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2003 Lexus RX300

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Lexus RX300 are lower than the model-year median of 88.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected 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

Limited mileage data: 19 of 25 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

5 reports
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156,500 miles · Nov 3, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control

HAD CAR IN DRIVEWAY UNUSED FOR MONTH OR TWO. CAR SEEMED TO BE IDLING AT HIGHER THAN USUAL SPEED AFTER STARTING (@2300 RPM). VEHICLE JERKED A BIT AT EACH STOP SIGN AS IF PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION. TOOK VEHICLE ON ROAD AT 35 TO 40 MPH, TOOK FOOT OFF GAS AND VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING AT A MODEST PACE TO ABOVE 50. GLANCED AT FLO…

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HAD CAR IN DRIVEWAY UNUSED FOR MONTH OR TWO. CAR SEEMED TO BE IDLING AT HIGHER THAN USUAL SPEED AFTER STARTING (@2300 RPM). VEHICLE JERKED A BIT AT EACH STOP SIGN AS IF PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION. TOOK VEHICLE ON ROAD AT 35 TO 40 MPH, TOOK FOOT OFF GAS AND VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING AT A MODEST PACE TO ABOVE 50. GLANCED AT FLOORMAT (NOT TOUCHING ACCELERATOR), PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL. ENGINE REVVED TO HIGH RPM THAN CAME BACK TO NORMAL. PUT BACK IN GEAR AND DROVE SHORT DISTANCE HOME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10652063

117,000 miles · May 15, 2011
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST TRANSMISSION ON THE ROAD AND WAS ROLLING FREELY. THE GEARS DOES NOT WORK ANYMORE AND THE VEHICLE ROLLS AS IF ITS IN NEUTRAL. WHEN SEARCH THE INTERNET I LOOKED AT LOT OF THE CUSTOMERS COMPLAINING ABOUT EXACT SAME THING, ABOUT THIS VEHICLE HAVING TRANSMISSION ISSUES ESPECIALLY FOR RX300. NO WONDER TOYOTA…

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THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST TRANSMISSION ON THE ROAD AND WAS ROLLING FREELY. THE GEARS DOES NOT WORK ANYMORE AND THE VEHICLE ROLLS AS IF ITS IN NEUTRAL. WHEN SEARCH THE INTERNET I LOOKED AT LOT OF THE CUSTOMERS COMPLAINING ABOUT EXACT SAME THING, ABOUT THIS VEHICLE HAVING TRANSMISSION ISSUES ESPECIALLY FOR RX300. NO WONDER TOYOTA HAS THIS MANY RECALLS AND SURPRISED THAT THEIR PREMIUM BRAND HAS THE SAME ISSUES WITH SAFETY. I AM GLAD THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON A HIGHWAY

NHTSA ODI #10401788

14,070 miles · Feb 25, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH OUT OF THE PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND HE LOST CONTROL. AS HE SWERVED THE VEHICLE HE HIT THREE SMALL TREES, A WOODEN FENCE, AND A BRICK WALL BEFORE THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE AMBULANCE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT CAME BECAUSE HE WAS TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE. HE WAS …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH OUT OF THE PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND HE LOST CONTROL. AS HE SWERVED THE VEHICLE HE HIT THREE SMALL TREES, A WOODEN FENCE, AND A BRICK WALL BEFORE THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE AMBULANCE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT CAME BECAUSE HE WAS TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE. HE WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR INJURES TO HIS LOWER BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE IS A POLICE REPORT IF NEEDED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN CALLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,070. UPDATED 05/10/10 *BF THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A LOSS. UPDATED 05/17/10.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10314259

38,000 miles · Feb 19, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING INTO A DRIVEWAY AT SPEEDS OF UNDER 8 MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD REVVING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE DOOR AND PUSHED TWO OTHER VEHICLES IN THE DRIVEWAY THROUGH A CEMENT WALL AND THROUGH HER HOME. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR DEALER WERE CO…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING INTO A DRIVEWAY AT SPEEDS OF UNDER 8 MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD REVVING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE DOOR AND PUSHED TWO OTHER VEHICLES IN THE DRIVEWAY THROUGH A CEMENT WALL AND THROUGH HER HOME. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR DEALER WERE CONTACTED. THE REPAIRS WERE COVERED THROUGH HER INSURANCE COMPANY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10312223

38,000 miles · Feb 19, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING INTO A DRIVEWAY AT SPEEDS OF FEWER THAN 8 MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD REVVING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT INTENT. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE DOOR AND PUSHED THE TWO VEHICLES INTO THE DRIVEWAY THROUGH A CEMENT WALL AND INTO HER HOME. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. NE…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING INTO A DRIVEWAY AT SPEEDS OF FEWER THAN 8 MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD REVVING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT INTENT. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE DOOR AND PUSHED THE TWO VEHICLES INTO THE DRIVEWAY THROUGH A CEMENT WALL AND INTO HER HOME. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE REPAIRS WERE COVERED THROUGH HER INSURANCE COMPANY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10312186

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.