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2000 Lexus RX300

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most RX300 years

Owner complaints for the 2000 Lexus RX300 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 88.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

162 reports with mileage · 54 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 138 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

16 crash reports0 fire reports12 injury reports

Power Train complaints

138 reports
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120,000 miles · Jan 27, 2010
Power Train

2000 RX 300 TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 120K MILE *CN

NHTSA ODI #10302600

182,000 miles · Dec 24, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

9/2009 - ENGINE FAILED. VEHICLE INITIALLY PERFORMED NORMALLY, BUT ENGINE SEIZED DURING INTERSTATE DRIVING. PROFESSIONAL INSPECTION DETERMINED CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS SLUDGE BUILD UP. VEHICLE OUT OF INITIAL WARRANTY. EXTENSION BASED UPON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS EXPIRED 4/2009. NEW ENGINE INSTALLED AT MY EXPENSE. 12/2009 - TRANSMIS…

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9/2009 - ENGINE FAILED. VEHICLE INITIALLY PERFORMED NORMALLY, BUT ENGINE SEIZED DURING INTERSTATE DRIVING. PROFESSIONAL INSPECTION DETERMINED CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS SLUDGE BUILD UP. VEHICLE OUT OF INITIAL WARRANTY. EXTENSION BASED UPON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS EXPIRED 4/2009. NEW ENGINE INSTALLED AT MY EXPENSE. 12/2009 - TRANSMISSION FAILED. VEHICLE INITIALLY PERFORMED NORMALLY, BUT SUDDENLY BEGAN TO LURCH WHEN PLACED INTO GEAR AFTER GASOLINE FILL UP. PROFESSIONAL INSPECTION DETERMINED TRANSMISSION FAILURE. NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED AT MY EXPENSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10296874

92,211 miles · Dec 4, 2009
Power Train

BOUGHT MY 2002 LEXUS RX300 BRAND NEW WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE DONE ON SCHEDULED. AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF SLOW/SLIPPAGE SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND HAD IT SERVICE/REBUILT BY MY LOCAL MECHANIC. I FOUND OUT ON AN INTERNET LEXUS CLUB FORUM THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE EARLY GENERATION LEXUS RX300 (YEAR 19…

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BOUGHT MY 2002 LEXUS RX300 BRAND NEW WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE DONE ON SCHEDULED. AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF SLOW/SLIPPAGE SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND HAD IT SERVICE/REBUILT BY MY LOCAL MECHANIC. I FOUND OUT ON AN INTERNET LEXUS CLUB FORUM THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE EARLY GENERATION LEXUS RX300 (YEAR 1999-2001) AND I AM UNFORTUNATELY OVER THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY SO I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC TO BE SERVICED. I PAID $3800+ TO HAVE TO REPAIRED - WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE FOR BUYING A SUPPOSED TO BE RELIABLE CAR? THANKFULLY IT WAS NOT ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED BUT RATHER ON THE OFF RAMP OF THE HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10294513

156,000 miles · Nov 4, 2009
Power Train

MY 2000 LEXUS RX300 TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE LEXUS DEALER COST $4,500 FIX IT. MY CAR WAS THERE COUPLE MONTH AGO FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, THEY SAID EVERY THING OK, IT HAD THE OIL CHANGE LAST WEEK. THEY SAID THIS IS THE TRANSMISSION PART PROBLEM EVEN IT HAD THE TRANSMISSION OIL CHANGE REGULARLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10291027

92,731 miles · Oct 30, 2009
Power Train

LEXUS 2000 RX300 TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10290348

124,000 miles · Aug 21, 2009
Power Train

DEAR SIR: I AM ONE OF THOSE RX300 2000 LEXUS OWNERS. I HAVE BEEN FAITHFULLY TAKEN MY LEXUS TO THE LEXUS DEALER FOR EVERY OIL CHANGE AND PROBLEM. I RECENTLY TOOK MY 2000 LEXUS WITH 124,000 MILES TO LEXUS FOR MY REGULAR OIL CHANGE.. CHARGING ME BUT FAILURE TO TELL ME THAT MY TRANSMISSION IS HAVING PROBLEMS. I PAID FOR MY SERV…

