Lexus RX 450h: Years to Avoid and Best Years to Buy
Lexus RX 450h: 12 model years scored from 116 NHTSA owner complaints and 0 recall campaigns. Worst year 2021, best year 2020.
Year-by-year data table
Best year in our data: 2020 (score 91). Worst: 2021 (score 81, BUY).
| Year | Score | Verdict | Running cost / yr | NHTSA complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | — | DATA PENDING | $3,500 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 81 | BUY | $3,902 | 69 | 0 |
| 2020 | 91 | BUY | $3,928 | 47 | 0 |
| 2019 | — | DATA PENDING | $3,920 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | — | DATA PENDING | $4,060 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | — | DATA PENDING | $4,200 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | — | DATA PENDING | $4,390 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | — | DATA PENDING | $4,580 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | — | DATA PENDING | $4,720 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | — | DATA PENDING | $4,860 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | — | DATA PENDING | $5,000 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | — | DATA PENDING | $5,140 | 0 | 0 |
Running cost is fuel or energy plus the maintenance band midpoint for that car at its age today, re-priced to your country. Purchase price, insurance and depreciation are not included.
RX 450h sub-models & family
Variants & trims on record
Body, powertrain and trim variants of the RX 450h on the federal record. Variants folded into this nameplate are counted in this page's data; the rest have too thin a record for a page of their own yet.
What goes wrong on the Lexus RX 450h
Across every RX 450h model year in our index, owners report these component groups most often. The cost beside each one is the representative repair for that group at a US independent shop, re-priced to your country.
- Air Bags68 complaints across all RX 450h years · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement$600–$1,700
- Unknown Or Other16 complaints across all RX 450h years · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair$360–$940
- Forward Collision Avoidance7 complaints across all RX 450h years · typical job: Radar or camera module replacement and calibration$780–$2,160
- Engine5 complaints across all RX 450h years · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair$1,040–$2,220
- Tires4 complaints across all RX 450h years · typical job: Tyre replacement and TPMS service, per axle$340–$1,020
- Structure4 complaints across all RX 450h years · typical job: Body, subframe or corrosion repair$1,070–$2,920
Flat-rate labour hours x local shop rate plus a parts band. An estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote. Formula.
FAQ
What is the best year for the Lexus RX 450h?
On our data the 2020 Lexus RX 450h scores 91/100 — the highest of the 12 model years we hold, with 47 NHTSA complaints and 0 recall campaigns on record.
Which Lexus RX 450h years should I avoid?
The 2021 is the weakest year we score, at 81/100 (BUY), on 69 complaints and 0 recalls. Check the year-by-year table above before committing to any particular car.
What is the most common Lexus RX 450h problem?
68 of the complaints filed against the RX 450h across all its model years sit in the Air Bags group — more than any other component.
Compare with
Sources: NHTSA, EPA · Methodology · Updated 2026-10-04