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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

What owners actually said

169 reports
192,000 miles · Jul 29, 2014
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT, THE SHIFTER WOULD DELAY. IN ADDITION WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART BUT THE FAILURE RECURR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT, THE SHIFTER WOULD DELAY. IN ADDITION WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REVERSE AFTER THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 192,000.

NHTSA ODI #10617422

150,000 miles · Jul 15, 2014
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX 300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WOULD BE A SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILUR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX 300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WOULD BE A SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ODI #10610781

75,000 miles · Jul 12, 2014
SteeringSuspension

I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LEXUS DEALER WHEN PURCHASE. I TOLD THE REPAIR PERSON THAT THERE WAS A NOISE/ROARING COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE SUSPENSION NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT. FOR THIS INSPECTION I PAID OVER $300.00. NOW THE NOISE IS BACK AND IT IS MUCH LOUDER AND IT IS CONSTANT.FROM 45MPH A…

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I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LEXUS DEALER WHEN PURCHASE. I TOLD THE REPAIR PERSON THAT THERE WAS A NOISE/ROARING COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE SUSPENSION NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT. FOR THIS INSPECTION I PAID OVER $300.00. NOW THE NOISE IS BACK AND IT IS MUCH LOUDER AND IT IS CONSTANT.FROM 45MPH AND HIGHER.THE NOISE OCCURS WHEN I AM DRIVING STRAIGHT AND WHEN I TURN TO THE RIGHT.WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT THE NOISE STOPS. I SOUND LIKE THE NOISE IS COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN MECHANISM. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED.PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS MY COMPLAINT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10610089

145,000 miles · Jun 17, 2014
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 145000 (APPROX) AFTER PERFORMING ALL SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE AT THE DEALER SINCE PURCHASE. I HAVE READ COUNTLESS ENTRIES WHERE THE 1999-2002 LEXUS RX300 HAS HAD PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURES. THIS IS A COSTLY REPAIR AND A I FEEL LEXUS SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THE VEHICLE AND PROVIDED ASSISTANCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10598807

142,000 miles · May 14, 2014
Power Train

IT STARTED WITH A HIGH PITCH WHINNING NOISE FOLLOWED BY A CLUNKING NOISE WHENEVER IT SHIFTS. IT IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE EACH DAY. SHAVINGS WERE FOUND IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WHEN IT WAS CHANGED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10588309

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

222,000 miles · Feb 25, 2014
Power Train

MY WIFE WAS TAKING OUR KIDS, 7 AND 9, TO GO SHOPPING AND AS SHE DROVE DOWN THE HILL FROM OUR APARTMENT COMPLEX, WITH NO WARNING, THE WHEELS JUST SUDDENLY LOCKED UP AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR REVERSE. SHE WAS LITERALLY STUCK ON A ONE LANE HILL, DUE TO A MASSIVE SNOWSTORM THAT LEFT THE SIDES, OF THE STREET COVERED WITH …

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MY WIFE WAS TAKING OUR KIDS, 7 AND 9, TO GO SHOPPING AND AS SHE DROVE DOWN THE HILL FROM OUR APARTMENT COMPLEX, WITH NO WARNING, THE WHEELS JUST SUDDENLY LOCKED UP AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR REVERSE. SHE WAS LITERALLY STUCK ON A ONE LANE HILL, DUE TO A MASSIVE SNOWSTORM THAT LEFT THE SIDES, OF THE STREET COVERED WITH PILES OF SNOW FROM THE SNOWPLOW, WITH OTHER VEHICLES BEHIND HER WHO COULD NOT GO ANYWHERE. SOME GUYS FROM THE APARTMENT COMPLEX GOT OUT AND HELPED HER AND MANAGED TO GET IT TO A PARKING LOT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE, BUT BEING A SUNDAY NIGHT, WE COULD NOT FIND OUT ANYTHING UNTIL MORNING. I WENT ONLINE AND STARTED RESEARCHING WHAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED THIS AND DISCOVERED NUMEROUS OTHERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS, ALL OF WHOM REPORTED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. A LOT OF THE PEOPLE SAID THEY REPORTED IT TO LEXUS AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED, BUT LEXUS REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL. THIS IS THE WEB ADDRESS THAT I DISCOVERED WHILE RESEARCHING IT, HTTP://FORUMS.EDMUNDS.COM/DISCUSSION/9657/LEXUS/RX-330/LEXUS-RX-TRANSMISSION-PROBLEMS/P35. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM MY BROTHER WHO BOUGHT IT WITH LESS THAN 10,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS VERY METICULOUS ABOUT HAVING ALL OF THE MAINTENANCE DONE AT THE DEALER RECOMMENDED INTERVALS. THE CAR WAS GARAGE KEPT AND WELL MAINTAINED. IN FACT WHEN I DROVE IT TO WORK AND SHOWED PEOPLE, MOST OF THEM SAID IT LOOKS LIKE IT JUST CAME OFF A SHOWROOM FLOOR. MY BROTHER HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED 3 TIMES AND TOLD US IT WAS DUE AGAIN WHEN HE SOLD IT TO US, AND WE HAD IT DONE RIGHT AWAY. WHEN I CONTACTED LEXUS ABOUT THIS THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING FOR US. MY CONCERN IS WITH ANOTHER TRANSMISSION, WHERE AND WHEN WILL IT HAPPEN AGAIN? ON A HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH? THEY COULD BE KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10565832

