LexusRX450h2013Overview/lexus/rx450h/2013/base/

2013 Lexus RX450h

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2013 RX450h.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic (AV-S6)

The 2013 RX450h is a hybrid-powered SUV built on Lexus' luxury crossover platform, pairing an efficient hybrid drivetrain with the brand's signature refinement to create a practical yet upscale driving experience—this is evident in its EPA fuel economy ratings of 31/28/29 mpg, figures that underscore the real-world efficiency advantage the hybrid system delivers over conventional rivals. The vehicle requires 6.4 quarts of 0W-20 API-rated engine oil and routes power through an AV-S6 automatic transmission, specs that reflect its carefully tuned powertrain calibration. Looking at the 2013 RX450h's standing within the model's broader reliability trajectory, its zero recalls and comparatively modest 31 total owner complaints sit well below the 55-complaint peak recorded across the 2011-2023 range, suggesting this model year represented a mature and dependable iteration of the platform that served owners without the systemic issues seen in other years.

Model year202520242022202120202019201820172013

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 economy31/28/29 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI S55D23R Hybrid · 360 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 S55D23R Hybrid · 360 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnHZSWOEM · verified
Tire sizeP235-60R18OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter9030179006 alt 9672335028
Engine air filter1780131141
Spark plug9091901247
Battery2880031293
Front wiper blades852120E020 alt 8522252170
Serpentine belt99367K0810
Thermostat90916A3002 alt 1632562010
Cabin air filter8713907020 alt 8713950100

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (AV-S6)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length187.8 in
Overall width74.4 in
Overall height67.7 in
Wheelbase107.9 in
Curb weight4652 lb
Track (front / rear)64.2 / 63.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)54/46

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined31 / 28 / 29 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium 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. 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

Engine Oil0W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity6.4 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts184 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts61 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug29.0-30.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts76 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub217 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)900 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.21-1.43 lbs
Oil TypeND 11 oil or equivalent
Oil Capacity4.10-4.61 oz
Standard BCI Group NumberS55D23R Hybrid
Standard BCI Cranking Performance360 cca

Service checks

Residual Pressure21.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance2.01-2.31 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Injector Primary Resistance3-100 Motor ohms
Engine Compression109-145 PSI. 15 Maximum variation PSI
Engine Oil Pressure5.8 psi @ Idle, 29 psi @ 2500
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in
Exhaust Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket25 ft-lbs / 20 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle77 ft-lbs / 58 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.040 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in / 0.0059 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.102 in / 0.394 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.102 in / 0.394 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.984 in / 0.335 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
145 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9045 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 miFloor Mat (inspect)
Every 5,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Floor Mat (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect all fluid levels)
Every 10,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Exterior Lighting (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft (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)
Every 100,000 miTransmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)

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 2013 RX450h recorded 31 complaints — more than double the 2012 and 2014 totals of 14 and 13 — but well below the generation peaks of 55 in 2017 and 36 in 2019. It carries zero recalls, matching all years except 2016 (two) and 2019 (one), while its 278 technical service bulletins represent the highest count across the model run, indicating active manufacturer response to emerging patterns. The leading complaint categories are "Unknown Or Other" (7), Service Brakes (6), and Air Bags (4), with five crash-related and one fire-related complaint logged; the data does not specify root causes for these issues. Complaint volume across the generation follows an uneven arc, dipping in even-numbered early years before rising sharply in 2016–2017, placing 2013 as a moderate spike in an otherwise improving early trajectory. TSB volume declines steadily after 2013, suggesting many early-production items were addressed through dealer campaigns. For a buyer, 2013 is a reasonable choice if the brake and air bag complaint areas are verified as resolved on the specific vehicle, but it is not the quietest year in the generation.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
278
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
31
Owner complaints
5 involved a crash · 1 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 31 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Unknown Or Other7
Service Brakes6
Air Bags4
Steering2
Electrical System1
Electrical System,Structure,Unknown Or Other1
Unknown Or Other,Service Brakes,Forward Collision Avoidance1
Engine1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 278 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-0043-23 Rev12025-06-13Electrical SystemThe air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the…
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…

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 RX450h. 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 2013 RX450h take?

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

Does the 2013 RX450h have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the RX450h get?

EPA figures are 31 city / 28 highway / 29 combined mpg.