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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

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

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

Power Train complaints

123 reports
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59,800 miles · May 21, 2009
Power Train

I HAVE JUST DISCOVERED ON A RECENT TRIP - THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK ON MY 2001 LEXUS - 300RX - SYSTEM WILL NOT ENGAGE. HAS ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM? THE CAR HAS JUST UNDER 60,000 MILES. COULD THIS PROBLEM BE IN ANY WAY RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION(POWER TRAIN) PROBLEMS THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MO…

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I HAVE JUST DISCOVERED ON A RECENT TRIP - THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK ON MY 2001 LEXUS - 300RX - SYSTEM WILL NOT ENGAGE. HAS ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM? THE CAR HAS JUST UNDER 60,000 MILES. COULD THIS PROBLEM BE IN ANY WAY RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION(POWER TRAIN) PROBLEMS THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MODEL LEXUS HAVE REPORTED? GUESS I WILL FIND OUT WHAT'S INVOLVED NEXT WEEK WHEN I TAKE THE CARE IN FOR 60,000 MILE CHECK-UP. * TR

NHTSA ODI #10269599

125,000 miles · May 15, 2009
Power Train

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM VACATION AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I PULLED OVER ON THE SHOULDER TO TRY TO GET IT TO GO. IT STALLED FOR A WHILE THEN KICKED BACK INTO GEAR. I GOT OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT AND THEN THE ATF LIGHT CAME ON. I PUT SOME TRANSMISSION FLUID IN THE CAR AND SLOWLY DROVE HOM…

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I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM VACATION AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I PULLED OVER ON THE SHOULDER TO TRY TO GET IT TO GO. IT STALLED FOR A WHILE THEN KICKED BACK INTO GEAR. I GOT OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT AND THEN THE ATF LIGHT CAME ON. I PUT SOME TRANSMISSION FLUID IN THE CAR AND SLOWLY DROVE HOME. THE CAR DIED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I HAD TO GET THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED ($4,000). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10268861

115,000 miles · Apr 15, 2009
EquipmentPower Train

WAS DRIVING HOME FROM MINNESOTA TO PENNSYLVANIA IN MY 2001 LEXUS RX300 ON JUNE 28TH, 2008; AND MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON ME. I WAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AT NIGHT TIME IN THE POURING RAIN AND IT FELL DOWN TO 5 MPH. I FOUND THE NEAREST EXIT AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST GARAGE WHERE I REBUILT LEXUS TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED, AT …

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WAS DRIVING HOME FROM MINNESOTA TO PENNSYLVANIA IN MY 2001 LEXUS RX300 ON JUNE 28TH, 2008; AND MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON ME. I WAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AT NIGHT TIME IN THE POURING RAIN AND IT FELL DOWN TO 5 MPH. I FOUND THE NEAREST EXIT AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST GARAGE WHERE I REBUILT LEXUS TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED, AT A COST OF $,4600.00. I RECEIVED A TWELVE MONTH UNLIMITED MILEAGE WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION FROM LEXUS. MY SUV HAD APPROXIMATELY, 112.000 MILES ON IT AT THIS POINT. NOW, LESS THAT 10 MONTHS LATER, I HAVE METAL CHIPS IN MY FLUID AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEED YET ANOTHER TRANSMISSION, AT A COST OF OVER $4,000; AS THE DEALER HERE IN MY STATE WON'T HONOR THE LEXUS WARRANTY. I HAVE BEEN BACK AND FORTH ON THE PHONE WITH THE DEALER HERE AND THE DEALER IN OHIO AND WAS TREATED VERY RUDELY BY THE DEALER HERE. I WAS INFORMED THAT EVEN THOUGH LEXUS ISSUED THE WARRANTY, THEY CAN NOT FOLLOW THROUGH WITH IT, EVEN THOUGH THE DEALER IN OHIO SAID THAT THEY HAVE TO. I AM COMPLETELY AT MY WITS END. I CALLED THE 1-800 NUMBER FOR LEXUS AND HAVE ALSO CONTACTED MY ATTORNEY. SOMEONE NEEDS TO ADMIT THAT THERE ARE SEVERE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THESE VEHICLES, AND QUIT TRYING TO PASS OVER US; THE PEOPLE THAT PAID FOR THEM. IF THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT IN THE MAKING, I ANT TO BECOME A PART OF IT. THE WHOLE IDEA OF "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION" FLEW OUT THE WINDOW AND LEXUS DEALERS NEED TO BE REMINDED WHERE THEIR PAYCHECKS COME FROM. I WAS TREATED RUDELY TODAY , WITHOUT REASON; AND HERE I SIT WITH A WARRANTY THAT I CAN'T USE TO GET MY VEHICLE FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10265531

