LEXUS RX HYBRID · model year

2010 LEXUS RX HYBRID

13 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2010LEXUSRX HYBRID carries 13 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 2 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2010 RX HYBRID is fuel/propulsion system with 2 filings, followed by engine (2) and engine and engine cooling (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.

NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 2010 RX HYBRID. 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.

13
Complaints
2
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

13 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2
ENGINE2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
POWER TRAIN1
STRUCTURE:BODY1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
SERVICE BRAKES1

Recent Complaints

20190127SERVICE BRAKES

I WAS DRIVING LAST MONTH (APPROX 1,07000 MILES) AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY DASHBOARD DISPLAY HAD LIGHTS AND FLASHING MESSAGES THAT SAID THERE WAS AN ABS BRAKE MALFUNCTION. I DROVE IT THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER (ROYAL PALM BEACH, FLORIDA) AND THEY GOT THE ERROR CODE C 1391 ABNORMAL LEAK IN ACCUMULATOR PUMP AND THEY WANT THE ABS ACTUATOR REPLACED. MY 100K TOYOTA/LEXUS EXTENDED WARRANTY IS EXPIRED AND I AM LEFT WITH NO OPTIONS. I SENT THE COMPLAINT TO LEXUS AND THEY REPLIED BACK AND ASKED ME TO TAKE IT TO THE LOCAL LEXUS DEALERSHIP FOR THE DIAGNOSIS, AFTER SPENDING $350 FOR DIAGNOSIS IN TOYOTA AND LEXUS, ITS THE SAME ISSUE ABS ACTUATOR FAILED AND IT WILL COST ME $3720 TO FIX IT. ALSO, DURING ABS DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AT LEXUS DEALER @ WEST PALM BEACH, THE CAR FAILED TO START AND WAS IN THE DEALERS LOT FOR 2 DAYS BEFORE THEY FIXED THE ISSUE (REPLACED SOME COMPUTER). LEXUS OFFERED ME $1000 AS PARTIAL PAYMENT TO FIX THE ABS ISSUE, AND AS SOON AS I STARTED TALKING ABOUT FILING A COMPLAINT

Mileage: 107,000

20180408STRUCTURE:BODY

VEHICLE SAT IN MY DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT DURING A HEAVY RAIN THAT TURNED INTO FREEZING RAIN. THE NEXT MORNING WHEN I WENT TO START THE CAR A WARNING CAME ON TO CHECK THE HYBRID SYSTEM. WHEN CALLED, LEXUS SAID THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION/REPAIR. AFTER VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY FLATBED CARRIER TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION/REPAIR AND UNLOADED AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE VEHICLE FILLED WITH SMOKE AND LEXUS TECHNICIAN SAID LUCKILY ONE OF THE DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEES SAW THE SMOKE, LET HIM KNOW, AND HE DISCONNECTED THE HYBRID ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND HAD HE NOT DONE SO, IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE. THE WATER PENETRATION WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE COME FROM THE TOP REAR ROOF/BODY SEAM WHERE TWO PIECES OF BODY METAL JOIN. EXACTLY THE SAME SPOT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR LEAKED. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS DAMAGE OR CORROSION AT THE LOCATION OF THE LEAKS AND NO EVIDENCE OF PRIOR OR PROLONGED LEAKING. ONCE THE WATER GOT INTO THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS NOTHI

Mileage: 105,000

20180408ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VEHICLE SAT IN MY DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT DURING A HEAVY RAIN THAT TURNED INTO FREEZING RAIN. THE NEXT MORNING WHEN I WENT TO START THE CAR A WARNING CAME ON TO CHECK THE HYBRID SYSTEM. WHEN CALLED, LEXUS SAID THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION/REPAIR. AFTER VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY FLATBED CARRIER TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION/REPAIR AND UNLOADED AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE VEHICLE FILLED WITH SMOKE AND LEXUS TECHNICIAN SAID LUCKILY ONE OF THE DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEES SAW THE SMOKE, LET HIM KNOW, AND HE DISCONNECTED THE HYBRID ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND HAD HE NOT DONE SO, IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE. THE WATER PENETRATION WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE COME FROM THE TOP REAR ROOF/BODY SEAM WHERE TWO PIECES OF BODY METAL JOIN. EXACTLY THE SAME SPOT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR LEAKED. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS DAMAGE OR CORROSION AT THE LOCATION OF THE LEAKS AND NO EVIDENCE OF PRIOR OR PROLONGED LEAKING. ONCE THE WATER GOT INTO THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS NOTHI

Mileage: 105,000

20180315FireENGINE

OIL COOLER HOSE COMPLETE RUPTURE WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, NO OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. LESS THAN A MINUTE LATER ALL OIL DRAINED OUT, BLUE FIRE BALL IGNITED OUT BACK OF CAR & ENGINE FROZE UP HAVING CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES. THANKFULLY MY DAUGHTER WAS NOT INJURED ONLY STRANDED. HOWEVER CAR IS DEAD. 8 YEARS OF REGULARLY MAINTENANCE SERVICING AT THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP & BUYING A NEW LEXUS, NO ONE EVER MENTIONED THIS OIL COOLER HOSE DEFECT ISSUE

Mileage: 168,022

20180315FirePOWER TRAIN

OIL COOLER HOSE COMPLETE RUPTURE WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, NO OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. LESS THAN A MINUTE LATER ALL OIL DRAINED OUT, BLUE FIRE BALL IGNITED OUT BACK OF CAR & ENGINE FROZE UP HAVING CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES. THANKFULLY MY DAUGHTER WAS NOT INJURED ONLY STRANDED. HOWEVER CAR IS DEAD. 8 YEARS OF REGULARLY MAINTENANCE SERVICING AT THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP & BUYING A NEW LEXUS, NO ONE EVER MENTIONED THIS OIL COOLER HOSE DEFECT ISSUE

Mileage: 168,022

20180215UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I HAVING BEEN HAVING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS STARTING MY CAR THAT ARE BECOMING WORSE. THE PROBLEM STARTED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, MID-2017. THE DEALERSHIP HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO DEFINITIVELY DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM, BUT SAID THEY ADJUSTED THE BRAKE SENSOR. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE CAR APPEARS TO START, BUT IT DOESN'T ALLOW YOU TO SHIFT INTO GEAR, AND APPEARS TO NOT BE ACTUALLY STARTED BUT IN AUXILIARY MODE WITH NO ACTIVE ENGINE ENGAGEMENT. IF THIS IS A BRAKE SENSOR PROBLEM, COULD IT TURN IN TO SOMETHING WORSE THAN BEING STUCK AWAY FROM HOME BECAUSE THE CAR WON'T START? THE PROBLEM HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED AND YOU TRY TO START IT.

Mileage: 61,000

20170127ENGINE

IN OCTOBER MY WIFE WAS RETURNING FROM A 9.5 HOURS TRIP WITH 1 FUEL STOP APPROX 4 HOURS FROM HOME. EXITING I95 THE CAR HAD NUMEROUS WARNING LIGHTS WITH A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER (VSC, CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM, AWD SYSTEM AND OTHERS). SHE COASTED THE CAR TO A PARKING LOT, ATTEMPTED TO TURN IT OFF AND BACK ON, BUT THERE WAS STILL NO ENGINE OR DRIVE POWER. ALL DASH LIGHTS WORKING. WE HAD THE CAR TOWEDTO OUR HOME AND I TESTED THE BATTERY AND CHARGING VOLTAGE, THEN HAD THE BATTERY LOAD TESTED AND FOUND TO BE BAD. PURCHASED AN OPTIMA YELLOW TOP BATTERY AND ALL OTHER DASH WARNINGS CEASED. IN NOVEMBER, AGAIN RETURNING FROM A TRIP EXITING I95 THE CAR STALLED AND DISPLAYED ONLY THE CHECK HYBRID AND AWD LIGHTS. THIS TIME TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR 30 SECONDS AND THEN BACK ON. THE ENGINE TURNED ON AND HYBRID MOTOR FUNCTION RESUMED WITH THE "CHECK HYBRID LIGHT" STILL ILLUMINATED. I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY FOR A MINUTE AND ALL WARNING LIGHTS WENT OFF WITH NORMAL ENGINE AND HYBRID DRIVE FUNCTION.

Mileage: 45,000

20170127FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

IN OCTOBER MY WIFE WAS RETURNING FROM A 9.5 HOURS TRIP WITH 1 FUEL STOP APPROX 4 HOURS FROM HOME. EXITING I95 THE CAR HAD NUMEROUS WARNING LIGHTS WITH A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER (VSC, CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM, AWD SYSTEM AND OTHERS). SHE COASTED THE CAR TO A PARKING LOT, ATTEMPTED TO TURN IT OFF AND BACK ON, BUT THERE WAS STILL NO ENGINE OR DRIVE POWER. ALL DASH LIGHTS WORKING. WE HAD THE CAR TOWEDTO OUR HOME AND I TESTED THE BATTERY AND CHARGING VOLTAGE, THEN HAD THE BATTERY LOAD TESTED AND FOUND TO BE BAD. PURCHASED AN OPTIMA YELLOW TOP BATTERY AND ALL OTHER DASH WARNINGS CEASED. IN NOVEMBER, AGAIN RETURNING FROM A TRIP EXITING I95 THE CAR STALLED AND DISPLAYED ONLY THE CHECK HYBRID AND AWD LIGHTS. THIS TIME TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR 30 SECONDS AND THEN BACK ON. THE ENGINE TURNED ON AND HYBRID MOTOR FUNCTION RESUMED WITH THE "CHECK HYBRID LIGHT" STILL ILLUMINATED. I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY FOR A MINUTE AND ALL WARNING LIGHTS WENT OFF WITH NORMAL ENGINE AND HYBRID DRIVE FUNCTION.

