2018 Lexus Rx450h problems
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Common 2018 Lexus Rx450h problems
The 2018 Lexus RX450h is known for its reliability, with a Reliability Rating of 4.0 out of 5.0, which ranks it 1st out of 14 for luxury midsize SUVs. However, there are some common problems that have been reported by owners of this vehicle.
One of the most common problems reported by 2018 Lexus RX owners is worn-out struts, which are especially noticeable when driving on rougher roads. The suspension components wear out quicker, and replacing the struts is a straightforward process that costs around $450, depending on local labor rates.
Another common issue reported by some 2018 Lexus RX 350 owners is excessive paint chips, especially on the front bumper. This is due to the larger front bumpers and grilles in Lexus vehicles, which are more prone to catching stones. The only way to fix the chips is to repaint the affected areas, costing around $1,000 per panel.
Dead batteries have also been reported on some 2018 Lexus RX models at around 20,000 miles. The electronic accessories in the SUV sometimes drain the battery even when it's off. Replacing the battery costs about $300, depending on local labor rates. If there's any parasitic draw, it can cost an additional $100 to diagnose.
There is one recall on the 2018 Lexus RX, which covers the fuel pump. Lexus will replace the fuel pump assembly for free in affected models.
In summary, the 2018 Lexus RX450h is known for its reliability, but there are some common problems that have been reported by owners, including worn-out struts, excessive paint chips, and dead batteries. These issues are minor compared to other luxury SUVs, leading to much lower repair costs as the Lexus RX ages. The only recall on the 2018 Lexus RX covers the fuel pump, which Lexus will replace for free in affected models.
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.
2018 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
- Unknown or other problems
- Electrical system problems
- Vehicle speed control problems
- Fuel/propulsion system problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2018 Lexus Rx450h vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2018 Lexus Rx450h complaints
The NHTSA has received 17 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2018 Lexus Rx450h.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-10-01
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 2T2ZZMCA9JC
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: 1. At [XXX] on [XXX], I was pulling into my gym's parking lot, when I stepped on the break to park my car, instead of stopping, the car accelerates rapidly and crashed through the other side of the sidewalk where there were light pole and cement walls, throwing me forward and backward with seat belt on, I was in total shock! 2. My insurance sent a field inspector to the body shop 2X in hope to repair my car but ended up declaring it a Total Loss. 3. Lexus said they would send a field tech to get the EDR (Event Data Recorder) data from my 2018 Lexus RX350 within 30 days, but the results won't be available for 30-45 days after that. Lexus's slow response to this accident concerns and disappoints me b/c it was a serious crash that Lexus should treat it seriously and promptly. 4. The disbelief of a 'young' car with only 12297 miles could have issues like this puzzled me and drove me to do a lot of online research, then I came across this site [XXX] which contains an article titled '10 Common Problems of A Lexus RX350'. Problem #5 described exactly what had happened to me: 'ONE RECURRING PROBLEM THIS CAR HAS IS THAT THE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS SEVERELY. THIS TYPICALLY HAPPENES WHEN THE DRIVER IS TRYING TO PARK THE VEHICLE. REPORTS PAINT THE SAME PICTURES REPEATEDLY: THE DRIVER IS PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT, THEY PUSH THE BREAK PEDAL, AND INSTEAD OF STOPPING, THE CAR ACELERATES RAPIDLY, WHICH RESULTS IN A CRASH." Based on this article, it seems that Lexus should have issued a recall, but no! 5. The strange thing was that NO airbags were exploded/activated, yet the vehicle was damaged to beyond repair, it makes me wonder if there was an issue with the airbags too. If this incident had occurred at an intersection, I dare not imagine the outcome...I could have been killed or critically injured along with other innocent people on the road. I am very traumatized by the whole experience and sadly, the feeling seems to have gotten worse as time goes. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-10-07
- VIN: JTJDGKCA9J2
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: I am writing to raise a serious concern regarding a issue with my 2018 Lexus RX450hL involving the brake actuator. Since purchasing the vehicle at 63,000 miles, I have noticed hissing, clicking, and squeaking noises when applying the brakes. As the mileage increased to 83,000, these noises have worsened, becoming unbearable. In addition, I am experiencing a shaky driver-side mirror and a rusting hood latch, both of which present safety concerns. For a vehicle under 5 years old , I believe these problems do not reflect the quality I expected, particularly given the premium price I paid. According to Lexus' Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) #L-SB-0032-23 Rev, issued in October 2023, which addresses squawk or knock noises from the engine compartment when the brake pedal is pressed or released, affecting models like the RX450hL. My vehicle exhibits symptoms similar to those described in the TSB. The vehicle was regularly maintained by the previous owner at Lexus of Thousand Oaks and Woodland Hills. Despite this, the major part like brake actuator has failed prematurely. Given