NHTSA vehicle safety data

2013 Lexus RX350 Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2013 Lexus RX350 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 29 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Lexus dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2013 Lexus RX350, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2013 Lexus RX350 owner complaints

Owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Lexus RX350, describing incidents dated February 4, 2014 to January 15, 2023.

Most-cited components

Structure 7 complaints
Unknown or Other 6 complaints
Electrical System 5 complaints
Service Brakes 4 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control 4 complaints
Exterior Lighting 3 complaints

Of the 29 complaints on file, 4 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 29 complaints, owners report 3 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11513401 · Filed March 23, 2023
The contact owns a 2013 Lexus RX350. The contact stated that after closing the liftgate door and reversing out of the car port, the liftgate door erroneously opened and struck the car port causing damage to the liftgate. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The cause of…
ODI #11511160 · Filed March 10, 2023
The contact owns a 2013 Lexus RX350. The contact stated that while driving at speeds exceeding 70 MPH, the steering wheel was violently shaking and vibrating. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the failure was…
ODI #11388122 · Filed January 14, 2021
NO PROBLEM AS OF NOW SAW IT ON RECALL IN CONSUMER REPORT

Read all 29 complaints

Brake Actuator Assembly may Disable ESC and ABS

NHTSA #14V054000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip — Control Unit/Module · NHTSA notice

Reported February 12, 2014 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Potentially affected: 261,114 vehicles

Repair completion: 84.21% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified March 28, 2014 · Vehicles built March 23, 2012 – December 11, 2012 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012 and 2013 Toyota Tacoma and Lexus RX350 vehicles and certain model year 2012 Toyota Rav4 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the brake system contains a brake actuator that adjusts the fluid pressure of each wheel cylinder. An electrical component within the actuator may experience an increased resistance resulting in the illumination of various warning lights, including those for the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system, Antilock Brake System (ABS), and Traction Control system.

Safety consequence

If this occurs, these systems could become inoperative, reducing the directional control assistance, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Toyota will notify owners, and Toyota and Lexus dealers will update the software for the Skid Control electronic control unit, free of charge. The recall began on March 28, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

2013 Lexus RX350 SUV AWD

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Frontal Crash

Driver: 4, Passenger: 4

Side Crash

Driver: 5, Passenger: 5

Side Pole

Rollover

16% rollover risk

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control

2013 Lexus RX350 SUV FWD

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Frontal Crash

Driver: 4, Passenger: 4

Side Crash

Driver: 5, Passenger: 5

Side Pole

Rollover

18% rollover risk

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control

29 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Lexus RX350.

Structure

ODI #11513401

Incident: September 27, 2019 · Filed: March 23, 2023

The contact owns a 2013 Lexus RX350. The contact stated that after closing the liftgate door and reversing out of the car port, the liftgate door erroneously opened and struck the car port causing damage to the liftgate. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact stated that recently the liftgate lowered independently. The failure occurred several times while placing items into the back of the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 40,000.

Steering

ODI #11511160

Incident: January 15, 2023 · Filed: March 10, 2023

The contact owns a 2013 Lexus RX350. The contact stated that while driving at speeds exceeding 70 MPH, the steering wheel was violently shaking and vibrating. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the failure was no longer covered under an unknown Extended Service Campaign. The local dealer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 46,000. The contact stated that the manufacturer did not want to address the issue due to the vehicle's model year. There was a TSB involving later model years for the same issue, the faulty steering column.

