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2001 Lexus RX300

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2001 Lexus RX300 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 88.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

152 reports with mileage · 17 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 123 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

14 crash reports2 fire reports7 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

8 reports
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156,000 miles · Feb 23, 2016
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A BROKEN BREAST BONE (STERNUM) AND HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED NECK AND KNE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A BROKEN BREAST BONE (STERNUM) AND HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED NECK AND KNEE INJURIES, AND BRUISES FROM THE SEAT BELT THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.

NHTSA ODI #10837762

72,000 miles · Jan 7, 2015
Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH AND IS FLASHING BACK & FORTH 100% OF THE TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10670806

118,000 miles · Feb 27, 2014
Air BagsCrashInjury

I WAS TRAVELING WEST AT 30MPH. A VEHICLE TRAVELING SOUTH RAN A STOP SIGN AND ATTEMPTED A LEFT TURN. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP AND COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE THAT RAN THE STOP SIGN. MY VEHICLE ENCOUNTER SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT END AND HOOD. THE AIRBAG OF MY VEHICLE DID NOT ACTIVATE AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. I W…

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I WAS TRAVELING WEST AT 30MPH. A VEHICLE TRAVELING SOUTH RAN A STOP SIGN AND ATTEMPTED A LEFT TURN. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP AND COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE THAT RAN THE STOP SIGN. MY VEHICLE ENCOUNTER SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT END AND HOOD. THE AIRBAG OF MY VEHICLE DID NOT ACTIVATE AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. I WAS ABLE TO BRACE MYSELF FROM THE IMPACT. I AM NOW EXPERIENCING UPPER BACK AND NECK DISCOMFORT. BOTH THE FIRE DEPT. AND POLICE ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND THE DRIVER THAT RAN THE STOP SIGN ADMITTED HER FAULT. I HAVE PHOTO'S OF THE ACCIDENT AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. I REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO LEXUS CORP. AND THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF PERFORMING AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS. I AM GREATLY CONCERNED WITH THIS LIFE SAFETY DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI #10567177

118,000 miles · Oct 30, 2013
Air BagsCrashInjury

2001 LEXUS RX300. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIR BAG MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS TRAVELING WEST AT 30 MPH. A VEHICLE TRAVELING SOUTH RAN A STOP SIGN AND ATTEMPTED A LEFT TURN. HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP AND COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE THAT RAN THE STOP SIGN. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE ENCOUNTERED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO…

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2001 LEXUS RX300. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIR BAG MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS TRAVELING WEST AT 30 MPH. A VEHICLE TRAVELING SOUTH RAN A STOP SIGN AND ATTEMPTED A LEFT TURN. HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP AND COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE THAT RAN THE STOP SIGN. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE ENCOUNTERED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT END AND HOOD. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. HE WAS ABLE TO BRACE HIMSELF FROM THE IMPACT. HOWEVER, HE DID SUFFER UPPER BACK AND NECK DISCOMFORT. BOTH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND THE DRIVER THAT RAN THE STOP SIGN ADMITTED HER FAULT.

NHTSA ODI #10549180

114,567 miles · Mar 3, 2012
Air BagsCrashInjury

AIR BAG FAILURE. WIFE RECEIVED SEVERE HEAD LACARATIONS AND CONCUSSION. WAS LIFE LINED TO IU MED CENTER. TREATED AT TRAMU CENTER. LEFT FROM BUMPER WAS PUSHED BACK INTO TIRE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10450173

73,000 miles · Aug 29, 2011
Air BagsVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED FRONT END DAMAGE AND THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES AS HER BREAST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE INSURANCE COMPANY…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED FRONT END DAMAGE AND THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES AS HER BREAST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOT NOTIFIED. NEITHER THE DEALER, NOR THE MANUFACTURER, WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

NHTSA ODI #10422398

53,000 miles · Sep 27, 2004
Air BagsCrash

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I COLLIDED WITH A PICKUP TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. WE WERE TRAVELING ABOUT 40 MPH, WHEN WE BOTH BRAKED WHEN A THIRD CAR IN FRONT SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES TO MAKE A SUDDEN LEFT TURN WITHOUT SIGNALING. I'M CONCERNED MY AIRBAGS ARE DEFECTIVE BECAUSE THEY DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THERE WAS SUBSTANTI…

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I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I COLLIDED WITH A PICKUP TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. WE WERE TRAVELING ABOUT 40 MPH, WHEN WE BOTH BRAKED WHEN A THIRD CAR IN FRONT SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES TO MAKE A SUDDEN LEFT TURN WITHOUT SIGNALING. I'M CONCERNED MY AIRBAGS ARE DEFECTIVE BECAUSE THEY DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DONE TO THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. IT'S A GOOD THING THE SEAT BELT WORKED AS IT SHOULD, OR I WOULD HAVE SUSTAINED INJURIES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10093185

Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 2004
Air BagsVehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A BUILDING HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #10063065

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.