Lexus' reputation as a luxury brand, it is unacceptable that such a critical component would fail before the vehicle is 5 years old or has reached 100,000 miles. The combination of the brake actuator defect, the shaky mirror, and the rusting hood latch is disappointing, especially for a vehicle of this caliber. When I initially contacted Lexus Customer Service, I was also dealing with rusting parts and a failing brake booster. Lexus of Cerritos provided a repair estimate of around $5,000 for brake actuator. I was advised to reach out to Lexus Customer Service after my request for a good faith repair was denied due to the inability to obtain the complete maintenance history. However, I have since confirmed with the previous owner and Lexus that the vehicle was regularly serviced. I am also aware that Lexus has issued brake actuator-related recalls for several models.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-09-20
- VIN: 2T2ZZMCA8JC
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: HVAC servo motor failure. There are many complaints on internet if you google. Multiple other lexus models have CSPs regarding same problem too..
VISIBILITY PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-05-06
- VIN: JTJGZKCA1J2
- Components: VISIBILITY
- Summary: The driver-side mirror shakes noticeably while driving making it hard to see what's on your left, specially at night. Even though I'm reporting in 2024 w/ 55k miles, I just bought this L-Certified CPO Lexus 1 week ago, so the problem was likely there before. There are a couple of other signs that this car doesn't handle the South Florida heat very well and my guess is the adhesive on the mirror has started to fail. There is a service notice on late model NX to address this that replaces the entire mirror assembly and they'll likely do this as well when I take it in, but it is a fairly simple issue to resolve yourself following some YouTube videos even if they're not specific to this make/model.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-05-12
- VIN: JTJGZKCA8J2
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: If you by mistake forget to put your car on Parking the transmission does not lock by itself creating a hazard of movement of the vehicule that can cause an injury's or even worse. That was reported to the dealer and dismissed the issue as normal.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-03-15
- VIN: JTJGZKCA8J2
- Components: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: Two days ago, upon entering our vehicle, there was a smell of gasoline as we drove. Our fuel guage wend from 1/4 tank to EMPTY in minutes. I pulled into a gas station and when attached the nozzle, gas entering the tank was POURING out from underneath. I drove the car to the venue we were headed to and parked on a dirt/gravel spot so as to limit fuel runoff to nearby vehicles. We had the vehicle towed to Bob Tyler Toyota, the nearest Lexus type service center. I called service at Lexus of Mobile and the employer stated that there are no recalls. The free flowing fuel endangered not only my and my wife but anyone around the vehicle. No warning lights whatsoever. The tow driver concurred that fuel was POURING until the tank was emptied. I have not been contacted by the service department thus far.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-01-05
- VIN: 2T2BZMCA0JC
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: The contact owns a 2018 Lexus RX350. The contact stated at start-up there was raw a fuel odor entering the cabin of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The failure occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 42,548.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-01-24
- VIN: JTJDGKCA5J2
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER,STRUCTURE
- Summary: The driver side indoor door handle no longer works. Despite my model being part of the special service campaign 20LC02, dealer says that my VIN number is not covered despite it being the exact problem described.
SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-05-11
- VIN: 2T2BGMCA7JC
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: The car makes a "Brake Squawk" noise when the brake pedal is applied. The noise sometimes is unbearable. Dealer replaced the brake actuator. The noise came back after a few months.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-03-08
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 2T2ZZMCA2JC
- Components: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
- Summary: The contact owns a 2018 Lexus RX350. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, and as she was approaching a toll road gate, there were several lanes that were closed and marked with traffic cones. The contact stated that as she was turning the wheel to steer into an open gate she crashed into one of the traffic cones. The contact stated that her vehicle was equipped with front collision avoidance and that normally the vehicle would have automatically braked before crashing into any objects in front of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle rolled onto its roof. The contact stated that all the air bags had deployed. The contact stated that emergency services and the police were on the scene. The contact stated that the police issued her a traffic violation ticket. The contact stated that she had bruises on her face and arms, shoulders, and chest. The contact refused treatment on-site and was not transported to the hospital. The contact stated that later that day her husband drove her to the emergency room. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot and was later declared a total loss by the contact's insurance provider. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 27,000.
SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-12-01
- VIN: JTJDGKCA8J2
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: Lexus 2018 Rx450hl is known to have issue with brake actuator. A faulty brake actuator causes the car to fail sudden stop. It’s definitely a safety issue. Lexus have technical service information bulletin(tsib) for this issue since 2019. They never contact the owner to replace the faulty part. So if the car is under warranty they will fix the problem with no cost. But if the warranty pass the threshold, they are charging the costumer 3.5k to replace it. It’s an absolute horrible business practices. This part is a manufactured defect and it’s a safety issue.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-11-23
- VIN: 2T2BZMCA5JC
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
- Summary: This car just send me a warning light last night about the all wheel drive system and issues about the engine, I was in the dealer this morning and I tell them the problem with the car but they was charging me for everything and left the lexus repair shop I work in my car and this not supposed to be happen I care of my car really good but now I hace to stop working because all this issues with the car. Now the car just stop working and I'm stock in middle of the city without another way to work and I don't have money for nothing. Please help me!
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-05-31
- VIN: 2T2ZZMCAXJC
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: Car displaying parking brake malfunction and and cruise control malfunction intermittent when using the parking break, seem that TSB (T-SB-0168-19) was open for Camay from 2018 to 2020 exhibiting the same issue but not for this car. This a safety concern since parking brake becomes disable, this issue resets after restarting the car again.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-12-13
- VIN: JTJBZMCA2J2
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: The slightly opened sunroof spontaneously exploded with shattered glass flying outward and some glass pieces falling on my husband while he was driving. The vehicle can be inspected; however, a Lexus dealership replaced the sunroof glass without charge, the next day after the incident. The unexpected loud explosion with flying glass startled my husband while he was driving. Fortunately, there were no cars around him at the time, because the fright caused by the explosion could have caused a multi-vehicle accident. A Lexus dealer inspected the sunroof damage, and though they would not acknowledge this was a manufacturer defect, they did replace the glass without charge, stating it was a "one-time goodwill gesture." The day before the repair, the damage was inspected by Senior Officer Sampson of the Maryland Transportation Authority (phone number 410-537-1197) on December 13, 2021 (not long after the incident). There were no warnings or symptoms of any kind that would have alerted the driver to the spontaneous explosion.
SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-02-24
- VIN: 2T2BGMCA6JC
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: IT STARTED HAPPENING A FEW MONTH'S AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR. I DIDN'T THINK OF IT MUCH BECAUSE IT WAS VERY FAINT AND NOT LOUD AT ALL. THE NOISE WAS GETTING LOUDER INCREASINGLY BUT SLOWLY. THE BRAKES WORKED FINE SO I LET IT GO. LATER ON, IT STARTED BOTHERING ME EVERY TIME I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE SQUAWKY NOISE BECAME REALLY ANNOYING SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR. THEIR SERVICE PERSON DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A PROBLEM AND DIDN'T WANT TO TRY TO INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE. A FEW WEEKS/MONTHS (NOT SURE HOW LONG) LATER, I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY CONTACTED LEXUS AND DECIDED TO FIX IT. WHEN I PICKED THE CAR UP, THE NOISE WAS GONE AND I WAS HAPPY FOR A WHILE. AFTER A FEW MONTHS, THE SQUAWKY NOISE STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN. IT WAS VERY NOT LOUD, SO I REALLY HOPED THAT IT WOULDN'T GET ANY LOUDER THAN THAT. THIS TIME, THE PROGRESSION OF THE NOISE WAS SLOWER THAN THE FIRST TIME. I WAITED SOME TIME TO TAKE THE CAR FOR A SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. I MENTIONED IT TO THE DEALER WHO FIXED IT. THEY WERE LOOKING FOR A LOUD NOISE THAT IS CONSISTENT, WHICH THEY DIDN'T HEAR. