2018 Lexus RX: What to check before buying

Most reports are about the low-pressure fuel pump recall, campaign 20V012000, and long waits because replacement parts were not available. The stated risk is the engine stalling while driving, including on the freeway. Two reports describe actual failures. In one, a fuel pump sensor shorted and turned on a warning light. In the other, gasoline smell, a fuel gauge that dropped to empty within minutes, and fuel pouring from under the car appeared with no warning light.

Two of three reports concern fuel pump recall 20V012000 and parts that were not available for the repair. One of those owners also reports hard starting that needed several attempts and a lit check engine light. In another report, a raw fuel smell enters the cabin at startup with no warning light, at about 42,548 miles. The dealer could not reproduce it and made no repair.

A loud squawk or barking noise when the brake pedal is pressed is the main pattern. Some owners also hear hissing and clicking. Owners blame the brake actuator. Noises often start faint, get louder over months, and can return after the actuator is replaced. One owner reports a $3.5k charge once the warranty runs out. One crash report describes a pop, the pedal dropping to the floor at about 60 mph, and the car failing to slow. One person was injured and the car was totaled.

Hesitation when pressing the gas is the common complaint. The delay lasts up to 1 to 5 seconds and is sometimes followed by a sudden surge. It happens from a stop and at speed, with one report of steady hesitation at 60 to 65 mph. One report describes jerky downshifts and lost power at 25 to 45 mph in city driving. Another describes shaking and a full engine shutdown at 75 to 80 mph in the left lane, which forced the driver into the median.

The interior front door handle on the driver's side breaks. The door then opens only from outside, after the window is rolled down. Owners link this to special service campaign 20LC02, but dealers turn some of them away because their VINs are not listed. One owner was quoted $219 just for diagnosis, and one failure came at about 47,518 miles. A separate crash report says automatic emergency braking did not stop the SUV from hitting a building column while parking. No one was injured.

Three unrelated failures are reported. The panoramic sunroof shade bunches up and stops before it fully retracts, and owners expect a costly repair. One report describes the passenger-side wiper quitting during a heavy downpour on the interstate, which the dealer traced to loose bolts. In another, both rear side windows shattered at about 75 mph with no impact, according to a state patrol report, though the dealer blamed an impact.

Intermittent warnings for the parking brake and cruise control appear when the parking brake is used. The parking brake is disabled until the car is restarted. The HVAC servo motor also fails, and owners point to similar problems on other Lexus models. One report describes all-wheel-drive and engine warning lights, followed by the car stopping and leaving the driver stranded in the city.

Stalling at highway speed is the serious pattern. In one report, the engine, AWD and ABS lights came on and the car stalled completely. It stalled again at 70+ mph four weeks after a dealer said it was fixed. The car would not shift into neutral to be pushed out of traffic. A second dealer later blamed the fuel pump, and the owner had not known about the recall. The other report cites a misfire and an O2/gasoline ratio problem.