2012 Lexus Rx350: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2012 Lexus Rx350
On the 2012 Lexus Rx350, the failure owners report most often is other speed control problem, and the reports cluster around 15,000 miles. Across every failure mode on this year, half the dated reports were filed before 30,000 miles. Overall it scores 70 out of 100, high risk for a 2012.
High risk for a 2012 — 165th riskiest of the 271 2012 vehicles we can rate. 46 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
The failures owners actually file about
Owners have reported 15 named failure modes on the 2012 Lexus Rx350, and the three most-reported carry 41% of everything filed.
Other speed control problem leads with 10 reports, about 0.2 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 6k to 20,000 miles.
Other brake problem follows with 5 reports, median 70,000 miles.
Other powertrain problem follows with 4 reports, median 700 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into adas (13), brakes (6) and transmission (4).
At what mileage it happens
39 of the reports on the 2012 Lexus Rx350 came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 30,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 62% by 50,000 miles and 92% by 100,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed.
The busiest stretch is between 0 and 10,000 miles, which alone holds 21% of the dated reports.
59% 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 15. 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
What happens when these parts fail
Across the named modes, 15 mention a crash, 4 a fire and 11 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 8.85, 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 brake problem at $300–$1,800, other powertrain problem at $400–$4,500 and other electrical problem at $250–$2,000. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
17% 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 | 10 | 10 | 6k | 14k | 19k | 0.2 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 5 | 4 | — | 70k | — | 0.1 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 4 | 3 | — | 710 | — | 0.1 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 4 | 2 | — | 50k | — | 0.1 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other engine problem | engine | 3 | 3 | — | 66k | — | 0.1 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 3 | 3 | — | 27k | — | 0.1 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 3 | 3 | — | 30k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Airbag failed to deploy in a crash | airbag | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $1,000–$5,000 | Critical |
| Misfire or rough idle | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 65k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Brake line, hose or caliper failure | brakes | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,600 | Critical |
| Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault | airbag | 1 | 1 | — | 65k | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,600 | High |
| Sunroof failure or glass breakage | body | 1 | 1 | — | 108k | — | 0.0 | $700–$4,500 | High |
| Other steering problem | steering | 1 | 1 | — | 32k | — | 0.0 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 1 | 1 | — | 11k | — | 0.0 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 1 | 1 | — | 35k | — | 0.0 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Unclassified problem | other | 5 | 5 | — | 65k | — | 0.1 | — | 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 2012 Lexus Rx350 draws about 0.9 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 76th percentile of complaint rates among 2012 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 52,222 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2012 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
On 6/25/2012- at 7:10 am, I was pulling into the parking spot for my vehicle in my hospital parking lot for a scheduled surgical case, where I work as an ob/gyn physician/surgeon . As I turned to the parking spot at the usual, approximately 2-4 miles /hr speed ( the speed at which normally one parks the car), I noticed that my accelerator pedal did not bounce back to its original position as it normally should or would. Then my rt foot was on the brakes to just stop the vehicle in my parking spot. Then just instantly the vehicle had increased speed and before I could stop the vehicle, it ran forward uncontrollably and climbed up the cement pathway and hit the tree just in front of that parking spot. I was pressing on the brakes and it did not stop the engine raving and I stopped the engine by turning it off. The front of the car is severely damaged including bent frame and the engine is pushed inside according to the body shop. I felt I had no control of the vehicle and it ran on its own. It was the scariest feeling. Imagine the damage and casualty it could have caused if it happened at the signal crossing. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 lexus rx 350. The contact stated that after stopping at a traffic light she attempted to accelerate, the vehicle moved forward a few feet but then deccelerated and drifted through the intersection. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer on three occasions and each time the failure could not be replicated. The manufacturer was notified but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 20 miles and the current mileage was 5,800.