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS SOMEWHAT NORMAL FOR A HYBRID CAR, SO THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING SINCE THERE'S NO SAFETY ISSUE. YES, THE BRAKES WORKED FINE, BUT THE BRAKE HAD BEEN MAKING THE SQUAWKY NOISE NOT SOON AFTER I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR! LEXUS ADVERTISES LIKE THIS: LEXUS EXPERIENCE AMAZING. THE SQUAWKY NOISE IS NOTHING CLOSE TO AMAZING WHEN YOU DRIVE A CAR THAT MAKES A NOISE LIKE MY 2018 LEXUS RX450H. ANYWAY, I WAITED ONE MORE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. THIS TIME, I COMPLAINED THAT THE NOISE IS GETTING LOUD AND I CAN'T STAND IT. THIS TIME THEY CONTACTED LEXUS AGAIN, BUT LEXUS TOLD THEM THEY DON'T HAVE TO FIX IT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. SO BASICALLY I'M STUCK WITH A CAR THAT SQUAWKS ALMOST EVERY TIME I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE ATTACHED DOCUMENT IS THE EXACTLY MY PROBLEM AND I NEED HELP.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-06-02
- VIN: 2T2BGMCA7JC
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: HAD AN ISSUE WHILE DRIVING THE 2018 RX450H ON MAY 4TH WHERE THE CAR LIGHTS CAME ON....ENGINE LIGHT, AWD, ABS, ETC AND THE CAR STALLED COMPLETELY. HAD TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS 'FIXED'. 4 WEEKS LATER WHILE TRAVELING AT 70+ MPH ON MAJOR INTERSTATE, CAR STALLED AGAIN THE SAME WAY....LIGHTS ON, ETC.. WAS LUCKILY IN THE RIGHT LANE OF 4 WIDE TRAFFIC AS CAR WENT TO A STOP QUICKLY. WAS STRANDED IN A HEAVY TRAFFIC LANE, CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL TO PUSH OUT OF TRAFFIC. WAS 2 HOURS FROM HOME, HAD ANOTHER LEXUS DEALERSHIP TOW THE CAR AND THEY CAME BACK WITHIN A FEW HOURS AND SAID IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE RECALL TILL THEN AND THIS 18' 450H WAS NOT ON THE CURRENT LIST WHICH ONLY PROVES THAT THIS ISSUE IS SYSTEMIC. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS HURT IN THESE 2 OCCURRENCES BUT WE ARE NOT DRIVING THIS CAR AGAIN UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES. *TR
POWER TRAIN,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-02-13
- VIN: JTJDGKCA8J2
- Components: POWER TRAIN,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: ON FEBRUARY 13, 2020 MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING FROM FORT MYERS, FL TO SARASOTA, FL ON I-75. AT ABOUT PORT CHARLOTTE EXIT THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. WE WERE IN THE LEFT LANE GOING BETWEEN 75 TO 80 MILES PER HOUR. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR INTO THE MEDIAN. AUTOMOBILES BEHIND ME HAD TO SUDDENLY BREAK TO AVOID HITTING US. THE LEXUS 2018 RX 450HL HAS THE SAME GASOLINE
Negative 2018 Lexus Rx450h car reviews
Positive 2018 Lexus Rx450h car reviews
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I hope you're doing well! I wanted to share my experience with the car I recently purchased. I had it for 10 days and it was fantastic! However, I did notice that the seatbelt light stayed on, so I brought it to the dealer. Unfortunately, it's been 12 days and I still don't have the car back. Apparently, there's a part called a 'Cluster' that's not readily available in the United States. I really appreciate the dealer's efforts to resolve the issue, but it seems that Lexus is unable to commit to a delivery date. I understand that it can be frustrating when parts are not readily available, but I hope that in the future, they will be able to stock the necessary parts. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter!
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We started out only looking at the regular RX, but after much deliberation about what packages we wanted, we decided to choose the FSport Hybrid. That was the best decision we have ever made. We are extremely happy with all the features this vehicle offers. UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!
