NHTSA — Vehicle Speed Control Problems

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
7 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
8 / 0
Average Mileage:
12,242 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Lexus RX 350 engine problems

engine problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2012 Lexus RX 350:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2012 Lexus RX 350 Owner Comments

problem #11

Oct 112023

RX 350

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

October 20, '23 Our recent DEAD STOP! Whistle blower! Did you know that when the alternator goes out on a Lexus, that the car draws down energy from the battery to keep the car going" That's only for about a mile or so, then the car shuts down! You can't steer and THE ENGINE STOPS RUNNING and you have no power as you come to a dead stop, whether on the freeway, or one lane mountain pass road, where we would have been later. What would we have done" Scary! Luckily, our Lexus stalled on a city street nearing our on-ramp to the freeway. (needing to be towed.) Lexus has a serious engineering-defective-design-flaw that probably is responsible for accidents. Thanks, [XXX]. Pass it on please! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Rancho Mirage, CA, USA

problem #10

Aug 082015

RX 350

  • 14,878 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Lexus RX350. While the vehicle was parked and attempting to turn off the engine, the vehicle suddenly independently accelerated and crashed into a garage door and into a wall. The vehicle had extensive damages to the front of the vehicle due to the failure. The driver and the passenger sustained whip lash that did not require medical attention. The vehicle was not diagnosed and the damages were repaired. A police report was not filed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 14,878.

- Auburn, WA, USA

problem #9

Aug 082015

RX 350

  • 14,878 miles
Initially felt the vehicle suddenly lurch foward on several occasions after backing out of parking space at work and shifting into drive. Had to hit brakes, bring the vehicle to a complete stop, and then slowly start forward again. Accident occurred in the driveway of a private residence. The vehicle was placed in park and fully stopped.. driver was about to turn off engine and, with passenger, exit the vehicle when it suddenly accelerated for no reason, plowing straight into the garage door of residence. Garage door was completely torn off and the vehicle came to a stop after smashing an interior wall and doorframe. Thankfully, no injuries but could have been worse if the windshield had broke. The vehicle was damaged on 3 sides and the property sustained damage to the garage door, interior drywall, door and doorframe. Again, the vehicle was completely stopped and in park when it suddenly accelerated.

- Auburn, WA, USA

problem #8

Apr 302014

RX 350 6-cyl

  • 26,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

First part of complaint just in case it did not go thru the first time. Dear sirs, I'm writing to you on behalf of the owner of this vehicle. They have contracted me as a vehicle accident reconstructionist in puerto rico. I need to know if you have made any inquiries in the fuel delivery and propulsion system. My concern is that this Toyota, Lexus and Honda vehicles that I know of so far, are having some kind of sudden acceleration issues and the computer does not catch the problem. This acceleration surges that I have found out about, all have occurred around high electricity areas. So far that I know off, three of these surges have occurred next to the electrical plant center in palo seco puerto rico and one caused two deaths. The other one is the one I'm representing which occurred in their home twice. The first time was about a month before this accident but the driver had the chance to control the vehicle and nothing happened. At that time the vehicle was taken to the dealer for a checkup and nothing strange showed on their system. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). Updated 3/13/15

- San Juan, PR, USA

problem #7

Apr 302014

RX 350 6-cyl

  • 26,500 miles
Continuation of my report. About a month later the same sudden acceleration occurred but in reverse as the driver was leaving her home and this time she could not stop the vehicle, going thru the concrete fence of her front neighbor taking a side of the neighbor house, down a hill and hitting two air conditioner units and an electrical generator, damaging the whole right side of the vehicle and the rear, braking the rear drive train and getting stuck in a concrete wall which save their life. If the vehicle would have gone 10 more feet it would have drop in an approximately 800 to 900 feet cliff and probably would have lost their lives. The vehicle was a total loss. According to the driver she put on her brakes and they did not work. According to the witnesses there was only one tire brake track on the road which it was gone by the time I went to investigate. My theory is that electric surges from this high intensity cables interfere with the throttle control and accelerate this vehicles. It is the only logical explanation. If there is a way to test this theory I sure would appreciate it. Please answer me as soon as possible. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). Updated 3/13/15

- San Juan, PR, USA

problem #6

Sep 052013

RX 350 6-cyl

  • 20,000 miles
After exiting a parking lot by backing out, Lexus rx 350 driver preceded to the parking lot exit. Upon making a left hand turn towards the exit, the car immediately lurched forward and despite the drivers attempt to stop the car by applying the brakes, the car hit another parked car. The rx 350 came to a stop only after hitting the curbing of the parking lot. The car that was hit was unoccupied. There were no injuries to the driver of the rx 350.

