Model year record
2009 Lexus RX350 recalls & problems
The 2009 Lexus RX350 has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 97 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is steering (28 complaints).

Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2009 Lexus RX350.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
2009 Lexus RX350 w/SAB
| Frontal crash | Not Rated |
|---|---|
| Side crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | ★★★★★ |
| Rollover risk | 19.1% |

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
RX 350 2WD
| City / highway | 18 / 23 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
3.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,100/year to fuel
RX 350 2WD
| City / highway | 18 / 23 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
3.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S5) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,100/year to fuel
RX 350 4WD
| City / highway | 17 / 22 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
3.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel
RX 350 4WD
| City / highway | 17 / 22 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
3.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S5) · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 28 | 54,660 mi |
| StructureBody; Interior panels › Dashboard | 17 | 57,000 mi |
| Engine | 12 | 107,000 mi |
| Power trainAutomatic transmission | 8 | 70,410 mi |
| Unknown or other | 8 | 45,000 mi |
| Air bagsSide/window; Frontal | 7 | 31,000 mi |
| Electrical system | 7 | 49,100 mi |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 30,500 mi |
| Exterior lightingTail lights | 4 | 88,500 mi |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 3 | 12,000 mi |
| Service brakes | 3 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Structure › Interior panels › Dashboard
The contact owns a 2009 Lexus RX350. The contact stated she notice a crack across the dashboard near the airbag on the passengerâs side that had started to expand. The contact notified the dealer and was informed that there was nothing they could do to assist because the recall had already expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.
- Structure › Interior panels › Dashboard
The contact owns a 2009 Lexus RX350. The contact stated that a crack had formed on the dashboard extending horizontally from the driverâs side instrument panel to the passengerâs side air bag housing. The contact also stated that the dashboard was sticky and appeared to be melting. The contact notified the dealer of the failure and was insured that the dashboard would not affect any safety features in the vehicle. The manufacturer had also been notified of the failure and was informed that an extended warranty had been placed on the vehicle however, the warranty had expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000. The contact mentioned concerns about…
- Engine
UPON ARRIVING HOME AND PARKING IN MY DRIVEWAY, A TRAIL OF OIL LINED MY PATH. AS SOON AS IT WAS IN PARK, OIL BEGAN GUSHING OUT INTO A PUDDLE UNDER THE CAR. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, IT WAS FOUND THAT LEXUS HAD ISSUES WITH THE OIL COOLER HOSE USED DURING MANUFACTURING, BEING RUBBER AND LEAKING OR BURSTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED DIRECTLY TO THE NEAREST AUTHORIZED LEXUS DEALER. UPON CONTACTING LEXUS CORPORATE IN REGARDS TO THE ISSUE, THEY STATED THAT THEY HAD ISSUED AND EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS PROBLEM, THAT EXPIRED IN DECEMBER OF 2018. SINCE THE ISSUE OCCURRED AFTER THE EXPIRATION DATE, THERE WAS NO ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE. MY CONCERN IS, THAT THIS IS AND SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL, DUE TO THE…
- Structure › Body
MY DASH BOARD IS MELTING AND FALLING APART!!! MY FINGERS & HAND STICK TO THE DASHBOARD AND EVERYTHING THAT IS UP THERE GETS STUCK TO IT!!!! I CAN TOUCH IT AND LEAVE A MARK OR PUSH IN IT & IT WILL LEAVE AN IMPRINT!!! SOMETHING IS SO WRONG WITH THIS DASHBOARD, IT'S TOTALLY DEFECTIVE AND HAS CAUSED MY IMPORTANT LEGAL DOCUMENTS TO STICK TO IT AND EVEN GET RIPPED WHEN I TRY TO TAKE THEM OFF THE MELTING DASHBOARD! IT GETS SHINEY AND GLARE IS HARD TO SEE BECAUSE IF THIS ISSUE. ALSO MY EYE GLASSES ACTUALLY GOT STUCK TO IT TOO AND I COULDN'T SEE VERY WELL TO DRIVE. LASTLY, IT'S CRACKING AND SPLITTING IN MANY PLACES TOO, SIMPLY FALLING APART FOR NO REASON!! IT'S JUST MELTING AND TOTALLY DEFECTIVE.…
- Exterior lighting › Tail lightsFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED BY A NEIGHBOR THAT THE REAR PASSENGAR SIDE TAILGATE GLASS WAS BROKEN. THE CONTACT OPENED THE DOOR AND THE VEHICLE WAS WET INSIDE, INCLUDING CONTENTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS ATTACHED TO THE DOOR OF THE VEHICLE, INDICATING THERE WAS A FIRE THAT WAS PUT OUT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THERE WERE NO OCCUPANTS AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THAT WAS ALL THE CONTACT KNEW AT THE TIME AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY COUNTED THE VEHICLE AS A TOTAL LOSS SINCE THERE WAS FIRE AND WATER DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE DEALER (LAND ROVER SCHAUMBURG 920 W GOLF RD, SCHAUMBURG, IL 60194 (847) 252-7800) APOLOGIZED AND…
- Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 LEXUS RX350. WHILE AT A FUEL STATION, THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED BY ANOTHER PERSON THAT THERE WAS OIL LEAKING UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD AAA TOW THE VEHICLE BACK HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO LEXUS OF ROCKVILLE CENTRE (700 SUNRISE HWY, ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY 11570, (516) 665-0166) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A HOSE WAS LEAKING OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
- Engine
IN MOTION.I REPEATEDLY ASKED FOR THE PAPERWORK STATING THE FULL VEHICLE INSPECTIONS COMPLETED AND MY CONTRACT BUT FIRSTTX HONDA SALES REFUSED. RESPONDED BUT ALERTED THE SALES REP AFTER GOING IN PERSON FOR THE PAPERWORK. INSPECTION PAPERWORK TO MATCH THEIR WORD. FROM MY RESEARCH THIS COMMON ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR YEARS BACK PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE IN NOV 2017. OVER A WEEK AGO THE CAR SUDDENLY SPLASHED MASSIVE OIL EVERYWHERE WHILE DRIVING LONG DISTANCE (HAVE PIC). SPOKE WITH LEXUS AUSTIN DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT AND IMMEDIATELY THEY KNEW THE ISSUE BUT REFERRED ME TO CORPORATE OFFICE. RECALL DEPT ALSO IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AND ADVISED ME TO SEEK MECHANIC. BECAUSE THE WARRANTY…
- Unknown or other
DASHBOARD MELTING AND CRACKED
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.