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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

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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
174,000 miles · Feb 25, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, HE NOTICED THAT THE RPM'S SUDDENLY INCREASED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD EVEN WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND THEN SHUT…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, HE NOTICED THAT THE RPM'S SUDDENLY INCREASED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD EVEN WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND THEN SHUT OFF WITHOUT BEING SERVICED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 174000. UPDATED 3/24/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION SEVERAL TIMES. UPDATED 06/17/10*JB

NHTSA ODI #10314114

83,910 miles · Feb 16, 2010
Power Train

IN NOV OF 2009 I STARTED HEARING A CLICKING SOUND IN MY CAR AND IT FELT LIKE THE FRONT AND REAR TIRES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS RUBBING AGAINST SOMETHING. I TOOK MY CAR TO A LEXUS DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT MY DRIVESHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER THAT MY DRIVESHAFT FELL OFF. BEING AS THOUGH I DID NOT HAVE THE $180…

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IN NOV OF 2009 I STARTED HEARING A CLICKING SOUND IN MY CAR AND IT FELT LIKE THE FRONT AND REAR TIRES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS RUBBING AGAINST SOMETHING. I TOOK MY CAR TO A LEXUS DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT MY DRIVESHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER THAT MY DRIVESHAFT FELL OFF. BEING AS THOUGH I DID NOT HAVE THE $1800 I WAS QUOTED TO HAVE IT REPLACED. I CALLED THE LEXUS CORP AND EXPLAINED MY SITUATION TO THEM. THEY OFFERED ME A GOOD FAITH DISCOUNT OF 10% OFF OF THE PRICE I WAS QUOTED BY THE LEXUS DEALER. I TURNED IT DOWN BECAUSE I FELT THAT IT WAS SOME TYPE OF DEFECT THAT CAUSED MY DRIVESHIFT TO FALL OFF. IN LIGHT OF THE RESENT TOYOTA RECALL FOR DRIVESHAFTS FALLING OFF ON THEIR TACOMA PICKUP TRUCKS AND (BEING AS THOUGH LEXUS IS AN ENTITY OF TOYOTA) I STARTED THINKING THAT THERE HAS TO BE A CONNECTION. I CONTACTED THE LEXUS CORP AGAIN AND ASKED THEM IF THEY COULD LOOK INTO THE ISSUE IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT TOYOTA JUST RECALLED THEIR TACOMA TRUCKS FOR THE DRIVESHAFT ISSUE. THAT WAS ON SAT 2/13/10 WHEN I CALLED. LEXUS CORP CALLED ME BACK TUES MORN ON 2/16/10 TO SAY THAT THEY ARE NOT HAVING ANY RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE AT THIS TIME AND THAT THEIR POSITION STILL STANDS TO OFFER ME THE 10% DISCOUNT. AGAIN I REFUSED BECAUSE I BELIEVE THERE IS A CONNECTION. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS ISSUE INVESTIGATED TO SEE IF THE ISSUE WITH THE DRIVESHAFT EXTENDS BEYOND THE TACOMA TRUCKS. MY CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR OVER 2 MONTHS NOW BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED. IT HAS BEEN VERY FRUSTRATING AND VERY INCONVENIENT TO NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR ESPECIALLY WHEN I AM CERTAIN IT IS DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE DRIVESHAFT WHICH SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY LEXUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10310774

120,000 miles · Feb 10, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

WHENEVER AT A STOP OR GOING AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS (LESS THAN 10MPH, FOR EXAMPLE), GAS PEDAL STICKS. I HAVE TO APPLY PRESSURE OR STOMP ON THE PEDAL TO GET THE CAR TO MOVE, THEN IT OFTEN LURCHES AHEAD. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN IF GOING AT SPEED (25 + MPH) WHEN TAKE FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL NOR DOES IT HAPPEN WHEN PUTTING CAR INTO REVERSE. …

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WHENEVER AT A STOP OR GOING AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS (LESS THAN 10MPH, FOR EXAMPLE), GAS PEDAL STICKS. I HAVE TO APPLY PRESSURE OR STOMP ON THE PEDAL TO GET THE CAR TO MOVE, THEN IT OFTEN LURCHES AHEAD. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN IF GOING AT SPEED (25 + MPH) WHEN TAKE FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL NOR DOES IT HAPPEN WHEN PUTTING CAR INTO REVERSE. AT TIMES HAVE TO APPLY EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO GET THE GAS PEDAL TO MOVE, OTHER TIMES NOT AS MUCH PRESSURE. SO FAR HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO REPAIR THE STICKING GAS PEDAL. PROBLEM HAS BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORST SINCE LATE LAST YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10308544

61,000 miles · Feb 4, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

I OWNED A 2002 LEXUS RX300, WHICH WAS TOTALED IN MAY OF 2009 DUE TO A STICKING ACCELERATOR. AFTER I STARTED IT IN MY GARAGE, THE VERY SECOND, I ENGAGED THE DRIVE GEAR, WITH MY FOOT SECURELY PLANTED ON THE BRAKE, MY VEHICLE TOOK OFF LIKE A ROCKET. IT CRASHED THRU MY GARAGE DOOR, PROCEEDED ABOUT 20 FEET ACROSS MY DRIVING PAD, CRA…

