Most common 2011 Lexus RX problems
Share of the 29 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Lexus RX complaints by model year
Best RX years: 2012, 2013, 2014. Years to avoid: 2023, 2024, 2021, 2022, 2025. Compare all years →
What 2011 Lexus RX owners say
Engine & cooling
On Saturday July 15, 2023, at between about 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. CDST the vehicle was parked overnight in a garage, spontaneously caught fire and burned and was a total loss. There was a smell I would associate with an electrical fire. People reported hearing a car alarm and a "popping sound" before the fire. The fire department extinguished the fire and had the car towed out of the garage of a condominium association. Fire damage to property (except the subject car) was minimal but there was extensive smoke. In my opinion based on this incident, electric/hybrid cars should not be parked indoors.
Something had broken causing oil draining out of the car while driving on the highway. The car lost power and I pulled over immediately and shut off the engine. I opened the hood and saw nothing wrong, however when I checked the oil, there was no oil. I then proceeded to look under the car and there was oil all over the under carriage. I then did a walk around and found oil all over the back side. Me and my family were stranded while we waited for a tow truck. We had the tow truck take the RX350 to the local Lexus (Kuni in Denver) dealership where this car has been serviced all its life. When I received the initial call from the service department, He had said he is 99% sure this is the oil cooler pipe. He then said this is a known defect in the design of this part. When I googled "RX350 oil cooler pipe" numerous complaints came back. …
Body & structure
On Saturday July 15, 2023, at between about 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. CDST the vehicle was parked overnight in a garage, spontaneously caught fire and burned and was a total loss. There was a smell I would associate with an electrical fire. People reported hearing a car alarm and a "popping sound" before the fire. The fire department extinguished the fire and had the car towed out of the garage of a condominium association. Fire damage to property (except the subject car) was minimal but there was extensive smoke. In my opinion based on this incident, electric/hybrid cars should not be parked indoors.
Hydraulic hood supports failed causing hood to fall suddenly almost striking child. No other supports available under hood to prevent harm or injury. Similar repair was provided for trunk on 2004 Toyota sienna by manufacture due to safety concern. This is a faulty design that should never fail due to risk of serious head or neck injury. Please respond back.
Brakes
While driving Brake & Abs warning lights displayed on the dash with the warning brake malfunction, Took it to the shop they diagnose Bad brake module. My brake pads & rotors and all scedule maintenance uptodate.
I was driving at approximately 40 miles per hour and began breaking behind traffic at a stop light. I was pressing down on the brake pedal as hard as I could, the tires began to grind and I could hear and feel the engine revving because the car was trying to accelerate forward. When the car was failing to come to a complete stop, I put the car in the "park" gear. The car quickly corrected what was going wrong. This was the third ocassion and most severe. It's been more than two years or so since the first two occurrences. I reported the first two instances, when I took my car in to Lexus for regular maintenance service. They didn't find any defect. The first occasions, I was on a parking lot driving slowly looking a place to part at a retail establishment.
2011 Lexus RX engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl hybrid | CVT | FWD | 31 / 28 / 29 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl hybrid | CVT | AWD | 29 / 27 / 28 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 24 / 21 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 18 / 24 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Lexus RX a good car?
Based on 29 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 RX rates average: 23% fewer complaints than a typical year of the RX at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Lexus RX?
The engine & cooling — 10 complaints, 34% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › oil/lubrication › filter/screen. Next are the body & structure (4) and brakes (4).
How many recalls does the 2011 Lexus RX have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2011 Lexus RX. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Lexus RX?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012, 2013 and 2014. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2023, 2024, 2021, 2022 and 2025. See the full Lexus RX years comparison.
At what mileage do 2011 Lexus RX problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 130,000 miles; 17% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.