YearToAvoid

2010 Lexus RX350 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 14 RX350 years

The 2010 Lexus RX350 ranks worst of 14 model years, with a Complaint Index of 100 and 94 complaints, mostly tied to sudden acceleration or engine issues at a median 28,000 miles. It carries an Avoid verdict relative to other RX350 years, plus 1 recall covering accelerator pedal replacement.

Complaints
94
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
23 / 6
Injuries / deaths
11 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
20.5
18 city / 24.5 hwy

Top 2010 Lexus RX350 problems

NHTSA owner 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%)

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 around 55 mph to roughly 90 mph on its own, with smoke near the tires when braking was attempted.
  • Several owners say the brake pedal went to the floor without slowing the vehicle, resulting in collisions even at moderate speeds.
  • One owner reported the vehicle rolling away down an incline while parked with the engine off, crashing into a fence and light post.
  • A structure and body complaint describes the front bumper cracking and coming loose after a low-speed impact.
  • An airbag complaint describes partial deployment of the front airbags during a low-speed crash.
2010 Lexus RX350 complaints: complaints filed per quarter162010 Q12011 Q12012 Q12013 Q32015 Q22017 Q12018 Q12019 Q3
119 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2010 Q1 to 2021 Q2; peak 2010 Q2 (16).

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)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid10094120.5
2011Avoid7730120.5
2012Avoid8533120.5

All Lexus RX350 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 Lexus RX350 reliable?
Compared to other RX350 model years, 2010 ranks worst, with a Complaint Index of 100 and rank 1 of 14 years on file. NHTSA lists 94 complaints for this year, most involving the Engine.
What year Lexus RX350 should I avoid?
NHTSA data marks 2010 as the RX350's worst year, followed by 2013 (Complaint Index 92), 2012 (85), and 2011 (77). The 2014 and 2020 model years score lowest, at Complaint Index 23 and 8.
Does the 2010 Lexus RX350 have a recall?
Yes, NHTSA lists one recall, campaign 12V305000, covering accelerator pedal modification or replacement on 2010 Lexus RX350 and RX450h vehicles built between November 28, 2008 and September 1, 2010.
What is the most common problem with the 2010 Lexus RX350?
Engine complaints make up 52% of all complaints for this year, with 49 reports and a median failure mileage of 28,500 miles. Brakes and Electrical System each account for 13% of complaints.
What is the fuel economy of the 2010 Lexus RX350?
EPA rates the 2010 RX350 at 20.5 mpg combined (18 city / 24.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,900.

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.