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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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

8 reports
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70,914 miles · Sep 7, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I TOOK MY LEXUS 2000 BECAUSE IT SHIMMIED BADLY. THE DEALER COULD NOT LOOSEN THE NUT BECAUSE THE WHOLE CYLINDER DISC ASSY WAS RUSTED SO BADLY THAT THEY HAVE TO SAW IT OFF. THE BRAKE PAD COULD NOT EVEN MOVE, THEY HAVE TO CHANGE THE ARM THAT CONNECT BRAKING. I WAS NEVER WARNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10135723

Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE ON 6 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, AND HAS BEEN INSPECTED 3 TIMES, WHEN THE PEDAL IS APPLIED IT ENGAGES AND GOES TO THE FLOOR, AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE BRAKE WILL RE-ENGAGE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *JB THE CONSUMER SUGGESTED THAT IF THE BRAKES ARE UNABLE TO BE FIXED, THEN…

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THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE ON 6 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, AND HAS BEEN INSPECTED 3 TIMES, WHEN THE PEDAL IS APPLIED IT ENGAGES AND GOES TO THE FLOOR, AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE BRAKE WILL RE-ENGAGE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *JB THE CONSUMER SUGGESTED THAT IF THE BRAKES ARE UNABLE TO BE FIXED, THEN THE DEALER SHOULD RE-PURCHASE THE VEHICLE. *SCC

NHTSA ODI #567318

Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

OVER THE LAST 10-11 MONTHS VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING BRAKE PROBLEMS. VEHICLE TRAVELLING 25MPH, WHEN BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED, PEDAL WILL GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THEN RETURN TO NORMAL AFTER A FEW SECONDS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED BY DEALER 3 TIMES, AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. CONSUMER SCARED TO DRIVE VEHICLE F…

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OVER THE LAST 10-11 MONTHS VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING BRAKE PROBLEMS. VEHICLE TRAVELLING 25MPH, WHEN BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED, PEDAL WILL GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THEN RETURN TO NORMAL AFTER A FEW SECONDS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED BY DEALER 3 TIMES, AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. CONSUMER SCARED TO DRIVE VEHICLE FEARING LOSS OF BRAKES.*AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #8014297

Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED AT LEAST 6 TIMES. THE VEHICLE IS USUALLY GOING ABOUT 25-30 MPH AND THE BRAKE IS ALREADY ENGAGED WHEN IT FAILS. THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND A FEW SECONDS LATER RE-ENGAGES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT GONE THROUGH ANY STANDING WATER, THE ROADS HAVE BEEN DRY AND THERE HAS NOT BEEN "PANIC" BRAKING. THE D…

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THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED AT LEAST 6 TIMES. THE VEHICLE IS USUALLY GOING ABOUT 25-30 MPH AND THE BRAKE IS ALREADY ENGAGED WHEN IT FAILS. THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND A FEW SECONDS LATER RE-ENGAGES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT GONE THROUGH ANY STANDING WATER, THE ROADS HAVE BEEN DRY AND THERE HAS NOT BEEN "PANIC" BRAKING. THE DEALERSHIP, KEYES LEXUS IN VAN NUYS, HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND REFUSES TO ATTEMPT TO REPLACE ANY PARTS. WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #764413

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN BRAKING THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE, AND VEHICLE TOOK LONGER TO SLOW DOWN. CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY MORE PRESSURE. THIS PROGRESSED TO CLICKING AND SQUEALING ASSOCIATED WITH SMELL OF FIRE, LIKE ROTORS WERE GRINDING. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY LUBED THE BRAKES, AND PIVOTED POINTS. THIS STOPPED THE NOISE, BUT DID NOT FIX THE PR…

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WHEN BRAKING THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE, AND VEHICLE TOOK LONGER TO SLOW DOWN. CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY MORE PRESSURE. THIS PROGRESSED TO CLICKING AND SQUEALING ASSOCIATED WITH SMELL OF FIRE, LIKE ROTORS WERE GRINDING. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY LUBED THE BRAKES, AND PIVOTED POINTS. THIS STOPPED THE NOISE, BUT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAS CONTINUED TO HAVE THE PROBLEM EVERY 3000 MILES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #897862

