Short answer
Among Lexus RX model years through 2024, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 3 more years have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2004 and 2006 have the most (6). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Lexus RX: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 26 (2001–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 29
- Fewest recalls
- 2001, 2002, 2003 and 3 more years (0)
- Most recalls
- 2004 and 2006 (6)
- Most recalled system
- Fuel system, gasoline (11)
Lexus RX Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 3 | 4–5 stars | Back over prevention, Steering |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 4 | 4–5 stars | Back over prevention, Electrical system, Seat belts |
| 2024 | 4 | 4–5 stars | Back over prevention, Seat belts, Seats |
| 2023 | 4 | 4–5 stars | Air bags, Back over prevention |
| 2022 | 0 | 4 stars | None on record |
| 2021 | 2 | 4–5 stars | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2020 | 2 | 4–5 stars | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2019 | 4 | 4–5 stars | Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2018 | 2 | 4–5 stars | Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2017 | 3 | 4–5 stars | Fuel system, gasoline, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2016 | 3 | 4 stars | Air bags, Electronic stability control (esc) |
| 2015 | 1 | 4–5 stars | Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2014 | 0 | 4–5 stars | None on record |
| 2013 | 1 | 4–5 stars | Electronic stability control (esc) |
| 2012 | 1 | 4 stars | Electronic stability control (esc) |
| 2011 | 1 | 4 stars | Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2010 | 1 | Not rated | Vehicle speed control |
| 2009 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2008 | 1 | Not rated | Hybrid propulsion system |
| 2007 | 3 | Not rated | Electrical system, Hybrid propulsion system, Vehicle speed control |
| 2006 | 6 | Not rated | Vehicle speed control, Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2005 | 4 | Not rated | Vehicle speed control, Engine and engine cooling, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2004 | 6 | Not rated | Vehicle speed control, Engine and engine cooling, Exterior lighting |
| 2003 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2002 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2001 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20263 recalls
- 20254 recalls
- 20244 recalls
- 20234 recalls
- 20220 recalls
- 20212 recalls
- 20202 recalls
- 20194 recalls
- 20182 recalls
- 20173 recalls
- 20163 recalls
- 20151 recall
- 20140 recalls
- 20131 recall
- 20121 recall
- 20111 recall
- 20101 recall
- 20090 recalls
- 20081 recall
- 20073 recalls
- 20066 recalls
- 20054 recalls
- 20046 recalls
- 20030 recalls
- 20020 recalls
- 20010 recalls
Lexus RX: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Lexus RX recalls are fuel system, gasoline (11), back over prevention (8), vehicle speed control (8), air bags (6) and service brakes, hydraulic (5). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 16 of these 26 model years. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Lexus RX Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Lexus RX?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 3 more years are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Lexus RX model years have the most recalls?
2004 and 2006 have the most, with 6 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "RX", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy