LexusRX3502012Overview/lexus/rx350/2012/base/

2012 Lexus RX350

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 RX350.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic (S6)

The 2012 Lexus RX350 is a midsize SUV built on the automaker's global platform and powered by a V6 engine that requires 6.4 quarts of 0W-20 API-certified oil for maintenance, delivering EPA-estimated fuel economy of 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined through a 6-speed automatic transmission. In terms of reliability, the 2012 model year recorded 44 owner complaints with the Vehicle Speed Control system emerging as the primary concern, alongside a single recall, placing it in the middle range of the RX model's complaint history from 2004 to 2019—well below the peak of 225 complaints in 2007 but above the lowest point of 26 complaints in 2014, suggesting a reasonably typical reliability profile for this generation.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182012

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6.4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque76 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy18/25/21 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24F · 585 CCA battery, OE oil filter 9030179006. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 24F · 585 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turn10AOEM · verified
Tire sizeP235-60R18OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter9030179006 alt 9672335028
Engine air filter178010P051
Spark plug9091901247
Battery2880038080
Front wiper blades8522252170 alt 852120E020
Serpentine belt99367K1550 alt 90916A2019
Thermostat90916A3002 alt 1632562010
Cabin air filter8713907020 alt 8713950100

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S6)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length187.8 in
Overall width74.4 in
Overall height67.7 in
Wheelbase107.9 in
Curb weight4343 lb
Track (front / rear)64.2 / 63.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)57/43

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined18 / 25 / 21 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6.4 qt of 0W-20 API engine oil, 75W-85 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 · SAE J1703 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 76 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 29.0-30.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity3
Brake FluidDOT 3 · SAE J1703
Differential Gear Oil75W-85 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1 Pint
Engine CoolantHOAT
Engine Oil0W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity6.4 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts184 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts61 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine BoltsLower: 15 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts15 ft-lbs
Main Bearings16
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug29.0-30.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts76 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug36.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug36.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub217 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)650 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity.99-1.21 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity3.91 oz
Standard BCI Group Number24F
Standard BCI Cranking Performance585 cca

Service checks

Residual Pressure21.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance2.01-2.31 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Injector Primary Resistance3-100 Motor ohms
Engine Compression142-189 PSI. 15 maximum variation PSI.
Engine Oil Pressure11.6 @ Idle, 55.5 psi @ 6000 rpm psi
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in
Exhaust Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket25 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle58 ft-lbs / 77 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.040 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.0059 in / 0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.394 in / 1.102 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.394 in / 1.102 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.335 in / 0.984 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
130 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9030 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 5,000 miUniversal Vehicle Operation (inspect all fluid levels)
Every 5,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Floor Mat (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Universal Vehicle Operation (road test)
Every 10,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect all fluid levels)
At 15,000 miCabin Air Filter (clean)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (clean) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The federal record traces a clear arc for this RX350 generation: an early peak of 225 complaints in 2007, a steady decline through 2011, and a later rebound that reaches 91 complaints by 2017 before tapering again. The 2012 model sits near the bottom of that post-peak trough, logging just 44 complaints, one recall, no investigations, and 238 TSBs—lower than 2011 (54 complaints) and 2013 (78 complaints), and well below the generation’s high-water marks. Its leading complaint categories are vehicle speed control (8), structure (3), electrical system (3), and air bags (3), with 11 crash-related and 2 fire-related complaints, though the data does not specify root causes. While 2014 recorded even fewer complaints (26), 2012 still represents one of the quieter years in the generation and carries fewer recalls than the 2016–2019 range, which saw three to four recalls per year. Given its low complaint volume and single recall, the 2012 RX350 appears to be a comparatively sound choice within this generation, provided a pre-purchase inspection confirms the one recall was addressed.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
238
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
44
Owner complaints
11 involved a crash · 2 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 44 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Vehicle Speed Control8
Structure3
Electrical System3
Air Bags3
Power Train3
Unknown Or Other2
Service Brakes2
Engine2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

14V054000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/ModuleReported 12/02/2014

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012 and 2013 Toyota Tacoma and Lexus RX350 vehicles and certain model year 2012 Toyota Rav4 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the brake system contains a brake actuator that… Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and Toyota and Lexus dealers will update the software for the Skid Control electronic control unit, free of charge. The recall began on March 28, 2014…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 238 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
L-SB-0030-24 Rev22025-12-15StructureSome 2005 – 2026 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a…
L-SB-0017-19 Rev12025-02-07StructureSome 2010 – 2026 model year Lexus vehicles may exhibit paint stains after the removal of…
L-SB-0017-19 Rev12025-02-07StructureSome 2010 – 2026 model year Lexus vehicles may exhibit paint stains after the removal of…
L-SB-0030-24 Rev12024-07-29StructureSome 2005 – 2024 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a…
L-SB-0030-24 Rev12024-07-29StructureSome 2005 – 2024 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific RX350. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2012 RX350 take?

6.4 qt of 0W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2012 RX350 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the RX350 get?

EPA figures are 18 city / 25 highway / 21 combined mpg.