Lexus RX hesitation problems

Filed Apr 23, 2026 · Transmission · CA

I am experiencing ongoing issues with my 2023 Lexus RX500h related to the powertrain/transmission. The vehicle has exhibited abnormal shifting behavior, including hesitation, jerking, and inconsistent acceleration. At times, the vehicle does not respond smoothly when accelerating, which raises safety concerns, especially when merging into traffic or driving at highway speeds. The issue occurs intermittently and has persisted despite multiple attempts to diagnose or address the problem. The condition affects the drivability and reliability of the vehicle and has not been resolved.

Filed Jan 16, 2026 · Transmission · NJ

The vehicle hesitates with apparent gear dragging and audible whining or grinding noises. The condition worsens when driving uphill and includes occasional sudden increases to high RPMs during normal acceleration. A slight burning odor is sometimes present after driving, along with lower-than-expected fuel economy in city and highway driving. The transmission exhibits harsh shifting, hesitation, and loss of smooth acceleration, negatively affecting drivability and raising safety concerns. Dealer inspections have not resolved the issue and claim the condition is normal.

Filed Nov 15, 2025 · Engine, Fuel system · MN

I have a 2022 Lexus RX350 F Sport. There are many complaints for this problem with this era of Lexus that happen daily. When pulling out into traffic the vehicle stutters or hesitates; this could cause a serious accident with injuries or death. I think it is a problem with the transmission shift programming. In an attempt to be fuel efficient, Lexus created a serious safety problem in my opinion. My car is under warranty, I brought it to the dealer and they said that is normal and a known issue with that era of Lexus; there is no fix or repair. Despite being under warranty, I paid to have the transmission system reset to learn my style of driving. The reset had no effect positive or negative. There were 750,000 Lexus RX's made between 2016 and 2022. Nearly all are affected by this problem. Note: Lexus RX450 hybrid uses a different transmission and likely does not have this problem. Please force Lexus to find a fix for this likely injurious, potentially deadly issue. Gemini AI reports this as a very common problem with this generation of Lexus RX. https:XXX I know it may have been helpful to have had a crash, injury, or fatality to help bolster my argument, but isn't the point to avoid that? Please don't let a numbers game cause more injuries or deaths. This is a known wide-scale problem that Lexus is not fixing. Thank you for your consideration. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Oct 24, 2024 · Engine, Fuel system · CO

- Uknown: 2023 RX 500H Performance hesitates or stalls when gas is applied to accelerate. When vehicle final start moving after 2-4 seconds, engine revs really high. This is believed to be an issue in the power train and specifically Transaxle issues and ECU programming issues. More on this issue can be found on Lexus service bulletin Record ID #4807268. Yes, vehicle is available for inspection. - Yes, with the vehicle stalling out in cross traffic, it has almost caused me, my wife and child to get t-boned on multiple instances. Lexus corporate and the Lexus dealer had been made aware of this concern on multiple occasions. - No, Dealer has not been able to reproduce after multiple reviews. I do have video proof of the car doing this taken after final attempt for Lexus to review. This video has been sent to Lexus corporate and Lexus Dealer. - Vehicle has been inspected by Lexus dealership as a representative of Lexus corporate. My Dealer has looked at it multiple times and can never duplicate and will not help. I worked with Lexus directly and also were not able to help. Lexus corporate has now turned my case over to their Lemon Law department for review on 7/8/24 due to this issue and many more issues with car. I provided requested information to Lexus Corporate Lemon department on 8/12/24 and have not hear back as of 10/24/24. - Unknown: Issue occurs few time a week since purchased the car on 2/4/2023, but do not recall first experience. Issue occurs more after the car has been sitting for a while on a hot day or not drove in a few days, and will stall out mostly on a left hand turn. The issue feels like the battery is dead and the gas engine has to take over for it causing a lag. When the engine does finally take over it seems to rev really high too. After it does it once or in some cases twice at the beginning of the drive it is typically okay the rest of the drive.

