YearToAvoid

2010 Lexus RX Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

60/100

#7 most-complained of 16 RX years

The 2010 Lexus RX has a Complaint Index of 60, ranking 7th worst among 16 model years, earning a Caution verdict. NHTSA logs 72 complaints, with Engine (42%) and Brakes (29%) the top problem areas; no recalls are on file.

Complaints
72
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
9 / 0
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
29.5
31 city / 28 hwy

Top 2010 Lexus RX problems

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

  1. Engine30 (42%)
  2. Brakes21 (29%)
  3. Other10 (14%)
  4. Steering9 (13%)
  5. Electrical System6 (8%)
  6. Fuel System6 (8%)
  7. Structure & Body3 (4%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (4%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain3 (4%)
  10. Airbags2 (3%)

What owners report

  • Owners report sudden loss of braking response, sometimes right after hitting a bump in the road, at low mileage.
  • Some describe unintended acceleration while braking, including at parking lot speeds and even while stopped in a car wash.
  • One owner reported items falling into the steering base area and jamming the steering wheel from turning at very low mileage.
  • An owner reported the vehicle stalling dead on their driveway after being parked for a couple hours, with the dealer unable to find a fault.
  • A high-mileage engine complaint described sudden unintended acceleration into a wall at 250,000 miles.
2010 Lexus RX complaints: complaints filed per quarter112010 Q12011 Q22018 Q12020 Q32022 Q22023 Q42025 Q4
96 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2010 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2010 Q1 (11).

2010 Lexus RX recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2010 Lexus RX fuel economy and fuel cost

City
31 MPG
Highway
28 MPG
Combined
29.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,700
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2010 compared with other RX 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
2010Caution6072029.5
2011Good4029028.5
2012Best012028.5

All Lexus RX years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 Lexus RX reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2010 RX a Complaint Index of 60 and a Caution verdict, ranking 7th worst out of 16 model years for this model. Engine complaints (42% of total) and Brakes complaints (29%) are the biggest concern areas.
Does the 2010 Lexus RX have any recalls?
NHTSA lists zero recalls for the 2010 Lexus RX.
What is the most common problem with the 2010 Lexus RX?
Engine issues are the top problem area, making up 42% of the 72 complaints, with brakes second at 29% and involved in 7 of the 9 reported crashes.
How does the 2010 RX compare to other RX model years?
The 2010 RX has a Complaint Index of 60, worse than 2011 (40), 2012 (0), 2013 (27), and most years through 2019, but better than 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025, which 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.