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

SHORTLY AFTER I PUCHASED MY VEHICLE I BEGAN HAVING FLAT TIRES AT 1200,1700 AND 2018 MILES. WHEN THE TIRES WENT FLAT, THEY WERE OFF THE RIM FLAT, DUE TO THE SOFT CONSTRUCTION FOR THE RUBBER FOR THE LUXURY RIDE. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE PROBLEM WAS REMEDIED WITH REPLACEMENTS. AT OR AROUND THE SAME TIME I NOTICED …

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SHORTLY AFTER I PUCHASED MY VEHICLE I BEGAN HAVING FLAT TIRES AT 1200,1700 AND 2018 MILES. WHEN THE TIRES WENT FLAT, THEY WERE OFF THE RIM FLAT, DUE TO THE SOFT CONSTRUCTION FOR THE RUBBER FOR THE LUXURY RIDE. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE PROBLEM WAS REMEDIED WITH REPLACEMENTS. AT OR AROUND THE SAME TIME I NOTICED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. IE, EXCESSIVE SQUEELING, POPPING AND DELAY IN STOPPING. I HAVE MADE 4 TRIPS TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR CONSISTING OF LUBRICATION, REAR PAD REPLACEMENT, FRONT PAD REPLACEMENT, REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE PAD HARDWARE WITH THE HARDWARE REPLACEMENT TAKING 2 WEEKS TO REPAIR AND THAT WAS AT 12000 MILES. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AGAIN REGARDING THE BRAKES AT 12913 MILES. I ALSO STATED CONCERN ABOUT THE THIN PAINT JOB ON THE AUTO AND HOW MANY CHIPS WHERE ON THE CAR AT WHICH POINT I WAS INFORMED THAT SEVERAL CUSTOMERS WHERE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE PAINT ON THEIR CARS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #753334

Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicUnknown Or Other

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR BRAKES. ON AUGUST 15, 2001 ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #895876

Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I EXPERIENCED AROUND 15,000 MILEAGE A NOISE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VERY SIMILAR TO THE ROAD SURFACE CHANGING FROM SMOOTH TO ROUGH. I ASSUMED SINCE THE VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN IN FOR SERVICE THAT THE BRAKES/BRAKE SYSTEM HAD BEEN ADJUSTED AND THAT IT WAS NOISE WAS NORMAL. THE NOISE AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE INCREASED WHEN APPLYING BRA…

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I EXPERIENCED AROUND 15,000 MILEAGE A NOISE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VERY SIMILAR TO THE ROAD SURFACE CHANGING FROM SMOOTH TO ROUGH. I ASSUMED SINCE THE VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN IN FOR SERVICE THAT THE BRAKES/BRAKE SYSTEM HAD BEEN ADJUSTED AND THAT IT WAS NOISE WAS NORMAL. THE NOISE AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE INCREASED WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AND GRADUATED TO ALSO A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN APPLICATION. IT WASN'T UNTIL A RELATIVE INDICATED TO ME THAT THE SOUND WAS NOT NORMAL DID I TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE NOISE AND VIBRATION WAS DUE TO ROTOR SURFACES THAT NEEDED TO BE TURNED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IT WAS DUE TO STOP AND GO DRIVING. I STATED TO THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE THAT I DID NOT THINK IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE BRAKES TO HAVE EVEN WEAR AND THE ROTORS TO HAVE BLUING SPOTS THAT I OBSERVED. I ALSO INDICATED THAT 99 PERCENT OF MY DRIVING WAS HIGHWAY AND NOT STOP AND GO. I ASKED THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN TO CONTACT LEXUS CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND THEY AGREED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR. I DO NOT. I THINK THESE VEHICLES HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKING/ROTOR SYSTEMS AND THAT THE CUSTOMERS WAS BEING CHARGED FOR A DEFECTS. I WAS CHARGED $277.40 TO RESURFACE ROTARS. I THINK THAT THE PROBLEM THAT INITIALLY STARTED AT 15,000 MILES IS THE RESULT OF DEFECTS IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND NOT DRIVING HABITS AND TRAFFIC CONDITIONS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #749483

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.