It hasn’t been a great end to 2025 for Lexus in terms of reliability. Toyota’s luxury car brand, long known for its excellent reputation for reliability, has seen stuttering performance lately. It went from third place in the ranking of the most reliable brands to sixth place in the current reliability rankings.
Consumer Reports ranks car brands based on the average overall scores of their new models. According to CR’s surveys, Lexus’ reliability score has fallen as models like the Lexus GX SUV have fallen somewhat from favor, going from consistently scoring above-average or even excellent marks to now earning only average points.
The fact that there isn’t currently a Lexus ES Sedan on sale doesn’t really help either, as it’s typically one of the brand’s top performers in CR surveys. The luxury middle class will be launched next year as a completely new model for 2026 and as such is currently missing from the existing range. Lexus’ misstep means brands like Subaru, BMW, Porsche, Honda and Toyota are now in the lead. The highest-rated Lexus models for reliability to date are the 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid and Lexus TX Hybrid, both of which earned excellent reliability scores from CR. Aside from the GX SUV, every other 2026 Lexus vehicle scored above average in reliability.
The third-generation Lexus GX has not performed well in Consumer Reports surveys
Despite its impressive track record, the Lexus GX has fallen in CR’s reliability surveys since the third generation debuted in 2024. The mid-size three-row luxury SUV scored below average in 2024 and fell even further down the pecking order in 2025 after scoring fewer points than the previous year. You could argue that the move from below average to now average scores for 2026 represents progress, but the fact remains that there are problems with the third-generation Lexus GX.
According to CR, brakes and body hardware are common problem areas, with the 2024 Lexus GX receiving poor ratings in both areas. Comments from owners indicate that they experience squeaky front brakes, especially when reversing at low speeds. Many 2024 Lexus GX owners have also complained about their massage seats failing, often due to the air hose becoming loose. Avid followers of the three-row mid-size luxury SUV will also remember that the V35A engine was the subject of a recent recall due to concerns that there may still be machine waste left in the car from the manufacturing process.
In affected vehicles, dirt can adhere to the bearings, and prolonged use under heavier loads can eventually cause the bearing to fail. The problem, which also affects other body-on-frame vehicles such as the Toyota Tundra and Lexus LX, often manifests itself as rough driving or a complete loss of power. Lexus initiated another recall for defective backup cameras, as the rearview camera system in third-generation GX models can freeze or not display when the car is in reverse.
Lexus reliability compared to the highest ranked brands
If you ignore its reputation, Lexus’ latest reliability rating isn’t particularly bad. But how does it compare to the best performing companies? Only two of the thirteen CR-tested Lexus models scoring excellent reliability points means the automaker is some distance behind the Japanese automaker and top-ranked Subaru. Of the eight Subaru models surveyed in 2026, six achieved excellent reliability scores, while the remaining two scored well above average. New Subaru models with excellent reliability scores include the 2026 Subaru Forester, Forester Hybrid, Crosstrek, Legacy, BRZ and WRX. The Subaru Impreza and Ascent are the two models that score above average.
Similarly, nine of the fourteen 2026 BMW models reviewed so far scored excellent marks for reliability, meaning only five earned above average. The X5 is the highest-rated BMW model, followed by the X7 and i5. The X5 Plug-in Hybrid, i4 and 5 Series all achieved similar points, but did well enough to finish with excellent scores. The BMW 2 Series, X1 and iX are the other top performers. At the time of writing, there are only four Porsche models that have been rated for reliability, and two of them (Porsche Cayenne and 718 Boxster) scored excellent, while the other two scored well above average.
Honda, meanwhile, has three models with excellent reliability scores (2026 Honda CR-V Hybrid, Passport and Accord Hybrid). It also has nine models with above-average ratings and only one (Honda Prologue) with an average rating. Lexus’ parent company Toyota has no fewer than 13 models with above-average reliability scores. There are also ten models with excellent ratings, but the brand’s overall score is held down by three models with average reliability scores (Toyota Tundra 2026, Sequoia and Land Cruiser).
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