2009 Lexus RX350 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about a leaking power steering rack, typically found during routine service rather than noticed while driving, and about dashboards that become sticky and crack, especially in hot or humid climates. A second cluster of complaints describes oil loss from the engine oil cooler hose, sometimes sudden and on the road, plus a smaller number of transmission complaints about rough or delayed shifting.

1. 1
   Steering

   Power steering rack/gear leaking fluid

   • 24 complaints (25%)
   • median 57,700 mi at 6.5 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $1,581 (median of 14 quotes)
   • filed 2013–2019

   Complaints describe a power steering rack or rack-and-pinion assembly found to be leaking, most often discovered during routine maintenance or an oil change rather than by the driver. Owners say they were quoted roughly $1,400 to $2,000 for replacement, and some report reduced steering feel or noise on sharp turns and when parking. In several accounts the dealer described it as a safety concern and recommended immediate replacement, while owners note they had not seen fluid on the ground. Reported across a wide mileage range from about 19,000 to 108,000 miles, with many in the 50,000 to 80,000 mile range.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Have a pre-purchase inspection look specifically at the steering rack boots and for fluid residue, since it is usually found at service rather than felt from the driver's seat. Ask whether the rack has already been replaced and keep the receipt.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On 22 july 2014, I proceeded to the Lexus of huntsville dealership for a 75,000 oil change, tire rotation, and service maintenance for my 2009 rx 350. I was told that the rack and pinion steering had a leak near the left side boot and needed to be replaced. I also was told that my front and rear brakes needed to be serviced as well. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10621342, filed 2014-08, 74,265 miles

   “My Lexus has just 50,000 miles on it garage kept, just was told my rack&pinion gear was leaking to the tune of 1800.00 dollars. I was looking up Lexus forums on line, there is quite of Lexus owner's that have the same problem. And if you don`t take care of this problem it could be quite dangerous. I think Lexus should reimburse owner's for there out of pocket expenses.”

   NHTSA complaint #11082435, filed 2018-04, 50,026 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine oil cooler hose leak or burst

   • 11 complaints (11%)
   • median 105,000 mi at 8.9 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2014–2019

   Complaints describe oil loss traced to a rubber engine oil cooler hose or pipe, in some cases a sudden burst that emptied the engine while driving and left oil under the vehicle. Owners report white smoke, an oil trail on the driveway, or being flagged by another driver, and several say the car was towed. According to complaints, dealers replaced the hose, sometimes noting a metal replacement part, and some owners say coverage under an extended warranty program was denied or had expired. Mostly reported between about 89,000 and 152,000 miles, with a few lower-mileage reports around 70,000 to 92,000 miles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the oil cooler pipes have been replaced and with which part, and check for oil residue around the cooler lines and undertray. Check the oil level and look for fresh drips after a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The oil cooler manifold which has rubber hoses leaked completely out. The new parts have a solid metal hose, not rubber! I believe Lexus obviously knew the rubber hoses were a cheaper method of cooling, though they are high pressure and should have been metal at the time of manufacturing the vehicle! I have seen blog after blog of people with the same issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11020133, filed 2017-08, 133,245 miles

   “I just bought car and 5 days later the oil cooler line failed and I lost all oil. If this was handled as a recall (I searched for recalls before purchasing car) it probably would have been taken care of already, at the very least I would have known to get it done. Lexus extended warranty is 150,000 miles unfortunately mine has 152,400, so they are denying coverage.”

   NHTSA complaint #11114535, filed 2018-07, 152,390 miles
3. 3
   Other or unknown

   Sudden acceleration at low speed / braking concerns

   Mentioned in 8 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the vehicle surging or accelerating unexpectedly at very low speed, such as pulling into a parking space, with the brake pedal reported as slow to respond in some accounts. Owners say dealers inspected the cars and found nothing wrong, attributing it to driver error or normal operation. A separate group describes brake vibration at higher speed that returned after a repair. Mostly reported under 60,000 miles, often at parking-lot speeds, with brake vibration reports in the first 20,000 miles.

