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Lexus RXModel year report

2023 Lexus RX Problems

Compared with other Lexus RX years

More complaints than typical for this model

100/100 6.7× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
62filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
8,250miles, 8 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
Too newThis model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.
NHTSA crash rating
5 / 5stars overall, 2 rated versions
EPA fuel economy
36 mpgcombined, 2.5L 4-cyl · hybrid AWD · 37 city / 34 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2023 Lexus RX (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Complaints for the 2023 RX concentrate on the drivetrain and on electronic/electrical behavior, mostly in the first 10,000 miles. Owners of the RX 500h and RX 350h describe shuddering, hesitation, delayed or lost acceleration, and on some cars repeated transmission replacement, while several report the 12-volt battery draining after short trips or a few days parked. A separate cluster concerns the glass roof, which owners say shattered without impact.

  1. Transmission and drivetrain

    Shuddering, hesitation and loss of power from a stop

    • 15 complaints (24%)
    • median 9,068 mi at 1.5 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2023–2026

    Owners describe the car shuddering or jerking while stopped with the brake applied, hesitating when accelerating from a light, and in some cases refusing to accelerate or losing power entirely before recovering after a restart. Several RX 500h owners say the transmission was replaced, some more than once, and that the behavior returned afterward. Dealers in the complaints variously could not duplicate the problem, called it normal, or said a software update was pending. Mostly reported under about 12,000 miles, with some at 20,000-35,000 miles; several describe it at low speed, from a stop, or in reverse.

    7 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask for the full service history and whether any transmission replacement or shift-system software update was done. On a test drive, pay attention to a shudder or delay when pulling away from a stop and when reversing.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I am experiencing ongoing issues with my 2023 Lexus RX500h related to the powertrain/transmission. The vehicle has exhibited abnormal shifting behavior, including hesitation, jerking, and inconsistent acceleration. At times, the vehicle does not respond smoothly when accelerating, which raises safety concerns, especially when merging into traffic or driving at highway speeds. The issue occurs intermittently and has persisted despite multiple attempts to diagnose or address the problem. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11733235, filed 2026-04

    “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.”

    NHTSA complaint #11767782, filed 2026-09
  2. Body and structure

    Panoramic roof glass shattering

    • 10 complaints (16%)
    • typically at 2.2 yrs old
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2023–2026

    Owners describe a loud bang followed by the panoramic roof or rear door glass breaking, sometimes while driving at highway speed and sometimes while parked, with no sign of an impact. In several cases glass fragments entered the cabin. Complaints say dealers inspected the vehicle but could not identify a cause and, in some cases, attributed it to an outside object. Reported across a wide mileage range from newly delivered cars to around 55,000 miles, both while moving and while parked.

    What to check: Look closely at the panoramic roof glass and its seals for chips, cracks or prior replacement, and ask whether the panel has ever been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “We were driving down the expressway when our panoramic window exploded. There was no one around us, therefore it was not a rock that hit us. Thankfully, we had had the window tinted, therefore the glass didn't shatter around us. We took the car into the service department, and the service man said that it was a rock, but it was not a rock.”

    NHTSA complaint #11573394, filed 2024-02

    “The sunroof of my 2023 Lexus SUV had a defect and shattered/exploded outwards due to a defect in the tempered glass while driving on the highway. The glass shards fell from the sunroof and cut my face while driving. I had to have a nurse remove the glass shards from my face. Fortunately in this scenario, it did not cause me to lose control of my vehicle on a congested highway. The sunroof defects with Toyota and Lexus vehicles have been documented by several customers online and through several class action lawsuits. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11610669, filed 2024-08
  3. Electrical system

    12-volt battery drains and the car will not start

    • 7 complaints (11%)
    • typically at 3.3 yrs old
    • filed 2024–2026

    Owners report the car failing to start or going completely dead after a few days parked, in cool weather, or after only short trips. Some describe doors and windows locking with people inside until a jump start, and several say the battery was replaced, in some cases twice within a couple of years. According to the complaints, dealers either called the battery healthy or advised longer drives or a battery maintainer. Reported at low mileage and after as little as 4-5 days parked; several mention cold weather or short-trip use.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Ask whether the 12-volt battery has been replaced and how the car was driven (short trips vs. regular highway use). Have the battery load-tested, and check that the emergency key access in the door works.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The 2023 Lexus RX-350 has had complete 12 volt battery failure twice in the last year. The hybrid battery charging procedure for the 12 volt battery is insufficient. Twice I have been stranded. The frequency and duration of the hybrid battery charging is not sufficient. A more powerful 12 volt AGM battery is needed. The dealer says I am not taking sufficiently long trips to charge the battery. Last Saturday I took two 30 - 40 minute trips but the battery had only 11.8 volts requiring a 100% charge. There should be a recall to fix this problem.”