125,000 miles · Apr 8, 2009
Power Train

ACTUALLY, THERE WAS LITTLE OR NO WARNING. ON SATURDAY, WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR SEEMED TO GET STUCK IN NEUTRAL, AND THEN LURCH FORWARD. THIS HAPPENED A COUPLE OF MORE TIMES, AND EACH TIME WAS SOMEWHAT MORE EXAGGERATED, SO MUCH SO, THAT I ATTEMPTED TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR, TRYING TO CIRCUMVENT A STALL. BY THE THIRD TI…

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ACTUALLY, THERE WAS LITTLE OR NO WARNING. ON SATURDAY, WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR SEEMED TO GET STUCK IN NEUTRAL, AND THEN LURCH FORWARD. THIS HAPPENED A COUPLE OF MORE TIMES, AND EACH TIME WAS SOMEWHAT MORE EXAGGERATED, SO MUCH SO, THAT I ATTEMPTED TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR, TRYING TO CIRCUMVENT A STALL. BY THE THIRD TIME, THE CAR SOUNDED AS IF I WAS DRAGGING SOMETHING UNDERNEATH. I RETURNED HOME SAFELY, BUT WHEN MY HUSBAND WENT TO CHECK THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT EVEN SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL! AAA CAME TO TOW THE CAR AND THE REAR WHEELS SEEMED TO LOCK, SO MUCH SO THAT THE CAR WAS DRAGGED ONTO THE TOWING BED, LEAVING SOME RUBBER ON THE DRIVEWAY. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPORTED TO ME THAT I NEED A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION ON MY 2001 RX300 LEXUS, WITH 125,000 MILES, TO THE TUNE OF $5000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10264500

90,000 miles · Mar 10, 2009
Power Train

DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION ON LEXUS RX300 FROM A KNOWN MODEL DEFECT STRANDED MY WIFE ON THE HIGHWAY. TRANSMISSION IS BEING REPLACED BY LEXUS DEALERSHIP AT OUR COST OF OVER $5000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10261439

131,000 miles · Mar 5, 2009
Power Train

FAULTY TRANSMISSION. FAULTY DESIGN LEADS TO FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION ON GENERATION ONE LEXUS RX300. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10260869

110,000 miles · Feb 24, 2009
Power Train

2001 RX300 TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 110,000 MILES AND HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. NORMAL COMMUTER DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, VERY LITTLE CITY OR HIGH TRAFFIC SITUATIONS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10259781

102,283 miles · Feb 20, 2009
Power Train

WITHOUT ANY WARNING, OUT RX300 DECIDED TO GIVE UP ITS REVERSE GEAR. TOWED IT TO THE LEXUS DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED - WHICH IS A $5000 JOB. FOR A LEXUS, THIS IS SILLY. WE PAY "EXTRA" TO HAVE A CAR THAT HAS NO WORRIES AND WILL LAST FOREVER. SURE - WE ARE NOW AT 102,000 MILES, BUT THAT IS STIL…

