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
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…
Read full complaint
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…
Read full complaint
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…
Read full complaint
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
101,000 miles · May 20, 2009
Power Train
TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED AT 101,000. COMPLETE MAINTENANCE RECORDS AVAILABLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10269504
120,000 miles · May 20, 2009
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SET IN THE FRONT PUMP SHUTS DOWN THE TRANSMISSION OF HER VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RENDERS THE VEHICLE IMMOBILE AND DOES NOT LUBRICATE THE TRANSMISSION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, WHO WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEA…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SET IN THE FRONT PUMP SHUTS DOWN THE TRANSMISSION OF HER VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RENDERS THE VEHICLE IMMOBILE AND DOES NOT LUBRICATE THE TRANSMISSION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, WHO WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED BECAUSE THE REPAIR COST WOULD BE TOO EXPENSIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
NHTSA ODI #10269487
Mileage unknown · May 1, 2009
Power Train
TRANSMISSION HAS COMPLETELY FAILED AT APPROX 121,000 MILES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10267417
86,700 miles · Apr 30, 2009
Power Train
AFTER LEAVING HIGHWAY TRANSMISSION FAILED AND FRONT WHEELS LOCKED. WILL NOT MOVE IN ANY GEAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10267384
103,000 miles · Apr 28, 2009
Power Train
AFTER OWNING AND PROPERLY MAINTAINING MY 2000 LEXUS RX300 FOR MANY YEARS IT THE TRANSMISSION TOTALLY LOCKED UP ON ME AND MY 2 TODDLERS IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. IT WAS THEN FLAT BEDDED TO A MECHANIC AND I AM CURRENTLY BEING QUOTED SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10267169
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
Illustration