Lexus RX Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 134 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the Lexus RX across 25 model years. The 1999 model year has the most (29). The words owners use most often: “transmission failed” (17% of reports).
- 134power train complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $6,450typical repair cost reported by owners
- 34%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Transmission failed: mentioned in 23 of 134 complaints (17%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the Lexus RX at $6,450, and half of them between $5,400 and $7,550.
Based on 19 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2006–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 84 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 134 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 1 an injury.
Lexus RX power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 RX | 1 | 10% | — |
| 2025 RX | 1 | 5% | — |
| 2024 RX | 5 | 8% | — |
| 2023 RX | 13 | 21% | 9,069 |
| 2022 RX | 4 | 14% | — |
| 2020 RX | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2019 RX | 2 | 6% | 17,500 |
| 2017 RX | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2016 RX | 4 | 14% | — |
| 2015 RX | 3 | 15% | — |
| 2014 RX | 1 | 8% | — |
| 2013 RX | 1 | 5% | — |
| 2012 RX | 1 | 8% | — |
| 2011 RX | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2010 RX | 3 | 4% | 77,500 |
| 2009 RX | 1 | 3% | 61,500 |
| 2008 RX | 5 | 7% | 140,000 |
| 2007 RX | 3 | 5% | 120,000 |
| 2006 RX | 2 | 6% | — |
| 2005 RX | 3 | 11% | 5,000 |
| 2004 RX | 5 | 13% | 1,400 |
| 2002 RX | 5 | 42% | 74,000 |
| 2001 RX | 14 | 74% | 95,000 |
| 2000 RX | 25 | 86% | 95,000 |
| 1999 RX | 29 | 83% | 104,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists power train for the Lexus RX. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The transmission is jerking at times and it failed to accelerate at one point after coming to a complete stop. Notified Lexus and still working to fully resolve the issue but they just denied my request to reevaluate the issue.
The vehicle exhibits a severe, load-based mechanical transmission whine strictly during active acceleration. The pitch of the whining sound rises and falls in direct proportion to the engine's RPMs. This vehicle utilizes the Toyota/Lexus 8-speed automatic transmission architecture, which has a…
The contact owns a 2023 Lexus RX 500h. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shaking erratically, and the vehicle stopped independently. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated and the message to âSee the Dealerâ was…
First incident. 71 mph, 101 degrees out traveling along a straight highway, I hit the seat cooler button and when I did, my car lost power. I could not get any response when I hit the accelerator. I tried several times. This was on XXX with around 500 miles on the car in the odometer. I had it less…
The vehicle has exhibited intermittent drivability and safety-related concerns after a prior collision repair. The concerns include delayed acceleration/engagement, abnormal jerking or stopping behavior, and elevated RPM behavior during real-world driving. The most recent documented event occurred…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Lexus RXs have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 134 owner complaints about power train for the Lexus RX. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Lexus RX power train?
No recall currently lists power train for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the Lexus RX?
Owners report a typical cost of $6,450 (half paid between $5,400 and $7,550), from 19 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the Lexus RX?
The most frequent phrase is “transmission failed”, in 23 of 134 complaints.
Other Lexus RX problems
- Engine problems (146)
- Air Bags problems (128)
- Electrical System problems (118)
- Service Brakes problems (101)
See all Lexus RX problems.