Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
50–25K
525–50K
1750–75K
4375–100K
77100–150K
15150K+
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
What owners actually said
216 reports
56,370 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
RESOLVING OIL SLUDGE REPAIR PROBLEM ON USED RX 300 WITH THIRD PARTY LEXUS DEALER--CAR BROKE DOWN ON 1200 MILE ROAD TRIP. LEXUS PAID FOR RENTAL CAR FOR RETURN TRIP. REPAIR IS UNDER WARRANTY. MY PROBLEM IS THE DEALER WE PURCHASED THE CAR FROM MUST HAVE KNOWN THIS PROBLEM EXISTED WITH THESE VEHICLES AND HAD AMPLE EVIDENCE OF LACK O…
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RESOLVING OIL SLUDGE REPAIR PROBLEM ON USED RX 300 WITH THIRD PARTY LEXUS DEALER--CAR BROKE DOWN ON 1200 MILE ROAD TRIP. LEXUS PAID FOR RENTAL CAR FOR RETURN TRIP. REPAIR IS UNDER WARRANTY. MY PROBLEM IS THE DEALER WE PURCHASED THE CAR FROM MUST HAVE KNOWN THIS PROBLEM EXISTED WITH THESE VEHICLES AND HAD AMPLE EVIDENCE OF LACK OF OIL CHANGES IN THE REPAIR HISTORY, YET DID NOT PULL THE VALVE COVER OFF THIS VEHICLE TO DETERMINE IF OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM EXISTED. ISN'T THAT STANDARD PRACTICE FOR ALL USED CAR INSPECTIONS? AM TOLD BY THIRD PARTY LEXUS DEALER THERER IS A MAINTENANCE PROCEDURE THAT REQUIRES THIS SLUDGE INSPECTION ON ALL V-6 TOYOTA ENGINES, YET DEALER WE PURCHASED CAR FROM SAYS THIS IS NOT REQUIRED.
NHTSA ODI #10071203
109,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE FAILED DUE TO SLUDGING. I WAS UNAWARE OF THE SPA AND HAD A USED ENGINE INSTALLED. LEXUS REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR BECAUSE I PERFORM MY OWN MAINTENANCE
NHTSA ODI #10069445
41,000 miles · Sep 13, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingInjury
TRAVELING 60 MPH ON MERIT PKY CONNECTICUT, THE FLUID LEAKED OUT OF A BLOWN GASKET IN THE TRANSFER BOX TO THE REAR WHEEL DRIVE. THE REAR WHEELS LOCKED UP AND CAR SKIDDED 150 FT AND SPUN. A MIRACLE NO CARS OR BARRIERS WERE HIT. MOTHER SUFFERED NERVE DAMAGE FROM BEING TWISTED. HAD CAR TOWED DIRECTLY TO DEALER. THE DEALER - LEXUS OF…
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TRAVELING 60 MPH ON MERIT PKY CONNECTICUT, THE FLUID LEAKED OUT OF A BLOWN GASKET IN THE TRANSFER BOX TO THE REAR WHEEL DRIVE. THE REAR WHEELS LOCKED UP AND CAR SKIDDED 150 FT AND SPUN. A MIRACLE NO CARS OR BARRIERS WERE HIT. MOTHER SUFFERED NERVE DAMAGE FROM BEING TWISTED. HAD CAR TOWED DIRECTLY TO DEALER. THE DEALER - LEXUS OF ENGLEWOOD NJ, MADE AN ATTEMPT TO PAY OFF LEASE AND LEASE A NEW CAR BUT DID NOT FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THEIR OFFER. THEY TREATED US HORRIBLY!!! THEY GAVE US NO INFORMATION ON WHAT HAPPENED TO THE TRUCK AND THROUGH A MIRED OF LIES AND NASTY PHONE CALLS FROM THEM, WE HAVE DECIDED TO BUY A MERCEDES ML350. I WILL NEVER DRIVE A LEXUS AGAIN AND AM CURRENTLY PROCEEDING WITH LITIGATION AGAINST LEXUS AND LEXUS OF ENGLEWOOD NJ. I'VE SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS BUT FOUND NONE. THIS INCIDENT, I BELIEVE WAS AN ORIGINAL DEFECT OR CAUSED BY THE INCOMPETENCE OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF LEXUS OF ENGLEWOOD. THE SERVICE MANAGER JOHN LOMANDO HAS DECEIVED, LIED AND BEEN DOWN RIGHT NASTY TO US. THE TRUCK WAS SERVICED ON TIME EVERY SERVICE WITH LEXUS OF ENGLEWOOD. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10038832
26,000 miles · Jul 24, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury
AIR BAGS FAILED TO INFLATE AFTER VEHICLE WAS HIT VIOLENTLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE/FRONT RIGHT QUARTER PANEL. VEHICLE ROLLED, STILL NOT INFLATING ANY AIR BAGS. DRIVER SUFFERED INJURY . SEAT BELTS WERE USED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10029083
Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 2003
SuspensionCrash
VEHICLE OVERTURNED 3 TIMES DUE TO RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BREAKING. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10022770
36,000 miles · Jan 22, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
MY WIFE NOTICED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AS SHE WAS DRIVING TO WORK. SHE CALLED ME ON THE CELL PHONE AND WE TOOK THE CAR TO LEXUS OF CLEARWATER. I RECIEVED A PHONE CALL SAYING THEY HAD DETECTED SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE FIXED. THEY TOLD ME THEY MIGHT COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE BUT THEY…
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MY WIFE NOTICED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AS SHE WAS DRIVING TO WORK. SHE CALLED ME ON THE CELL PHONE AND WE TOOK THE CAR TO LEXUS OF CLEARWATER. I RECIEVED A PHONE CALL SAYING THEY HAD DETECTED SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE FIXED. THEY TOLD ME THEY MIGHT COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE BUT THEY WOULD CALL ME BACK. I ALSO CHECKED THE WEBSITE AND LEXUS KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AND SAYS THEY WILL STAND 100% BEHIND THE CUSTOMER FOR 8 YRS AND UNLIMITED MILES. NO OTHER REQUIRENMENT IS LISTED. MELISSA THE SERVICE PERSON SAID SHE WANTED ME TO TALK TO MARK THE REGIONAL GUY FROM LEXUS BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT GOING TO COVER IT AND THE REPAIR WOULD BE FROM 8K-12K!!!! I TOLD THEM THEY WERE CRAZY BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD EVERY MAJOR SERVICE REQUIRED BY LEXUS AND THAT OIL DOES NOT JUST BREAK DOWN IN A 3 YEAR OLD CAR. MARK TOLD ME HE HAD A HARD TIME COVERING THIS BECAUSE WE WERE OVERDUE BY 5K ON THE OIL CHANGE. I EXPLAINED IF THEY HAD KNOW OF A SLUDGE PROBLEM 8,000 MILES AGO WHEN THEY CHANGED THE OIL WHY DID WE NOT GET NOTIFIED. REGARDLESS I TOLD THEM A CARS ENGINE IS NOT RUINED BECAUSE A PERSON DRIVES A FEW THOUSAND EXTRA MILES. I TOLD HIM THE CAR IS 3 YEARS OLD AND WE WERE RETURNING THE CAR IN MARCH 28 AT THE LEASE EXPIRATION. HE TOLD ME HE COULD GET IT WAIVED FOR ME IF I SPOKE TO THE SALES MANAGER ABOUT PURCHASING ANOTHER LEXUS. I TOLD HIM I WAS NOT READY TO PURCHASE ANOTHE CAR AND DID NOT WANT THE PRESSURE OF HAVING TO BUY A NEW CAR TO GET SOMETHING FIXED THAT SHOULD BE FIXED FOR FREE. I THEN CALLED LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE AND NOTED A COMPLAINT. THE GIRL I BELIEVE DENISE TOLD ME SHE WAS GOING TO LOOK AGAIN OVER THE FILE AND ASK MARC FOR A CUSTOMER GOOD FAITH REPAIR. I CALLED YESTERDAY AND LEFT A MSG FOR MARC AND CALLED LEXUS AGAIN TODAY. SO FAR I HAVE NO RESPONSE. I WAS A LEXUS FAN BUT THIS HAS RUINED MY DAY
NHTSA ODI #10003221
Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2003
Service Brakes, AirCrashInjury
2000 LEXAS RX 300 CAR SKIDED ON ICE AND FLIPPED OVER WHEN TRYING TO CORREST THE SKID
NHTSA ODI #10000723
Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 2002
Electrical System
CONSUMER STATES THAT BRAKE WARNING LIGHT IS ON. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. MR
NHTSA ODI #8020884
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 · Aug 19, 2002
Fuel System, Other
FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR WILL READ THE WRONG READING AND CAUSE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AKTHE FUEL GAUGE WAS STANDING AT A QUARTER OF A TANK. CONSUMER HAD NO IDEA THE FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY. *JG
NHTSA ODI #8016649
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.
2000 Lexus RX300 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year