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DEAR SIR: I AM ONE OF THOSE RX300 2000 LEXUS OWNERS. I HAVE BEEN FAITHFULLY TAKEN MY LEXUS TO THE LEXUS DEALER FOR EVERY OIL CHANGE AND PROBLEM. I RECENTLY TOOK MY 2000 LEXUS WITH 124,000 MILES TO LEXUS FOR MY REGULAR OIL CHANGE.. CHARGING ME BUT FAILURE TO TELL ME THAT MY TRANSMISSION IS HAVING PROBLEMS. I PAID FOR MY SERVICE BUT.... I AM OUT THE MONEY PLUS LEXUS WOULD LIKE ME TO PAY $4,600 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. OMG... I THINK LOOKING AT ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION LEXUS SHOULD HELP DEFRAY THE COSTS............... THANKS *TR

NHTSA ODI #10281350

Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2009
Power Train

IGNITION STUCK IN ACC POSITION. TURNED OFF CAR NORMALLY WHEN I TRIED TO START IT I WAS UNABLE TO BECAUSE THE IGNITION WAS IN THE ACC POSITION INSTEAD OF THE OFF POSITION. TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM I HAD TO TOW MY CAR HOME AND ORDER A NEW IGNITION TUMBLER, AND THEN HAVE IT REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10280548

75,360 miles · Aug 14, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IN 2008. HE RECENTLY HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE RPMS DISPLAYED INACCURATE READINGS. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO A LOW GEAR AND MOVED THE VEH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IN 2008. HE RECENTLY HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE RPMS DISPLAYED INACCURATE READINGS. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO A LOW GEAR AND MOVED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 75,360.

NHTSA ODI #10280470

120,000 miles · Jun 24, 2009
Power Train

2000 AWD LEXUS RX 300.....I LOVE MY CAR , BOUGHT IT USED AT 44,000K, 2002 AND IT HAS BEEN GOOD EXCEPT FOR THE TRANSMISSION, NOW AT 120,000 AND EVERYONE ,DEALER AND LOCAL INDEPENDENTS WANT $4200-$4500, SAYS IT IS THE 'PLANETARY GEARS' IT WASN'T THROWING A CHECKING ENGINE LIGHT,NOR A CODE JUST EVER SO OFTEN IT WOULDN'T GO IN REVE…

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2000 AWD LEXUS RX 300.....I LOVE MY CAR , BOUGHT IT USED AT 44,000K, 2002 AND IT HAS BEEN GOOD EXCEPT FOR THE TRANSMISSION, NOW AT 120,000 AND EVERYONE ,DEALER AND LOCAL INDEPENDENTS WANT $4200-$4500, SAYS IT IS THE 'PLANETARY GEARS' IT WASN'T THROWING A CHECKING ENGINE LIGHT,NOR A CODE JUST EVER SO OFTEN IT WOULDN'T GO IN REVERSE. ONE DAY GOING DOWN THE ROAD IT JUST QUITS GOING. I HAD TAKEN IT IN TO A LOCAL TOYOTA/LEXUS REPAIR SHOP MANY TIMES SAYING IT WAS CHANGING GEARS RIGHT, AND DEALER, AND THEY HAD PUT THE TESTER ON IT SEVERAL TIMES, REPLACED 02SENSORS , BUT ALL ALONG SAID IT WASN'T THE TRANSMISSION, IT WAS! THIS CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN BUT IT HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF AS WELL. I FEEL IF IT IS A "LEXUS' A TOYOTA GETS 300-500,000 ON A TRANSMISSION SHOULDN'T A LEXUS DO EVEN BETTER? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10274900

97,500 miles · Jun 9, 2009
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN LEXUS RX300. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10273197

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

DP02004 · Engine Seizure

Opened Apr 30, 2002 · Closed Jun 20, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

No summary supplied.