CarBrief

NHTSA has 39 owner complaints for the 2022 Lexus RX and lists 0 recalls for it[1][2]. The complaints are unverified and include some crashes, fires and injuries, so read the details below.

39owner complaints[1]
21–30MPG combined (EPA)[3]
4★NHTSA overall rating[4]

Most reported problems

NHTSA has 39 owner complaints on file for the 2022 Lexus RX[1]. Of those, 6 mention a crash, 2 mention a fire and 5 mention injuries[1]. None report a death[1]. These are unverified owner reports. One complaint can name more than one part of the car, so the group counts below add up to more than 39[1].

Component group Complaints Crashes Fires Injuries
Unknown or other[5] 12 1 1 1
Electrical system[6] 8 1 0 0
Fuel/propulsion[7] 5 2 1 2
Brakes[8] 5 1 1 2
Engine[9] 4 1 0 0
Tires[10] 4 0 0 0
Power train[11] 4 1 0 0
Visibility/wiper[12] 2 0 0 0

The largest group is "unknown or other," so we cannot say what those 12 complaints describe. Per complaint, fuel/propulsion[7] and brakes[8] carry the most serious outcomes, but each group is small.

We also read a small sample of complaint texts. In that sample, the themes below came up. They are not a measure of how common any problem is.

Tire, engine and visibility/wiper complaints are few[9][10][12]. We did not read enough of them to describe a pattern.

Recalls

NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2022 RX in our data[2]. That is a statement about this model year only. Check the VIN on NHTSA's site before you buy.

Fuel economy

The EPA rates the RX 350 versions at 21 to 23 combined MPG[13][14][15][16]. They use regular fuel. The RX 450h versions get 29 and 30 combined MPG and use premium[17][3].

Version City / highway / combined MPG EPA annual fuel cost
RX 350, front-wheel drive[15] 20 / 27 / 23 $2,900
RX 350 AWD[16] 19 / 26 / 22 $3,050
RX 350 L, front-wheel drive[13] 19 / 26 / 22 $3,050
RX 350 L AWD[14] 18 / 25 / 21 $3,200
RX 450h AWD[3] 31 / 28 / 30 $2,750
RX 450h L AWD[17] 29 / 28 / 29 $2,850

The EPA bases annual cost on its current fuel price assumptions, not on prices when the car was new.

Safety ratings

NHTSA gives the RX 4 stars overall in both all-wheel-drive[4] and front-wheel-drive[18] form. Both get 5 stars for side protection, 4 stars for frontal protection and 4 stars for rollover[4][18]. NHTSA puts rollover risk at 16.4% for AWD[4] and 17.9% for FWD[18].

Engine and size

The 3.5L 6-cylinder engine is rated at 259 to 295 hp, depending on version[19]. The sizes below are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

Variant Length Width Height Wheelbase Curb weight
RX 350[20] 193 in 75 in 68 in 110 in 4,453 lb
RX 350L[21] 197 in 75 in 67 in 110 in 4,619 lb
RX 450H[22] 193 in 75 in 68 in 110 in 4,740 lb
RX 450HL[23] 197 in 75 in 67 in 110 in 4,905 lb

How 2022 compares with other years

1999: 256 complaints, 2 recalls19992000: 245 complaints, 0 recalls2001: 188 complaints, 0 recalls2002: 100 complaints, 0 recalls20022003: 29 complaints, 0 recalls2004: 40 complaints, 2 recalls2005: 29 complaints, 2 recalls20052006: 186 complaints, 6 recalls2007: 284 complaints, 3 recalls2008: 253 complaints, 1 recalls20082009: 131 complaints, 0 recalls2010: 192 complaints, 1 recalls2011: 71 complaints, 1 recalls20112012: 48 complaints, 1 recalls2013: 90 complaints, 1 recalls2014: 29 complaints, 0 recalls20142015: 67 complaints, 1 recalls2016: 93 complaints, 3 recalls2017: 103 complaints, 3 recalls20172018: 47 complaints, 2 recalls2019: 68 complaints, 4 recalls2020: 56 complaints, 2 recalls20202021: 71 complaints, 2 recalls2022: 39 complaints, 0 recalls3920222023: 67 complaints, 4 recalls20232024: 60 complaints, 4 recalls2025: 24 complaints, 4 recalls2026: 11 complaints, 3 recalls2026
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each RX model year. The 2022 is highlighted[2].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
19992562
20002450
20011880
20021000
2003290
2004402
2005292
20061866
20072843
20082531
20091310
20101921
2011711
2012481
2013901
2014290
2015671
2016933
20171033
2018472
2019684
2020562
2021712
2022390
2023674
2024604
2025244
2026113

