What 51 owners told NHTSA about the 2020 Lexus RX 350

I am submitting this correspondence to formally report a serious safety incident involving my 2020 Lexus RX 350 and to request a thorough investigation. On Saturday, February 7, while attempting to park the vehicle, I experienced a sudden loss of control, resulting in the vehicle accelerating forward and colliding with a metal gate. The exact cause of this event is unknown. During the incident, the vehicle’s pre-collision and automatic braking system failed to engage despite an obstruction being present. Additionally, the airbags did not deploy at the time of impact. A minor child was present in the vehicle, properly secured in a child's safety seat. While no injuries occurred, the vehicle sustained extensive damage and was rendered inoperable. I would also like to note that this vehicle was subject to an airbag recall on November 29, 2025, which was serviced prior to this incident. Despite completing the recall service, the airbags failed to deploy during the accident. After the vehicle was towed, the airbags unexpectedly deployed while it was being lifted onto the tow truck using a crane, further raising concerns regarding the reliability and safety of the airbag system.

NHTSA ODI 11718294

The contact owns a 2020 Lexus RX. The contact stated while his wife and children were stopped in traffic, a vehicle had crashed into the rear of the contact's vehicle, which then caused a five-car chain reaction crash. The contact stated that none of the air bags had deployed. The contact stated that the rear end of his vehicle was crushed as well as the front end. The contact stated that the police and emergency services had arrived on the scene. The contact stated that his wife and son were transported to the hospital. The contact stated that his wife had suffered neck whiplash, cuts, and abrasions to her face, arms, and knees. The contact stated that his son also had whiplash, and had suffered a broken jaw. The contact stated that his son had cuts on his face and inside his mouth that required stitches. The police had written a report. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot and declared a total loss by his insurance provider. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 46,000.

NHTSA ODI 11662427

SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING WITH A FRIEND. DEALERSHIP IS NOT ACKKNOWLEDGING IT SINCE THERE IS NOT A RECALL SO I WILL HAVE TO CALL LEXUS CORPORATE. I AM TAKING IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE FIXED AND DROPPING IT OFF THIS FRIDAY. INSURANCE ADJUSTER WILL BE DOING TO DEALERSHIP TO LOOK AT SINCE IT COSTS $2000 TO FIX AND I HAVE A $1000 DEDUCTIBLE :( :( NO WARNING JUST SOUNDED LIKE A BOMB OR GUNSHOT GOING OFF. MY HUSBAND HAS HAD RINGING IN THE EARS SINCE IT WAS SO LOAD AND RIGHT ABOVE HIS HEAD!!!!

NHTSA ODI 11639337

Contact states they were sitting in DRIVE, with their foot on the brake. When the contact took their foot off the brake, they began to let the vehicle coast to about 5 MPH. Then, the vehicle lunged forward unexpectedly to about 25 MPH, when it collided with a rock. The vehicle had previously spent over 10 days in different dealerships to diagnose issues related to the engine running rough, the car stalling out, and the vehicle driving erratically and lunging forward. The contact only began to have issues with the vehicle after the NHTSA Denso Fuel Pump Recall. A year after the contact took delivery of the vehicle, the remedy was done. The dealership stated they had completed the remedy properly, but because of parts shortages they only MODIFIED the fuel pump, but that TMNA said this is a valid remedy. After further investigation, the remedy protocol which they followed did not match the one the manufacturer assured NHTSA they would follow, and there was no amended NHTSA remedy. Then, the manufacturer denied they told the dealership that the protocol they followed was a valid remedy. About 10 minutes after leaving the dealership the contact returned and stated the vehicle was running rough and driving erratically. The dealership told the contact that it was completely normal and that the vehicle just needs to re-learn their driving style. The contact had issues with the vehicle, including the illumination of warning lights, and the dealership cannot remedy the issue (refusing to replace/repair the fuel pump).

NHTSA ODI 11507921

The contact owned a 2020 Lexus RX350. The contact stated that while making a left turn into a parking lot at approximately 10 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated on its own and crashed into the side of a Walmart shopping store. The air bags deployed upon impact. The contact and her sister were both taken by ambulance to two separate hospitals. The contact was treated for fractures to her right hand and wrist; screws were placed in her right wrist and another was placed in between her index and middle right finger. The contact had additional X-rays performed on the right of her body where she experienced pain and soreness to the right side of her back and leg; as well as her breastplate. The contact's sister was treated for a fractured hip, spine, and breastplate. Both the contact and her sister attend physical therapy to treat their injuries. A police report was filed. The contact was uncertain if any property damage was caused by the accident. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and an independent investigator was sent to investigate the failure; the cause of the failure had yet to be determined. The vehicle was destroyed due to the accident. The failure mileage was approximately 17,000.

NHTSA ODI 11466908

Just after topping a hill on an Interstate Highway, both lanes of traffic ahead of us came to a sudden and complete stop. I was in left lane and reacted quickly and applied full braking power and managed to stop a foot or 2 from the rear of the stopped car ahead of us. A few seconds later we were hit from the rear by two cars, one, a Black late model Camry, which almost stopped and a 2nd, a large, new German-maker grey SUV, which never applied brakes, destroyed the black Camry behind us and then destroyed our car, when it hit the left rear and after impact continued pushing the front of the car into the steel cables separating our lane of travel from the oncoming traffic in the other lane of the Interstate, until the steel cables stopped us. Neither the electronic collision alert system, the air bags or the emergency braking system activated. The electronic system in our new Lexus then came on and told us that the collision alert/airbag activation system was defective and to contact our dealer for inspection and repair. However, our car was totalled destroyed and taking it to a dealer for "inspection" was neither possible nor practical, but my wife and I walked away without any known injuries. Lexus was advised of the defect, the extent of damage, and told where car was and invited to inspect it. Not sure if Lexus ever inspected it.

NHTSA ODI 11432569

Was driving into the garage (coasting) very slowly and as I was preparing to step on brake the car revved forward unsuspectedly - I have a video on my ring door bell and you can hear the engine then the squealing of the automatic braking system. I destroyed the adult 3 wheel bicycle that was stored along the wall but that helped the vehicle from crashing through the bricks - I remember shouting “what the hell is happening”. After much research as I knew I did not depress the accelerator in error - I found that this has been a common occurrence with Toyota and Lexus products. I am a very careful driver and I have replayed the incident in my head over and over. I presently dont have the insurance and repair information Readily available

NHTSA ODI 11430031