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2002 Lexus RX300

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 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

74 reports with mileage · 14 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 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

18 crash reports1 fire reports8 injury reports

What owners actually said

88 reports
133,000 miles · Sep 5, 2011
Power Train

TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. TRANSMISSION FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY WITH A MAX SPEED OF 70 MPH. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO INJURIES. I ENDED UP CALLING A TOW TRUCK TO TOW ME TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP WHERE IT SIT. I AM NOW READING ABOUT THE MANY WHO HAS SUFFERED AND IS SUFFERING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WHY ISN'T THE GOVERNMENT ACTING ON FORC…

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TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. TRANSMISSION FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY WITH A MAX SPEED OF 70 MPH. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO INJURIES. I ENDED UP CALLING A TOW TRUCK TO TOW ME TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP WHERE IT SIT. I AM NOW READING ABOUT THE MANY WHO HAS SUFFERED AND IS SUFFERING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WHY ISN'T THE GOVERNMENT ACTING ON FORCING LEXUS TO RECALL AND FIX THIS ISSUE? THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. FIRST AND LAST LEXUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10423809

100,000 miles · Aug 31, 2011
Power TrainCrash

EARLY TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON EARLY MODEL LEXUS RX300 FROM 1997 TO 2003. I OWN A 2002 RX300 AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT ABOUT 100,000 MILES. IT HAPPENED WITH NO NOTICE CAUSING MY ENGINE TO SLOW ON THE ROAD AND THEN WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. I SEEM TO BE A LUCKY ONE AS I READ THOUSANDS OF LEXUS RX300 OWNERS TRANSMI…

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EARLY TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON EARLY MODEL LEXUS RX300 FROM 1997 TO 2003. I OWN A 2002 RX300 AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT ABOUT 100,000 MILES. IT HAPPENED WITH NO NOTICE CAUSING MY ENGINE TO SLOW ON THE ROAD AND THEN WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. I SEEM TO BE A LUCKY ONE AS I READ THOUSANDS OF LEXUS RX300 OWNERS TRANSMISSIONS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BETWEEN 70,000 AND 90,000 MILES. LEXUS/TOYOTA HAS DONE NOTHING TO ADMIT THEIR IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS CAR AND IN FACT DENIED ANY PROBLEMS TO MYSELF. IT IS COSTING OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES TO OUTLAY BETWEEN $3,000 TO $6,000 FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO BE REPLACED. ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS GO ON THE CLUB LEXUS FORUM FOR LEXUS OWNERS AND TYPE IN TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FOR RX300 AND YOU WILL SEE THOUSANDS OF OWNERS COMPLAINING. PLEASE DO EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO MAKE LEXUS/TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND ISSUE A RECALL AND REIMBURSEMENT TO THOSE OWNERS OF THESE CARS. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10422828

104,000 miles · Aug 22, 2011
Power Train

2002 LEXUS RX300 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ISSUE. HAVE BEEN READING ON THE INTERNET AS WELL AS THIS SITE (16 TOTAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT TRANSMISSION/POWER TRAIN FOR THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE). JUST THIS MORNING, MY WIFE (PRINCIPAL DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE) TRIED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE (LOCATED INSIDE OUR HOME GARAGE). THE VEHICLE…

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2002 LEXUS RX300 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ISSUE. HAVE BEEN READING ON THE INTERNET AS WELL AS THIS SITE (16 TOTAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT TRANSMISSION/POWER TRAIN FOR THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE). JUST THIS MORNING, MY WIFE (PRINCIPAL DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE) TRIED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE (LOCATED INSIDE OUR HOME GARAGE). THE VEHICLE WILL NOT REVERSE. FROM READING OTHER COMPLAINTS, IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS NOW A MORE COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL OF LEXUS THAN EVER BEFORE? THE DANGER INVOLVED IN HAVING TO PLAY WITH A GEAR SHIFT; SHIFTING BACK AND FORTH FROM PARK TO REVERSE, OR REVERSE TO DRIVE, JUST TO MOVE INTO GEAR IS A HAZARD AND DANGER FOR A VEHICLE PARTICULARLY HOUSED IN A GARAGE. I'M ALSO LEARNING THAT OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS MODEL OF LEXUS SUV JUMPING OUT OF GEAR AND LOCKING UP THE AXLES WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. LEXUS IS NOT AN INEXPENSIVE VEHICLE, AND OWNERS SHOULD EXPECT MORE FROM A VEHICLE OF THIS PRICE RANGE AND OVERALL QUALITY OTHERWISE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10421016

