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Toyota is recalling some 2022 Lexus NX SUVs because the front shock absorbers may be missing some welds.

The Recall affects only 4,000 Lexus NX SUVs, and does not include the HEV hybrid electric, or the PHEV plug-in hybrid. Toyota is Lexus parent company. Dealers will inspect the welding near the shock absorber mounting areas, the company said. While there is no remedy yet, Toyota is developing one now.

The incorrect welding, Toyota said in a news release, can result “in a loss of driving stability and increasing the risk of a crash.”

Is the 2022 Lexus NX SUV safe?

The non-hybrid Lexus NX SUV is the subject of a new recall.
Lexus NX250 | Lexus

The 2022 Lexus NX and the NX Plug-in Hybrid had both earned Top Safety Pick+ awards from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Top Safety Pick is good, but the plus means these two SUVs scored “good” ratings in six categories or more to earn the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ status.

The only other small SUVs to earn the Top Safety Pick+ status are the Volvo C40 and XC40, the Chevy Trailblazer, Ford Bronco Sport, Hyundai Tucson, Mitsubishi Outlander and Nissan Rogue.

The cars are brand new for the 2022 model year and share a platform with the popular Toyota RAV4. However the NX has a more traditional SUV look.

Is the Lexus NX worth considering?

The Lexus NX 450h+ is a plug-in hybrid version of the Lexus NX SUV.
Lexus NX 450h+ | Lexus

You can look at a 2022 Lexus NX as the premium version of the Toyota RAV4. That’s not a bad thing. The NX is known to have a smooth ride, a comfortable interior, and almost every safety feature that Lexus can pack into an SUV.

The Lexus NX starts at $39,025 and is ranked as a reliable SUV.

It’s base engine, however, does not get the same high marks as the interior. It has just 203 horsepower which, for a mid-sized SUV runs out of steam. It’s not as quick as some of its rivals. However, upgrading to the NX350 means you get the 275-hp turbocharged four cylinder engine that makes it much more powerful.

Lexus does offer its upgraded F Sport trim on the NX. The F Sport line of Lexus cars is the highest-performance trim level, and in the NX the F Sport trim adds an adaptive suspension trim.

Does there a Lexus NX plug-in hybrid version?

The Lexus NX SUV does come in two hybrid verions.
Lexus NX 350h hybrid | Lexus

For 2022 Lexus added two new versions of the NX that are electrified. The 2022 NX 250h has a 189-hp four-cylinder engine mated to 179-kilowatt hybrid system that brings the total up to 239 hp. Lexus estimates that it should earn 29 mpg combined. The new NX450h+ is the plug-in hybrid version, and it’s quick. The 450h+ starts with a 181-horsepower four-cylinder augmented by a 227 kW electric motor for a total of 302 hp.

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Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.