YearToAvoid

2009 Lexus RX350 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

83/100

#4 most-complained of 19 RX350 years

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

The 2009 Lexus RX350 has 97 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 83 out of 100 — #4 highest of 19 RX350 model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is steering (28 complaints, 29% of the total). Complaints report 7 crashes, 1 fire, and 2 injuries.

Complaints
97
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
7 / 1
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
19.5
17.5 city / 22.5 hwy

Top 2009 Lexus RX350 problems

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

  1. Steering28 (29%)
  2. Engine21 (22%)
  3. Structure & Body17 (18%)
  4. Electrical System11 (11%)
  5. Other9 (9%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain8 (8%)
  7. Airbags7 (7%)
  8. Brakes6 (6%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (4%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers2 (2%)
2009 Lexus RX350 complaints: complaints filed per quarter102008 Q42010 Q32012 Q42014 Q12015 Q22016 Q32018 Q22019 Q3
114 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2008 Q4 to 2022 Q1; peak 2014 Q4 (10).

2009 Lexus RX350 recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2009 Lexus RX350 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17.5 MPG
Highway
22.5 MPG
Combined
19.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,100
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.

2009 compared with other RX350 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
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2007Avoid94167119.5
2008Avoid89126019.5
2009Avoid8397019.5
2010Avoid10094120.5
2011Caution6130120.5

All Lexus RX350 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Lexus RX350 a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2009 Lexus RX350 ranks #4 of 19 among RX350 model years (Complaint Index 83/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 97 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Lexus RX350?
The most reported problem areas are steering (28 complaints), engine (21 complaints), and structure & body (17 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 54,744 miles.
Does the 2009 Lexus RX350 have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2009 Lexus RX350 in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2009 Lexus RX350?
EPA rates the 2009 Lexus RX350 at 19.5 MPG combined (17.5 city / 22.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,100. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

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.