LEXUS RX HYBRID · model year

2011 LEXUS RX HYBRID

17 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2011LEXUSRX HYBRID carries 17 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, 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 2011 RX HYBRID is engine with 3 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (2) and service brakes (2). 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 2011 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.

17
Complaints
4
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

17 filings

Crashes Reported

4 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
SERVICE BRAKES2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
STRUCTURE:BODY1
VISIBILITY/WIPER1
SEATS1
SEAT BELTS1
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1
POWER TRAIN1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT1

Recent Complaints

20251030SERVICE BRAKES

ABS, BRAKE, TRACTION CONTROL & YIELD LIGHTS ARE ON AND BEEPING SOUND. ALSO BRAKE PEDAL IS HARD!!!!!

20251030ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ABS, BRAKE, TRACTION CONTROL & YIELD LIGHTS ARE ON AND BEEPING SOUND. ALSO BRAKE PEDAL IS HARD!!!!!

20251030VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ABS, BRAKE, TRACTION CONTROL & YIELD LIGHTS ARE ON AND BEEPING SOUND. ALSO BRAKE PEDAL IS HARD!!!!!

20230426SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact owns a 2011 Lexus RX450H. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to stop immediately. The ABS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic; however, the vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the vehicle warranty had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 121,000.

Mileage: 121,000

20230426SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT

The contact owns a 2011 Lexus RX450H. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to stop immediately. The ABS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic; however, the vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the vehicle warranty had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 121,000.

Mileage: 121,000

20200904ENGINE

THE OIL COOLER PIPE BROKE ON MY 2011 LEXUS RX450H STARVING THE ENGINE OF OIL AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. THE PART IS CURRENTLY UNDER WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT BY LEXUS AND IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON MY MODEL YEAR OF VEHICLE. THE MALFUNCTION IS PARTICULARLY INSIDIOUS AS OIL ONLY LEAKS WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING, HOWEVER WITH A HYBRID WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPS THE ENGINE STOPS AND SO DOES THE LEAK AT LEAST UNTIL YOU HAVE REACHED A HIGH ENOUGH SPEED FOR THE ENGINE TO KICK BACK ON AGAIN. IN MY SITUATION I RECEIVED NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS, OIL LIGHTS OR ANY OTHER INDICATION OTHER THEN SUDDENLY IT FELT LIKE MY ENGINE WAS RUNNING A LITTLE ROUGH. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER (I WAS JUST ON A CITY STREET) AND FOUND THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE WAS COVERED IN OIL. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE LOCAL LEXUS DEALERSHIP WHO IDENTIFIED THE ISSUE AS THE OIL COOLER PIPE AND LEXUS CORPORATE PAID FOR THE REPAIR UNDER THEIR WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT. WHEN I PICKED THE VEHICLE UP FROM LEXUS OF ALBUQUERQUE I DIDN'T EVEN M

Mileage: 164,000

20200821ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LEXUS RX450H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS DRIVING, THERE WAS BLACK SMOKE COMING OUT FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE DRIVER COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LEXUS OF ALBUQUERQUE, 4821 PAN AMERICAN FWY, , ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87109, AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL COOLER PIPE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AFTER THE REPAIR THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE SAME DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER CLOSED THE CASE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000. *DT CONSUMER STATED OIL LEAKS WHEN ENGINE IS RUNNING. ALSO, CONSUMER HAD NO CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR OR OIL LIGHTS DURING THE INITIAL FAILURE.*JB

Mileage: 150,000

20190514ENGINE

HIGH PRESSURE ENGINE OIL COOLER HOSE RUPTURED CAUSING AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF ALL ENGINE OIL AND STRANDING MY GRANDDAUGHTER IN THE OUTBACK. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A COUNTY HIGHWAY IN THE COUNTRY. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE RUPTURE OCCURRED. IT APPEARS THAT LEXUS IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT DID NOT CONTACT ME NOR APPLY THE WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR MY CASE. I FEEL A RECALL IS WARRANTED DUE TO THE ABRUPT FAILURE OF THE HOSE, ENGINE DAMAGE CAUSED, AND THE LIKELY HOOD OF BEING STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.

Mileage: 181,000

20190417POWER TRAIN

THE COOLANT LEAKED IN MY GARAGE. ENGINE MAKING SOME NOISES WHILE THE CAR IS STATIONARY. DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A BAD WATER PUMP CAUSING A COOLANT LEAK.