The 2022 RX has 39 complaints and 0 recalls[2]. Among the 28 model years in our data, 5 have fewer complaints: 2026 with 11, 2025 with 24, and 2003, 2005 and 2014 with 29 each[2]. The next year up, 2004, has 40[2].

Its neighbors look busier. 2021 has 71 complaints and 2 recalls[2]. 2023 has 67 complaints and 4 recalls[2]. 2024 has 60 complaints and 4 recalls[2]. 2022 is also one of 7 years with no recalls, along with 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2009 and 2014[2].

Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so treat them as a rough guide.

Should you buy a used 2022 RX?

The record is light compared with most other RX years, with 39 complaints and 0 recalls[2]. Still, the complaints include crashes, fires and injuries, and the sample we read points to surging acceleration, harsh shifting, brake feel and blank gauges[1][6][7][8][11]. That sample is small, so it shows what owners describe and not how often it happens. Have a dealer check the VIN for recalls, test drive for shifting and braking, and ask about any warranty work. If fuel cost matters, the RX 450h versions use less fuel in EPA ratings but need premium[17][3].

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2022 Lexus RX?
NHTSA lists 39 complaints[1]. The biggest groups are unknown or other with 12, and electrical with 8[1][5][6]. In a small sample of texts, owners describe acceleration surges, harsh shifting, brake feel and blank gauges[7][8][11].
Does the 2022 Lexus RX have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2022 model year in our data[2].
How many miles per gallon does the 2022 Lexus RX get?
RX 350 versions get 21 to 23 combined MPG[13][14][15][16]. The RX 450h versions get 29 and 30 combined MPG[17][3].
How safe is the 2022 Lexus RX?
NHTSA rates it 4 stars overall for both AWD and FWD, with 5 stars for side protection[4][18].
Is 2022 a good year for the Lexus RX?
It has fewer complaints than 2021, 2023 and 2024, and no recalls, but 5 other years have fewer complaints[2]. Counts are not adjusted for sales.

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 39 owner complaints on file for the 2022 Lexus RX (6 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 5 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. Owner complaints and recalls for every Lexus RX model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  3. EPA rating for RX 450h AWD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Premium, All-Wheel Drive: 31 city / 28 highway / 30 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,750. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  4. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: overall 4 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 16.4%. NHTSA vehicle records
  5. 12 complaints name the unknown or other component group (1 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  6. 8 complaints name the electrical system component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  7. 5 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (2 crashes, 1 fires, 2 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  8. 5 complaints name the brakes component group (1 crashes, 1 fires, 2 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 4 complaints name the engine component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 4 complaints name the tires component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 4 complaints name the power train component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. 2 complaints name the visibility/wiper component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  13. EPA rating for RX 350 L, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S8), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 26 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  14. EPA rating for RX 350 L AWD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S8), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 25 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  15. EPA rating for RX 350, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S8), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 27 highway / 23 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  16. EPA rating for RX 350 AWD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S8), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 26 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  17. EPA rating for RX 450h L AWD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Premium, All-Wheel Drive: 29 city / 28 highway / 29 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,850. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  18. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV FWD: overall 4 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 17.9%. NHTSA vehicle records
  19. EPA Test Car List, 2022 Lexus RX with 3.5L 6-cylinder: rated 259 to 295 hp depending on version. www.epa.gov
  20. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, RX 350 4DR SUV: length 193 in, width 75 in, height 68 in, wheelbase 110 in, curb weight 4,453 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  21. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, RX 350L 4DR SUV: length 197 in, width 75 in, height 67 in, wheelbase 110 in, curb weight 4,619 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  22. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, RX 450H 4DR SUV: length 193 in, width 75 in, height 68 in, wheelbase 110 in, curb weight 4,740 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  23. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, RX 450HL 4DR SUV: length 197 in, width 75 in, height 67 in, wheelbase 110 in, curb weight 4,905 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.