LEXUS NX300 · model year

2018 LEXUS NX300

10 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

5 / 5 ★

New Car Assessment Program

The 2018LEXUSNX300 carries 10 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 5/5 rating, with 4/5 front crash, 5/5 side crash, and 4/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2018 NX300 is unknown or other with 3 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (1) and visibility/wiper (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 2018 NX300. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

10
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
2018 LEXUS NX300 — NHTSA crash-test profile NHTSA NCAP crash-test star ratings for the 2018 LEXUS NX300. Overall composite: 5.0 of 5 stars across 3 safety dimensions. Front CrashSide CrashRollover 5.0 NHTSA NCAP of 5 stars
  • Front Crash 4.0 ★
  • Side Crash 5.0 ★
  • Rollover 4.0 ★
NHTSA overall 5.0/5 stars, with front-crash, side-crash and rollover ratings from standardized NCAP barrier and dynamic tests.

Total Complaints

10 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

NHTSA NCAP overall: 5/5 — Top NCAP rating · Front: 4/5 · Side: 5/5 · Rollover: 4/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
VISIBILITY/WIPER1
SERVICE BRAKES1
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1
AIR BAGS1
STRUCTURE:BODY1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE1

Recalls (1)

20V68200004/11/2020

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna, 2019-2020 Tundra, 20

Recent Complaints

20210503FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 LEXUS NX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED IN FRONT OF A STORE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, A PEDESTRIAN INFORMED HIM THAT AN UNKNOWN FLUID HAD BEEN POURING FROM UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE VEHICLE AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. ONCE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED ON THE SCENE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL HOSE WAS TORN WHICH CAUSED A MASSIVE FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INSTALLED A TEMPORARY RUBBER HOSE WITH THE CLAMPS FROM THE RUPTURED HOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ROHRICH LEXUS (2115 W LIBERTY AVE, PITTSBURGH, PA 15226) AND THE FUEL HOSE FAILURE WAS LINKED TO A RODENT CHEWING ON THE FUEL HOSE OR SOMEONE TAMPERING WITH THE HOSE. THE CONTACT DISPUTED THE DEALER'S ASSESSMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 30,000

20210127STRUCTURE:BODY

ISSUE: BOTTOM DOOR PANELS ACCUMULATE AN ABNORMAL AMOUNT OF DIRT AND SNOW. IN ADDITION, THE REAR DOOR ACCUMULATES DIRT IN THE GAP BETWEEN THE WHEEL ARCH TRIM AND DOOR.

20210127UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ISSUE: BOTTOM DOOR PANELS ACCUMULATE AN ABNORMAL AMOUNT OF DIRT AND SNOW. IN ADDITION, THE REAR DOOR ACCUMULATES DIRT IN THE GAP BETWEEN THE WHEEL ARCH TRIM AND DOOR.

20200822CrashAIR BAGS

I WAS INVOLVED IN HIGH IMPACT FRONT END COLLISION ON A HIGHWAY . LADY STOP ON HIGHWAY IN FRONT OF ME. MY CAR IS TOTALED A COMPLETE LOSS. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED . EVERYONE AT THE SCENE INCLUDING WITNESSES COMMENT THEIR DISBELIEF . EMT AMBULANCE STAFF ON LOOKERS ETC ASKED WHY DIDN'T AIRBAGS DEPLOY .

Mileage: 39,941

20190605SERVICE BRAKES

ABNORMAL, DRAGGING, NOISE THAT FEELS LIKE A BRAKE PROBLEM, COMING FROM FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEN BRAKING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC - NOISE LOUDER WHEN ON DOWNGRADE ON WHEN THERE'S MORE PRESSURE.ALSO AT TIMES LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN REVERSING AND APPLYING SERVICE BRAKE. DEALERSHIP SAYS ITS A NORMAL NOISE, THEY HAVE SAID THAT IT IS THE FUEL TANK AND THAT ITS FUEL MOVING AROUND. THIS ABNORMAL NOISE CAN BE HEARD AND FELT WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN STEP AND GO TRAFFIC. AND AT OTHER TIMES. THIS HAPPENS AT ALL FUEL LEVELS, DUE TANK AT/1/2-3/4 AND 1/4 . ALSO WHEN VEHICLE HAS BEEN ON A STATIONARY POSITION AND YOU TURN STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT IT MAKES A CLUNKING SOUND, THIS ONLY HAPPENS ONCE AFTER CAR MOVED. THE DEALER SAYS ITS NORMA, HOW CAN I KNOW IF ITS TRUE, CAN IT BE A SAFETY CONCERN?

