YearToAvoid

2018 Lexus RX Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

33/100

#11 most-complained of 16 RX years

The 2018 Lexus RX has a complaint index of 33, ranking 11th out of 16 model years, with a 'Good' verdict. NHTSA lists 25 complaints, 0 recalls, and no fires, with brakes as the top problem area at 24% of complaints.

Complaints
25
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
3 / 0
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
29.5
30 city / 28 hwy

Top 2018 Lexus RX problems

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

  1. Brakes6 (24%)
  2. Other6 (24%)
  3. Engine5 (20%)
  4. Electrical System3 (12%)
  5. Fuel System3 (12%)
  6. Structure & Body3 (12%)
  7. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (8%)
  8. Visibility & Wipers2 (8%)
  9. Airbags1 (4%)
  10. Steering1 (4%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the parking brake intermittently disables itself, sometimes paired with a cruise control malfunction, resetting after restarting the car.
  • Some describe a faulty brake actuator causing a loud 'squawk' noise when the brake pedal is pressed, with the noise returning after dealer replacement.
  • A raw fuel odor was reported entering the cabin at start-up on several occasions, with the issue reaching median mileage of 42,548 without being duplicated by the dealer.
  • One owner described gas pouring out from underneath the vehicle while fueling after the fuel gauge dropped rapidly from a quarter tank to empty.
  • Drivers report the driver-side mirror shaking noticeably while driving, making it hard to see traffic to the left, especially at night.
  • An all-wheel-drive warning light appeared alongside engine-related warnings, prompting a dealer visit.
2018 Lexus RX complaints: complaints filed per month3Dec 2021Jan 2023Jan 2024Oct 2024Jun 2025Sep 2025Apr 2026
33 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2021 to Aug 2026; peak May 2022 (3).

2018 Lexus RX recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2018 Lexus RX fuel economy and fuel cost

City
30 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.

2018 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
2016Best1328030
2017Caution5347030
2018Good3325029.5
2019Good4734129.5
2020Caution6746129.5

All Lexus RX years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Lexus RX reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2018 RX a complaint index of 33 and a 'Good' verdict, ranking 11th out of 16 model years. It has 25 complaints, 0 recalls, and no fires reported.
What is the top problem area for the 2018 Lexus RX?
Brakes are the top problem area, accounting for 24% of complaints, followed by engine issues at 20%.
Does the 2018 Lexus RX have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2018 Lexus RX, including 0 do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2018 Lexus RX compare to other RX years?
The 2018 RX's complaint index of 33 is lower than 2017 (53), 2020 (67), 2021 (87), 2023 (93), and 2024 (100), all rated Caution or Avoid, making 2018 a better choice among RX years.
What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Lexus RX?
The 2018 Lexus RX gets an EPA-rated 29.5 mpg combined (30 city / 28 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,700.

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.