2011 Lexus Rx350: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2011 Lexus Rx350
On the 2011 Lexus Rx350, the failure owners report most often is other speed control problem, with 7 reports on file. Across every failure mode on this year, half the dated reports were filed before 45,000 miles. Overall it scores 80 out of 100, severe risk for a 2011.
Severe risk for a 2011 — 5th riskiest of the 283 2011 vehicles we can rate. 49 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
The failures owners actually file about
Owners have reported 14 named failure modes on the 2011 Lexus Rx350, and the three most-reported carry 39% of everything filed.
Other speed control problem leads with 7 reports and about 219 per 1,000 vehicles.
Other engine problem follows with 6 reports, median 55,000 miles. 2 of those reports mention a fire.
Other brake problem follows with 6 reports, median 45,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into engine (11), brakes (10) and adas (7).
At what mileage it happens
43 of the reports on the 2011 Lexus Rx350 came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 45,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 60% by 50,000 miles and 93% by 100,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed.
The busiest stretch is between 0 and 10,000 miles, which alone holds 19% of the dated reports.
42% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles, which is early enough that a fair number of these cars were still under a factory warranty when the owner complained.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 14. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
How bad it is when it goes
Across the named modes, 24 mention a crash, 4 a fire and 14 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 9.45, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other speed control problem at $250–$2,000, other engine problem at $300–$4,000, other brake problem at $300–$1,800 and oil leak at $250–$2,200. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
31% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other speed control problem | adas | 7 | 6 | — | 11k | — | 218.8 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Other engine problem | engine | 6 | 6 | — | 55k | — | 187.5 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 6 | 5 | — | 44k | — | 187.5 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Oil leak | engine | 4 | 2 | — | 118k | — | 125.0 | $250–$2,200 | Moderate |
| Airbag failed to deploy in a crash | airbag | 4 | 4 | — | 16k | — | 125.0 | $1,000–$5,000 | Critical |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 4 | 4 | — | 28k | — | 125.0 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 4 | 4 | — | 32k | — | 125.0 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 2 | 2 | — | 18k | — | 62.5 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 2 | 2 | — | 50k | — | 62.5 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Complete engine failure or seizure | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 76k | — | 31.3 | $4,500–$12,000 | Critical |
| Tire blowout or tread separation | wheels | 1 | 1 | — | 66k | — | 31.3 | $200–$1,500 | Critical |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 1 | 1 | — | 66k | — | 31.3 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other steering problem | steering | 1 | 1 | — | 43k | — | 31.3 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 1 | 1 | — | 97k | — | 31.3 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Unclassified problem | other | 5 | 3 | — | 43k | — | 156.3 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2011 Lexus Rx350 draws about 1,531 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 100th percentile of complaint rates among 2011 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 32 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2011 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other speed control problem
I experienced a sudden unintended acceleration (sua) in the parking lot of my apartment on march 3rd, 2012. It was a sunny day, and the road condition was good. My wife was driving lexus rx 350 2011 model (mileage: 2124miles). My daughter and I were sitting on the back seats. She was slowing down the vehicle for parking and about to finalize the parking by going forward by about 3 feet. At that time, the vehicle abruptly accelerated with the sound of revving up the engine. The car ran over a parking block and went on curb stones. By help of the brake override system equipped after the recent toyota's recalls, she could stop the vehicle quickly because her foot was already on the brake pedal. We all were surprised at this rare situation, but fortunately there were no accidents or injuries. We reported this experience to a close lexus dealership. Two lexus engineers inspected the vehicle, including 10-mile test driving. However, they could not find any mechanical problems. They could not re-enact the same situation, neither. At this inspection, they did not check out the event data recorder, as well as any electronic systems like…
While pulling into driveway, my wife took her foot off accelerator and car suddenly accelerated and ran into wall of house damaging front of car and causing damage to house and contents. *tr
Other engine problem
I have a 2011 lexus gx 460. It lacks power when it is cold and there is exhaust fumes that are coming into the vehicle after I merge on t the highway it is almost a instant headache the smell is so strong its smells like sulfur there is no check engine light and gas mileage not normal . I have used high octane fuel and even installed bg44k fuel conditioner .this is a problem .thanks for listen to me . *tr