   What to check: Test the brakes on a bumpy surface and at low speed in a parking area, and confirm the floor mats are properly secured. Ask whether the dealer has performed any inspection for unintended acceleration or brake complaints.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall - my air bag never deployed on impact. As I was braking to park outside my garage door, the car suddenly accelerated extremely fast. My Lexus went through the garage door and I was braking but my SUV didn't stop until it hit things in the garage that stopped me. I even plowed into a piece of equipment that went out the back wall of the garage”

   NHTSA complaint #11039557, filed 2017-10, 102,736 miles

   “I was driving my 2009 Lexus rx 350 at about 25 miles per hour when it suddenly rapidly accelerated. Fortunately there was nothing/no car immediately in front of me. I pressed down on the brakes and the car responded by slowing down. I have reported the incident to Lexus and will have the dealer inspect the car as soon as possible. (they gave me an appointment in 2 days.)”

   NHTSA complaint #10330564, filed 2010-05, 29,000 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Cracked, sticky or melting dashboard

   • 13 complaints (13%)
   • median 59,000 mi at 6.2 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2014–2022

   Complaints describe a dashboard that becomes gummy and sticky to the touch and then cracks, sometimes spreading from a small crack near the passenger airbag housing or instrument panel across the whole dash. Owners say the damage appears without any impact or incident and worsens over weeks, and some reports say it occurs more in hot or humid conditions. Several say the dealer or manufacturer told them a warranty enhancement program had applied but had expired, or that the dash did not affect safety features. Reported from roughly 40,000 to 132,000 miles, with several between 55,000 and 90,000 miles, often in warm climates.

   15 related service bulletins

   What to check: Inspect the top and lower dash for cracks, shine and sticky spots, and press lightly near the passenger airbag cover. Ask whether any dashboard warranty enhancement work was performed on the vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a Lexus SUV, my third Lexus/toyota brand vehicle. So I trusted the safety and reliability. One day everything is fine. The next day, I see a small crack in the lower part of the dashboard of the passenger seat. Literally, one day fine and the next cracked and without a single incident that caused it. In just a matter of weeks, my entire left dashboard is cracking and chipping and it continues to spread and deteriorate day by day. I am shocked and alarmed! …”

   NHTSA complaint #10627602, filed 2014-08, 59,000 miles

   “The dashboard melts and has a very gummy and sticky feel. Also it now has cracked and likely substantially reduce the value of the vehicle not to mention how terrible it looks.”

   NHTSA complaint #10892992, filed 2016-08, 45,000 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Rough or delayed transmission shifting

   • 8 complaints (8%)
   • median 24,639 mi at 2.0 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2008–2018

   Complaints describe hesitation, lurching or a delayed shift between gears, with the engine revving before the gear engages, and one report of a whine noted from new. Owners say dealers ran diagnostics and told them the transmission behaved as designed or that nothing was wrong. Higher-mileage reports describe warning lights and, in a few cases, a transmission that needed rebuilding or replacement. Reported from as little as a few hundred miles up to about 132,000 miles, with the more serious cases at higher mileage.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive at low speed in stop-and-go traffic and on a cold start to feel for hesitation or lurching between first and second gear. Ask whether any transmission work or fluid service has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Upon taking delivery of new RX350 I immediately noticed a transmission whine. I feel it is a safety factor because I am constantly thinking of the problem as I drive. My mind is not on driving as it should be. I immediately went back to dealer and shop foreman drove the car and heard the noise. He said don't worry as I have a warranty. This is not a viable answer to my problem. What if I break down in the middle of nowhere. Talked with sales manager and he stated wait until the 2010 model comes out. He would not do anything.”

   NHTSA complaint #10251093, filed 2008-12, 26 miles

   “The vehicle engine light comes on and the vsc, and traction lights are on. Have spend over 500.00 on transistor and modules to continue to have nothing work. Most recently, was advised that I need a new transmission at $4,400. For a car with such a great reputation, and now seeing all of the other Lexus owners complain about their transmission, its seems as if there is a trend of transmission issues that follow these vehicles.”

   NHTSA complaint #10664368, filed 2014-12, 132,400 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection focused on the steering rack, oil cooler lines and dashboard condition is worthwhile on this model year, since those are the areas owners write about most. Ask for service records showing whether the steering rack or oil cooler hoses have already been replaced.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 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.