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2011 Lexus RX problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
49% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2011 Lexus RX are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 63% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 12 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 40%).
Does the 2011 Lexus RX have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 27 of 55 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2011 Lexus RX concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (49%), and the largest group is filed under engine (19). For comparison, the 2010 scores 30% and the 2012 scores 26%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2011 compares with other Lexus RX years
Of the 14 Lexus RX years with enough complaints to score, the 2011 is the 2nd-worst on engine and transmission share (49%). The worst is the 2019 (51%), the best the 2021 (11%). By volume, the 2011 drew 67 complaints (27 drivetrain), against 192 for the 2010 and 48 for the 2012.
Lexus RX years to avoid and best years →
2010 RX problems · 2011 · 2012 RX problems · 2013 RX problems · 2014 RX problems · 2015 RX problems · 2016 RX problems · 2017 RX problems · 2018 RX problems · 2019 RX problems · 2020 RX problems · 2021 RX problems · 2022 RX problems · 2023 RX problems
The rest of the picture on the 2011 Lexus RX
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 27 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2011 Lexus RX engine and transmission recalls
No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2011 Lexus RX, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
1 other recall on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2011 Lexus RX? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2011 Lexus RX have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 27 of 55 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2011 Lexus RX concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (49%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Lexus RX?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2011 Lexus RX is engine: 19 of 67 complaints (28%) name it, followed by service brakes (17) and air bags (11). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2011 Lexus RX reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 49% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 63% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Lexus RX years we score, it ranks 2nd-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2011 Lexus RX?
No. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2011 Lexus RX, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
Which Lexus RX years are better?
Among the Lexus RX years we track, the 2021 (11%), the 2013 (19%) and the 2020 (24%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2011 (49%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/lexus-rx
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 3 body styles NHTSA files separately.