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I OWNED A 2002 LEXUS RX300, WHICH WAS TOTALED IN MAY OF 2009 DUE TO A STICKING ACCELERATOR. AFTER I STARTED IT IN MY GARAGE, THE VERY SECOND, I ENGAGED THE DRIVE GEAR, WITH MY FOOT SECURELY PLANTED ON THE BRAKE, MY VEHICLE TOOK OFF LIKE A ROCKET. IT CRASHED THRU MY GARAGE DOOR, PROCEEDED ABOUT 20 FEET ACROSS MY DRIVING PAD, CRASHED THRU A BRICK RETAINING WALL AND DID NOT STOP UNTIL IT HIT MY NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE NEXT DOOR. MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND COLLISION RESULTED IN MASSIVE DAMAGE TO MY HOME AND MY NEIGHBOR'S HOME. TOYOTA INSPECTED MY VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT MY INCIDENT WAS NOT THE RESULT OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. MY VEHICLE HAD 61,000 MILES AND WAS IN MINT CONDITION, AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. I REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO NHTSA ON 6/1/09. THERE HAS BEEN NO MENTION OF LATER MODEL LEXUS IN ANY OF THE CONVERSATIONS. I'D LIKE FOR SOMEONE TO ADDRESS MY ISSUE AS WELL. THANK YOU. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10306155

98,000 miles · Dec 23, 2009
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 98,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10296806

65,500 miles · Dec 11, 2009
Power Train

2002 LEXUS RX 300 STOPPED DEAD WHILE OWNER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. WE LEARNED THAT THE TRANSMISSION ON THE VEHICLE COMPLETE FAILED. VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 65,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10295363

43,433 miles · Dec 3, 2009
Latches/locks/linkagesVehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 RX300 LEXUS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON A HILL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND THE PEDAL WAS STUCK TO THE FLOOR. SHE WAS ONLY ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AFTER SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL GEAR. THE CONTACT SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN UNTIL SHE RE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 RX300 LEXUS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON A HILL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND THE PEDAL WAS STUCK TO THE FLOOR. SHE WAS ONLY ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AFTER SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL GEAR. THE CONTACT SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN UNTIL SHE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE PRESENT IN THE ENGINE AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN MOVING IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER TEST INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FLOOR MATS COULD HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE; ALTHOUGH, THE HOOKS WERE SECURELY FASTENED ONTO THE FLOOR MATS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON ONE OCCASION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,433 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000. UPDATED 01/05/10 *BF UPDATED 01/07/10.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10294385

85,000 miles · Jul 16, 2009
Power Train

2002 LEXUS RX 300 TRANSMISSION FAILED,STUCK ON NJ TURNPIKE,TOWED TO PRESTIGE LEXUS IN RAMSEY NJ. DEALER SAID TRANSMISSION BAD. HAVE READ HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN 1999-2002 LEXUS RX 300 VEHICLES. SO FAR LEXUS HAS NOT ADMITTED ANY PROBLEMS AND WILL LOOK INTO IT. COST OF REPAIR 4000.00. STILL IN S…

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2002 LEXUS RX 300 TRANSMISSION FAILED,STUCK ON NJ TURNPIKE,TOWED TO PRESTIGE LEXUS IN RAMSEY NJ. DEALER SAID TRANSMISSION BAD. HAVE READ HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN 1999-2002 LEXUS RX 300 VEHICLES. SO FAR LEXUS HAS NOT ADMITTED ANY PROBLEMS AND WILL LOOK INTO IT. COST OF REPAIR 4000.00. STILL IN SHOP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10276947

130,000 miles · Jul 10, 2009
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN LEXUS 2002 RX 300. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10276352

79,550 miles · Jun 18, 2009
Power Train

ON FEBRUARY 20, 2009, I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 LEXUS RX300 WITH APPROXIMATELY 79K MILES WHEN IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE. I BROUGHT VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE KNOCK SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD THEM REPLACED AND VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE WORKING FINE. ON MAY 5, 2009, MY TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPP…

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ON FEBRUARY 20, 2009, I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 LEXUS RX300 WITH APPROXIMATELY 79K MILES WHEN IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE. I BROUGHT VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE KNOCK SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD THEM REPLACED AND VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE WORKING FINE. ON MAY 5, 2009, MY TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO 3RD. WHEN VEHICLE BROUGHT TO REPAIR FACILITY AND I WAS INFORMED THAT TRANSMISSION IS NO GOOD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. AT THIS TIME I LOOKED ON INTERNET AND FOUND THAT MANY LEXUS RX300 ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE COST OF REPAIRS IS APPROXIMATELY $4,500. I PAID $1,500 FOR KNOCK SENSORS TO BE REPLACED ALREADY. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10274219

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.