    NHTSA complaint #11711016, filed 2026-01

    “Car stopped running during turn. Then started creeping along ,then after a bit ,started working normally. Happened a few times after. Then later car wouldn’t start in garage, had to get jumpstart. Took to Lexus dealer and found out the 12 volt battery was shot.they replaced it. Very frightening experience. Could have had an accident.”

    NHTSA complaint #11729355, filed 2026-04
  4. Engine

    Engine surging or holding high revs off throttle

    Mentioned in 7 of 58 sampled complaints

    Owners report the engine revving up or surging when the accelerator is released, sometimes rising to around 4,000 rpm, and occasional unintended forward movement or hesitation from a stop. Complaints describe dealers reproducing the behavior but calling it normal, with no repair made. Reported from a few thousand miles up to higher mileage, often at highway speed or after a stop in hot weather.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: On the test drive, lift off the accelerator at steady speed and watch the tachometer, and note any surge or delay when pulling away from a stop.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “when driving on the highway and i let up the gas the engine surges. this is an ongoing issue. makes me apply the brakes or take action scary. it happens all the time. took it to lexus and they say this is normal. to me it is a safety driving issue. it surges for some time with no gas applied.”

    NHTSA complaint #11748178, filed 2026-07

    “When driving, the car engine will randomly accelerate or race. The car does not physically go faster, but the engine revs at a high speed which is very scary. It will continue to accelerate while your foot is off the gas until you either press back down the gas pedal or come to a full stop. The car engine revs extremely loud making the driver feel like the car is going to keep going. I have had the car for 15 months and it continues to get WORSE. I have taken the car 3 times to the Lexus in Freehold NJ when I first bought it to fix this issue. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11616276, filed 2024-09
  5. Lane departure

    Driver-assist and warning-system malfunctions

    • 5 complaints (8%)
    • median 9,000 mi at 1.6 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
    • filed 2023–2024

    Owners describe warnings that parts of the driver-assist system have malfunctioned, after which those features switch off and the message returns after clearing. A few report the car pulling toward a shoulder marking with the assist active, and others describe system malfunction messages at startup. Complaints say dealers reset the system, replaced wiring, or told owners a software fix was still being developed. Often reported within the first few thousand miles, including on newly delivered vehicles.

    Recall 25V744000Recall 26V1620003 related service bulletins

    What to check: Confirm the infotainment and driver-assist software is current, and check whether the rear camera recalls have been completed. During a test drive, watch for recurring malfunction messages on the dash.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I bought vehicle on May 31, 2023. In October 2023, while I was driving, a warning came on saying system malfunction, to visit dealer. I left my car with Lexus Dealer on Friday, I didn't get my car back until the following Tuesday. Then it happened again on 11/28/23 again the warning light came back on indicating system malfunction, visit dealer, and received the car back on 12/4/23. My vehicle is only 4174 miles.”

    NHTSA complaint #11558569, filed 2023-12

    “When driving Lexus 2023 RXH with all safety except lane assist features, it suddenly veers to the right under specific conditions below - Have enabled ProActive Driving Assist - The car is travelling on a straight road, and has line markings (yellow left side, white right side) - There is a right turn to the side of the road, and the white shoulder markings taper off and merge to the side of the road (where there is a right turn) The car suddenly veers right and follows the white shoulder marking ignoring the yellow central line and the …”

    NHTSA complaint #11604149, filed 2024-07

Buying note. This is a recent model year with low reported mileage, so the picture is still forming. Before buying, get the service history to see whether transmission work, battery replacement or software updates were already done, and drive the car enough to feel for shuddering or hesitation from a stop.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 58 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 62 consumer complaints for the 2023 Lexus RX. 8 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 8,250 miles. Of all complaints, 4 involved a crash, 5 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 117 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 11 Lexus RX model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 100 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (more complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Forward collision avoidance (2), Vehicle speed control (2), Brakes (1), Latches, locks and linkages (1), Seat belts (1), Steering (1), Suspension (1).

