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Lexus RX.

The best Lexus RX years are 2014, 2011, 2012. Years to avoid: 2004. Across 2010-2022, it has a Lemon Index of 31, where 100 is the average car and lower is better.

Reliability by year, 2000 to 2025.

31Lemon Index · 100 = average car

One of the most reliable. Whole model, 2010-2022: 3.2× fewer complaints than average.

Best year 2014 · Worst year 2004

Lexus RX
Photo shows a 2017 Lexus RX. RL GNZLZ from Chile, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0 · background removed

Every year. Lower is better. Tap a year for its full report.

2000342.9× fewer complaints2001–few complaints2002–few complaints2003–few complaints20041701.7× the complaints2005–few complaints2006442.3× fewer complaints2007701.4× fewer complaints2008611.6× fewer complaints2009402.5× fewer complaints2010811.2× fewer complaints2011175.9× fewer complaints2012175.9× fewer complaints2013195.3× fewer complaints20141010× fewer complaints2015313.2× fewer complaints2016442.3× fewer complaints2017392.6× fewer complaints2018195.3× fewer complaints2019412.4× fewer complaints2020234.3× fewer complaints2021362.8× fewer complaints2022273.7× fewer complaints202350early read · 2× fewer complaints202459early read · 1.7× fewer complaints202533early read · 3× fewer complaints

Scores before 2010 are rough: fewer owners filed complaints back then.

Best years to buy

2014.

20141010× fewer complaints than average2011175.9× fewer complaints than average2012175.9× fewer complaints than average

Years to avoid

2004.

20041701.7× the average car's complaints

Quick answers.

Is the Lexus RX a good car?

Yes, it is one of the most reliable models we track, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2010-2022: Lemon Index 31; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: the best is 2014 and the worst is 2004.

What are the best Lexus RX years to buy?

By owner complaints per car sold: 2014, 2011, 2012.

What Lexus RX years should you stay away from?

The years with the most complaints per car sold: 2004.

How many recalls does the Lexus RX have?

60 safety recalls across the 26 model years we track. Most: 2004 (6), 2000 (5), 2001 (5). Each year's page lists them.

What are the most common Lexus RX problems?

Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name speed control, transmission & drivetrain and brakes most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.

Every year in one table
YearIndexCompared with averageComplaintsTop complaintRecallsCrash testMPG
2000342.9× fewer complaints than average34engine (24%)5—18–19
2001–too few complaints to score18speed control (39%)5—18
2002–too few complaints to score16airbags (25%)5—18
2003–too few complaints to score8visibility (25%)3—18
20041701.7× the average car's complaints154transmission & drivetrain (39%)6—19–20
2005–too few complaints to score16lights (25%)4—18–20
2006442.3× fewer complaints than average33tires (18%)1—18–27
2007701.4× fewer complaints than average64speed control (30%)1—19–26
2008611.6× fewer complaints than average51speed control (39%)0—19–25
2009402.5× fewer complaints than average30speed control (17%)0—19–20
2010811.2× fewer complaints than average88speed control (43%)1—20–30
2011175.9× fewer complaints than average18speed control (39%)1★★★★☆20–29
2012175.9× fewer complaints than average18speed control (56%)1★★★★☆20–29
2013195.3× fewer complaints than average24brakes (25%)1★★★★★20–29
20141010× fewer complaints than average12electrical (25%)0★★★★★20–29
2015313.2× fewer complaints than average31speed control (23%)1★★★★★20–29
2016442.3× fewer complaints than average48airbags (21%)3★★★★☆22–30
2017392.6× fewer complaints than average45brakes (22%)3★★★★★22–30
2018195.3× fewer complaints than average22fuel or EV drive system (32%)1★★★★★21–30
2019412.4× fewer complaints than average46fuel or EV drive system (39%)4★★★★★21–30
2020234.3× fewer complaints than average22fuel system, gasoline (18%)2★★★★★21–30
2021362.8× fewer complaints than average40airbags (52%)1★★★★★21–30
2022273.7× fewer complaints than average33electrical (15%)0★★★★☆21–30
2023502× fewer complaints than average67transmission & drivetrain (19%)3★★★★★24–36
2024591.7× fewer complaints than average60electrical (35%)4★★★★★24–36
2025333× fewer complaints than average23electrical (26%)4★★★★★24–36

Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the government within 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average, lower is better. How it works

Lexus RX transmission problems by year →

Updated

Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data