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I really like the design of this car, despite what others have said. To me, it is modern and distinct. The only downsides are the limited rear cargo area and visibility out the back window. However, once I got used to using the camera, mirror, and warning systems, visibility was not an issue. Plus, I'm happy to give up a little cargo room to avoid the boxy rear you see on most SUVs. The backup warning system lets you know if a car is coming when you're backing up, which is a great feature. The interior design is amazing. I got the parchment and bamboo interior, and it feels and smells very luxurious. The seats are leather trimmed, but most surfaces are what Lexus calls NuLuxe, a synthetic leather. The material is not cheap feeling at all and is supposed to be a lot more durable and less prone to wear than real leather. It feels very substantial and leather-like. The bamboo is beautiful, especially on the steering wheel. The car accelerates OK, it is no Tesla, but has plenty of torque on the low end when you press the pedal to the metal, thanks to the 3 electric engines. Braking has a different feel because of the hybrid system, but stops quickly for a 2 1/2 ton vehicle. Cornering is just OK. It is a tall, heavy car, so it doesn't have a sporty feel, but that's what I would expect in a big luxury car. The ride is silky smooth and quiet. Passengers are well insulated from road noise and imperfections in the pavement. The remote opening 5th door is a great convenience. The vehicle side doors seem heavy for such a luxurious vehicle, but everything else is so refined that it seems like they would have some kind of power assist or counterbalance.The rear door is always operated electronically. The Infotainment system is the only negative aspect I have found in an otherwise superb vehicle. I have been experimenting with the voice commands with varying degrees of success. However, I feel that the voice command options are too limited. Lexus decided to use its own navigation system instead of partnering with someone like Google or Garmin who knows what they are doing. Note to Toyota: you are a CAR company - why would you think you can make a competitive navigation system? You can't. Moreover, they charge $240/year after the first year, which is much more than buying a better Garmin. The manual states that you can integrate the voice command system with an iPhone, and there is a small compartment in the middle console that seems designed to hold a small iPhone. The on-board Bluetooth seamlessly integrated my Samsung cellphone into the car's voice and sound system. The mileage has been less than claimed, but it has improved since the battery has become conditioned and I learned to drive the vehicle. I got 29 MPG (vs. claimed 28) on a recent highway trip, averaging 70 MPH. Around town, I've averaged 26 MPG (vs. claimed 30), but that seems fine for such a heavy vehicle. Most of my trips are short, and the air conditioning is usually working at warp speed in our Las Vegas heat. The Lexus RX450h requires premium gas. I have driven a lot of nice cars, and this is the nicest. I absolutely love it!
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I really appreciate the car, but I have to say that I'm not a fan of the front seats. The bolsters on either side are quite rigid and relatively high, which can be uncomfortable for larger individuals as they end up sitting on the bolster instead of between them. Unfortunately, this can put pressure on the sciatic nerve and become quite uncomfortable after about 20 minutes. It seems that smaller individuals don't have this issue. I reached out to Lexus customer service, but they informed me that they can't do anything at the moment. However, they did mention that if they receive enough feedback, they may consider a design change in future vehicles.
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I've been driving my RX450h F Sport for about 8 months now and have covered 8,500 miles. I decided to go for the same color combination (Atomic Silver with Rioja Red) as my previous car, a 2015 IS 350 F Sport, which I loved. This is my first hybrid and my first vehicle with a CVT, and I'm leasing it. When I test drove the RX Hybrid, I was impressed by how smooth and quiet it was. If you're considering an RX, I recommend trying both the 350 and the 450h. The 2018 Hybrid is more affordable than before, and when I compared a fully loaded 350 vs. 450h, the hybrid was only about $1k more. My RX has every option, including a 12-inch navigation package, Mark Levinson sound, parking assist, 360 camera, tribeam headlights, panoramic roof, and tow prep package. Here are some pros and cons: Pros - The ride is smooth and quiet, and the F Sport adds a little more fun around corners. The red interior is gorgeous, and there are plenty of safety features. The acceleration power is more than enough for typical drivers, and the tribeam headlights are fantastic. The 360 camera is extremely helpful. Cons - The driver's side exterior mirror shakes, and the F Sport seats show wrinkles quite a bit. The F Sport (and regular) seats show creases on the seat bottom pretty easily. Overall, I highly recommend this generation RX!You really can't go wrong, especially considering the few gripes I have.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2018 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 ... Hi, im a forum member already with an sc430, i restore cars for a hobby and handle most issues with the 430 and have a carsoft scanner im ...
