Verdict
2012 Lexus RX: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues
What the public record actually says about the 2012 Lexus RX — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.
The read
Middle-of-the-pack complaint volume for SUV.
Owners filed 47 NHTSA complaints — fewer complaints than 59% of 2012 SUVs. Vehicle Speed Control leads the reports (17%). No safety recalls on record.
Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2012 SUVs, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.
Complaints filed
47
Reports to NHTSA, 2012
Safety recalls
0
NHTSA campaigns on record
NHTSA crash test
Not rated
Overall NCAP rating
Combined MPG
24.5
EPA estimate
Complaint volume vs. segment peers
Fewer complaints than 59% of 2012 SUVs
The bar is this car's percentile among 2012 SUVs by complaint volume — a full bar means the fewest complaints in its class. Not adjusted for sales.
Known issues
Vehicle Speed Control issues lead owner complaints (17% of 47 reports), followed by electrical system (13%).
+ 5 more component categories with fewer reports.
Share of all 47 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 10748382, ODI 10748569, ODI 10547211, ODI 10536785, ODI 10463655.
Recalls
0 recalls — none issued for this model year as of Jul 2026. Recall records can change as NHTSA publishes new campaigns.
A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.
Investigations
0 NHTSA investigations on record
No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.
Crash-test ratings
No NHTSA crash test is on record for this year. Some vehicles and model years were not tested or do not have a published NCAP result.
Fuel economy by trim
| Trim | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Hwy | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RX 450h | 3.5L 6-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S6) | 31 | 28 | 29 |
| RX 450h AWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S6) | 29 | 27 | 28 |
| RX 350 | 3.5L 6-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 18 | 25 | 21 |
| RX 350 AWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 18 | 24 | 20 |
EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.
Before you buy
Useful next checks
Federal records tell you about patterns. These checks can tell you more about the specific car in front of you.
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Compare model years
"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.
2012 Lexus RX: frequently asked
What does the complaint record show for the 2012 Lexus RX?
Owners filed 47 NHTSA complaints about the 2012 Lexus RX — fewer complaints than 59% of comparable 2012 SUVs, so it sits toward the stronger end of its class. That's a signal, not a guarantee about any single car.
What are the most common problems on the 2012 Lexus RX?
The most-reported problem areas are Vehicle Speed Control (17% of complaints) and electrical system (13%).
How many recalls does the 2012 Lexus RX have?
No safety recalls are on record for the 2012 Lexus RX as of Jul 2026.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Lexus RX get?
The EPA rates the 2012 Lexus RX between 20 and 29 mpg combined, depending on trim and drivetrain.