Mileage: 45,000

20141028FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS RX 450 HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK HYBRID WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

Mileage: 46,000

20111215CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS RX450 HYBRID. AR APPROXIMATELY 6:10AM ON SATURDAY DEC. 10TH, IN CLEAR WEATHER, WHILE OPERATING HER VEHICLE, SHE ENTERED A PARKING AREA AND BACKED INTO A YELLOW BARRIER POST AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, BUT THE VEHICLE AGAIN REVERSED. THE VEHICLE THEN MOVED FORWARD, APPROACHING THE STREET. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT IT WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED IN A FORWARD MOTION WITH APPARENT ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE LEFT, DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES AGAIN, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED FORWARD WITH FURTHER ACCELERATION. APPROACHING A STOP SIGN APPROX. 30 YARDS FROM THE PARKING AREA AND NOT BEING ABLE TO HALT OR SLOW THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT PROCEEDED THROUGH IT, TURNING RIGHT, ONTO A SERVICE ROAD. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE AND ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER TO ANOTHER GEAR, BUT NEITHER RESPONDED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE A

Mileage: 18,000

20111215CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS RX450 HYBRID. AR APPROXIMATELY 6:10AM ON SATURDAY DEC. 10TH, IN CLEAR WEATHER, WHILE OPERATING HER VEHICLE, SHE ENTERED A PARKING AREA AND BACKED INTO A YELLOW BARRIER POST AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, BUT THE VEHICLE AGAIN REVERSED. THE VEHICLE THEN MOVED FORWARD, APPROACHING THE STREET. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT IT WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED IN A FORWARD MOTION WITH APPARENT ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE LEFT, DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES AGAIN, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED FORWARD WITH FURTHER ACCELERATION. APPROACHING A STOP SIGN APPROX. 30 YARDS FROM THE PARKING AREA AND NOT BEING ABLE TO HALT OR SLOW THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT PROCEEDED THROUGH IT, TURNING RIGHT, ONTO A SERVICE ROAD. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE AND ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER TO ANOTHER GEAR, BUT NEITHER RESPONDED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE A

Mileage: 18,000

20111129ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

HYBRID VEHICLE + KELSEY IGNITION = DEADLY COMBINATION. WE ACCIDENTALLY LEFT OUR 2010 LEXUS RX450H IN THE GARAGE WITH THE IGNITION "ON" AND TURNED IN FOR THE NIGHT. SINCE IT IS A HYBRID, IT MAKES NO SOUND - EVEN WHEN "RUNNING". SO WE WERE UNAWARE THE IGNITION WAS STILL ON. MUCH LATER IN THE EVENING, AFTER THE BATTERY HAD DEPLETED, THE GAS ENGINE CAME ON, FILLING OUR GARAGE WITH CARBON MONOXIDE. HAD I NOT GONE BACK OUT TO RETRIEVE SOMETHING FROM THE GARAGE AND NOTICED THAT BY THIS TIME THE CAR'S GAS ENGINE WAS RUNNING, I LIKELY WOULDN'T BE WRITING THIS E-MAIL. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS FLAW IN AN OTHERWISE GREAT CAR. THE TINY RED VS. GREEN LED ON THE IGNITION BUTTON IS NOT ENOUGH INDICATION THAT THE CAR IS RUNNING. AN AUDIBLE ALARM OR SOME TYPE OF POSITIVE INTERLOCK IS NEEDED. ## VIN FAILED ## LEXUS RX 450H 2010 ## *KB

20111129ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

HYBRID VEHICLE + KELSEY IGNITION = DEADLY COMBINATION. WE ACCIDENTALLY LEFT OUR 2010 LEXUS RX450H IN THE GARAGE WITH THE IGNITION "ON" AND TURNED IN FOR THE NIGHT. SINCE IT IS A HYBRID, IT MAKES NO SOUND - EVEN WHEN "RUNNING". SO WE WERE UNAWARE THE IGNITION WAS STILL ON. MUCH LATER IN THE EVENING, AFTER THE BATTERY HAD DEPLETED, THE GAS ENGINE CAME ON, FILLING OUR GARAGE WITH CARBON MONOXIDE. HAD I NOT GONE BACK OUT TO RETRIEVE SOMETHING FROM THE GARAGE AND NOTICED THAT BY THIS TIME THE CAR'S GAS ENGINE WAS RUNNING, I LIKELY WOULDN'T BE WRITING THIS E-MAIL. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS FLAW IN AN OTHERWISE GREAT CAR. THE TINY RED VS. GREEN LED ON THE IGNITION BUTTON IS NOT ENOUGH INDICATION THAT THE CAR IS RUNNING. AN AUDIBLE ALARM OR SOME TYPE OF POSITIVE INTERLOCK IS NEEDED. ## VIN FAILED ## LEXUS RX 450H 2010 ## *KB

Compare 2010LEXUSRX HYBRID to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2010 LEXUS RX HYBRID have?
The 2010 LEXUS RX HYBRID has 13 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 2 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 LEXUS RX HYBRID?
The most-complained component for the 2010 LEXUS RX HYBRID is FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Is the 2010 LEXUS RX HYBRID safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. 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.