Example complaints

Other or unknown: “While driving westbound on Route 70 in Ohio at highway speed, we suddenly heard what sounded like an explosion and immediately felt exposure to outside air within the vehicle. The event was abrupt and very startling while in motion. After safely stopping and inspecting the vehicle, we observed that the driver-side rear door window had shattered. The damage included a pronounced irregular opening located approximately in the middle of the window toward the rear edge, with complete fragmentation of the surrounding tempered glass. …”

NHTSA complaint #11719706, filed 2026-02

Transmission and drivetrain: “The contact called on behalf of his mother who owns a 2023 Lexus RX500H. The contact stated while his mother was reversing, the vehicle shuddered abnormally. The contact stated that while his mother was depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The driver turned off the vehicle and the vehicle restarted after several attempts. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the roadway. The contact stated that the failure had occurred twice. The contact stated that the transmission was previously replaced in January 2025. …”

NHTSA complaint #11672534, filed 2025-07, 7,500 miles

Engine: “I pulled onto a 4 lane divided highway and the car immediately went into limp mode, meaning the car would not go more than 1 MPH even with the gas pedal to the floor. I could NOT accelerate thus my safety was in danger, and I was almost hit by a tractor trailer truck. I pulled over to the side of road as best I could, then shut the engine off and restarted the engine. This apparently re-set some sort of engine control and then the car accelerated normally. The dealer applied an ECU update #24LC03. …”

NHTSA complaint #11618998, filed 2024-10

Electrical system: “I entered then attempted to start my Lexus on November 11, 2025. The car would not start - the dashboard lights fleshed briefly, then the car was completely dead. There was not a light on anywhere. The doors would not open and the windows would not roll down. I was trapped. fortunately I had my cell phone so I was able to call my wife who was inside of our house. She could not open the door with the manual key, She called AAA. The tech hooked up some power device under the hood and the car started and seems OK. This was frightening. I was trapped in the car and running out of air. …”

NHTSA complaint #11698992, filed 2025-11

Mileage when problems were reported

100% of the 8 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 7,000 and 10,637 miles.

63%0–1038%10–250%25–500%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (8 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 8,250 miles.

Complaints by year filed

This model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.

202320242025202625
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2023 Lexus RX. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
RX 350H · SUV AWD★★★★★4 / 4554 · 15.5% risk
RX 500H · SUV AWD★★★★★4 / 4554 · 15.5% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2023 model year: forward collision warning standard, lane departure warning standard, automatic emergency braking standard.

Neighbouring years: 2022: 4 stars overall; 2024: 4–5 stars overall. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2023 Lexus RX version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
RX 350h AWD2.5L 4-cyl · hybridCVT373436$2,300
RX 500h AWD2.4L 4-cyl · hybridCVT272827$3,050

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2023 Lexus RX → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 117 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 117 bulletins →

Other model years of the Lexus RX

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2026121,00034–525—Too new
20252211244–525—Too new
2024603,00044–525Too new to compareToo new
2023628,2503536100 · MoreToo new
20222931,600043068 · MoreRising
20217058,000143086 · MoreRising
20204731,50014–53087 · MoreRising
20193417,5001—3079 · MoreRising
20182642,5480—300 · FewerRising
20174732,7300—300 · FewerRising
20162867,5000—300 · FewerRising
20152045,0000—29—Rising
20141292,5450—29—Not enough data
201319105,6060—29—Rising
201212143,6820—29—Not enough data
201129125,0000—291 · FewerFalling
20107725,0000——96 · MoreFalling
20093473,5000——19 · FewerFalling
200870114,1830—2515 · FewerFalling
20075893,4260—26Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200632130,0001—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20052780,0001——Not compared (before 2008)Rising
20044066,0001——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200212101,9300———Not enough data
20011995,0000———Rising
20002990,0000——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199935107,0000——Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Lexus RX model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2023 Lexus RX?

Complaints for the 2023 RX concentrate on the drivetrain and on electronic/electrical behavior, mostly in the first 10,000 miles. The issues reported most often: Shuddering, hesitation and loss of power from a stop; Panoramic roof glass shattering; 12-volt battery drains and the car will not start.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2023 Lexus RX have?

NHTSA recorded 62 consumer complaints for the 2023 Lexus RX as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2023 Lexus RX is reported most often?

Other or unknown is named most often, in 14 complaints (23% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 13.

Has the 2023 Lexus RX been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2023 Lexus RX do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2023 Lexus RX 5 out of 5 stars overall, across 2 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2023 Lexus RX get?

The EPA rates the 2023 Lexus RX (RX 350h AWD, 2.5L 4-cyl · hybrid) at 36 mpg combined, 37 city and 34 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,300 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2023 Lexus RX reported?

Among the 8 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 8,250 miles and the middle half falls between 7,000 and 10,637 miles; 100% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.