205,000 miles · Dec 26, 2013
Fuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE THE DRIVER WAS NOT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. DESPITE THE DRIVER'S EFFORTS TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE JUMPED OVER A CURB AND HEADED TOWARD A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH TRAFFIC. IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID A POSSIBLY FATAL COLLISION, THE DRIVER SWERVED HARD TO THE LEF…

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WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE THE DRIVER WAS NOT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. DESPITE THE DRIVER'S EFFORTS TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE JUMPED OVER A CURB AND HEADED TOWARD A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH TRAFFIC. IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID A POSSIBLY FATAL COLLISION, THE DRIVER SWERVED HARD TO THE LEFT INTENDING TO HIT A POLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE MISSED THE POLE AND HIT A STARBUCKS WITH THE VEHICLE ENDING UP COMPLETELY INSIDE THE STARBUCKS. SIX PEOPLE WHO WERE INSIDE THE STARBUCKS WERE INJURED. THE DRIVER NEVER PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR DURING THE ENTIRE INCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10557321

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

142,000 miles · Feb 8, 2013
EnginePower TrainSuspension

I HAVE JUST SAT AND READ PROBABLY 50 COMPLAINTS; SAFETY AND DEFECTIVE, CONCERNING THE TRANSMISSION FOR THE 2001 LEXUS RX300. FROM WHAT IM READING, I GUESS I SHOULD CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY, I CURRENTLY HAVE 142,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE AND ALTHOUGH I'VE EXPERIENCED NON-PERIODIC SHIFTING ABNORMALITIES, I HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED ANY OF T…

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I HAVE JUST SAT AND READ PROBABLY 50 COMPLAINTS; SAFETY AND DEFECTIVE, CONCERNING THE TRANSMISSION FOR THE 2001 LEXUS RX300. FROM WHAT IM READING, I GUESS I SHOULD CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY, I CURRENTLY HAVE 142,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE AND ALTHOUGH I'VE EXPERIENCED NON-PERIODIC SHIFTING ABNORMALITIES, I HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED ANY OF THE HORRIFIC PROBLEMS I'VE BEEN READING IN THE NHTSA COMPLAINT SECTION OF THIS SITE. IT IS OBVIOUS THERE IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE (IF NOT ALREADY) IS MANGLED OR WORST, KILLED. IT ASTONISHES ME THAT A COMPANY THAT SURVIVES BY THERE REPUTATION FOR QUALITY WOULD NOT ADDRESS WHAT IS OBVIOUSLY A SERIOUS AND COSTLY BURDEN TO THERE LOYAL CUSTOMERS. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A 35,000 DOLLAR VEHICLE IN 2001. APPARENTLY LEXUS IS NOT PLANNING ON RESOLVING THE ISSUE, SO WHAT CAN CONSUMERS DO OTHER THAN COMPLAIN WHICH OBVIOUSLY IS DOING NOTHING TO FORCE BIG BUSINESS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THERE POOR DESIGN THAT RESULTED IN UNSAFE COSTLY PRODUCTS, LEAVING THE CONSUMER POWERLESS, WITH NO OPTION BUT TO PAY THEM AGAIN TO FIX THE PROBLEM THEY CREATED IN THE FIRST PLACE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10496807

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.