YearToAvoid

2018 Lexus RX350 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

31/100

#10 most-complained of 14 RX350 years

The 2018 Lexus RX350 ranks 10th of 14 model years with a Complaint Index of 31, earning a "Good" verdict relative to other RX350 years. NHTSA lists 18 complaints, 1 recall, 3 crashes, and 2 injuries, with Fuel System issues making up 44% of complaints.

Complaints
18
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
3 / 0
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
22
19 city / 26 hwy

Top 2018 Lexus RX350 problems

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

  1. Fuel System8 (44%)
  2. Engine5 (28%)
  3. Other4 (22%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain4 (22%)
  5. Brakes3 (17%)
  6. Visibility & Wipers2 (11%)
  7. Airbags1 (6%)
  8. Electrical System1 (6%)
  9. Structure & Body1 (6%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the fuel pump recall (campaign 20V012000) repair parts were unavailable for extended periods, leaving vehicles unrepaired.
  • Some drivers describe engine hesitation on acceleration, saying the engine does not respond in a linear way to the gas pedal at a median 9,825 miles.
  • One owner reported brake failure at highway speed, with the pedal going to the floor and the car failing to stop, resulting in a crash.
  • An airbag failed to deploy during a high-impact crash that involved a rollover, at 20,000 miles.
  • A driver reported rear windows shattering without impact while driving around 75 mph.
  • One owner said the emergency crash system did not stop the vehicle before it struck a building support column at 9,825 miles.
2018 Lexus RX350 complaints: complaints filed per month3Nov 2018Nov 2019Jan 2020Apr 2020Jun 2020Oct 2020Dec 2020
29 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2018 to Apr 2021; peak Nov 2018 (3).

2018 Lexus RX350 recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V012000Jan 13, 2020Fuel System1,830,752 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, 2018 Avalon, Corolla, 2014 FJ Cruiser, 2017 Sienna and Lexus 2018 ES 350, 2018-2019 GS 300, 2013-2014 GS350, 2014-2015 GX 460, IS 350 and LX 570, 2014 IS F, 2018-2019 IS 350, LC 500H and LS 500H, 2013-2015 LS 460, 2015 NX 200T and RC350, 2017 RC 200T and RX 350. Toyota also removed the 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser and 2018-2019 Lexus GX 460 and LX 570 and 2019 NX300 from inclusion in this recall. On March 19, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include 2015 Lexus GS350 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

    Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB02 and 20TA02 for Toyota vehicles and 20LB01 and 20LA01 for Lexus vehicles.

2018 Lexus RX350 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19 MPG
Highway
26 MPG
Combined
22 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,950
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
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 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
2016Caution6958322.5
2017Caution6246322.5
2018Good3118122
2019Good4631322
2020Best87122

All Lexus RX350 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Lexus RX350 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2018 RX350 has a Complaint Index of 31 and ranks 10th out of 14 model years, giving it a "Good" verdict relative to other RX350 years.
What is the top problem area for the 2018 Lexus RX350?
Fuel System complaints lead with 8 complaints, or 44% of all reported issues, tied to recall 20V012000 for the fuel pump.
Does the 2018 Lexus RX350 have a recall?
Yes, NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2018 RX350, campaign 20V012000, covering a fuel pump replacement; it is not a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2018 RX350 compare to other years?
The 2018 model's Complaint Index of 31 is lower than 2010 (100), 2013 (92), and 2016 (69), but higher than 2014 (23) and 2020 (8), which rank as Best years.
What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Lexus RX350?
EPA rates the 2018 RX350 at 22 mpg combined (19 city / 26 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,950.

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.