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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2009 Lexus RX350 Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
8about this part
Share
8%of 97 total for the year
Median mileage
70,410miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 8 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2009 Lexus RX350, 8% of the 97 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 70,410 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I was driving on the highway, going 65 MPH and straight, and someone flagged me down to let me know that my car was smoking. None of my safety lights had appeared on my dash. I pulled over and saw that the back of my car was completely covered in oil and I had a fast oil leak underneath my car toward the front passenger side. I certainly sprayed oil on the cars behind me on the highway, potentially causing visibility issues for other drivers. I also leaked oil on the highway, causing a potential concern for other drivers. …”

NHTSA complaint #11176626, filed 2019-02, 141,000 miles

“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

“When the SUV shifts from 1st to 2rd gear the engine revs up about 1000 rpms and hesitates 2-5 seconds before the shift takes place. I can't rely on power when needed because of this. It's not constant, about 30% of the time it occurs. The same thing happens when down shifting. The dealer, kendall Lexus of eugene oregon (rick strong-service manager) is aware of the problem and says toyota won't put out a new chip to fix the problem . Rick strong also said I told the salesman he should inform potential buyers about this problem before they purchase a vehicle . …”

NHTSA complaint #10373067, filed 2010-12, 500 miles

“T-sb-0201-11 from toyota/Lexus states some vehicles equipped with 2gr-fe/fxe towing package engines may exhibit an oil seep from the engine oil cooler pipes. This TSB affects toyota and Lexus vehicles going back to at least 2008-present. This is a major issue, and I feel this should be handled as a recall instead of a TSB due to the severity of the issue if/when the pipe breaks. …”

NHTSA complaint #10676422, filed 2015-01, 89,000 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

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2019413%
2018422%
2017613%
2016712%
201525%
2014320%
201347%
2012412%
2011620%
201077%
200988%
200876%
200795%

Other parts of the 2009 Lexus RX350

Steering
28 complaintsBody and structure
17 complaintsEngine
12 complaintsOther or unknown
8 complaintsAir bags
7 complaintsElectrical system
7 complaintsBrakes
6 complaintsVehicle speed control
6 complaintsExterior lighting
4 complaintsEngine cooling
3 complaintsTires
2 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
2 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2009 Lexus RX350

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology