How many miles will Lexus last?

How many miles can a Lexus RX 350 last? When you’re in the market for a new or second-hand RX 350, that’s, of course, a very reasonable question to ask. After all, you’re probably looking to get the most bang for your buck. In this blog, we’ll look at this question in great detail but first, let’s start with a quick answer:

On average, a Lexus RX 350 lasts between 220.000 – 240.000 miles. An RX 350 needs to go to the garage for unscheduled repairs about 0.44 times per year, with an 8% chance of the problem being severe. Furthermore, RX 350 owners spend an average of $550 per year on repair costs.

Having said that, we’re certainly not done. Below we’ll first explain in more detail how many miles an RX 350 can last. After that, we’ll also show you how much an RX 350 costs per year and which production years are the most and least expensive. Furthermore, we also discuss the common problems that the car can have. Read on!

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How Many Miles Can A Lexus RX 350 Last?

First, we need to have a look at the Lexus RX 350 as a group. In order to do this, we went to autotrader.com and gathered the data of the 7.292 RX 350s that are currently for sale. From there on, we divided the sample group into groups based on the number of miles they had driven.

The results are displayed in the table below. What we can see from this is the fact that 3.85% of 350s that are for sale in the US market have a mileage of 150.000 or higher. By itself, this number doesn´t say a lot. However, we´ve written 100+ articles similar articles for different vehicles. From this, we know that a number between 3-5% is typically considered to be good. The RX 350 does score at the lower end of that range, but it´s still a good number nonetheless.

However, there´s more to it than that. For example, we also see that a large percentage of RX 350s haven´t even crossed the 45.000 miles mark yet. This means Lexus has been selling a lot of new RX 350s in the past years which drags down the percentage of vehicles that did cross the 150.000 miles mark. Therefore, we have to do more research to come to a proper conclusion.

How Reliable Is A Lexus RX 350 Compared To Its Competitors?

One of the most important things that can tell us whether or not the RX 350 actually reliable is to look at competitors. The data from the competitors will give us a better understanding of the playing field, and we will be able to set benchmarks for the RX 350.

In the table below we´ve gathered data for competitors of the RX 350. Please keep in mind that we´ve written separate articles for the other vehicles in the table as well. Therefore, we´re confident in the results that we display below.

When we compare the numbers in the table below it becomes clear that all competitors are quite close together. The RX 350 is right up there but is still beaten by the MDX which performs marginally better. The X5 is a worthy competitor as well. We do have to say the Q5 seems to lack the strong lifespan of its competitors.

Furthermore, it´s interesting to note that none of the vehicles are capable of having very high expected mileage (close to 300.000 miles). The reason for this is that these vehicles are luxury SUVs which often have a shorter lifespan than their less luxurious counterparts. However, overall the RX 350 is definitely judged positively in this part of our research.

Do you want to know more about how this car compares to other vehicles regarding the expected miles it can last? Read more about that in this article: How Many Miles Can A Car Last? (156 Models Analyzed!)

How Reliable Is A Lexus RX 350 Compared To Other Lexus?

Furthermore, we also feel it´s important to compare the RX 350 to other Lexus vehicles. The reason for this is the fact that this will give us an understanding of how reliable the brand is as a whole and if there´re alternatives within the lineup of Lexus.

What becomes clear from the data below is that Lexus does seem to put up quite a strong performance as a brand. The RX 350 is definitely one of the best-performing vehicles in terms of lifespan. However, the ES 350, IS 350 and the LS and GS series all put up respectable numbers as well.

What´s interesting about this is that these strong numbers are coming from a brand that makes vehicles in the upper segments of the market. Typically these brands are known for delivering luxury vehicles that don´t last that long. However, the numbers in the table above suggest that Lexus is capable of putting up a strong reliability benchmark as well.

How Much Does Maintenance Cost Per Year?

Another important aspect to discuss when talking about the reliability of a vehicle is how much you can expect to pay in annual maintenance costs. To gather this data we went to Repairpal.com and Caredge.com.

What we found is that you can expect to pay an average of $550 per year for maintaining an RX 350. This is a surprisingly good number. For reference, typically you would have to spend $807 annually to keep a midsized luxury SUV on the road. Therefore, the RX 350 does really well.

Furthermore, we also see in the table below that the RX 350 doesn´t have many model years that stand out in a negative way. The newer model years have fewer maintenance costs, but this is of course because they have driven fewer miles.

Owners’ Reviews Of The RX 350s Reliability

Besides knowing all the data, it’s, of course, also essential to see how owners experience the RX 350. For this, we went to Truecar, Edmunds, and Cars.com. All three platforms have gathered hundreds of reviews from actual car owners. We summarized our findings in the image below.

Please be aware that these are the owners’ ratings for the 2016 – 2021 RX 350. At the time of writing, the fifth generation has too little information to draw conclusions from.

In the image above we can see that the Lexus RX 350 does seem to get decent ratings across the board. However, some platforms are certainly more positive than others. Especially the Edmunds reviewers have some criticism to share.

This is mainly for the 2016 – 2017 and 2019 model years. Diving into the reviews we found that this is mainly because the build quality of the vehicle lacks from time to time, or it doesn´t live up to the expectations that owners have from a luxury SUV. The general sentiment is best described by this quote:

Smooth and quiet ride. A little mushy on the steering. Not very responsive but maybe the sport model is better. The sport model seats were quite uncomfortable so we couldn’t consider it. No digital speedometer. (…) I needed as SUV but was so surprised that this huge vehicle actually has less leg room in the rear seat and a smaller trunk. Don’t know how they manage to do that while being longer than my Avalon. The navigation works perfectly. I really enjoy using it for a change instead of my phone.

