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2023 Lexus RX problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
34% of relevant owner complaints on the 2023 Lexus RX are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.
Better than 63% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2023 Lexus RX have transmission problems?
More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 22 of 67 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Lexus RX concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (34%), and the largest group is filed under power train (13). For comparison, the 2022 scores 29%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. 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 2023 compares with other Lexus RX years
Of the 14 Lexus RX years with enough complaints to score, the 2023 is the 5th-worst on engine and transmission share (34%). The worst is the 2019 (51%), the best the 2021 (11%). By volume, the 2023 drew 67 complaints (22 drivetrain), against 39 for the 2022.
Lexus RX years to avoid and best years →
2010 RX problems · 2011 RX problems · 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
The rest of the picture on the 2023 Lexus RX
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission 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 22 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2023 Lexus RX engine and transmission recalls
No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2023 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.
3 other recalls 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 2023 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 2023 Lexus RX
Does the 2023 Lexus RX have transmission problems?
More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 22 of 67 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Lexus RX concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (34%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2023 Lexus RX?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2023 Lexus RX is power train: 13 of 67 complaints (19%) name it, followed by engine (11) and electrical system (10). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2023 Lexus RX reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 34% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (elevated signal). That is better than 63% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Lexus RX years we score, it ranks 5th-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 2023 Lexus RX?
No. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2023 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 2023 (34%). 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 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.