then back in drive to get power back to accelerate. These are the most recent, But I have had 2 transmission replacements. At separate times and then a re flashing to upgrade computer information another time. All within a 7 month period. This is a known issue by Toyota Motor Corp and has been circulated by the company under TSB-L-SB-0059-23.
NHTSA complaint #11754128 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My 2023 Lexus RX350 with 67,000 miles displayed a check engine light along with a Drive-Start Control Malfunction warning. The vehicle was brought to a Lexus dealership where it was diagnosed with fault code P25B372 — Turbocharger Wastegate A Actuator Stuck Open. The dealership confirmed the wastegate actuator has failed and requires replacement. The part is currently on backorder with over 800 units backordered nationally, indicating this is a systemic issue affecting multiple vehicles. Toyota has issued Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0084-23 covering this exact fault code on the same 2.4L turbocharged engine used in the 2023 Lexus RX350. The bulletin states the repair is covered under the Federal Emission Warranty for 96 months or 80,000 miles. However, the Lexus dealership has declined warranty coverage citing the absence of a Lexus-specific bulletin, despite the identical engine and fault code. The failure puts safety at risk as the Drive-Start Control Malfunction warning indicates loss of traction and stability control systems. The problem has been confirmed by the Lexus dealership. Warning lamps appeared on the dashboard prior to the visit. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.
NHTSA complaint #11740958 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am experiencing ongoing issues with my 2023 Lexus RX500h related to the powertrain/transmission. The vehicle has exhibited abnormal shifting behavior, including hesitation, jerking, and inconsistent acceleration. At times, the vehicle does not respond smoothly when accelerating, which raises safety concerns, especially when merging into traffic or driving at highway speeds. The issue occurs intermittently and has persisted despite multiple attempts to diagnose or address the problem. The condition affects the drivability and reliability of the vehicle and has not been resolved.
NHTSA complaint #11733235 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I purchased this vehicle on January 5, 2026, from a family-owned dealership in Broken Arrow, OK. The vehicle was purchased “as-is” with a guarantee of sale and a Carfax report. After purchasing the vehicle, I drove it home and it remained parked until January 8, 2026. On Thursday, January 8, 2026, the vehicle experienced an unexpected engine stall while I was driving. At the same time, the slip indicator light and traction control appeared to engage. I contacted the dealership immediately to report the issue, and the vehicle was towed back to JT Wholesale Auto Sales on Friday, January 9, 2026. On Tuesday, January 13, 2026, I was informed by the dealership that the vehicle had undergone a complete inspection and that no mechanical issues were found. Relying on this representation, I retrieved the vehicle and drove it home. However, after retrieving the vehicle, I continued to have concerns regarding its condition. On Thursday, January 15, 2026, I took the vehicle to Stellar Auto Service located at 2209 N. Yellowood Ave., Broken Arrow, OK 74012 for an independent inspection. Stellar Auto Service specializes in Lexus and Toyota vehicles. During their inspection, they identified the following issues: • Engine timing chain cover leak • Worn drive belt Stellar Auto Service was informed of the slip indicator light activation and the engine stalling that I had experienced. However, at the time of their inspection, they were unable to identify or reproduce any issues related to the slip indicator light or the stalling concern that I reported. On Sunday, February 15, 2026, the slip indicator light illuminated again, and the vehicle stalled while in operation. I was forced to safely pull off the roadway. I turned the car off, waited, restarted the vehicle, and drove home. The same issue occurred again on Sunday, March 8 and 15th, 2026. While driving, the slip indicator light illuminated and the vehicle stalled. I pulled off the road turned the vehicle off, restarted it.
NHTSA complaint #11725110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I own a 2020 Lexus RX 450h with approximately 129,803 miles. The check engine light came on and the vehicle stored diagnostic trouble code P0A2D, which indicates a failure of the drive motor/temperature sensor circuit that is integrated into the transmission/hybrid motor assembly. According to the Lexus dealer’s diagnosis, the temperature control sensor located on the transmission/hybrid drive unit has failed. Because Lexus designed this sensor as part of the transmission assembly, the dealer has stated the sensor cannot be replaced separately and that the only repair is to replace the entire transmission. Lexus is refusing to acknowledge this as a manufacturing defect and is requiring me, the consumer, to pay the full cost of a complete transmission replacement, estimated at approximately $9,040.03, solely due to the failure of this internal temperature sensor. This is a critical component used to monitor drive motor/transmission temperature. A malfunctioning sensor of this type can lead to improper system operation, possible overheating, loss of power, or unpredictable behavior of the hybrid drive system while the vehicle is in motion, which presents a safety risk to occupants and other road users. This failure occurred during normal use on public roads and not due to any accident, abuse, or modification. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether there is a design or manufacturing defect in the drive motor/transmission temperature sensor and its housing or circuitry on the 2020 Lexus RX 450h (and related Toyota/Lexus hybrid models) that forces owners to replace the entire transmission when this internal sensor fails. This appears to be an unreasonable safety‑related defect and an unreasonable repair burden on consumers.