Source, 2020 owners

Lexus RX 350 Common Problems

NOTE: Before buying a used car, I always like to make sure the vehicle isn´t having any problems that you should be aware of. The easiest way to do this is by buying an OBD2 scanner. These scanners can easily be plugged into any car you’re interested in, and they’ll give you a rundown of potential problems.

Personally, I like this one on Amazon because it has a lot more functions than basic OBD2 scanners. This particular one also runs tests on your emission system and tests if you’re fuel mix is optimal (or if your engine is misfiring), so you have a complete understanding of how the car’s performing.

Also read: 10 Common Problems Of A Lexus RX350

Fifth Generation (2022 – Present)

At the time of writing this generation has been on the market for only a couple of months. Therefore, there´re no reported problems.

Fourth Generation (2016 – 2021)

• 2016 – 2017 models of RX350 have had issues with faulty rain sensors, with some owners complaining of reduced efficiency at night. Another issue that has been reported has to do with the wiper malfunctioning even when the sensitivity dial is set to maximum. The only remedy for this problem is to replace the sensor, which costs about $350.
• Owners have complained of rattling doors while driving on the freeway. Others have complained that their doors came loose, creating a safety hazard. We’ve heard these complaints with the 2008 – 2010 model years, but they’ve seemed to have returned in the 2019 – 2020 model years.
• One recurring problem this car has is that the vehicle speed control system malfunctions severely. This typically happens when the driver is trying to park the vehicle. Reports paint the same picture repeatedly: the driver is pulling into a parking spot, they push the brake pedal, and instead of stopping, the car accelerates rapidly, which results in a crash. This problem occurred from 2016 onwards.
• 2007, 2010, and 2014 have reported issues related to the Infotainment system. However, 2016 – 2019 owners have also reported the same problems. In particular, owners complain of issues with the radio, Bluetooth features, and navigation displays. It happens due to a software glitch, and updating to the newer software version solves the problem.

Second (2004 – 2009) and Third Generation (2010 – 2015)

• AC amplifier failure can lead to the air conditioning blowing hot air, or sometimes it will intermittently blow hot and cold air, or some vents would not blow any air at all. This problem occurred for the 2008 – 2013 model years.
• Model years 2007-2011 of RX350 are prone to electronic throttle body failure, generating a fault code P0505. If this happens, the remedy is replacing or cleaning the throttle body. 
• Bursting of a VVT-i line, generating a “Low Engine Oil” message. Additionally, the engine oil pressure warning light will be lit. If the car is continued to be used, it will result in complete engine failure due to oil starvation. This problem occurred throughout the generation.
• 2007, 2008, and 2010 models are known to have issues with the Variable Valve Timing (VVT) system resulting in AWD, Traction Control, and Check Engine lights being lit. It also results in the generation of fault codes P0012 and P0014.

Is a Lexus RX 350 A Smart Buy?

Finally, we have to answer the question of whether or not the RX 350 is a vehicle that´s worth getting. Earlier we already established that the RX 350 is more than capable of achieving good mileage. Furthermore, it beats the BMW X5 and Audi Q5 in this department, although the Acura MDX is still the overall winner.

Also, we established that Lexus does seem to build vehicles that have a good lifespan overall. Maintenance costs are also fantastic. The only thing we did see is that the car has definitely had its problems throughout the generation. Some model years have many more problems than others and therefore it´s wise to be selective in what model year you want to pick up.

This is also the reason why owners’ ratings of the RX350 have been good, but not great. From a reliability standpoint, we would probably go with a fourth-generation RX 350. The reason for this is that the third generation had many mechanical problems. These are a pain to solve and will cost a lot of money. The fourth generation definitely has its flaws, but many of them aren´t mechanical making it a better choice overall.

Lexus RX 350 Maintenance Schedule

If you want to keep your Lexus RX 350 healthy for a longer period of time, then you must have it regularly maintained. If your RX 350 is regularly maintained, you wouldn’t have to spend a lot on expensive repairs, and your precious Lexus will go a long way before finally going to heaven.

Before/On Every 10,000 Miles

• Replace the oil filter.
• Engine oil replacement
• Gaskets inspection and replacement
• Though lubrication of all the components that require it.
• Electronics system check
• Brake check
• Airbag inspection

Before/On Every 20,000 Miles

• Replace the passenger compartment air filter
• Inspect the tires
• See if there’s any prevailing rust
• Check for any fluid leaks
• Tire replacement if necessary

Before/On Every 40,000 Miles

• Replace the air intake filter
• Replace the transfer case fluid
• Inspect the evaporative control system
• Change the automatic transmission fluid

Before/On Every 60,000 Miles

• Inspect the spark plugs
• Inspect the ignition coils
• Have an engine diagnosis with a scanner tool and see for any abnormal readings.
• Inspect the electronics system
• Inspect the brake pads and rotors
• Drive belt replacement
• The manufacturers recommend changing the first coolant at 60k miles and the later ones after every 30k miles. It depends on different factors, you should check the color of the coolant to tell which one is it. If it’s the silicated one, you would have to change it after every 30k miles and if it’s the extended drain coolant, then you can change it after 100k miles.

Before/On Every 100,000 Miles

• This is where the suspension components start to wear and you might have to replace the worn-out ones
• Service the radiator core
• Service the AC condenser

Stefan K.

Hi! My name is Stefan, I’m the owner and lead writer at TheDriverAdviser.com.

I’m an active writer on this blog myself, although I mainly focus on research-heavy articles. For the technical stuff, I find writers that have experience as a mechanic or have studied mechanical engineering.

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