LexusNX3002018Overview/lexus/nx300/2018/base/

2018 Lexus NX300

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2018 NX300.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic (S6)

The 2018 Lexus NX300 is an SUV equipped with an Automatic (S6) transmission, delivering EPA fuel economy figures of 22/28/25 mpg across city, highway, and combined driving. While the vehicle has accumulated 21 total owner complaints predominantly focused on the Fuel/Propulsion System alongside a single recall, this model year marks the lowest complaint volume across the 2018-2020 range, besting the 36 complaints seen in 2019. Consequently, the 2018 NX300 sits as the most trouble-free year in this documented window of the model's history, providing researchers a stronger reliability baseline than its later counterparts.

Model year2021202020192018

Quick specs

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

Lug nut torque76 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy22/28/25 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses 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.

Tail / brake / turnCLTSOEM · verified
Tire sizeP225/65R17, P225/60R18, P235/55R18OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7, 7.5, 7.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter9030179006 alt 9672335028
Engine air filter178010P051
Fuel filter2321736010
Spark plug9091901276
Battery2880038080
Front wiper blades8522278012 alt 8521278011
Serpentine belt9091602727
Thermostat9091603154 alt 9091603156
Cabin air filter8713950100

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S6)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length182.3 in
Overall width72.8 in
Overall height65 in
Wheelbase104.7 in
Curb weight3869 lb
Track (front / rear)62.2 / 62.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)59/41

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined22 / 28 / 25 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

Torque lug nuts to 76 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.0 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.0 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts192.0 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts192.0 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)14.0 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)32.0 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)15.0 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts72.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts76 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)800 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerLexus
Spark Plug Gap.032
Spark Plug Torque18 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity.99-1.21 lbs.
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity4.06 oz

Service checks

Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum28.0 psi
Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum121.0 psi
RPM28.0-121.0 @ Idle rpm

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque25 Replace Bolts.
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 79; Rear: 77
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: .984; Rear: .413
Maximum Rotor RunoutFront: .002; Rear: .0059

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages
130.0 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
290.0
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages
163 ft. lbs.63 ft. lbs
2Turn 90 degrees90 degrees
3Turn 90
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 3 stages
115.0 ft. lbs.15 ft. lbs
245.0 ft. lbs.45 ft. lbs
390.0

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; spark plugs every 40,000 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) · Fuel Tank (add fluid conditioner) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect all fluid levels) · Windshield Wiper Blade (inspect)
Every 10,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft Flange Yoke (torque) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap O-Ring (inspect)
Every 40,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Intercooler (drain & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Intercooler (drain & 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 2018 Lexus NX300 sits at the start of the three-year data window, with 21 complaints—lower than the 36 recorded in 2019 but nearly identical to the 23 in 2020. Both 2018 and 2019 had one recall, while 2020 had none, and all three years had zero investigations. Technical service bulletins (TSBs) declined steadily from 134 in 2018 to 115 in 2020, suggesting that the generation’s issues were being addressed over time, though the data does not specify root causes for any of the complaints. The top complaint area for 2018 is the fuel/propulsion system (5 reports), with two crash complaints and no fires, indicating no severe safety crisis. Because 2018 avoids the complaint spike seen in 2019 and has a moderate recall count, it represents a relatively stable early point in this generation’s lifecycle. Overall, the 2018 Lexus NX300 is a reasonable buy for a used vehicle, provided you verify that the single recall has been completed and remain aware of the fuel-system complaints noted in the record.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
134
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
21
Owner complaints
2 involved a crash · 0 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 21 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Fuel/Propulsion System5
Fuel System, Gasoline,Engine1
Steering,Vehicle Speed Control,Fuel/Propulsion System1
Visibility/Wiper1
Unknown Or Other,Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System1
Steering1
Service Brakes,Forward Collision Avoidance1
Electrical System,Engine1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

20V682000Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel PumpReported 04/11/2020

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020… Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 134 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
L-SB-0057-22 Rev22026-02-02Electrical SystemOBSOLETE NOTICE February 2, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see L-SB-0004-26.
L-SB-0004-262026-01-23Electrical SystemSome 2018 – 2025 model year Lexus vehicles equipped with the Enform™ 2.0 Navigation…
L-SB-0030-24 Rev22025-12-15StructureSome 2005 – 2026 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a…
L-TT-0326-23 Rev22025-08-19Electrical SystemSome customers may experience operational difficulties with some telematics features…
L-SB-0043-23 Rev12025-06-13Electrical SystemThe air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the…

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 NX300. 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

Does the 2018 NX300 have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the NX300 get?

EPA figures are 22 city / 28 highway / 25 combined mpg.