- Fayetteville, NC, USA

problem #5

Sep 212013

RX 350 6-cyl

  • 5,299 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I wish to inform you about a serious incident that occurred on September 21, 2013 while driving my Lexus 350 AWD 2012. I was parking the car. My foot was on the break pedal and I was about to reverse when the car suddenly self accelerated and went up a 45 degree embankment. The car drove over very large boulders that were at the head of the parking space. The underbelly of the car rammed into a very large boulder that raised the left rear wheel off the ground and stopped the car from continuing up the incline. The acceleration over the boulders and up the embankment was consistently fast moving and the break pedal was useless. Lexus was informed and advised that would send an inspector. The life on myself and the passengers were seriously put at risk. I do not want to drive the car again because of the unpredictability and life threatening risk the car poses because of the self acceleration issue. I kindly request your office review this serious matter. I am seeking reimbursement for my up-front financial commitment or a trade-in for a dependable vehicle. Updated 1/8/2013

- New York , NY, USA

problem #4

May 012013

RX 350 6-cyl

  • 14,000 miles
I had an accident with my 2012 Lexus on 5/1/13. I pulled out of a gas station unto the road and stopped at a red light behind a car carrier which was stopped already. When I stopped, my car accelerated and hit the back of the truck. When the police came, they cited me because I hit the truck. When we brought the car to the repair shop and I explained what happened, he said he had a similar case a month before. With that, I searched google and realized that I wasn't loosing my mind and that my car accelerated unintentionally. I called Lexus and they sent a representative to the repair shop and after examining the car, his findings were that it didn't happen. I called two attorneys and they heard of this happening but because I wasn't hurt, they wouldn't take my case. I called "8 on your side" and they said to email you and that a gentleman from there "might" get in touch with me. I am out $4,500 for the repairs and now my car depreciated $5,000 because it was hit. I am not sure if this will happen again but I worry every time I come to a stop. Is there anything you can do so I could get reimbursed from Lexus or trade my car in and not lose this substantial amount. I have had Lexus since 1996 and I cannot believe they will not stand behind their product. Thanking you in advance for your reply!

- Trinity, FL, USA

problem #3

Apr 242013

RX 350 6-cyl

  • 10,000 miles
While pulling into a parking space at approx. 3 mph and being less than a foot from where I would have fully stopped, the vehicle accelerated uncontrollably as the engine raced at a very high RPM. I was able to turn my wheel quickly to the left to avoid hitting the vehicle in front of me. At that same time with my foot that was already on the brake and I braked very hard, then shifted into neutral and the vehicle stopped. I had a small piece of wood flooring on the back seat which came flying to the front and cut the passenger side dashboard. I just reported the issue to Lexus and they suggest I bring the vehicle to a dealership asap.

- Middle Village, NY, USA

problem #2

Apr 142012

RX 350

  • 20 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Lexus rx 350. The contact stated that after stopping at a traffic light she attempted to accelerate, the vehicle moved forward a few feet but then deccelerated and drifted through the intersection. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer on three occasions and each time the failure could not be replicated. The manufacturer was notified but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 20 miles and the current mileage was 5,800.

- Salem, OR, USA

problem #1

Jun 252012

RX 350 6-cyl

  • 2,590 miles
On 6/25/2012- at 7:10 am, I was pulling into the parking spot for my vehicle in my hospital parking lot for a scheduled surgical case, where I work as an ob/gyn physician/surgeon. As I turned to the parking spot at the usual, approximately 2-4 miles /hr speed ( the speed at which normally one parks the car), I noticed that my accelerator pedal did not bounce back to its original position as it normally should or would. Then my rt foot was on the brakes to just stop the vehicle in my parking spot. Then just instantly the vehicle had increased speed and before I could stop the vehicle, it ran forward uncontrollably and climbed up the cement pathway and hit the tree just in front of that parking spot. I was pressing on the brakes and it did not stop the engine raving and I stopped the engine by turning it off. The front of the car is severely damaged including bent frame and the engine is pushed inside according to the body shop. I felt I had no control of the vehicle and it ran on its own. It was the scariest feeling. Imagine the damage and casualty it could have caused if it happened at the signal crossing.

- Bakersfield, CA, USA

Not what you are looking for?