Body complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2 | 6% | 2,000 miles |
| 2018 | 1 | 6% | 10,000 miles |
| 2017 | 2 | 4% | 12,000 miles |
| 2016 | 2 | 3% | 25,000 miles |
| 2015 | 4 | 10% | 22,000 miles |
| 2014 | 3 | 20% | 6,000 miles |
| 2013 | 7 | 24% | 18,000 miles |
| 2012 | 2 | 6% | 108,000 miles |
| 2011 | 3 | 10% | 13,000 miles |
| 2010 | 6 | 6% | 40,000 miles |
| 2009 | 17 | 18% | 59,000 miles |
| 2008 | 24 | 19% | 68,000 miles |
| 2007 | 21 | 13% | 70,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
On January 2nd, 2018, my daughter was on her way to work when she called me at approximately 5:40 am stating her driver's side car door came wide open while driving on route 59. Before she left, all doors were locked and everything was normal. On the same day evening we went to Lexus dealership. However, after a long wait, they informed us that it was quite busy and we should make an appointment for 2 days later. They let us leave the dealership without investigating the matter although they knew the serious problem. On January 4th, we went to the dealership. They could not find the cause of the issue and they did lubrication on the hinges. They mentioned it May be due to the cold weather. We were in blind trust and left the dealership thinking the problem has been looked at and solved. On January 10th, 2018, it happened again. …
While driving approximately 45 MPH the passenger side door unlocked and opened slightly, the door sensor began to chime and the red door ajar symbol displayed on the dashboard. There were no passengers in the car, only the driver, who had been driving for more than one hour, with no reason to touch the passenger side door.
The contact owns a 2014 Lexus rx 350. While attempting to park the vehicle after a complete stop, during the (gear) shifting from drive to park, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and hit / crashed on to a building and spun off, and the impact caused the vehicle to travel for about 15 feet and stopped. Air bags did not deploy and a police report was filed. No injuries to anyone. The vehicle was towed to the Lexus dealership and later to dealership's collision shop. Approximate estimate for the repair is $21,000. Manufacturer was notified through the email option in Lexus customer assistance center. Approximate failure mileage was 5,500. It appears to be an issue with the engine or some internal electronic system. Because, when this incident happened, the vehicle was at a complete stop and my (driver) foot was on the brake pedal.
Crack in windshield starting on passenger side just above the blackish part at the lower part of the windshield , extending up for about 3 inches then making about a 95 degree turn heading toward the drivers side. When first noticed, this section was only about 3 inches long also, but 2 days later, it extended about 2 feet. No apparent or remembering any object striking the windshield. No chip seen. Just noticed when got in car to start it the morning stated. The 2 foot extension occured while driving 2 days later
The contact owns a 2013 Lexus RX350. The contact stated that after closing the liftgate door and reversing out of the car port, the liftgate door erroneously opened and struck the car port causing damage to the liftgate. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact stated that recently the liftgate lowered independently. The failure occurred several times while placing items into the back of the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 40,000.
On the garage driveway, suddenly my car accelerated in the reverse gear and could not be stopped even after pressing the brake. The car completely went out of control in the reverse and crashed into my backyard fence, plowed through it and finally came to a stop after hitting my raised patio!
Parked in driveway in back of house, beside deck after short trip to store. Smelled a melting smell outside. Maybe five minutes later the smell started coming inside the house. We looked outside and saw smoke and thought the house was on fire. We went outside and there was smoke and flames coming from under the hood. Sprayed car with fire extinguisher, which did nothing, then used water hose to spray front of car to keep from the house catching on fire. Car was making popping noises, large amounts of smoke and strong smell. All neighbors came over it was strong. Fire department spent over an hour putting out fire and used their whole tank of water. Front end melted, tires popped, dashboard and windshield destroyed. Cause is unknown
Turned into parking space. Car began accelerating on its own. I applied the brakes continuously, threw the car into park to no avail. The car jolted forward, crashing into the storefront, breaking glass windows. The (approx) 2 feet of block wall stopped the car. The vehicle was not in my control in spite of all effort to bring the car to a stop. Had someone been walking on the sidewalk in front of the store (salon), I would have been powerless to keep from injuring or killing them. This was not driver error. I was fully "in the moment," and aware of what was happening.
Frequently asked questions
Which Lexus RX350 years have body problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2008 (24), 2007 (21), 2009 (17), 2013 (7) and 2010 (6) model years. Body complaints make up 19% of all complaints for the 2008.
Is there a recall for Lexus RX350 body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for any Lexus RX350 model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Lexus RX350 body problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 51,000 miles; 42% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the body (47 mentions), followed by the body › hatchback/liftgate (6).
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.