94,000 miles · Jun 27, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHECK OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE OIL WAS CONTAMINATING THE ENGINE THROUGH A CRACKED PISTON RING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHECK OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE OIL WAS CONTAMINATING THE ENGINE THROUGH A CRACKED PISTON RING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS 94,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10409042

120,000 miles · May 6, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONSUMED OIL EXCESSIVELY. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN AND BEGAN TO SPUTTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO BECAME STUC…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONSUMED OIL EXCESSIVELY. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN AND BEGAN TO SPUTTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO BECAME STUCK AND TOOK AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT BOTH THE TRANSMISSION AND MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #10399310

159,000 miles · Apr 11, 2011
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

IN ATTEMPTING TO PARK MY VEHICLE AT A STORE PARKING LOT, AT VERY LOW SPEED (<1 MPH) WITH MY FOOT ON OR HOVERING OVER THE BRAKE PEDAL, MY CAR LUNGED FORWARD, JUMPED THE 'STOPPER' AND RAN INTO A HANDICAP PARKING POLE. THE CAR ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE/ACCERLERATE UNTIL I REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE STORE SURVEILLANCE…

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IN ATTEMPTING TO PARK MY VEHICLE AT A STORE PARKING LOT, AT VERY LOW SPEED (<1 MPH) WITH MY FOOT ON OR HOVERING OVER THE BRAKE PEDAL, MY CAR LUNGED FORWARD, JUMPED THE 'STOPPER' AND RAN INTO A HANDICAP PARKING POLE. THE CAR ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE/ACCERLERATE UNTIL I REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE STORE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM CAUGHT THE ACCIDENT ON TAPE. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE UPRIGHT CONCRETE POLE, MY VEHICLE VERY WELL WOULD HAVE CAUSED INJURY TO OTHERS. FORTUNATELY, NEITHER MY PASSENGER NOR I WERE INJURED. MY INSURANCE COMPANY FOUND NO DAMAGE TO MY BRAKES; AND RESULTING DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END HAS BEEN REPAIRED. HOWEVER, SINCE THE ACCIDENT, I HAVE HAD MY FRONT BRAKES REPLACED. I AM CONSIDERABLY MORE COGNIZANT OF SLIGHT ACCELLERATION OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT MY ASSISTANCE!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10395510

85,000 miles · Feb 14, 2011
Power Train

STARTED TO NOTICE OIL ON THE FLOOR OF MY GARAGE. UPON INSPECTION FOUND TO BE TRANSMISSION OIL. TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES GOING TO TRANSMISSION COOLER HAD RUSTED THROUGH WITH PIN HOLES. SEEMS THEY ARE LOW ENOUGH TO RECEIVE ROAD SPRAY. HAD TO REPLACE STEEL COOLER LINES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10382611

83,400 miles · Jan 25, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE VEHICLE HAVING EXCESSIVE ENGINE SLUDGE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT IF HE HAD CONTINUED DRIVI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE VEHICLE HAVING EXCESSIVE ENGINE SLUDGE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT IF HE HAD CONTINUED DRIVING THE VEHICLE, HE WOULD HAVE SEIZED AND DESTROYED THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,400.

NHTSA ODI #10378672

83,360 miles · Dec 29, 2010
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND WOULD NOT MOVE IN REVERSE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO POOR MAINTENANCE ALTHOUGH THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE FOLLOWED THE GUIDELINES…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND WOULD NOT MOVE IN REVERSE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO POOR MAINTENANCE ALTHOUGH THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE FOLLOWED THE GUIDELINES ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT; THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SOMEONE WOULD GET BACK WITH HIM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 83,360.

NHTSA ODI #10373277

85,000 miles · Nov 15, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

2002 LEXUS RX300 85000 MILES THE STEEL LINES RUNNING TO THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER STARTED TO LEAK. UPON INSPECTION THEY WERE FOUND TO BE RUSTED THROUGH. THE LINE MUST BE IN A BAD PLACE AND RECEIVE ROAD SPRAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10365683

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.