YearToAvoid

2010 Lexus RX350 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2010 Lexus RX350 has 94 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 100, ranking it worst of 19 model years and rated Avoid. Engine problems make up 52% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 28,500 miles, plus one recall for accelerator pedal issues.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
100/100
#1 of 19 RX350 years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
94
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
23
reported in complaints
Fires
6
Injuries
11
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2020
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
20.5
18 city / 24.5 hwy
Injuries / deaths
11 / 1

Top 2010 Lexus RX350 problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine49 (52%)
  2. Brakes12 (13%)
  3. Electrical System12 (13%)
  4. Airbags9 (10%)
  5. Structure & Body7 (7%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain7 (7%)
  7. Other6 (6%)
  8. Steering5 (5%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (5%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers4 (4%)

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

What owners report

  • Owners report sudden unintended acceleration while parking or driving at low speed, leading to crashes into walls, vehicles, or fixed objects.
  • Some describe the vehicle surging from highway speed toward 90 mph on its own, with smoke coming from the tires when braking.
  • Several report the brake pedal sinking to the floor with no response, causing collisions at low to moderate speeds.
  • One owner reported the vehicle rolling away and crashing into a fence and light post while parked on an incline with the engine off.
  • A transmission-related complaint describes the car lurching forward unexpectedly after starting, resulting in a crash into trees and a rock.
  • One airbag complaint involved partial deployment during a low-speed crash after the driver lost control.
2010 Lexus RX350 complaints: complaints filed per quarter122010 Q12011 Q12012 Q12013 Q32015 Q22017 Q12018 Q12019 Q3
94 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2010 Q1 to 2021 Q2; peak 2010 Q2 (12).

2010 Lexus RX350 recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 12V305000Jun 29, 2012Engine164,601 vehicles

    Vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal

    Toyota is recalling certain model year 2010 Lexus RX350 and RX450h vehicles, manufactured from November 28, 2008, through September 1, 2010, and model year 2008 through 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles manufactured from September 1, 2007, through September 5, 2011. In July 2012, Toyota filed a defect report to recall certain model year 2010 Lexus RX350 and RX450h vehicles. In November 2012, Toyota informed the agency that it was including an additional 10,565 vehicles including certain model year 2008 through 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 164,601. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat.

    Risk: A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.

    Remedy: Toyota and Lexus will notify owners of affected vehicles and dealers will modify or replace the accelerator pedal and replace any driver's floor mat not specified for the vehicle. Owners of the Lexus vehicles were notified during August 2012. Toyota has not yet provided a notification schedule for the additional Land Cruiser vehicles. Owners may contact Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331 or Lexus at 1-800-255-3987.

2010 Lexus RX350 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18 MPG
Highway
24.5 MPG
Combined
20.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,900
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 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
2008Avoid89126019.5
2009Avoid8397019.5
2010Avoid10094120.5
2011Caution6130120.5
2012Caution7233120.5

All Lexus RX350 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 Lexus RX350 reliable?
Among RX350 model years, 2010 ranks worst, with 94 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 100, the highest of any year, so it is rated Avoid relative to other RX350 years.
What is the main problem with the 2010 Lexus RX350?
Engine complaints dominate, accounting for 52% of all reports (49 of 94), with a median failure mileage of 28,500 miles. Many describe unintended acceleration.
Does the 2010 Lexus RX350 have any recalls?
Yes, one recall (12V305000) covers the accelerator pedal on vehicles built from November 2008 through September 2010; Toyota and Lexus modify or replace the pedal.
Which RX350 model years are safer than 2010?
The 2020 model year is rated Best with only 7 complaints and a complaint index of 17. The 2014, 2018, 2019, and 2022 years are rated Good, all with lower complaint indexes than 2010.

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.