Owners have filed 41 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the fuel system, brakes, and airbags. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2019Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2019 Lexus NX: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Engine off, key in hand0/2
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/1
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/4
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
These years share the 2019's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2019 checks
Worth adding to your 2019 checks
Worth adding to your 2019 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2019 Lexus NX. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cylGas | AWD, FWD | 24–25 mpg |
| 2.5L 4-cylHybrid | AWD | 31 mpg |
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Premature front brake pad wear
13,000–15,350 miles
NHTSA complaints for the 2019 Lexus NX, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Hesitation from a full stop is the most common symptom. The car creeps forward for roughly 5 to 10 seconds with the pedal pressed, then accelerates normally. It comes and goes, and dealers say they cannot fix what they cannot reproduce. Another report describes a sudden loss of power while cruising, with warning lights on, which the dealer traced to a failed low-pressure fuel pump. Many other complaints are about long waits for a fuel pump recall remedy and late notice. Owners worry that a stall at higher speed could cause a crash.
Parts shortages for a recall repair make up most of these complaints. Owners who got a fuel system recall notice say dealers had no parts to do the work, and some were given no date for when parts would arrive. Nearly all say the car had not actually failed, though some were uneasy driving it while they waited. One different report describes a fluctuating idle at a red light, a check engine light, misfire codes, and a dealer diagnosis of a faulty fuel injector.
Front brake pads wear out early. Reports describe pads worn through at around 13,000 miles, and one owner was told to replace them again at 15,350 miles. A separate failure involves the left parking brake actuator, which stopped working at 44,806 miles and also disabled cruise control. That owner found the part was not covered because brakes are not listed in either the basic or powertrain warranty.
Failure to deploy in a side impact is the main concern here. In a crash at 40 mph where another car hit the driver's door, the bags stayed off and the driver suffered hip and head injuries. The second crash report describes the car suddenly speeding up at about 25 mph and hitting a tree. That report describes unintended acceleration and does not mention the air bags.
A drive shaft comes loose from its mounting at low speed, with loud noise and the securing bolts apparently missing, leaving the car needing a tow. A separate report describes rough idle with an air-fuel ratio imbalance and a code for the system running too rich on bank 1. The repair for that problem reportedly requires removing the cylinder head. Both reports are single cases, so no clear mileage pattern shows up.
Excerpts from complaints NX owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
Car was running normally and going at 50mph then all of a sudden car abruptly lost power and went to 10mph and dashboard lit up. Very scary as we also had our kids in the car--I can only imagine how dangerous this would have been if we had been on the highway going 70mph. Dealer diagnosed with low pressure fuel pump being bad. Lexus paid for the repair due to some lawsuit settlement but these cars should be recalled due to sudden loss in power!!
Filed with NHTSA, February 2026
While driving at about 25 miles an hour my car suddenly sped up. I was approaching a very busy street Afraid it would collide with another. vehicle I quickly turned left and crashed into a tree on the medium.
Filed with NHTSA, June 2021
Air fuel imbalance. Air fuel ratio Imbalance. Rough idling. System too rich bank 1. Requires cylinder head removal. Other VIN#'s recalled; however, my vin # was not accounted for though experiencing the exact issues and codes.
Filed with NHTSA, March 2025
Drive shaft broke apart from the two bolts securing it to the chassis while driving slow speeds to bolts appear to be missing car made significant noise I needed to be towed to the dealership
Filed with NHTSA, September 2021
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2019 ranks second for owner complaints among 8 NX years, close to the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2019 is the fifth model year of the NX's first generation (2015–2021).
It includes the 2018 update.
What changed for 2018
Recall repairs are free at any Lexus dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
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 25TA01 and 25LA01.
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 Lexus LS500, 2018-2019 Lexus GX460, 2017 Lexus IS200t, 2019 Lexus IS300, 2019 Lexus IS350, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500, 2018 Lexus LS500, 2019 Lexus LS500h, 2018-2019 Lexus LX570, 2017 Lexus RC200t, 2019 Lexus RC300, RC350, 2017 and 2019-2020 Lexus RX350, 2018-2020 RX350L, 2019 Lexus UX200, 2018-2019 Lexus NX300 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
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. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.
Cars shoppers compare with the Lexus NX, with their own 2019 checklists.
2019 owner complaints, side by side
