2014 Lexus Rx450h problems
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Common 2014 Lexus Rx450h problems
The Lexus RX 450h, a hybrid luxury crossover SUV, has been praised for its low emissions and excellent fuel economy. However, like any vehicle, it is not without its common problems. Here are some of the issues frequently reported by RX 450h owners:
- Shock absorber failure: The Lexus RX 450h is a heavy car, which puts a lot of pressure on the suspension. This can lead to shock absorber failure, a common problem that affects the RX 450h.
- Flat battery: Some drivers report that the battery of their RX 450h goes flat after two to three weeks of not being used. This is especially inconvenient in a hybrid car because the battery can’t be jump-started. Instead, it has to be trickle charged, or the circuits in the hybrid system will be damaged. This usually means you have to call out a breakdown service.
- Suspension problems: RX 450h models are fairly heavy and often develop suspension problems. Some owners report leaks in the system, while others report the compressor wears out quickly and has to be replaced.
- Fuel pump impeller: The fuel pump impeller may crack, causing the low-pressure fuel pump located in the fuel tank to stop working. Lexus issued a recall for all affected models, so if you’re thinking about buying a second-gen 450h, make sure the fuel pump has been replaced if needed.
- Damaged wheels and bodywork: The RX 450h is a big car, so it can be difficult to manoeuvre. If you’re buying one second-hand, check the wheels and bodywork carefully for any damage.
- Engine electrical problems: Some owners have reported issues with the engine electrical system. These can range from minor glitches to major failures, and can be costly to repair.
- Transmission problems: Transmission issues are not uncommon in the RX 450h. These can include slipping, jerking, and difficulty shifting gears.
- Interior trim problems: Some owners have reported issues with the interior trim, such as squeaks, rattles, and loose panels.
- Air conditioning problems: Some owners have reported issues with the air conditioning system, such as poor cooling performance or strange noises.
- Brake problems: Some owners have reported issues with the brakes, such as soft pedal feel, brake fade, or pulsating during braking.
It is important to note that these problems are not universal to all RX 450h models, and many owners have reported no issues at all. However, these are common problems that have been reported by some owners, and potential buyers should be aware of them. If you are considering purchasing a used RX 450h, it is recommended that you have it inspected by a qualified mechanic to ensure that it is in good condition and to identify any potential issues before making a purchase.
What are the common faults on a Lexus RX450h?
The following problems are often reported by owners.
- Broken fuel pump. The fuel pump impeller may crack, causing the low-pressure fuel pump located in the fuel tank to stop working. ...
- Scuffed alloys and bodywork. This is less to do with the car itself and more to do with the driver.
What are the best years for used Lexus RX450h?
The Best Model Years to Buy a Lexus RX 450h
With the 2020, you would only pay, on average, 72% of the price as new, with 83% of the vehicle's useful life remaining. The 2021 and 2019 model years are also attractive years for the RX 450h, and provide a relatively good value.
Are Lexus RX450h reliable?
RX owners were generally satisfied with their cars according to our most recent What Car? Reliability Survey, which found it finishing second out of 24 cars in the large SUV class. This was backed up by the Lexus brand being the top-scoring manufacturer in our survey of 32 car manufacturers, with a score of 98.3%.
Is Lexus RX450h expensive to maintain?
Typically, hybrid vehicles like the RX450h can be a tad pricier to maintain than their non-hybrid counterparts due to their advanced technology. On average, you might be looking at around $550 to $700 annually for regular maintenance tasks.
2014 Lexus Rx450h car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Lexus Rx450h problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Service brakes problems
- Fuel/propulsion system problems
- Hydraulic problems
- Structure problems
- Tires problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2014 Lexus Rx450h vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2014 Lexus Rx450h complaints
The NHTSA has received 9 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2014 Lexus Rx450h.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-01-08
- VIN: JTJZB1BA2E2
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: The contact owns a 2014 Lexus RX450H. The contact stated that occasionally while depressing the brake pedal or the accelerator pedal or while stopped at a traffic light, there was an abnormal squeaking sound coming from the brake actuator. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the vehicle was diagnosed with a faulty brake actuator. The dealer recommended replacing the brake actuator assembly. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided the contact with a case number and would respond within 72 hours. The failure mileage was approximately 141,090.
STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-07-15
- VIN: 2T2BK1BA6EC
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: My front passenger door actuator has failed. This door cannot be locked/unlocked with the remote or by pressing any lock/unlock button. This prevents the driver from being able to lock all the doors or the front passenger from being able to quickly exit the cabin unless the manual unlock switch is known and applied. This is the 5th door actuator that has failed on this vehicle. I'm the original owner and it has 51K miles on it. All 4 doors failed and this is the second time for this particular door since it was replaced some 4 years & 21K miles ago. The problem started a few months ago and is currently intermittent. Being "sometimes" safe is not being safe. I have not had it analyzed at the dealer since I would not bring it there unless I planned to have it fixed. There were no warning signs or lights.
TIRES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-01-12
- VIN: JTJZK1BA2E2
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: 01-12-2023 side tire blew out, only about 1.5mile drive at 69freeway Sugar land TX 77479. Nice weather , nice road conditions. The tire drove about 10,000.miles with 60,000. Warranty. It is newer tire, less miles because 3years pandemic. 4 new tires ; YOKOHAMA YK740 GTX 105V R19. Invoice cost $784.71 Installed at 12-12-2019 .
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-02-17
- Number Of Injuries: 2
- Crash: 1
- VIN: JTJZK1BA9E2
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: The contact owned a 2014 Lexus RX350. The contact stated that while the wife was driving approximately 35 mph a dump truck collided with the passenger side of the vehicle. During the crash, the side curtain air bags did not deploy. The front passenger sustained injuries to the head, neck, shoulder, and torso and the front driver sustained injuries to the right foot and chest area. Medical treatment was required for both occupants. The vehicle was destroyed and towed away. A police report was taken at the scene. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 44,000.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-02-03
- VIN: 2T2BK1BAXEC
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: Driving the car on the highway. The transmission lost power & engine started revving with no movement. It was dangerous because we could have been rear ended. We had car towed to the Peterson Lexus dealer in Boise Idaho. They said that the internal bearing failed & recommend a new transmission.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-02-23
- VIN: 2t2zk1baxec
- Components: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: My car stalled in the middle of an intersection. It had to be towed to the Lexus dealer, where it was determined to be a fuel pump malfunction. My car was not subject to the fuel pump recall but it should have been.
SERVICE BRAKES,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-06-16
- VIN: 2T2ZK1BA1EC
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE
- Summary: When I press on my brakes they make a loud roaring sound right away. Usually when brakes are about to go out its usually a squeaky noise then it will go to loud roaring noise. There has not been an indicator on the dash about any issues with the vehicle. I found it rather odd that the brakes made the roaring noise immediately. It didn't squeak at all. I would like for this matter to be looked into. There is no way there should be a brake system failure right away. The schrader valve has a crack and freon is leaking out of and the air is not blowing cold air.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2014-03-31
- VIN: JTJBC1BA4E2
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: DRIVER SIDE REARVIEW MIRROR VIBRATES INSIDE HOUSING PREVENTING PROPER IDENTIFICATION OF VEHICLES APPROACHING OR VEHICLES ON LEFT LANE. THIS SITUATION HAS BEEN PRESENT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. LEXUS DENIES MY CLAIM. I BELIEVE IT TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2014-06-16
- VIN: JTJZB1BA9E2
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
