Lexus RX Best and Worst Years

Counting owner complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2019 Lexus RX drew the most (43; most-reported area: fuel and propulsion system) and the 2021 the fewest (10).

Data: US EPA and NHTSAUpdated Sep 27, 2026

Every model year since 2016 in one place: EPA fuel economy, NHTSA recalls, owner complaints and crash test ratings. The best fuel economy rating, 36 mpg combined, arrived in 2023 and has held since. Includes the RX 350, RX 350L, the hybrids (450h, 350h, 500h) and the RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid.

Best and worst years, by owner complaints

Model years ranked by owner complaints filed with NHTSA in their first three years (model year Y: filed by the end of Y+2), so every year is measured over the same time on the road. Years without three full years of data, and launch or final years with very few sold, are left out. Counts are not adjusted for how many were sold.

Model year	First 3 years	All complaints	Recalls
2019 RX Most reported: fuel and propulsion system	43	68	4
2016 RX Most reported: brakes	42	93	3
2023 RX Most reported: powertrain	42	66	4
2017 RX Most reported: brakes	40	103	3
2022 RX Most reported: electrical system	23	39	0
2018 RX Most reported: brakes	19	46	2
2020 RX Most reported: air bags	18	55	2
2021 RX Most reported: air bags	10	70	2

Year by year

Model year	Best rating	Recalls	Complaints	Crash test
2026 MPG · Recalls and problems	36 mpg Hybrid	3	7	4 to 5 stars
2025 MPG · Recalls and problems	36 mpg Hybrid	4	20	4 to 5 stars
2024 MPG · Recalls and problems	36 mpg Hybrid	4	57	4 to 5 stars
2023 MPG · Recalls and problems	36 mpg Hybrid	4	66	4 to 5 stars
2022 MPG · Recalls and problems	30 mpg Hybrid	0	39
2021 MPG · Recalls and problems	30 mpg Hybrid	2	70	4 to 5 stars
2020 MPG · Recalls and problems	30 mpg Hybrid	2	55	4 to 5 stars
2019 MPG · Recalls and problems	30 mpg Hybrid	4	68	4 to 5 stars
2018 MPG · Recalls and problems	30 mpg Hybrid	2	46	4 to 5 stars
2017 MPG · Recalls and problems	30 mpg Hybrid	3	103	4 to 5 stars
2016 MPG · Recalls and problems	30 mpg Hybrid	3	93

Owner complaints by model year

All complaints filed so far. Counts rise with sales volume and with time on the road, so recent years look better than they may turn out. The highlighted bar is the model year with the most complaints in its first three years.

2019: 68 complaints

Show as a table

Owner complaints by model year, Lexus RX
Model year	Complaints
2016	93
2017	103
2018	46
2019	68
2020	55
2021	70
2022	39
2023	66
2024	57
2025	20
2026	7

Best combined rating by model year

The best-rated version in each model year. Gas: 23 to 25 mpg (every year from 2016 to 2026); 25 since 2023. Hybrid: 30 to 36 mpg (every year from 2016 to 2026); 36 since 2023.

Best gas version
Best hybrid version

2026: gas 25 mpg · hybrid 36 mpg

Show as a table

Lexus RX best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version	Best hybrid version
2016	23	30
2017	23	30
2018	23	30
2019	23	30
2020	23	30
2021	23	30
2022	23	30
2023	25	36
2024	25	36
2025	25	36
2026	25	36

Questions

Which Lexus RX years have the most problems?

Counting owner complaints filed with NHTSA in each model year's first three years, the 2019 (43), 2016 (42), 2023 (42), and 2017 (40) drew the most.

Which Lexus RX years have the fewest problems?

The 2021 (10) drew the fewest complaints in its first three years. The 2024, 2025, and 2026 are not ranked yet: they have had fewer than three full years on the road.

Which Lexus RX years should you avoid?

No Lexus RX year stands out: complaints in each year's first three years ranged from 10 to 43, and the worst year drew less than one and a half times a typical year. Whatever the year, check the car's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy. Safety recall repairs are free at Lexus dealers.

Which Lexus RX years have the most recalls?

The 2019, 2023, 2024, and 2025 have the most safety recalls in NHTSA's file (4 each). A recall can cover a problem that affects only a few cars, so open a year's page to see what each one covers. No recall for 2016 to 2026 models tells owners not to drive the car or to park it outside.

What are the most common Lexus RX problems?

Of the 624 owner complaints NHTSA lists for 2016 to 2026 models, the areas named most are air bags (16%), electrical system (14%), and engine (13%). One complaint can name more than one area. The recalls and problems page for each year breaks this down further.

Which Lexus RX year has the best MPG?

The best EPA fuel economy is 36 mpg combined, first reached by the 2023 hybrid version and matched by every year since.

Sources and method

US EPA fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Sep 18, 2026.
NHTSA recall file dated Sep 27, 2026 and owner complaint file dated Sep 26, 2026; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings.

Complaint counts are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.