The Lane Check

Home › Cars › Lexus › RX › 2019

2019 Lexus RX problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
51%
33 of 65 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

51% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2019 Lexus RX are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 67% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 3 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 49%).

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 2019 Lexus RX have fuel system problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 33 of 65 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Lexus RX concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (51%), and the largest group is filed under fuel/propulsion system (24). For comparison, the 2018 scores 39% and the 2020 scores 24%. On a test drive, check for hard starts, stalling, hesitation, a fuel smell 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.

Drivetrain complaints
33
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
68
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
4
11 crashes · 3 injuries

Complaints by component

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM24 · 35%
SERVICE BRAKES13 · 19%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE13 · 19%
ENGINE11 · 16%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM8 · 12%
FUEL SYSTEM7 · 10%

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 2019 compares with other Lexus RX years

Of the 14 Lexus RX years with enough complaints to score, the 2019 is the worst on engine and transmission share (51%). The best is the 2021 (11%). By volume, the 2019 drew 68 complaints (33 drivetrain), against 47 for the 2018 and 55 for the 2020.

Lexus RX years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2019 Lexus RX

  • The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2019 Lexus RX said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
  • What the repair costs. Typical fuel system 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

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM11/26/2024
For some unknown reason the car will suddenly display multiple warning lights, check engine, service needed, traction control off/inactive then the car will go into reduced engine power mode which prevents acceleration and causes the car to feel like it’s going to stall or shut off. This has happened several times on m…

One of 33 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

2019 Lexus RX fuel system recalls

Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2019 Lexus RX involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 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 pump25V028000 · Jan 2025

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Camry, 2019 Lexus NX300, and 2019 RX350L vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 12, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are…

fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap21V043000 · Feb 2021

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Lexus) is recalling certain 2019 Lexus RX350 and 2021 RX350 vehicles. The transport hook may not have been removed prior to sale. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."

Risk: During a rear-end crash, the transport hook can damage the fuel filler pipe, increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: Lexus will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, remove the rear transport hook, free of charge. The recall began April 1, 2021. Owners may contact Lexus customer service at 1-800-331-4331.…

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…

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 2019 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 2019 Lexus RX

Does the 2019 Lexus RX have fuel system problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 33 of 65 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Lexus RX concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (51%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the fuel system and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

What is the most common problem with the 2019 Lexus RX?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2019 Lexus RX is fuel/propulsion system: 24 of 68 complaints (35%) name it, followed by service brakes (13) and forward collision avoidance (13). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.

Is the 2019 Lexus RX reliable?

On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 51% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 67% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Lexus RX years we score, it ranks 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 2019 Lexus RX?

Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2019 Lexus RX involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total: 25V028000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump), 21V043000 (fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap), 20V682000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump), and more. 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 2019 (51%). 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

Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.

Check a VIN

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 4 body styles NHTSA files separately.