2005 Lexus RX Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other RX years
- About as many complaints as other years 18th of 28 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Lexus RX. That ranks 18th out of 28 RX model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (5 complaints, 19%), typically at around 80,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 fire, 1 injury. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 27owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2005 Lexus RX problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 5 | 19% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 5 | 19% | 155,792 | — | — |
| Structure | 4 | 15% | 62,500 | — | — |
| Power Train | 3 | 11% | 5,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 2 | 7% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 7% | 88,500 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 7% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 7% | 157,608 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 7% | 210,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 7% | 103,711 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 7% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 4% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 4% | 42,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 4% | 15,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 4% | 65,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2005 Lexus RX recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder
Problem: Toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2006 avalon, model year 2004-2006 highlander, model year 2004-2006 lexus rx, and model year 2006 lexus gs and is vehicles. Brake fluid containing polymers is used that acts as lubricants for certain brake system components. If replacement brake fluid is used that does not contain such polymers, or that contains only small amounts, a part of the rubber seal located at the rear of the brake master cylinder may become dry, and the seal may curl during movement of the piston. If this occurs, a small amount of brake fluid could slowly leak from the seal into the brake booster.
Risk: A leak of brake fluid could lead to a change in brake pedal feel and overtime a degradation in braking performance increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the seal with a newly designed one. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on november 15, 2010. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331 and lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Unintended and Uncontrolled Acceleration (RQ10003) — opened Feb 16, 2010, closed Mar 1, 2011, led to recall 11V112000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
My vehicle caught fire a few days after being repaired by a licensed repair shop in California.â¨The repair was performed by: Brodie's Tire & Automotiveâ¨Address: 1276 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma, CA 94952â¨Phone: [XXX] After the fire, the repair shop admitted in writing that: ⢠The intake…
Unexpectedly found steel cable has snapped off & the spare tire was gone Like to report this could be a safety issue leading to an accident for fellow driver.
The contact owns a 2005 Lexus RX 330. The contact stated that there were horizontal and vertical cracks on the dashboard near the passengerâs side air bag housing. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was concerned about the safety of the driverâs and passengerâs side air bags…
Over past month Dashboard where airbag is under has become discolored and is CRACKING as if AIRBAG wants out. Other 2005 Toyota vehicles have been recalled bc of Dangerous AIRBAG issues. Should the AIRBAGS in 2005 Lexusâ be too? Afraid to drive now.
The contact owns a 2005 Lexus RX330. The contact stated while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle was slow to respond. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the Duralast…
Other Lexus RX years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 RX | 10 | 3 |
| 2025 RX | 22 | 4 |
| 2024 RX | 59 | 4 |
| 2023 RX | 62 | 3 |
| 2022 RX | 29 | 0 |
| 2021 RX | 70 | 1 |
| 2020 RX | 47 | 1 |
| 2019 RX | 34 | 1 |
| 2018 RX | 26 | 0 |
| 2017 RX | 47 | 0 |
| 2016 RX | 28 | 0 |
| 2015 RX | 20 | 0 |
| 2014 RX | 12 | 0 |
| 2013 RX | 19 | 0 |
| 2012 RX | 12 | 0 |
| 2011 RX | 29 | 0 |
| 2010 RX | 77 | 0 |
| 2009 RX | 34 | 0 |
| 2008 RX | 70 | 0 |
| 2007 RX | 58 | 0 |
| 2006 RX | 32 | 1 |
| 2005 | 27 | 1 |
| 2004 RX | 40 | 1 |
| 2003 RX | 4 | 0 |
| 2002 RX | 12 | 0 |
| 2001 RX | 19 | 0 |
| 2000 RX | 29 | 0 |
| 1999 RX | 35 | 0 |
See all Lexus RX problems by year, every Lexus model, or the Lexus VIN decoder.
Similar Lexus models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Lexus RX?
Owners most often report air bags, unknown or other, structure problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 5 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2005 Lexus RX?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2005 Lexus RX a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other RX model years, the 2005 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.