Illustration2001 LEXUS RX-300 TRANSMISSION FAILURE (AFTER 142,000 MILES) 2ND FAILURE (1ST AFTER 142,000 MILES) CONSUMER PAID FOR BOTH FAILURES. *TR
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RX300 years →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
10–25K
625–50K
1550–75K
3875–100K
75100–150K
17150K+
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 reportsI OWN A 2001 LEXUS RX300 AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT BUT LEXUS REFUSED TO COVER IT WITH MY 100.000 WARRANTY.THEY WERE VERY RACIST AND WRONG. THEY ALSO REFUSED TO TAKE CARE OF THE ENGINE REPAIRS. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER ONE IN MY LIFE FROM SUCH RACIST PIGS!! *TR
MY TRANSMISSION DIED ON MY 2001 LEXUS RX300 AT 110K MILES. THE CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A ROAD DURING MORNING RUSH HOURS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. SHE ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF; HOWEVER, AFTER ENGAGING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND ACCELERATED UP TO 100 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO EXIT AT AN OFF RAMP, DOWN SHIF…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. SHE ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF; HOWEVER, AFTER ENGAGING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND ACCELERATED UP TO 100 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO EXIT AT AN OFF RAMP, DOWN SHIFT INTO PARK IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS STUCK AND FRAYED; HOWEVER, HE ALSO STATED THAT THE CABLE EXHIBITED NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
TRANSMISSION FAILED AND HAS TO BE REBUILT/REPLACED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LEXUS DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE SINCE THERE WAS NO VALID WARRA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LEXUS DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE SINCE THERE WAS NO VALID WARRANTY. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 116,000.
THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED IN MY 2001 LEXUS RX 300. I NEED TO HAVE IT REPLACED WITH A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. *TR
WAS DRIVING TO WORK, NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS REVVING BUT SPEED WAS DROPPING. APPLIED GAS, ENGINE ONLY REVVED HARDER. PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT, HEADING INTO A PARKING SPOT. DETERMINED IT WOULD BE BETTER TO BACK IN, IN CASE A ROLL BACK WAS REQUIRED, IT WOULDN'T ENGAGE IN ANY GEAR. AFTER LETTING IT SIT AND COOL FOR AN HOUR OR S…
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WAS DRIVING TO WORK, NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS REVVING BUT SPEED WAS DROPPING. APPLIED GAS, ENGINE ONLY REVVED HARDER. PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT, HEADING INTO A PARKING SPOT. DETERMINED IT WOULD BE BETTER TO BACK IN, IN CASE A ROLL BACK WAS REQUIRED, IT WOULDN'T ENGAGE IN ANY GEAR. AFTER LETTING IT SIT AND COOL FOR AN HOUR OR SO IT WENT INTO REVERSE AND I BACKED IT OUT FOR THE WRECKER. I LOVE(D) MY LEXUS, WHY IS MY TRAN GOING OUT AT 140K MILES. IT WAS TOO MUCH MONEY TO HAVE A MAJOR FAILURE AT THIS POINT. *TR
TRANSMISSION PROBLEM CODE 0770 THIS IS VERY COMMON COMPLAINT FROM 2001 LEXUS RX300 HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE MOST OF THE OWNERS. *TR
LEXUS RX300 TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.