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11388122

Incident: January 11, 2021 · Filed: January 14, 2021

NO PROBLEM AS OF NOW SAW IT ON RECALL IN CONSUMER REPORT

Structure

ODI #11337547

Incident: July 1, 2017 · Filed: July 5, 2020

I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW AND ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS ON THIS VEHICLE STARTED TO FAIL - FIRST IT STARTED WITH FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AND NOW IN ADDITION TO FRONT PASSENGER DOOR, THE DRIVER DOOR AND THE REAR RIGHT DOOR AUTOMATIC LOCKS TO NOT ENGAGE WHEN I TRY TO LOCK/UNLOCK. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THESE AT A COST OF ~$1,000 FOR EACH DOOR AND THINK THIS IS UNFAIR SINCE THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS ON THIS MODEL FAILING ONLINE AND IT IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE DOOR ACTUATOR FAILING (BUT NOT RECALLED) (SEE LEXUS OWNER SITE AND YOUTUBE - SEARCH "2013 LEXUS RX350 DOOR LOCKS NOT WORKING" ON GOOGLE FOR DETAILS). I AM CURRENTLY MANUALLY LOCKING/UNLOCKING THESE DOORS AND FEEL UNSAFE AND FEEL MY PERSONAL PROPERTY INSIDE THE CAR IS EXPOSED TO THEFT SINCE SOMETIMES I FORGET TO LOCK THESE 3 DOORS MANUALLY WHEN DRIVING ALONE IN VEHICLE. NOTE THE ABOVE OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, IN MOTION, ON A CITY STREET/HIGHWAY, AND TURNING.

Electrical System; Exterior Lighting

ODI #11328787

Incident: June 1, 2020 · Filed: June 14, 2020

MY 2013 LEXUS AWD RX 350 HAS A FAULTY WIRE HARNESS WHICH HAS SHORTED OUT ITS GPS NAVIGATION SYSTEM, RADIO, AND MEDIA CENTER. I REPLACED THE HEADLAMP ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE AND THE BLAST, BUT THE 15 AMP FUSE CONTINUES TO BLOW OUT. THEREFORE, THE FAULTY WIRE HARNESS HAS CAUSED MY HEADLIGHTS, GPS NAVIGATION SYSTEM, AND RADIO TO NO LONGER WORK.

Electrical System; Exterior Lighting

ODI #11328785

Incident: June 1, 2020 · Filed: June 14, 2020

Unknown or Other

ODI #11322623

Incident: April 28, 2020 · Filed: April 29, 2020

THE SOFTWARE LOCATOR IS DEFECTIVE & WILL SEND YOU TO THE WRONG PLACE. LEXUS HAS A CAMPAIGN TO FIX IT THRU 2022 WHERE THEY UPDATE THE SOFTWARE. UNFORTUNATELY THEY DO NOT UPDATE THE NAVIGATION SOFTWARE AT THE SAME TIME AND THAT SHOULD BE A REQUIREMENT BECAUSE THE LOCATION SOFTWARE AND THE NAVIGATION SOFTWARE WORK CONJUNCTIVELY. INSTEAD THEY WANT TO CHARGE YOU $400 FOR NAVIGATION UPDATE. NOT SATISFACTORY. I ESCALATED THIS AT LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE & IT WAS NOT ADDRESSED PROPERLY. SO LEXUS WANTS TO DO THE SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR THE LOCATION SERVICES BUT THEY WANT YOU TO PAY $400 FOR THE NAVIGATION UPDATE THAT WORKS ALONGSIDE IT? SOUNDS LIKE A BAIT AND SWITCH TO ME.

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #11298602

Incident: January 9, 2020 · Filed: January 11, 2020

MY VEHICLE STALLS FREQUENTLY ON THE EXPRESSWAY WHEN THE SPEED IS INTERRUPTED BY A SUDDEN STOP. IT WILL STALL WHEN I ATTEMPT TO START BACK IN TRAFFIC. I'VE COME VERY CLOSE TO HAVING A REAR END COLLISION.

Air Bags

ODI #11241340

Crash

Incident: July 25, 2019 · Filed: August 2, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 LEXUS RX-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE MAKING A RIGHT HYDROPLANED AND CRASHED INTO THE CONTACTS DRIVER FRONT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE POLICE WAS PRESENT, BUT NO REPORT FILED. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT AND THEN TO THE INSURANCE LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11206482

Incident: December 15, 2018 · Filed: May 9, 2019

WATER PUMP NOISE

Other Lexus RX350 model years

Check your 2013 Lexus RX350 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Lexus RX350 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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