Mileage: 88,900

20180924ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SOMETHING IN THE DASHBOARD CONSOLE BY THE RADIO HAS OVERHEATED, MELTING THE AC VENT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. LITTLE FLECKS OF PLASTIC STARTED BLOWING OUT OF THE VENT, AND WHEN I LOOKED INSIDE THE VENT, I COULD SEE WHERE THE LOUVERED PIECES ARE MELTED.

Mileage: 90,000

20150705FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I BOUGHT A 2011 LEXUS RX450H NEW AT THE DEALERSHIP FEBRUARY OF 2011. FAST FORWARD TO SUMMER OF 2014. DRIVING DOWN I-20 IN EAST TEXAS, MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, CAR SUDDENLY HAS NO POWER, I BARELY GET IT ON THE SHOULDER. MESSAGE ON DASH "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM". TOW TRUCK TO DEALER. FAILED OR BROKEN FUEL PUMP. THREE YEAR OLD CAR WITH 34,336 MILES. REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. FAST FORWARD TO SPRING OF 2015. DRIVING ON I-55 NORTH. CAR DIES WHILE HIGHWAY DRIVING. 41,452 MILES. OUT OF WARRANTY. BUT, LEXUS HAS 1 YEAR WARRANTY PARTS AND LABOR ON REPAIRS. LEXUS SAYS, OH, YOU HAD BAD GAS, DON'T HAVE TO HONOR REPAIR WARRANTY!! CHARGE WAS ABOUT $ 1,200. THEY ALLOWED $ 500 CREDIT. HAD TO PAY $655.89 OUT OF POCKET. TALKED TO KROGER FUEL, WHERE I HAD PURCHASED PREMIUM FUEL. NOT ONE COMPLAINT FROM ANYONE ELSE ABOUT FUEL FROM THAT STATION. SECOND BAD FUEL PUMP. FUEL PURCHASED BEFORE 1ST FUEL PUMP FAILED WAS FROM DALLAS STATION, NOT KROGER. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN CAR STOPS ON INTERSTA

Mileage: 34,336

20140827SEAT BELTS

I DROVE TO A NEIGHBORHOOD SUBWAY FOR LUNCH. I WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE THE SEAT BELT WHEN PUSHING THE SEAT BELT RELEASE BUTTON. FORTUNATELY, I AM RATHER SMALL AND SLIGHT IN STATURE, 5'9" AND 150 LBS., AND WAS ABLE TO LOOSEN THE BELT AND SQUIRM FREE. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND RECEIVED A LOANER CAR WHILE THEY FIXED THE VEHICLE OVERNIGHT. THOUGHT I SHOULD REPORT THIS AS IF THERE HAD BEEN A FIRE OR I HAD DRIVEN INTO A FLOODED AREA, I WOULD HAVE BEEN A FATALITY. *TR

Mileage: 35,000

20140428CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I WAS PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY AFTER I FULLY STOPPED MY CAR ( I WAS WAITING FOR ANOTHER CAR TO PULL OUT OF DRIVEWAY FIRST). WHEN I BRAKED TO STOP MY CAR IT DID NOT RESPOND INITIALLY. I COULD NOT STOP IT FAST ENOUGH TO AVOID COLLISION W A PARKED CAR IN DRIVEWAY. THIS WAS SO STRANGE BECAUSE I WAS MOVING MY CAR VERY SLOWLY. I THEN PUT IT IN REVERSE TO BACK UP A COUPLE FEET SO I COULD ASSESS DAMAGE TO CARS. WHEN I DID THIS AND PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR MY CAR ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL INTO STREET. ONCE AGAIN THE BRAKING WAS INSUFFICIENT TO STOP MY CAR AS DESIRED. NORMALLY THE BRAKES STOP THIS CAR ON A DIME (NOT REALLY ON A DIME, BUT NORMALLY THE BRAKES ARE EXCELLENT). THE LATER ACCELERATION WAS WITNESSED BY THE OWNER OF THE NOW REAR-ENDED CAR IN DRIVEWAY. NO DAMAGE TO MY CAR OTHER THAN TO MY LICENSE PLATE. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE PARKED CAR IN DRIVEWAY. THE DAMAGED CAR WAS AN OLDER CAR, A 1970-SOMETHING BMW, SO IT DIDN'T HAVE THE COOL NEW BUMPERS THAT CAN ABSORB A LOW SPE

