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Lexus RX350Model year report

2018 Lexus RX350 Problems

Complaints
18filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
12,000miles, 11 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
4–5 / 5stars overall, 4 rated versions
EPA fuel economy
23 mpgcombined, 3.5L 6-cyl FWD · 20 city / 27 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2018 Lexus RX350 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 18 consumer complaints for the 2018 Lexus RX350. The part named most often is fuel system, with 8 complaints (44% of the total), followed by other or unknown (4) and transmission and drivetrain (4). 11 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 12,000 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 132 technical service bulletins for this model year. Fuel system complaints overlap with 2 recall campaigns covering the fuel pump and 6 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

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.

Example complaints

Fuel system: “When stepping on the gas petal one of three things happen. 1. Normal acceleration which you expect after 60 years of driving and which we obtain from a 2014 Lexus RX350 that we own. 2. Hesitation of between 1 and 5 seconds before acceleration begins. 3 excessive acceleration ( surg of acceleration much more than expected). This excess acceleration may happen after the hesitation or there could be normal acceleration after the hesitation and happens when accelerating after being stopped.. …”

NHTSA complaint #11413511, filed 2021-04, 100 miles

Other or unknown: “Bridgestone tires, tx8a ec1, size p235/55r20, are 2 years old with just over 14000 miles, and all tire thread is gone. Local tire store tells me that they must be replaced and he suspects manufacturing defects. Tires were rotated by Lexus at 5000 miles and 10000 miles.”

NHTSA complaint #11366406, filed 2020-10, 14,460 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “I tried accelerating on the highway (pch in santa monica, ca) while traveling forward at about 45-50 MPH, but the vehicle hesitated. This is the forth time there has been a hesitation in acceleration since owning the car, but this time there was a message on my dash. The message stated that there was an obstruction with the pedal and acceleration was retarded. I later looked down at the pedals felt around the them, but found nothing obstructing. At the time, the vehicle had less than a quarter tank of gas but not low enough for the low fuel warning to come on. …”

NHTSA complaint #11377504, filed 2020-12, 12,000 miles

Brakes: “While traveling north on interstate 95 in the middle lane at approximately 60mph after switching into left lane saw brake lights ahead and stepped on brake pedal. Heard slight pop sound, brake pedal went immediately to the floor. Car did not stop or slow down. Swerved to left to avoid directly hitting car in front of me but hit jersey wall and the car. My car kept going another couple hundred yards before it finally stopped. Car was totaled.without functioning brakes adaptive cruise control or forward collision braking were useless.”

NHTSA complaint #11373532, filed 2020-11, 20,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

100% of the 11 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 5,000 and 20,000 miles.

36%0–1064%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 (11 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 12,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

201820192020122021
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 2018 Lexus RX350. 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
RX350 · SUV AWD★★★★★4 / 4554 · 16.4% risk
RX350 · SUV FWD★★★★☆4 / 4554 · 17.9% risk
RX350L · SUV AWD★★★★☆4 / 4554 · 16.7% risk
RX350L · SUV FWD★★★★☆4 / 4554 · 18.2% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2018 model year: forward collision warning standard, lane departure warning standard, automatic emergency braking standard.

Neighbouring years: 2017: same overall rating; 2019: same overall rating. 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 2018 Lexus RX350 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 350 FWD3.5L 6-cyl8-speed automatic202723$2,900
RX 350 AWD3.5L 6-cyl8-speed automatic192622$3,050
RX 350 L FWD3.5L 6-cyl8-speed automatic192622$3,050
RX 350 L AWD3.5L 6-cyl8-speed automatic182521$3,200

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 2018 Lexus RX350 → · 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. 132 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 132 bulletins →

Other model years of the Lexus RX350

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2022101,3560423—Not enough data
202076,97514–523—Not enough data
2019313,00034–52360 · TypicalFalling
20181812,00024–523—Falling
2017469,20034–52378 · MoreFalling
20165817,866342386 · MoreFalling
20154224,65014–52141 · TypicalFalling
2014155,50004–521—Falling
20135945,50014–52135 · FewerFalling
20123326,500142149 · TypicalFalling
20113043,500142138 · TypicalFalling
20109428,0001—2195 · MoreFalling
20099754,7440—2051 · TypicalFalling
200812669,0000—2042 · TypicalStable
200716775,0001—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Lexus RX350 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2018 Lexus RX350 have?

NHTSA recorded 18 consumer complaints for the 2018 Lexus RX350 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2018 Lexus RX350 is reported most often?

Fuel system is named most often, in 8 complaints (44% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 4.

Has the 2018 Lexus RX350 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2018 Lexus RX350 do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2018 Lexus RX350 4–5 out of 5 stars overall, across 4 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 2018 Lexus RX350 get?

The EPA rates the 2018 Lexus RX350 (RX 350, 3.5L 6-cyl) at 23 mpg combined, 20 city and 27 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,900 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2018 Lexus RX350 reported?

Among the 11 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 12,000 miles and the middle half falls between 5,000 and 20,000 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.