Most common 2018 Lexus RX350 problems
Share of the 18 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 →
2018 Lexus RX350 recalls (1)
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on…
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987.
What 2018 Lexus RX350 owners say
Fuel & propulsion system
When stepping on the gas petal one of three things happen. 1. Normal acceleration which you expect after 60 years of driving and which we obtain from a 2014 Lexus RX350 that we own. 2. Hesitation of between 1 and 5 seconds before acceleration begins. 3 excessive acceleration ( surg of acceleration much more than expected). This excess acceleration May happen after the hesitation or there could be "normal" acceleration after the hesitation and happens when accelerating after being stopped.. The hesitation and excess acceleration can be from a stopped position ie stop sign or traffic light or while moving and normal speeds. There seems to be a consistent hesitation at the 60 to 65 MPH when attempting to accelerate on highway. At 70 MPH everything seems to work as expected. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2018 Lexus RX350. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V012000 (fuel system, gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact called keyes Lexus (5905 van nuys blvd, van nuys, ca 91401, [phone]) where it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that several attempts were needed to start the vehicle on several occasions. Additionally, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The failure was intermittent. The contact also stated that while driving uphill there was rattling sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The approximate failure was 21,500. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Transmission & drivetrain
When stepping on the gas petal one of three things happen. 1. Normal acceleration which you expect after 60 years of driving and which we obtain from a 2014 Lexus RX350 that we own. 2. Hesitation of between 1 and 5 seconds before acceleration begins. 3 excessive acceleration ( surg of acceleration much more than expected). This excess acceleration May happen after the hesitation or there could be "normal" acceleration after the hesitation and happens when accelerating after being stopped.. The hesitation and excess acceleration can be from a stopped position ie stop sign or traffic light or while moving and normal speeds. There seems to be a consistent hesitation at the 60 to 65 MPH when attempting to accelerate on highway. At 70 MPH everything seems to work as expected. …
I tried accelerating on the highway (pch in santa monica, ca) while traveling forward at about 45-50 MPH, but the vehicle hesitated. This is the forth time there has been a hesitation in acceleration since owning the car, but this time there was a message on my dash. The message stated that there was "an obstruction with the pedal and acceleration was retarded." I later looked down at the pedals felt around the them, but found nothing obstructing. At the time, the vehicle had less than a quarter tank of gas but not low enough for the low fuel warning to come on. After driving about 15 more miles - the low fuel warning came on. I have always put premium fuel in the vehicle and my wife doesn't put gas in the vehicle. A recall was recently performed pertaining to the fuel pump at the dealer - pertaining to low
Engine & cooling
Tl* the contact owns a 2018 Lexus RX350. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V012000 (fuel system, gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact called keyes Lexus (5905 van nuys blvd, van nuys, ca 91401, [phone]) where it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that several attempts were needed to start the vehicle on several occasions. Additionally, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The failure was intermittent. The contact also stated that while driving uphill there was rattling sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The approximate failure was 21,500. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
I tried accelerating on the highway (pch in santa monica, ca) while traveling forward at about 45-50 MPH, but the vehicle hesitated. This is the forth time there has been a hesitation in acceleration since owning the car, but this time there was a message on my dash. The message stated that there was "an obstruction with the pedal and acceleration was retarded." I later looked down at the pedals felt around the them, but found nothing obstructing. At the time, the vehicle had less than a quarter tank of gas but not low enough for the low fuel warning to come on. After driving about 15 more miles - the low fuel warning came on. I have always put premium fuel in the vehicle and my wife doesn't put gas in the vehicle. A recall was recently performed pertaining to the fuel pump at the dealer - pertaining to low
2018 Lexus RX350 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 8-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 27 / 23 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2018 Lexus RX350 a good car?
Based on 18 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2018 RX350 rates better than average: 58% 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 2018 Lexus RX350?
The fuel & propulsion system — 8 complaints, 44% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (4) and engine & cooling (3).
How many recalls does the 2018 Lexus RX350 have?
There is 1 recall for the 2018 Lexus RX350, the most recent from January 13, 2020 (fuel pump). 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 2018 Lexus RX350 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 12,000 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.