LexusRX3502013Overview/lexus/rx350/2013/base/

2013 Lexus RX350

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2013 RX350.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic (S6)

The 2013 Lexus RX350 is an SUV equipped with an Automatic (S6) transmission and an EPA rating of 18/25/21 mpg. This model utilizes 6.4 qt of 0W-20 API engine oil for its maintenance requirements. Regarding its reliability history, the 2013 model year recorded 78 total owner complaints—primarily in the "Unknown Or Other" category—and one recall, placing it between the 2007 high of 225 complaints and the 2014 low of 26 across the 2004-2019 production span.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182013

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 9672335028. 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 filter9672335028 alt 9030179006
Engine air filter178010P051
Spark plug9091901247
Battery2880038080
Front wiper blades8522252170 alt 852220E020
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. 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.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity3
Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity3.2
Brake FluidDOT 3 · SAE J1703
Differential Gear Oil75W-85 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1 Pint
Engine Oil0W-20 · API

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
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 Capacity1.00-1.21 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity3.90-4.00 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

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Coat new bolts with the specified engine oil.

127.0 ft. lbs.27 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
390 degrees90 degrees
4Bolts 9-10 22 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
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) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Driveshaft (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
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 Lexus RX350 shows a notable spike in consumer complaints (78) compared to its immediate predecessors—nearly doubling the 44 complaints recorded in 2012—and represents the highest complaint count since the 2007 model year, though still well below that earlier peak. This elevation in complaints coincides with the highest TSB count in the entire dataset (328), suggesting dealers were addressing a substantial number of technical issues through warranty service bulletins rather than formal recalls. The 2013 model year maintained a single recall (matching the pattern of 2010-2012), while the recalls did not increase until the 2016-2017 period when the generation aged. The top complaint categories—service brakes, structure, and air bags—indicate potential concerns in braking responsiveness and structural integrity, with 13 crash-related complaints and 4 fire-related complaints also noted. The data suggests 2013 falls near a trouble peak within this generation, likely reflecting accumulated manufacturing issues that manifested as the vehicles aged; however, the absence of a formal investigation and the single recall (versus 3-4 in later years) offers some reassurance. Given the high TSB volume and elevated complaint count relative to surrounding years, prospective buyers should budget for potential suspension, brake, or air bag-related repairs and verify comprehensive service records before purchasing.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
328
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
78
Owner complaints
13 involved a crash · 4 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 78 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Unknown Or Other9
Service Brakes7
Structure6
Air Bags6
Engine5
Steering4
Electrical System,Exterior Lighting4
Electrical System3

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 328 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 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 2013 RX350 take?

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

Does the 2013 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.