YearToAvoid

2011 Lexus GX Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

73/100

#5 most-complained of 16 GX years

The 2011 Lexus GX has a Complaint Index of 73, ranking 5th worst among 16 model years, with a Caution verdict. Owners logged 11 complaints, most tied to airbags and engine issues, but no recalls were issued for this year.

Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2011 Lexus GX problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags4 (36%)
  2. Engine4 (36%)
  3. Other2 (18%)
  4. Steering2 (18%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (18%)
  6. Structure & Body1 (9%)

What owners report

  • Front and side curtain airbags reportedly deployed unexpectedly during a low-speed intersection collision at 30 MPH.
  • Steering wheel shaking and vibration reported at low mileage, with tire replacement, wheel balancing, and rack-and-pinion adjustments failing to resolve it.
  • Some owners describe the vibration as severe enough to cause the vehicle to drift into the next lane at freeway speed.
  • Airbag-related Takata recall repairs were reported as delayed for over a year due to lack of replacement parts.
  • Engine overheating was reported alongside a blown radiator and head gasket failure, with the engine light tied to an emissions system recall.
  • Oil leaks from the timing cover gasket and valley plate/cam tower cover were reported on the engine, described by owners as a known defect shared with related Toyota and Lexus platforms.
2011 Lexus GX complaints: complaints filed per month3Aug 2011Oct 2016Jul 2017May 2020Jan 2023Oct 2025
15 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2011 to Oct 2025; peak Sep 2011 (3).

2011 Lexus GX recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2011 compared with other GX years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Good4070—
2011Caution73110—
2012No verdict730—
2013Good47100—

All Lexus GX years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Lexus GX reliable?
NHTSA data shows a Complaint Index of 73 for the 2011 GX, ranking it 5th worst out of 16 model years, earning a Caution verdict relative to other GX years.
Does the 2011 Lexus GX have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 0 recalls specifically logged against the 2011 model year, though owners reference a Takata airbag recall in complaint narratives.
What is the top problem area for the 2011 Lexus GX?
Airbags and Engine are tied as the top problem areas, each accounting for 36% of complaints, with 4 complaints apiece.
At what mileage do 2011 Lexus GX problems typically appear?
The median mileage at failure across all complaints for the 2011 GX is 68,750 miles, though engine complaints show a median of 190,000 miles and airbag complaints a median of 137,000 miles.
How does the 2011 GX compare to other Lexus GX years?
The 2011 GX's Complaint Index of 73 is higher than 2010 (40), 2012 (7), and 2013 (47), but lower than 2014, 2023, 2024, and 2025, which all carry Avoid verdicts.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.