2026 Lexus RX Problems & Complaints

Few complaints1.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the RX at the same age

Owners have filed 11 complaints about the 2026 Lexus RX with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is a low number of complaints for a car on sale this long. The most reported problem area is the electrical system (6 complaints, typically around 1,000 miles). 3 recalls cover this model year.

11complaints
3recalls
1crashes
0fires
0injuries
0deaths

Most common 2026 Lexus RX problems

  • Electrical system~1,000 miles
    655%
  • Body & structure
    218%
  • Fuel & propulsion system
    218%
  • Engine & cooling
    19%
  • Other / not specified
    19%
  • Transmission & drivetrain
    19%
  • Locks & latches~1,000 miles
    19%
  • Brakes
    19%
  • Windows, wipers & sunroof
    19%
  • Driver assistance
    19%
  • Lights
    19%

Share of the 11 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Lexus RX complaints by model year

’99’00’01’02’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25’26352919124027325870347729121912202847263447702962592211
Owner complaints per model year, Lexus RX. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best RX years: 2012, 2013, 2014. Years to avoid: 2023, 2024, 2021, 2022, 2025. Compare all years →

2026 Lexus RX recalls (3)

Steering › Linkages › Knuckle › Spindle › Arm

NHTSA recall 26V-598 · Sep 17, 2026 · 617 vehicles

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2026 Lexus TX350, RX350 Hybrid, RX350, RX500 Hybrid, TX500 Hybrid, Toyota Grand Highlander, and Grand Highlander Hybrid vehicles.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the front steering knuckles, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 2, 2026.

Back over prevention › Software

NHTSA recall 26V-162 · Mar 18, 2026 · 144,200 vehicles

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2025 Lexus NX350, NX250, 2023-2026 RX350, and 2024-2026 TX350 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse.

Remedy: Dealers will update the rearview camera software or replace the rearview camera, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 15, 2026.

Back over prevention › Display function

NHTSA recall 25V-744 · Oct 30, 2025 · 1,024,407 vehicles

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models.

Remedy: Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

What 2026 Lexus RX owners say

Electrical system

The contact owns a 2026 Lexus RX 450h+. The contact stated that while occupying the vehicle, the battery lost power, causing the power door locks to fail to disengage and leaving the contact trapped inside the vehicle. Approximately 15 minutes later, the contact located the manual emergency release, unlocked the door, and exited the vehicle. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact of the manual emergency door release. The following day, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 1,000.

12V/24V/48V battery · 1,000 miles · Aug 2026

Technical Incident Timeline Suspected Unintended Acceleration Event 2026 Lexus RX 350h Premium+ (Approximately 96 Miles) Vehicle: 2026 Lexus RX 350h Premium+ Purchase Date: July 10, 2026 Dealer: Woodfield Lexus Incident Date: July 12, 2026 Approximate Time: 11:30 AM Vehicle Mileage at Incident: Approximately 96 miles Event Sequence 1. Vehicle Startup * I entered the vehicle and started the vehicle normally. * The vehicle was in Park (P) at startup. * My right foot was on the brake pedal, as required to start the vehicle. * The accelerator pedal was not intentionally pressed. 2. Immediate Vehicle Behavior After Startup * Immediately after startup, the vehicle produced an unusually loud powertrain noise similar to a motorcycle engine. * The vehicle unexpectedly moved forward with strong acceleration without my intended input. * The acceleration was sudden and unexpected. 3. …

Jul 2026 · crash

2026 Lexus RX engines & fuel economy

EngineTransmissionDriveMPG city / hwy / combined
2.5L 4-cyl hybridCVTAWD37 / 34 / 36
2.4L 4-cyl turbo hybrid6-speed automaticAWD27 / 28 / 27
2.4L 4-cyl turbo8-speed automaticFWD22 / 29 / 25
2.4L 4-cyl turbo8-speed automaticAWD21 / 28 / 24

EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2026 Lexus RX a good car?

Based on 11 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2026 RX rates few complaints: 1.5× as many complaints as 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 2026 Lexus RX?

The electrical system — 6 complaints, 55% of all complaints for this model year, most often about 12v/24v/48v battery. Next are the body & structure (2) and fuel & propulsion system (2).

How many recalls does the 2026 Lexus RX have?

There are 3 recalls for the 2026 Lexus RX, the most recent from September 17, 2026 (arm). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the 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 2026 Lexus RX problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 1,000 miles; 100% 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.