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2011 Lexus Rx450h

Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.

Recalls, complaint breakdown & inspection checklist, all in a shareable PDF

36 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 14, 2026 · source: NHTSA

Buywillitcar.com

Why buy?

Engine problems dominate (33% of complaints).

Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.

Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.

The math, shown

Full methodology →
Complaint volume (40%)100
Severity (30%)78
Recall load (20%)100
Trend (10%)83

Complaints filed per year

Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.

20122025

How it crashes

NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.

4/5 overall

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2011 Lexus RX450H SUV AWD

Front crash
Side crash
Rollover

Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 16%

Stability control: StandardForward collision warning: NoLane departure warning: No

1 open NHTSA defect investigation on file, separate from the recalls above.

Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.

The road ahead

What breaks on a 2011 Lexus Rx450h, plotted where owners report it happening.

030k mi60k mi90k mi120k mi

Also reported (mileage varies): Engine (12) · Brakes (6) · Electrical system (5) · Body & structure (5)

Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.

Engine

33%

12 complaints

On Saturday July 15, 2023, at between about 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. CDST the vehicle was parked overnight in a garage, spontaneously caught fire and burned and was a total …

Brakes

17%

6 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years

ABS, BRAKE, TRACTION CONTROL & YIELD LIGHTS ARE ON AND BEEPING SOUND. ALSO BRAKE PEDAL IS HARD!!!!!

Electrical system

14%

5 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years

ABS, BRAKE, TRACTION CONTROL & YIELD LIGHTS ARE ON AND BEEPING SOUND. ALSO BRAKE PEDAL IS HARD!!!!!

Body & structure

14%

5 complaints

HOW CAN I CONFIRM THAT MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAS NOT BEEN DISABLED?

Recalls (0)

No recall campaigns on file for this model year.

Before you hand over money

Check the VIN for open recalls

NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.

Free NHTSA VIN check

Get a pre-purchase inspection

A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2011 Lexus RX450H beats every score on the internet, including ours.

What to ask for

Not set on the 2011? See how every Rx450h model year scores →

Cross-shopping? Compare the 2011 Lexus Rx450h against another car →

What owners say

Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.

The fine print: this verdict is computed from public NHTSA complaint and recall records for the 2011 Lexus Rx450h as a model, not for any individual car. A well-maintained example of an “Avoid” can outlast a neglected “Buy”. Informational only, so always get a professional pre-purchase inspection.