Most common 2012 Lexus RX350 problems
Share of the 33 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Lexus RX350 complaints by model year
Best RX350 years: 2020, 2014, 2022. Years to avoid: 2007, 2008, 2010, 2009. Compare all years →
2012 Lexus RX350 recalls (1)
Electronic stability control (ESC)
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.
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.
What 2012 Lexus RX350 owners say
Speed control & acceleration
Initially felt the vehicle suddenly lurch foward on several occasions after backing out of parking space at work and shifting into drive. Had to hit brakes, bring the vehicle to a complete stop, and then slowly start forward again. Accident occurred in the driveway of a private residence. The vehicle was placed in park and fully stopped.. Driver was about to turn off engine and, with passenger, exit the vehicle when it suddenly accelerated for no reason, plowing straight into the garage door of residence. Garage door was completely torn off and the vehicle came to a stop after smashing an interior wall and doorframe. Thankfully, no injuries but could have been worse if the windshield had broke. The vehicle was damaged on 3 sides and the property sustained damage to the garage door, interior drywall, door and doorframe. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Lexus RX350. While the vehicle was parked and attempting to turn off the engine, the vehicle suddenly independently accelerated and crashed into a garage door and into a wall. The vehicle had extensive damages to the front of the vehicle due to the failure. The driver and the passenger sustained whip lash that did not require medical attention. The vehicle was not diagnosed and the damages were repaired. A police report was not filed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 14,878.
Brakes
I am the original owner of a 2013 Lexus RX350. On August 14, 2019 as I was parking my car and rolling into a parking spot, with my foot only on the brake pedal, the engine revved and the car accelerated forward. The car hit a curb and gave me the time to react and applied enough brake pressure to stop the vehicle before it went into the street into oncoming traffic. The next day I brought the car into my local Lexus dealership. They had the car for the entire day and could not find anything wrong with the vehicle. On August 17, 2019, the exact same thing happened as I was again rolling into a parking spot. Again with my foot only on the brake pedal, the engine revved and the car accelerated forward. This time I was not able to react quick enough as the car hit a concrete pole at the front of the parking spot. I had the car towed to the Lexus dealership. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Lexus rx330. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the ABS and brake system warning lights illuminated when the brake pedal was depressed. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated to respond. The vehicle was taken to Audi pensacola located at 6303 pensacola blvd, pensacola, fl 32505, [phone], and the dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 14V054000 (service brakes, hydraulic, electronic stability control), however the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was informed of failure. The failure mileage was 110,000.
Transmission & drivetrain
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Lexus RX350. The contact stated that after shifting into park and powering off the vehicle, she attempted to exit when suddenly the vehicle independently rolled away. As a result, the front drivers side tire rolled over her buttocks. The contact sustained injuries that required medical attention due to the failure. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the failure was undetermined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 42,450.
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. …
2012 Lexus RX350 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 25 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Lexus RX350 a good car?
Based on 33 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 RX350 rates average: 35% fewer complaints than a typical year of the RX350 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 2012 Lexus RX350?
The speed control & acceleration — 10 complaints, 30% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the brakes (6) and transmission & drivetrain (4).
How many recalls does the 2012 Lexus RX350 have?
There is 1 recall for the 2012 Lexus RX350, the most recent from February 12, 2014 (electronic stability control (esc)). 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 RX350?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2020, 2014 and 2022. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2009. See the full Lexus RX350 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 Lexus RX350 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 27,000 miles; 66% 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.