2018 Lexus RX Review, Problems, Reliability, Value, Life ...
Jan 3, 2023 ... Common problems found on the 2018 Lexus RX include worn-out struts, excessive paint chips, as well as a dead battery. Overall, these problems ...
Considering a Used Rx450h - Regrets? - ClubLexus - Lexus Forum ...
Sep 15, 2018 ... Going hybrid, the most common driveability complaints I've heard over over 10 yrs driving them. Why does it whine when braking, I don't like ...
Other years of Lexus Rx450h
Are you having problems with your 2018 Lexus Rx450h?
Abe Schimmel 2025-07-08
The car is super comfortable and has one of the nicest interiors in its class. Although I think the new styling is a bit over the top, my wife really likes it. The radio and Nav interface could be better, but once you get used to it, it's not bad. Unfortunately, there are some body fit and quality issues that are a disappointment, such as the gas filler door sticking out of the body, the front hood rattling, and the weather strip around one of the passenger doors coming loose. Additionally, the paint on the front bumper around one of the parking sensors is discoloured. At 4000 miles, the sending unit for the gas gauge failed, leaving my wife stranded when she ran out of gas with the gauge showing 3/4 of a tank. The on-center feel of the steering is vague, and there is a bit of torque steer on hard acceleration. However, the ride is smooth and silent.
Henderson Windler 2025-07-04
I hope my experience is unique. At 1438 miles, I had to replace the fuel tank, fuel pump, fuel gauge, and brake pump booster, which took 21 days in the shop. At 10,019 miles, I scheduled a lift gate recall repair and oil change, but it took 45 days to get the part and a second trip to the dealer for installation. At 12067 miles, I had to replace a leaking transaxle oil seal. At 20,140 miles, I had to replace the same leaking transaxle oil seal for the second time and the transaxle itself. According to my service adviser, the transaxle was scored and was a factory defect, which took 6 days to receive the part. At 20,153 miles, the air conditioner on the driver's side stopped working, which took 16 days to get the damper servo to repair. On one occasion, the radio was on, but no sound would emit, but restarting the engine caused it to work again. On another occasion, several warning lights flashed, but I couldn't tell which ones they were since I was driving. About 20% of the time, I have to try a second time to start the car. None of the electrical problems created an error code, and the service department can't replicate them. Fortunately, I leased the car, and it will be returned at the end of the lease. My wife and I really wanted to keep this car (I even flew at my expense from Dallas to San Antonio to get it as it was exactly what we wanted and was the only one of its kind in North America), but it's been far too unreliable for us to do so. I'm grateful all these problems have been handled under warranty, and I'm grateful that the dealer always provides a quality loaner for us to use when our car is in the shop.
Tatum Goldner 2025-04-12
The car is comfortable for a road trip and has a good motor that drives nicely. However, the navigation system is not very user-friendly and can be confusing. I personally prefer to use my portable Garmin instead. Additionally, the car's electronics can be difficult to handle, especially the navigation system. Unfortunately, you cannot add your own safety and speed cameras or other databases like you can with the Garmin. It's worth noting that this Lexus requires premium gas, which can offset the hybrid value by 30 cents or more per gallon. While I'm not completely satisfied with the technology, I did purchase an extra Lexus warranty to cover any potential repairs. It's also worth mentioning that required service can be performed at Toyota for half the price. Overall, I appreciate the car's comfort and performance, but the technology could use some improvement.
Nathanael Block 2024-09-03
We have decided not to proceed with the trade-in of our 2010 RX-350 for the 2016 model. While we appreciate the effort put into the design, it does not align with our personal taste and preferences. We will be exploring other options such as Mercedes, BMW, or Audi. Thank you for the opportunity.
Aric Barton 2024-07-14
This car performs similarly to a Civic despite having only 4 cylinders. Although I experienced some issues with the emission filter during the first weekend, the service team attributed it to an overfilled gas tank, which I find hard to believe. Additionally, the car keeps beeping and asking me to clean the sensors in the rain, even though the car is clean. The navigation system and menus could use some improvement, and there has already been a software recall. However, I am confident that these issues will be resolved, and I am looking forward to enjoying this car in the future.