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What 12 owners told NHTSA about the 2025 Lexus GX 550

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (12)Body & structure (4)Engine (2)Suspension (2)Transmission & drivetrain (2)Brakes (1)Speed control (1)Tires (1)Visibility & wipers (1)Wheels (1)

2 of 12 complaints match · Engine · clear filters

Feb 22, 2026Engine

Vehicle experiences a persistent and abrupt harsh downshift (jerk/thud) specifically during 2nd-to-1st gear transitions when rolling to a stop. This issue persists despite the dealership performing the recommended Transmission Control Module (TCM) software update at 5,000 miles. The smooth shifting returned briefly for approximately 500 miles post-update before the abruptness returned. Additionally, there is a noticeable vibration/harmonic change in the engine as the oil reaches approximately 3,000 miles of use. Concerned that this transmission behavior is a secondary symptom of internal engine drag or main bearing stress, as documented in similar V35A-FTS engine failures. This abrupt downshifting creates a safety concern regarding predictable vehicle deceleration in stop-and-go traffic. Vehicle is currently at 6,700 miles.

NHTSA ODI 11719701

Jan 7, 2026SuspensionEngine

The car has harsh knocking downshifting. In slow speeds, the has abrupt transmission changes.

NHTSA ODI 11709515

Working with the data? Download all 12 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2025 Lexus GX 550 verdict →