Lexus RX 2004–2009
2nd generation (RX 330 / RX 400h / RX 350) · XU30
NHTSA data through 12 August 2026357 complaints, 198 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 52,345 and 140,000 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 15 complaints (7.6%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 15,000
- 25%
- 52,345
- Median
- 92,000
- 75%
- 140,000
- 90%
- 190,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–20,000 | 23 | 11.6% |
| 20,000–40,000 | 13 | 6.6% |
| 40,000–60,000 | 20 | 10.1% |
| 60,000–80,000 | 23 | 11.6% |
| 80,000–100,000 | 24 | 12.1% |
| 100,000–120,000 | 22 | 11.1% |
| 120,000–140,000 | 21 | 10.6% |
| 140,000–160,000 | 15 | 7.6% |
| 160,000–180,000 | 10 | 5.1% |
| 180,000–200,000 | 12 | 6.1% |
| 200,000+ | 15 | 7.6% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 357 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004–2009 Lexus RX, and 198 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 52,345 and 140,000 miles. The median is 92,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are problems owners could not categorise (13.4% of complaints, typically around 97,000 miles), the engine (11.8% of complaints, typically around 118,000 miles), the brakes (10.9% of complaints, typically around 146,000 miles).
1 recall campaign cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Problems owners could not categorise97,000median 97,000 miles, middle half 52,000 to 140,000
- Engine118,000median 117,500 miles, middle half 103,000 to 140,000
- Brakes146,000median 145,500 miles, middle half 100,000 to 180,000
- Body structure65,000median 65,000 miles, middle half 46,000 to 92,000
- Electrical system161,000median 160,691 miles, middle half 65,000 to 211,000
- Airbag system118,000median 118,000 miles, middle half 75,000 to 180,000
- Steering65,000median 65,424 miles, middle half 41,000 to 86,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Problems owners could not categorise | 48 | 13.4% | 97,000 | 52,000–140,000 |
| Engine | 42 | 11.8% | 118,000 | 103,000–140,000 |
| Brakes | 39 | 10.9% | 146,000 | 100,000–180,000 |
| Body structure | 38 | 10.6% | 65,000 | 46,000–92,000 |
| Electrical system | 30 | 8.4% | 161,000 | 65,000–211,000 |
| Airbag system | 28 | 7.8% | 118,000 | 75,000–180,000 |
| Steering | 22 | 6.2% | 65,000 | 41,000–86,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 20 | 5.6% | 39,000 | 1,500–136,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 14 | 3.9% | — | — |
| Throttle and speed control | 12 | 3.4% | — | — |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 92,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 13.4% of complaints (48 reports, 21 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 97,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 52,000 and 140,000 miles.
The engine accounts for 11.8% of complaints (42 reports, 28 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 117,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 103,000 and 140,000 miles.
The brakes account for 10.9% of complaints (39 reports, 18 of them with a mileage figure), and they fail late — a median of 145,500 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 100,000 and 180,000 miles.
Body structure accounts for 10.6% of complaints (38 reports, 24 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 65,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 46,000 and 92,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 8.4% of complaints (30 reports, 13 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 160,691 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 65,000 and 211,000 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 7.8% of complaints (28 reports, 17 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 118,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 75,000 and 180,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2008 model year drew the most — 89 complaints — while 2005 drew the fewest at 39. The median year sits at 54.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 1 recall campaign covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 357 complaints filed against this generation, 12 reported a crash; 11 reported a fire; 8 reported an injury. Crash-involved reports represent 3.4% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 52,345 and 140,000 miles, with a median of 92,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, problems owners could not categorise and the engine are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. Problems owners could not categorise in particular shows a median failure mileage of 97,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Vvt-I Oil Supply Hose (2gr-Fe) 2007–2009 (RX 350)
The rubber section of the VVT-i actuator oil supply hose degrades and ruptures, causing rapid oil loss, abnormal engine noise, oil pressure warning and cam timing codes (e.g. P0024) that can end in engine failure. Lexus ran a Limited Service Campaign replacing the hose with an all-metal part, covering roughly 374,000 vehicles including MY2007-2009 RX 350.
Instrument Panel (dashboard) 2004–2009
Dashboards crack and turn sticky/shiny/melted under heat and humidity. Lexus ran a Warranty Enhancement Program (ZLD) covering MY2004-2006 RX 330 and MY2007-2009 RX 350, with reimbursement for prior out-of-pocket replacements of roughly $1,500.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 56 | 35 |
| 2005 | 39 | 25 |
| 2006 | 52 | 19 |
| 2007 | 79 | 46 |
| 2008 | 89 | 46 |
| 2009 | 42 | 27 |
Recalls (1)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 10V499000 | 2010-11-15 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder |
What owners reported
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 10 MPH on normal road conditions, the automatic transmission hesitated when making the shift from first to second gear and from second to third gear as well. There were no warning lights indicating a failure in the automatic transmission. The vehicle had been taken seven times…
2004 · 1,500 miles · Transmission and driveline
The dashboard cracked in multiple places.And looked as if it were going to fall from the car. I went to Lexus after i read online that several cars reported this problem, but Lexus was not going to issue a recall. I agreed to pay half of the cost, because they said it was the best they would do. I gave them…
2004 · 9,000 miles · Equipment adaptive/mobility
Lexus has had problems with brake vibration, they have issued a TSB but all they are doing is throwing new rotors and pads. This is not addressing the real issue at hand. Brake vibration can cause a car to go off the road when there is ice or snow on the ground and once the car starts slipping in ice or snow you will…
2004 · 17,000 miles · Hydraulic brake circuit
Built from 198 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page