I experienced a sudden unintended acceleration (sua) in the parking lot of my apartment on march 3rd, 2012. It was a sunny day, and the road condition was good. My wife was driving lexus rx 350 2011 model (mileage: 2124miles). My daughter and I were sitting on the back seats. She was slowing down the vehicle for parking and about to finalize the parking by going forward by about 3 feet. At that time, the vehicle abruptly accelerated with the sound of revving up the engine. The car ran over a parking block and went on curb stones. By help of the brake override system equipped after the recent toyota's recalls, she could stop the vehicle quickly because her foot was already on the brake pedal. We all were surprised at this rare situation, but fortunately there were no accidents or injuries. We reported this experience to a close lexus dealership. Two lexus engineers inspected the vehicle, including 10-mile test driving. However, they could not find any mechanical problems. They could not re-enact the same situation, neither. At this inspection, they did not check out the event data recorder, as well as any electronic systems like…
Other brake problem
Turned into parking space. Car began accelerating on its own. I applied the brakes continuously, threw the car into park to no avail. The car jolted forward, crashing into the storefront, breaking glass windows. The (approx) 2 feet of block wall stopped the car. The vehicle was not in my control in spite of all effort to bring the car to a stop. Had someone been walking on the sidewalk in front of the store (salon), I would have been powerless to keep from injuring or killing them. This was not driver error. I was fully "in the moment," and aware of what was happening. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 lexus rx350. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH, the brakes seized upon engaging causing the vehicle to crash into a brick wall. The contact sustained no injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 32,500. The VIN was unavailable.
Recalls on the 2011 model year
NHTSA has issued 1 recall campaign covering the 2011 Lexus Rx350, affecting an estimated 32 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover service brakes, hydraulic. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
Recalls also distort complaint counts. Publicity about a campaign reminds owners that complaining is possible, so reports for a recalled component often spike after the recall rather than before it.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
32 vehicles 2011-07-26- Defect
- Toyota is recalling certain model year 2011 lexus rx350 passenger cars manufactured from august 30, 2010, through may 18, 2011, and equipped with vehicle dynamics integrated management (vdim). The calibration for the hydraulic control valves is incorrect. Due to this condition, there is a possibility that the right front wheel may not be controlled properly during ABS (antilock brake system) or vsc (vehicle stability control) actuation.
- Consequence
- This could result in increased stopping distances and/or a failure to adequately correct a vehicle slide, which could increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the brake actuator with a new one, free of charge. The safety recall began on september 8, 2011. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2011 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
How 2011 compares with the other years
Severe risk for a 2011 — 5th riskiest of the 283 2011 vehicles we can rate. The comparison is always within the same model year, so an older car is never penalised for having had longer to break.
Across the 13 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2013 comes out best at 64 and 2011 worst at 80, with 2011 itself at 80.
If the model year is negotiable, 2013, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2010 and 2019 score lower than 2011 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 2004–2011 generation specifically, 2007 is the strongest year at 64 and 2011 the weakest at 80.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2004-2011 generation, 2007 Lexus Rx350 scores best at 64 and 2011 Lexus Rx350 worst at 80.
What this page cannot tell you
49 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 49 reports, 43 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 88% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
Named failure modes come from matching phrases in the complaint text, so a badly worded complaint can land in the wrong bucket. The effect washes out across hundreds of reports and does not wash out across five.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Lexus Rx350?
The most-reported failures are other speed control problem (7 reports, median 10,000 miles), other engine problem (6 reports, median 55,000 miles) and other brake problem (6 reports, median 45,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
Is the 2011 Lexus Rx350 reliable?
It scores 80 out of 100 on our risk index, which is severe — 5th riskiest of the 283 2011 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2011 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Lexus Rx350 is best?
Within the 2004–2011 generation, 2007 scores best at 64 out of 100 and 2011 worst at 80. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed