NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
88 reports61,232 miles · Jun 1, 2009
Air BagsVehicle Speed ControlCrash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE ATTEMPTED TO START ITSELF BEFORE THE KEY WAS TURNED ALL THE WAY IN THE IGNITION. SHE PROCEEDED TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE FROM PARK INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED QUICKLY AND WOULD NOT STOP, EVEN WHEN THE BRAKES…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE ATTEMPTED TO START ITSELF BEFORE THE KEY WAS TURNED ALL THE WAY IN THE IGNITION. SHE PROCEEDED TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE FROM PARK INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED QUICKLY AND WOULD NOT STOP, EVEN WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR AND, APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET FURTHER, STRUCK A RETAINING WALL, HER NEIGHBOR'S HOME, AND A GAS METER. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE AND IT SPED BACK THROUGH HER RETAINING WALL AND STRUCK HER HOME. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. SHE ATTEMPTED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REACH ANYONE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 61,232. UPDATED 11/10/09
NHTSA ODI #10272579
150,000 miles · May 28, 2009
Power Train
2002 LEXUS RX300 TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE TRANNY FAILED AT ONLY 150,000 MILES. THE REPLACEMENT WAS $4200. NO TRANSMISSION SHOULD FAIL THAT SOON, AND NOTHING SHORT OF A BENTLEY SHOULD COST THAT MUCH FOR A REBUILT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10270198
150,000 miles · Apr 1, 2009
Wheels
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR A ROUTINE TIRE INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE WHEELS WERE CRACKED AND DEFECTIVE. IT WOULD COST $480 TO REPLACE EACH WHEEL. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR A ROUTINE TIRE INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE WHEELS WERE CRACKED AND DEFECTIVE. IT WOULD COST $480 TO REPLACE EACH WHEEL. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER TOOK PICTURES OF THE WHEELS AND FORWARDED THEM TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OLD AND OUT OF WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. HOWEVER, THEY OFFERED THE CONTACT A $150 OIL CHANGE CERTIFICATE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000.UPDATED 12/08/09 *LJ UPDATED 12/10/09.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10263855
94,000 miles · Apr 1, 2009
Power Train
FWD VEHICLE. GEAR SLIPPAGE BEGAN WITHOUT WARNING AND IN MINUTES THE TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETELY. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE MECHANIC SAYS THE CLUTCH IS BURNED OUT, REQUIRING A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CAR HAS 94K MILES ON IT AND THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE COST FOR REPLACEMENT WITH A RE-MANNED OEM TRANSMISSION IS…
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FWD VEHICLE. GEAR SLIPPAGE BEGAN WITHOUT WARNING AND IN MINUTES THE TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETELY. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE MECHANIC SAYS THE CLUTCH IS BURNED OUT, REQUIRING A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CAR HAS 94K MILES ON IT AND THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE COST FOR REPLACEMENT WITH A RE-MANNED OEM TRANSMISSION IS $3,900. IT IS BEING REPLACED BY THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10263844
125,500 miles · Feb 21, 2009
Power Train
I OWN A 2002 RX300 BY LEXUS. THIS HAS IN GENERAL BEEN A GOOD VEHICLE, UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHEN I WAS 350 MILES FROM HOME. THE INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP THAT I TOOK THE CAR TO SHOWED ME INFORMATION THAT INDICATED THE LEXUS VEHICLES FROM 1998 - 2002 HAVE A HISTORY OF SIGNIFICANT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THESE PROBL…
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I OWN A 2002 RX300 BY LEXUS. THIS HAS IN GENERAL BEEN A GOOD VEHICLE, UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHEN I WAS 350 MILES FROM HOME. THE INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP THAT I TOOK THE CAR TO SHOWED ME INFORMATION THAT INDICATED THE LEXUS VEHICLES FROM 1998 - 2002 HAVE A HISTORY OF SIGNIFICANT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THESE PROBLEMS INCLUDE THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION AND THE INABILITY IN SOME CASES OF GETTING A NEW "REBUILT" TRANSMISSION TO SYNC WITH THE VEHICLE COMPUTER. THE INFORMATION I READ INDICATED THAT UP TO 25% OF VEHICLES IN THESE MODEL YEARS HAVE FAILURE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. CAN YOU PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10259528
102,000 miles · Feb 19, 2009
Power Train
2002 LEXUS RX300 COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 102K MILES. NO WARNING, NO PROBLEMS NOTED BEFORE FAILURE. A NEW TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE INSTALLED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10259363
130,000 miles · Jan 12, 2009
Power Train
A TOTAL FAILURE OF MY TRANSMISSION LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY, NO WARNING, NO SIGNALS, JUST QUIT. I'VE DRIVEN TOYOTA PRODUCTS FOR 30 YEARS AND SEVERAL OVER 200K MILES AND I'VE NEVER HAD SUCH A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE COST TO REPAIR IS $4000 FROM THE DEALER. THE SAD THING IS THAT I JUST PAID THIS VEHICLE OFF LESS THAN …
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A TOTAL FAILURE OF MY TRANSMISSION LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY, NO WARNING, NO SIGNALS, JUST QUIT. I'VE DRIVEN TOYOTA PRODUCTS FOR 30 YEARS AND SEVERAL OVER 200K MILES AND I'VE NEVER HAD SUCH A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE COST TO REPAIR IS $4000 FROM THE DEALER. THE SAD THING IS THAT I JUST PAID THIS VEHICLE OFF LESS THAN A WEEK AGO. AFTER SEARCHING MANY FORUMS OF LEXUS OWNERS I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THE EARLY RX300S WERE ALL SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS FAILURE., WHY HASN'T AND DOESN'T LEXUS ADMIT THIS FAILURE. LEXUS HAS JUST LOST LOYAL CUSTOMER FOR THEM AND TOYOTA PRODUCTS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10254804
70,000 miles · May 27, 2008
Air BagsCrashInjury
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 35-45 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVERS SIDE OF HER VEHICLE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND NECK INJURIES AND FELT THIS WAS CAUSED BECAUSE THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AS OF MAY 27, 2008, THE DEALER HA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 35-45 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVERS SIDE OF HER VEHICLE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND NECK INJURIES AND FELT THIS WAS CAUSED BECAUSE THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AS OF MAY 27, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,000. UPDATED 07/29/08 *BF UPDATED 07/29/08
NHTSA ODI #10228947
Mileage unknown · May 20, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling
I HAVE A LEXUS RX300 2002 WHICH I PURCHASED USED BECAUSE OF THEIR WELL KNOW REPUTATION TO OPERATE FOR A LONG TIME. TWO WEEKS AGO OUR MECHANIC NOTICED OUR OIL DOWN A QUART AND DID A OIL CHANGE AND ASKED US TO WATCH OIL LEVEL. 300 MILES LATER IT WAS DOWN AGAIN. WE WERE REFERRED TO TAKE IT TO A LEXUS DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CHE…
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I HAVE A LEXUS RX300 2002 WHICH I PURCHASED USED BECAUSE OF THEIR WELL KNOW REPUTATION TO OPERATE FOR A LONG TIME. TWO WEEKS AGO OUR MECHANIC NOTICED OUR OIL DOWN A QUART AND DID A OIL CHANGE AND ASKED US TO WATCH OIL LEVEL. 300 MILES LATER IT WAS DOWN AGAIN. WE WERE REFERRED TO TAKE IT TO A LEXUS DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CHECKED OUT. THERE IS A RECALL FOR OIL GEL FOR 1999 TO 2002. WELL OURS HAD NO SIGNS OF OIL GEL, BUT IT IS ENGINE RELATED. THEY CAN NOT TELL US WHAT THE PROBLEM IS UNTIL THEY TAKE THE ENGINE COMPLETELY APART. THE REFERRED US TO LEXUS FOR A GOODWILL REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE OF THE HIGH COST TO FIX THE ENGINE. WE SENT ALL OUR RECORDS OF OIL CHANGES AND IT TOOK LEXUS 4 DAYS TO GET BACK TO US WITH A OFFER OF THEY WILL PAY FOR THE PARTS AND WE PAY FOR THE LABOR OF APPROX. $3,100.00. I HAVE READ ABOUT THE LEXUS ENGINES OF THOSE YEARS HAVING PROBLEMS AND I FEEL IT IS A MECHANICAL DEFECT FROM THE FACTORY. OUR CAR HAS 56,000MILES AND I AM TOLD THE ENGINE IS JUST BREAKING IN. I FEEL I HAVE A LEMON AND I NEED SOME HELP BECAUSE I AM HAVING A PROBLEM ACCEPTING THEIR OFFER... *TR
NHTSA ODI #10228362
30,000 miles · Sep 25, 2007
Tires
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER DISCOVERER H/T, SIZE P225/70R16 TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES CRACKED AROUND THE RIM AND WERE GRADUALLY LOSING AIR. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE CRACKS. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 10,000. UPDATED 10/24/07.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10204063