Filed Sep 19, 2024 · Engine · FL

The vehicle hesitates off a full stop such as at a red light. The automatic start stop feature is turned off manually, but car hesitates off the stop creating an unsafe condition if making a left turn where there is no left traffic arrow turn signal and cars are coming in the opposite direction or when entering a moving lane. The hesitation is enough to prevent you from entering or crossing moving traffic unless you wait for all traffic to be gone. This only happens when it is hot outside. When it is cool and air temperature is lower this does not occur and the car operates as normal. Has happened since new and Dealer cannot look into it because there are no failure codes appearing on the car's system.

Filed Nov 7, 2021 · Fuel system · MN

The system component that malfunctioned was the Fuel Tank Overfill Check Valve, also referred to the Rollover Valve located in the top of the gas tank. The valve is suppose to prevent any fuel purging or fuel leaking during a rollover accident. Unfortunately, the valve can malfunction during normal refueling without the owner being aware. For a few years, I have been smelling fuel fumes during and after refueling. I would sometimes discover a pool of raw fuel under the gas tank and charcoal canister during/after refueling and up to 12 miles later. The vehicle started hesitating, missing and actually stalling after refueling. Three professional mechanics couldn't solve the problem. In an attempt to eliminate this safety issue, I replaced the gas tank, gas filler tube, fuel vapor purge valve and charcoal canister. I finally discovered a tube from the malfunctioning Overfill Valve was sending raw fuel directly to the charcoal canister, filling the charcoal canister and ultimately overflowing onto the ground outside of the vehicle. I decided to cut a hole in the vehicle floor under the rear seat and replace the Fuel Tank Overfill Check Valve. The design of the replacement valve was different from the original and incorporated a float type check valve rather than just the simple diaphragm in the original. Maybe Toyota/Lexus quietly redesigned the valve, but all owners should be aware of the redesign and the vehicles should be recalled. Thousands of these vehicles are still on the road because people love them. These vehicles and the valves are aging and failing. Dangerous fire potential certainly exist. One previous owner did have this problem, I believe, and his vehicle burned to the ground. It's an extreme safety issue not just because of the hesitating/stalling in traffic after refueling, but mostly because of the raw fuel leaking from the charcoal canister under the vehicle right in the immediate vicinity of the hot exhaust and the gas tank.

Filed Sep 1, 2021 · Tires · GA

4 new tyres were installed by Firestone but driver side wore out despite balancing rotation, alignment performed during install. TyrePlus sister concern replaced with new tyre and prorated as the tyre was at fault. Same tyre blew out on the road. The tread, side all etc damaged the wire harness and car went out of control causing damage to suspension and fuel tank. Fuel began to leak. Car is toatled due to several other damages. TyrePlus does not want to take ownership. However they have all records of up to date maintenance. They referred me to Bridgestone wherein I need to submit 2 estimates. Tyre purchase dates maintenence etc. I have secured the tread and parts of the tyre which blew out and they want me to submit that. I am hesitatnt to submit it as they may tamper with the proof I have to fix it.

Filed Jul 21, 2021 · Engine · WA

Engine hesitation. sometimes the engine suddenly slows down or like lossing it’s power while running on the freeway or making a turn or going uphill . This is a very scarry situation everytime it does .

Filed Jul 15, 2012 · Transmission · 115,950 miles · OH

I was out of town I was driving, nothing was wrong with my rx at all. It's a 2002 lexus rx 300, then all of the sudden I go to take off at the stoplight and it was hesitating to take off. My transmission is now completely gone. No warning at all. If I take my vehicle over 35 MPH is jerks. Transmission slips at stop lights, (with no incline). 115000 miles, and the tranny goes out. I do believe it has been replaced before I purchased the car as well. Great job lexus, not. I thought going with a lexus I would have a quality vehicle. Man was I wrong.

Filed Jul 29, 2011 · Brakes · 2,000 miles · WA · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 lexus rx450h. While driving approximately 25 MPH the contact drove over a bump in the road while depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle stalled and suddenly the brakes disengaged. The contact stated the failure occurred several times and caused a rear end collision with another vehicle. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technicians were unable to diagnose the failure. The technicians stated the regenerative and the hydraulic braking system began to switch from one to the other and caused the hesitation. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 2,000.