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WITHOUT ANY WARNING, OUT RX300 DECIDED TO GIVE UP ITS REVERSE GEAR. TOWED IT TO THE LEXUS DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED - WHICH IS A $5000 JOB. FOR A LEXUS, THIS IS SILLY. WE PAY "EXTRA" TO HAVE A CAR THAT HAS NO WORRIES AND WILL LAST FOREVER. SURE - WE ARE NOW AT 102,000 MILES, BUT THAT IS STILL YOUNG FOR A LEXUS. IN THE MEAN TIME, I HAVE CONTACTED LEXUS AND THEY HAVE OPENED UP A CASE TO SEE HOW THEY CAN SERVE ME BY REDUCING THE COST OF THE REPAIR, BUT I DON'T THINK THE REPAIR WILL BE $0. READING ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS, AND THE REMARKS FROM THE LEXUS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION GUY, LEXUS KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY FAIL TO HELP THEIR LOYAL CUSTOMERS BY REPAIRING A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. SO MUCH FOR THE LEXUS BRAND. PLEASE CONTACT LEXUS AND FORCE THEM TO REIMBURSE ALL REPAIR COSTS FOR ALL THE OWNERS WHO HAD TO GO THROUGH THIS. OR START A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN WHICH THE RESULT WOULD BE THE SAME. IF YOU ARE A LEXUS PERSON READING THIS, HINT... HELP YOUR CUSTOMERS, DON'T DRAG YOUR LEXUS NAME THROUGH THE MUD. IF YOU ARE A LAWYER READING THIS - START A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AND GET LEXUS TO FIX ITS KNOWN PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10259450

86,000 miles · Feb 14, 2009
Power Train

LEXUS 2001 MODEL RX300 IN EXCELLENT CONDITION PURCHASED NEW WITH ZERO MILES FROM LEXUS DEALER. THIS ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING. TRANSMISSION TYPE U14F. VEHICLE WAS ALWAYS DEALER SERVICED AND JUST COMPLETED THE 85,000 MILES SERVICE. TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE, AND A CHRONIC PROBL…

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LEXUS 2001 MODEL RX300 IN EXCELLENT CONDITION PURCHASED NEW WITH ZERO MILES FROM LEXUS DEALER. THIS ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING. TRANSMISSION TYPE U14F. VEHICLE WAS ALWAYS DEALER SERVICED AND JUST COMPLETED THE 85,000 MILES SERVICE. TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE, AND A CHRONIC PROBLEM ON ALL RX MODELS. DEALER WOULD NOT PROVIDE SERVICE UNDER 100K EXTENDED WARRANTY DUE TO AGE. COST OF REPAIR $5,500.00 PLUS LABOR & TAXES. THERE SHOULD BE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT STARTED FOR THESE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10258669

105,000 miles · Feb 11, 2009
Power Train

I HAVE A 2001 LEXUS RX300 WITH 105,300 MILES; THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT PREMATURELY, BEGINNING TO SLIP WITH COLDER WEATHER AND FAILING ENTIRELY SOME 300 MILES LATER. ACCORDING TO OTHER INTERNET SOURCES, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM OCCURRING ON THESE MODEL VEHICLES BETWEEN 70K AND 120K MILES AND IS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW BY T…

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I HAVE A 2001 LEXUS RX300 WITH 105,300 MILES; THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT PREMATURELY, BEGINNING TO SLIP WITH COLDER WEATHER AND FAILING ENTIRELY SOME 300 MILES LATER. ACCORDING TO OTHER INTERNET SOURCES, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM OCCURRING ON THESE MODEL VEHICLES BETWEEN 70K AND 120K MILES AND IS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW BY THE MANUFACTURER (TOYOTA). YET THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT REPAIR THE TRANSMISSIONS AS AT THIS MILEAGE THE VEHICLES ARE OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. COST TO REPAIR RANGES FROM ABOUT $2000-$3300 FROM AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP TO APPROXIMATELY $4400 BY THE DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10258380

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.