- Summary: WHILE STOPPED AT A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT, I PRESSED THE PHONE HANGUP BUTTON (BLUETOOTH CONNECTION) ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, FOOT ON THE BRAKE, PRESSED THE START BUTTON ON THE DASH - ENGINE DID NOT START. TRY #4 IT STARTED. MEANWHILE THE TRAFFIC LIGHT HAD GONE THROUGH A FULL CYCLE, THEN RED AND LATE ON THE 2ND GREEN I WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR. CONSIDERABLE HONKING FROM CARS BEHIND ME DURING THE EVENT, BUT FORTUNATELY NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES DURING THIS STALL. ON JUNE 17, 2014 I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO KEYES LEXUS MAINTENANCE IN VAN NUYS, CA, MY DEALERSHIP AND THE MAINTENANCE SERVICE I ALWAYS USE. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY DEFECTS IN THE SHOP OR DURING A LONGRANGE DRIVE, BUT THE DRIVER DID NOT USE THE BLUETOOTH. LEXUS SAID NO SYSTEMIC DEFECTS HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED IN THE BLUETOOTH, OR OTHER PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE STALLS, AND MY GOOGLE SEARCH CONFIRMED THAT. I TURNED THE LEASED VEHICLE IN AT KEYES LEXUS, AND THEY MADE AN EXCELLENT DEAL FOR ME TO LEASE A NEW 2015 RX450H. I AM NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT ANY OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WORKED WITH ME, AND I AM A LONG TIME CUSTOMER AT KEYES LEXUS WHICH PROVIDES OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND COURTESY. HOWEVER, I AM UNCONVINCED THAT THE VEHICLE IS SAFE. *TR
Negative 2014 Lexus Rx450h car reviews
Positive 2014 Lexus Rx450h car reviews
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I'm so glad to hear that you're enjoying your Lexus! It's great to know that you're getting such good mileage out of it, especially when you're driving on battery power. It sounds like you got a great deal on a low-mileage vehicle, and I hope it continues to serve you well for many years to come. As a fellow Lexus lover, I completely understand the appeal of the brand, even if it can be a bit pricey to maintain in the long run.
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MPG 25-26 (mostly freeway traffic). Not enough room for car seats if you are a driver with long legs. The car is super reliable with virtually no issues. It is also quiet and problem-free. When I traded it in, it held its value. Overall, I have no complaints.
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A helpful tip is to keep your vehicle's speed below 65 mpg to save on gas. I try to drive within the Eco range, but sometimes I have to go beyond it to the Power range just to keep up with traffic. Once I reach a comfortable speed, I switch back to Eco. On the highway, I stay within the Eco range and see how quickly I can get up to 60 mpg. It took me about 4 exits to get there last time, but I should time it next time. It's important to stay within the Eco range to get the most out of your car's fuel efficiency. The car's insulation is really great and it drives smoothly with good handling.
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The car's engine is functioning properly, however, the battery mode is currently inactive. Although the battery shows a full charge, the hybrid mode is not responding. Additionally, the cruise control feature has ceased to function.
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I noticed that some people here are concerned about gas mileage in the RXh and I may have some advice. I am currently on my second hybrid SUV from Lexus and have also owned an LS. One thing that many people do not realize is that in order to extend your gas mileage in any car, including hybrids, it is important to keep a light foot on the accelerator. Driving faster than 65 mph, driving in hilly terrain, taking off too quickly, using the AC excessively, incorrect tire pressure, and rough handling can all decrease your mileage. Additionally, you can reset the gas mileage indicator in the RX's information setting to see the true mileage. I hope this information is helpful to you.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2014 Lexus Rx450h problems:
Lexus RX 450h Problems: Common Issues and Repair Costs ...
Lexus RX 450h 2009-2015 faults · 1. Shock absorber failure · 2. ABS actuator failure · 3. Faulty electrics.
Rx 450h known problems? - RX 300 / RX 350 / RX 400h / RX 200t ...
Jun 11, 2023 ... Alan, I think you'll find any concerns over the hybrid Battery as completely unfounded... We bought our 2014 RX450 four years ago, it now has ...
What problems are still common across RX models? - RX 300 / RX ...
Dec 31, 2016 ... GSLV6 · GSLV6 Proficient. Established Member. 474. Name: Paul; Lexus Model: RX450h F-Sport; Year of Lexus: 2014; Location: Gloucestershire.
2013 RX450h performance issues - Hybrid battery - ClubLexus ...
Aug 11, 2021 ... Hybrid Technology - 2013 RX450h performance issues - Hybrid battery - I own 2013 450h, recently completed 8 years, doing regular servicing ...
Angel Graham 2024-05-06
The fuel economy of the hybrid version is disappointing, falling well below the EPA estimates. The design of the back seats is poor, with a large gap that poses a safety hazard and is unsightly. Additionally, the navigation/computer system has limited functionality when the vehicle is in motion. The windshield wipers/washer also have poor coverage of the front windshield, and it is not possible to close off outside air when the defroster is engaged. These issues detract from an otherwise well-designed vehicle.