LexusRX450H2018Overview/lexus/rx450h/2018/base/

2018 Lexus RX450H

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2018 RX450H.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic (AV-S6)

The 2018 Lexus RX450H is an SUV fitted with an automatic AV-S6 transmission and EPA-rated at 31/28/30 mpg, with engine oil capacity specified at 5.0 quarts of 0W-20 viscosity. Within the 2011–2023 complaint record, this model year accumulated just 27 owner complaints and zero recalls, a significant reduction from the 55 complaints logged for 2017. Although service brakes represent the top complaint area, the low overall volume and absence of recalls place the 2018 model below the 2017 peak in the RX450H’s tracked reliability history, indicating a comparatively uneventful model year.

Model year202520242022202120202019201820172016

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20OEM · verified
Lug nut torque76 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy31/28/30 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 / turnOFFOEM · verified
Tire sizeP235/65R18, P235/55R20OEM · verified
Wheel / rim8.0 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter9030179006 alt 9672335028
Engine air filter178010P090
Fuel filter2330031241 alt 2321731090
Spark plug9091901263
BatteryG951048122
Front wiper blades852120E081 alt 852220E081
Serpentine belt9091602729
Thermostat1632631050 alt 1603131040
Cabin air filter871390E040

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (AV-S6)

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined31 / 28 / 30 mpg
DrivetrainAll-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 5.0 qt of 0W-20 engine oil, 75W-85 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 76 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity3.0-6.0
Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil75W-85 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.0 qt
Engine CoolantHOAT
Engine Oil0W-20
Engine Oil Capacity5.0 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts192.0 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts61.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs81.0 inch lbs. ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts76 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)1000 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerLexus
Spark Plug Gap.028
Spark Plug Torque13 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Standard BCI Group NumberS55D23R Hybrid
Standard BCI Cranking Performance360 cca
Standard BCI Group Number47
Standard BCI Cranking Performance460 cca

Service checks

RPM28.0-121.0 @ Idle rpm
Residual Pressure14.0.
Engine Compression109

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 25; Rear: 25 replace
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 114; Rear: 111
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: .984; Rear: .650
Maximum Rotor RunoutFront: .002; Rear: .0059

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages
118.0 ft. lbs.18 ft. lbs
290.0
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 3 stages
1Cap bolts45 ft. lbs
2Cap bolts90 degrees
338.0

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 60,000 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) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Hybrid Inverter (inspect coolant 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 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
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 2018 Lexus RX450H posts a relatively favorable federal record, with 27 complaints and zero recalls — sitting well below the 2017 peak of 55 complaints that represents the high-water mark of this generation's complaint arc. Across the eight-model-year span shown, complaints fluctuate between 13 and 55, with 2018 falling on the lower-middle portion of that range and notably below the pre-2017 average, suggesting the 2017 spike was an anomaly rather than an escalating trend. The TSB count tells a parallel story of improving maturity: 132 technical service bulletins in 2018 is the lowest figure in the dataset, down from 254–278 in the early years, indicating fewer unresolved service items being logged as the platform aged. The top complaint areas for 2018 are diffuse rather than concentrated — Service Brakes (5), Unknown/Other (4), Engine (2), and Structure (2) — with no single component dominating the picture, and the two crash-related complaints with zero fire complaints are not enough volume to flag a safety pattern. Taken together, the 2018 model year sits in a quiet, post-spike pocket of the generation's record with no active recalls. **For a used-buyer, 2018 is a defensible choice: it carries a clean recall history, modest complaint volume, and the lowest TSB count of the generation, though a pre-purchase inspection focused on the brake system is still warranted given its leading complaint category.**

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
132
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
27
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 27 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes5
Unknown Or Other4
Engine2
Structure2
Fuel/Propulsion System2
Steering,Suspension1
Engine,Back Over Prevention,Forward Collision Avoidance1
Visibility/Wiper1

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 132 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 2018 RX450H take?

5.0 qt of 0W-20 STARBURST, per the factory manual.

Does the 2018 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 / 30 combined mpg.