NHTSA complaint #11723917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
[XXX] ’s my wife we’re driving in Sacramento.The vehicle was stopped at a traffic signal waiting for the light to change. Suddenly, without warning the vehicle started violently shuddering/shaking, scaring us completely. The shaking stopped when my wife put into park. But for those few seconds it was extremely scary. This incident should be investigated by the NHTSA as a repeat of the incident in moving traffic may cause severe property damage, serious injury and possible loss of life. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11722907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
When coming from a stop, the car will not respond to the gas pedal being engaged OR it will begin to engage and then no response leaving the car rolling for a few seconds until a response is recieved and the car engages again. This has caused us to be put in harms way MANY times with oncoming traffic when making turns or in front of oncoming traffic in intersections. The dealer states this is not a known issue however it is all over the internet that hundreds of reports of this issue have been made. The dealer states no fix since they don't "have a problem". MAJOR safety issue. We have reported this many times to Lexus now with no resolve or help from them.
NHTSA complaint #11714118 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle hesitates with apparent gear dragging and audible whining or grinding noises. The condition worsens when driving uphill and includes occasional sudden increases to high RPMs during normal acceleration. A slight burning odor is sometimes present after driving, along with lower-than-expected fuel economy in city and highway driving. The transmission exhibits harsh shifting, hesitation, and loss of smooth acceleration, negatively affecting drivability and raising safety concerns. Dealer inspections have not resolved the issue and claim the condition is normal.
NHTSA complaint #11711476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I have a 2022 Lexus RX350 F Sport. There are many complaints for this problem with this era of Lexus that happen daily. When pulling out into traffic the vehicle stutters or hesitates; this could cause a serious accident with injuries or death. I think it is a problem with the transmission shift programming. In an attempt to be fuel efficient, Lexus created a serious safety problem in my opinion. My car is under warranty, I brought it to the dealer and they said that is normal and a known issue with that era of Lexus; there is no fix or repair. Despite being under warranty, I paid to have the transmission system reset to learn my style of driving. The reset had no effect positive or negative. There were 750,000 Lexus RX's made between 2016 and 2022. Nearly all are affected by this problem. Note: Lexus RX450 hybrid uses a different transmission and likely does not have this problem. Please force Lexus to find a fix for this likely injurious, potentially deadly issue. Gemini AI reports this as a very common problem with this generation of Lexus RX. https:XXX I know it may have been helpful to have had a crash, injury, or fatality to help bolster my argument, but isn't the point to avoid that? Please don't let a numbers game cause more injuries or deaths. This is a known wide-scale problem that Lexus is not fixing. Thank you for your consideration. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11699530 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HI, I purchased a brand new 2022 Lexus RX350 from Hendrick Lexus of Charleston SC. Since day one I had dangerous issues below: 1. The transmission shifts up and down so hard, I've almost gotten rear ended due to the car and not braking. This I was told by two separate Lexus dealers I'm feeling a hard "transmission gap"-whatever that means. To add fuel to this dangerous defect is my autistic son would need to be specially medicated to ride in the car b/c he panics and tries to jump out. 2. The car also is equipped with a "rear kick sensor" that never worked, The service manager in Charleston kicked my bumper and swore at the car. I had another Service tech on video for minutes unable to open it. 3. The car, scarily, will not start on me or recognize the key. I've been 3 hrs from home and nearly stuck in a grocery store parking lot with my autistic son freaking out again. This is documented on video. 4. As if there could even be more, the car is equipped with rear collision warning. An example of this, is backing up in a grocery store parking lot and it senses someone walking and auto stops the car if I'm not already breaking. Well, last Sept I was moving, had my autistic son's anxiety super high, and hit a POD for moving in my driveway doing maybe 2 miles per hour. But, and the big but is why did the pre-collision not kick in. This little bump cost insurance over $15k and yet Hendricks is saying its not the car! The mysognostic behavior I've been privy beyond demeaning and offensive. 5. The big kicker is the car went to Hendricks Collision as I wanted a certified Lexus dealership to fix it and do my 30k service. They would only do the 30k service, service writer-again another mansplainer didn't capture all my three continuous problems properly, filled the RO out days after I dropped the vehicle last Nov of 2024-yes, a YEAR AGO. Lexus refuses to address my three warranty items and ran my warranty. No car in a YEAR. Please advise. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION A
NHTSA complaint #11689819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.