Mileage: 30,000

20140428CrashSERVICE BRAKES

I WAS PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY AFTER I FULLY STOPPED MY CAR ( I WAS WAITING FOR ANOTHER CAR TO PULL OUT OF DRIVEWAY FIRST). WHEN I BRAKED TO STOP MY CAR IT DID NOT RESPOND INITIALLY. I COULD NOT STOP IT FAST ENOUGH TO AVOID COLLISION W A PARKED CAR IN DRIVEWAY. THIS WAS SO STRANGE BECAUSE I WAS MOVING MY CAR VERY SLOWLY. I THEN PUT IT IN REVERSE TO BACK UP A COUPLE FEET SO I COULD ASSESS DAMAGE TO CARS. WHEN I DID THIS AND PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR MY CAR ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL INTO STREET. ONCE AGAIN THE BRAKING WAS INSUFFICIENT TO STOP MY CAR AS DESIRED. NORMALLY THE BRAKES STOP THIS CAR ON A DIME (NOT REALLY ON A DIME, BUT NORMALLY THE BRAKES ARE EXCELLENT). THE LATER ACCELERATION WAS WITNESSED BY THE OWNER OF THE NOW REAR-ENDED CAR IN DRIVEWAY. NO DAMAGE TO MY CAR OTHER THAN TO MY LICENSE PLATE. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE PARKED CAR IN DRIVEWAY. THE DAMAGED CAR WAS AN OLDER CAR, A 1970-SOMETHING BMW, SO IT DIDN'T HAVE THE COOL NEW BUMPERS THAT CAN ABSORB A LOW SPE

Mileage: 30,000

20121228SEATS

FOOT OF BACKSEAT PASSENGER SITTING BEHIND THE DRIVER WAS TRAPPED AND PAINFULLY MASHED UNDER SEAT POSITIONING MECHANISM WHEN SEAT AUTOMATICALLY MOVED BACK WHEN CAR IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. THERE NEEDS TO BE A SENSOR THAT DETECTS WHEN SEAT MOTION IS OBSTRUCTED AND STOPS OR REVERSES SEAT MOTION RATHER THAN CRUSHING WHATEVER IS IN THE WAY INCLUDING BODY PARTS. *TR

Mileage: 15,000

20121102CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY

VEHICLE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN MULTIPLE NEAR MISSES RESULTING FROM LATERAL MIRRORS BULKINESS AND LACK OF VISIBILITY FOR DRIVER WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT IN AN INTERSECTION. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT HAD CLEAR ROAD RIGHT CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES FRONT ENDS, THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE POSITION OF THE LATERAL MIRRORS WHICH ARE HUGE AND THE ROOF SUPPORT CORNER SIDE BAR OF THE VEHICLE MAKES IT TO HAVE A BLIND SPOT WHERE YOU SIMPLY ARE NOT ABLE TO SEE VEHICLE THAT IS CLOSELY APPROACHING IN THE OTHER DIRECTION. IN ORDER TO AVOID THIS ISSUE THE DRIVER NEEDS TO MOVE SIDE-FRONT AT ALL TIMES WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT.. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL MULTIPLE NEAR MISSES BECAUSE THE EXTRA PRECAUTION THE DRIVER HAS EXERCISED. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SAFETY CONCERN THAT LEXUS NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF IMMEDIATELY. *TR

Mileage: 18,000

20121102CrashVISIBILITY/WIPER

VEHICLE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN MULTIPLE NEAR MISSES RESULTING FROM LATERAL MIRRORS BULKINESS AND LACK OF VISIBILITY FOR DRIVER WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT IN AN INTERSECTION. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT HAD CLEAR ROAD RIGHT CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES FRONT ENDS, THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE POSITION OF THE LATERAL MIRRORS WHICH ARE HUGE AND THE ROOF SUPPORT CORNER SIDE BAR OF THE VEHICLE MAKES IT TO HAVE A BLIND SPOT WHERE YOU SIMPLY ARE NOT ABLE TO SEE VEHICLE THAT IS CLOSELY APPROACHING IN THE OTHER DIRECTION. IN ORDER TO AVOID THIS ISSUE THE DRIVER NEEDS TO MOVE SIDE-FRONT AT ALL TIMES WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT.. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL MULTIPLE NEAR MISSES BECAUSE THE EXTRA PRECAUTION THE DRIVER HAS EXERCISED. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SAFETY CONCERN THAT LEXUS NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF IMMEDIATELY. *TR

Mileage: 18,000

Compare 2011LEXUSRX HYBRID to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2011 LEXUS RX HYBRID have?
The 2011 LEXUS RX HYBRID has 17 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 LEXUS RX HYBRID?
The most-complained component for the 2011 LEXUS RX HYBRID is ENGINE with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and SERVICE BRAKES.
Is the 2011 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.