Mileage: 7,000

20190605FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

ABNORMAL, DRAGGING, NOISE THAT FEELS LIKE A BRAKE PROBLEM, COMING FROM FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEN BRAKING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC - NOISE LOUDER WHEN ON DOWNGRADE ON WHEN THERE'S MORE PRESSURE.ALSO AT TIMES LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN REVERSING AND APPLYING SERVICE BRAKE. DEALERSHIP SAYS ITS A NORMAL NOISE, THEY HAVE SAID THAT IT IS THE FUEL TANK AND THAT ITS FUEL MOVING AROUND. THIS ABNORMAL NOISE CAN BE HEARD AND FELT WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN STEP AND GO TRAFFIC. AND AT OTHER TIMES. THIS HAPPENS AT ALL FUEL LEVELS, DUE TANK AT/1/2-3/4 AND 1/4 . ALSO WHEN VEHICLE HAS BEEN ON A STATIONARY POSITION AND YOU TURN STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT IT MAKES A CLUNKING SOUND, THIS ONLY HAPPENS ONCE AFTER CAR MOVED. THE DEALER SAYS ITS NORMA, HOW CAN I KNOW IF ITS TRUE, CAN IT BE A SAFETY CONCERN?

Mileage: 7,000

20190605UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ABNORMAL, DRAGGING, NOISE THAT FEELS LIKE A BRAKE PROBLEM, COMING FROM FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEN BRAKING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC - NOISE LOUDER WHEN ON DOWNGRADE ON WHEN THERE'S MORE PRESSURE.ALSO AT TIMES LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN REVERSING AND APPLYING SERVICE BRAKE. DEALERSHIP SAYS ITS A NORMAL NOISE, THEY HAVE SAID THAT IT IS THE FUEL TANK AND THAT ITS FUEL MOVING AROUND. THIS ABNORMAL NOISE CAN BE HEARD AND FELT WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN STEP AND GO TRAFFIC. AND AT OTHER TIMES. THIS HAPPENS AT ALL FUEL LEVELS, DUE TANK AT/1/2-3/4 AND 1/4 . ALSO WHEN VEHICLE HAS BEEN ON A STATIONARY POSITION AND YOU TURN STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT IT MAKES A CLUNKING SOUND, THIS ONLY HAPPENS ONCE AFTER CAR MOVED. THE DEALER SAYS ITS NORMA, HOW CAN I KNOW IF ITS TRUE, CAN IT BE A SAFETY CONCERN?

Mileage: 7,000

20190208VISIBILITY/WIPER

SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES INVOLVING LEXUS NX300 2018: NEED URGENT RECALL: TOYOTA USA LEADERSHIP RELEASED ALL LEXUS NX300 2018 CARS TO THE MARKET WITH INCOMPLETE REVERSE CAMERA WHICH IS A LIFE THREATENING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY RESULTING IN HUMAN FATALITIES. HOWEVER, MR. DAVID CHRIST, THE VP OF TOYOTA USA & GM LEXUS REFUSED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM TO MAKE EASY PROFITS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THIS PROBLEM WAS FIXED IN THE 2019 MODELS BUT ALL 2018 MODELS REMAIN IN GREAT DANGER.

20190208UNKNOWN OR OTHER

SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES INVOLVING LEXUS NX300 2018: NEED URGENT RECALL: TOYOTA USA LEADERSHIP RELEASED ALL LEXUS NX300 2018 CARS TO THE MARKET WITH INCOMPLETE REVERSE CAMERA WHICH IS A LIFE THREATENING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY RESULTING IN HUMAN FATALITIES. HOWEVER, MR. DAVID CHRIST, THE VP OF TOYOTA USA & GM LEXUS REFUSED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM TO MAKE EASY PROFITS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THIS PROBLEM WAS FIXED IN THE 2019 MODELS BUT ALL 2018 MODELS REMAIN IN GREAT DANGER.

20181112VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION HAPPENED WITH THIS NEW 2018 NX AS WELL AS MY OLD 2015 NX200T AS WELL. IT HAPPENED ONCE SO FAR TO EACH. ONLY ACCELERATED ABOUT 3-4 MPH, AS I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 5 MPH GOING INTO AN EMPTY PARKING LOT. WHEN IT HAPPENED TWO YEARS AGO IN MY 2015, I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS A ONE TIME THING BUT NOW KNOW IT IS A REAL ISSUE! I GOT FLASHLIGHT TO CHECK IF COULD HAVE BEEN MY FLOORMAT INTERFEREING WITH MY ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT NOTHING EVEN NEAR IT BOTH TIMES! AS SOON AS I HIT THE BRAKE, IT STOPPED ACCELERATING AND CAME TO A STOP BOTH TIMES.

Mileage: 3,000

Compare 2018LEXUSNX300 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2018 LEXUS NX300 have?
The 2018 LEXUS NX300 has 10 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2018 LEXUS NX300?
The 2018 LEXUS NX300 received an overall NHTSA safety rating of 5/5, front crash rating of 4/5, side crash rating of 5/5, and rollover rating of 4/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2018 LEXUS NX300?
Yes, the 2018 LEXUS NX300 has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 LEXUS NX300?
The most-complained component for the 2018 LEXUS NX300 is UNKNOWN OR OTHER with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and VISIBILITY/WIPER.
Is the 2018 LEXUS NX300 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2018 LEXUS NX300 has an NHTSA safety rating of 5/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.