Other brake problem
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 lexus rx350. The contact stated that the brakes felt abnormal and the traction control warning indicator illuminated. Two weeks later, while attempting to make a u turn, the brakes seized and the vehicle was inoperable. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the brake actuator malfunctioned and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 14v054000 (electronic stability control, service brakes, hydraulic); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000.
Other powertrain problem
I bought the new car from a lexus dealer in nj on saturday 12/03/2011. Right after the car was delivered to me and as I drove the car out of the dealership, I noticed that RPM surged whenever gear upshifted specially in 15-40 MPH range. My wife also noticed the same issue. We brought the car to the dealer on following friday, 12/9/2011, and explained the problem. When I brought the car back to the dealer for inspection, it had ~340 miles on it. One mechanic at the dealer road tested the car with me and noticed the same issue. We left the car at the dealer on that day. On following monday afternoon (12/12/2011), the dealer called and said the transmission is failed and has to be replaced. We have serious concerns about the quality of the car and resulting safety issue: power train is the main component of a car that has direct implication on a car's safety. This car was a defect even before it was delivered to me. I also have serious concerns about the rigor of lexus new car inspection process before customer delivery. We are concerned that this kind of power train issue can lead to a more serious sudden acceleration problem that…
The car, a 2012 lexus rx350, was purchased new from a california lexus dealer on january 30, 2012. The problem, which manifests every two or three days, is a delay of several seconds between pressing the accelerator pedal and actual acceleration of the vehicle. When acceleration eventually occurs, it does so with a surge or jolt. The problem has occurred in a variety of circumstances. Several times I have been unable to accelerate safely from a freeway on-ramp into faster-moving freeway traffic. On at least two other occasions the vehicle has failed to accelerate as I drove up a hill. Most recently, as I began a left turn from a stopped position, the delay in acceleration nearly resulted in my being broadsided. I have taken the vehicle twice to an authorized lexus dealer. On both occasions I was advised that because the technician was unable to reproduce the problem during a short drive, there was nothing they could do. I raised with the technician the fact that there were numerous complaints online about the very same problem. He said that the issue, which apparently relates to the powertrain, had been addressed with respect to…
Recalls on the 2012 model year
NHTSA has issued 1 recall campaign covering the 2012 Lexus Rx350, affecting an estimated 52,222 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:antilock/traction control/electron. 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:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
261,114 vehicles 2014-02-12- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- If this occurs, these systems could become inoperative, reducing the directional control assistance, increasing the risk of a crash.
- 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.
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 2012 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 2012 compares with the other years
High risk for a 2012 — 165th riskiest of the 271 2012 vehicles we can rate. Every score on this site is a rank inside its own model year, which is what makes a 2004 and a 2019 comparable at all.
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 2012 itself at 70.
If the model year is negotiable, 2013, 2007, 2008 and 2009 score lower than 2012 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 2012–2014 generation specifically, 2013 is the strongest year at 64 and 2014 the weakest at 71.
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 2012-2014 generation, 2013 Lexus Rx350 scores best at 64 and 2014 Lexus Rx350 worst at 71.
Where to spend the inspection money
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: other speed control problem from about 6k.
On a 2012 Lexus Rx350 with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether other speed control problem has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
None of this is a diagnosis. It is a list of what other owners of the same model year reported, ordered by when they reported it, which is a good place to point an inspection and a poor place to stop.
What this page cannot tell you
46 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 46 reports, 39 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 85% 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 2012 Lexus Rx350?
The most-reported failures are other speed control problem (10 reports, median 15,000 miles), other brake problem (5 reports, median 70,000 miles) and other powertrain problem (4 reports, median 700 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.
At what mileage do 2012 Lexus Rx350 problems start?
Other speed control problem is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 15,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 5,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 30,000 miles.
Is the 2012 Lexus Rx350 reliable?
It scores 70 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 165th riskiest of the 271 2012 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2012 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 2012–2014 generation, 2013 scores best at 64 out of 100 and 2014 worst at 71. 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