YearToAvoid

2011 Lexus GX Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2011 Lexus GX has a Complaint Index of 80, the 5th-worst among 21 model years, earning an Avoid rating. Airbag and engine problems each make up 36% of its 11 complaints, with one crash reported.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
80/100
#5 of 21 GX years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
11
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
0
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
1
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
1
Top issue
Airbags
Best nearby year
2006
rated Good

Top 2011 Lexus GX problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA 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%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Front and side curtain airbags reportedly failed to deploy during a broadside collision at 30 MPH.
  • Owners describe a persistent shaking or vibration in the steering wheel, mostly at the front end, that multiple tire replacements and alignments could not fix.
  • Some drivers say the steering vibration got bad enough that the vehicle drifted toward the next lane at freeway speed.
  • Owners report unresolved Takata airbag recall repairs, with some waiting over a year for replacement parts.
  • Engine owners describe overheating, a blown head gasket, and a radiator failure during highway driving, with a median failure mileage of 190,000 miles.
  • Other engine complaints mention oil leaks from the timing cover gasket and valley plate, described as a known issue on this engine platform.
2011 Lexus GX complaints: complaints filed per month1Aug 2011Oct 2016Jul 2017May 2020Jan 2023Oct 2025
11 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2011 to Oct 2025; peak Aug 2011 (1).

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)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2009No verdict001—
2010Caution6570—
2011Avoid80110—
2012No verdict1530—
2013Caution50100—

All Lexus GX years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Lexus GX reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2011 GX a Complaint Index of 80, the 5th-highest (worst) among all 21 GX model years, resulting in an Avoid verdict relative to other GX years.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Lexus GX?
NHTSA complaints show Airbags and Engine issues tied as the top problem areas, each accounting for 36% of the 11 complaints on file, followed by Steering and Suspension issues at 18% each.
Does the 2011 Lexus GX have any recalls?
NHTSA lists no recalls specifically logged against the 2011 GX in this dataset, though owner complaints reference unresolved Takata airbag recall repairs.
How many complaints does NHTSA have for the 2011 Lexus GX?
NHTSA has 11 complaints on file for the 2011 Lexus GX, including one crash and one injury.
At what mileage do 2011 Lexus GX problems tend to appear?
The median mileage at failure across complaints is 68,750 miles, though engine-related failures reported a higher median of 190,000 miles.

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.