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2017 Lexus RX problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
31%
29 of 94 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2017 Lexus RX. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 31% of relevant complaints.

Better than 69% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 9 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 28%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2017 Lexus RX have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 29 of 94 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Lexus RX concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (31%). For comparison, the 2016 scores 33% and the 2018 scores 39%. 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.

Drivetrain complaints
29
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
103
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
3
22 crashes · 10 injuries

Complaints by component

UNKNOWN OR OTHER26 · 25%
SERVICE BRAKES21 · 20%
ENGINE17 · 17%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM11 · 11%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM10 · 10%
AIR BAGS9 · 9%

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 2017 compares with other Lexus RX years

Of the 14 Lexus RX years with enough complaints to score, the 2017 is the 7th-worst on engine and transmission share (31%). The worst is the 2019 (51%), the best the 2021 (11%). By volume, the 2017 drew 103 complaints (29 drivetrain), against 93 for the 2016 and 47 for the 2018.

Lexus RX years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2017 Lexus RX

  • 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

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE07/23/2025CRASH1 INJURED
3 months before the accident the power steering light came on twice and went off. The day of the accident the brake light came on when I started the car that day. It disappeared when I was put in drive. I was entering onto the highway to merge with the traffic. Another car waiting for the light to turn green so he coul…

One of 29 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

2017 Lexus RX fuel system recalls

Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2017 Lexus RX involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total. 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.

fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump20V682000 · Nov 2020

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna, 2019-2020 Tundra, 2018-2020 Lexus ES350, 2017 Lexus GS200t, 2017-2019 Lexus GS350, 2019 Lexus GS300, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500h, 2019-2020…

Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021.…

fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump20V012000 · Jan 2020

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015…

Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at…

1 other recall on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum18V211000 · Apr 2018
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Toyota Camry and Highlander vehicles, 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles and 2017 Lexus RX350 vehicles. During the…

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 2017 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.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2017 Lexus RX

Does the 2017 Lexus RX have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 29 of 94 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Lexus RX concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (31%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

What is the most common problem with the 2017 Lexus RX?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2017 Lexus RX is service brakes: 21 of 103 complaints (20%) name it, followed by engine (17) and electrical system (11). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 31% of the relevant total.

Is the 2017 Lexus RX reliable?

On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 31% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 69% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Lexus RX years we score, it ranks 7th-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 2017 Lexus RX?

Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2017 Lexus RX involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total: 20V682000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump), 20V012000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

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 2017 (31%). 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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Experimental 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 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.