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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.

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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

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

Power Train complaints

123 reports
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98,000 miles · Jul 6, 2006
Power Train

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON A BUSY INTERSTATE AT NIGHT WITH MYSELF, MY HUSBAND AND OUR 8 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER. HAD TO GET THE HIGHWAY PATROL TO FOLLOW US TO AN EXIT. THIS CAR HAD 98000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME AND ACCORDING TO ALL MY INTERNET RESEARCH THIS IS A COMMON, KNOWN DEFECT WITH THE LEXUS RX300 THAT THEY REFUSE TO ADDRESS. …

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TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON A BUSY INTERSTATE AT NIGHT WITH MYSELF, MY HUSBAND AND OUR 8 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER. HAD TO GET THE HIGHWAY PATROL TO FOLLOW US TO AN EXIT. THIS CAR HAD 98000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME AND ACCORDING TO ALL MY INTERNET RESEARCH THIS IS A COMMON, KNOWN DEFECT WITH THE LEXUS RX300 THAT THEY REFUSE TO ADDRESS. ITS A SAFETY HAZARD. LEXUS OF COURSE REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. COST 3600.00 IN REPAIRS. NEVER HAD A TRANSMISSION GO OUT THIS EARLY, ACTUALLY NEVER HAD ONE GO OUT PERIOD ON CARS WITH MANY MORE MILES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10161652

27,000 miles · Apr 3, 2003
Power TrainCrash

THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AFTER THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF, AND THE KEYS WERE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION, WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10015097

Mileage unknown · Dec 27, 2001
Power TrainCrash

VEHICLE WAS AT A FULL STOP AND PUT INTO PARK. PAVEMENT WAS LEVEL. PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGED. BOTH DRIVER SIDE DOORS WERE OPEN AND REAR DOOR LIFTED. I WAS LOADING VEHICLE FOR FULL 5 MINUTES. AS I TURNED, SAW VEHICLE BEGIN TO MOVE IN REVERSE AT A VERY FAST PACE. ROLLED INTO EXTERIOR STUCCO WALL OF GARAGE. DAMAGED BUMPE…

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VEHICLE WAS AT A FULL STOP AND PUT INTO PARK. PAVEMENT WAS LEVEL. PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGED. BOTH DRIVER SIDE DOORS WERE OPEN AND REAR DOOR LIFTED. I WAS LOADING VEHICLE FOR FULL 5 MINUTES. AS I TURNED, SAW VEHICLE BEGIN TO MOVE IN REVERSE AT A VERY FAST PACE. ROLLED INTO EXTERIOR STUCCO WALL OF GARAGE. DAMAGED BUMPER AND LIFT GATE. NO INJURIES. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PUT INTO PARK WHILE RUNNING, WHEN AUTO IS PUT IN REVERSE AND FOOT IS TAKEN OFF BRAKE THE VEHICLE MOVES BACKWARD VERY QUICKLY WITH NO GAS APPLIED. WHEN PUT IN FORWARD, IT CREEPS AT A SLOWER SPEED THAN REVERSE. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO POSSIBILITY THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT IN REVERSE WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURED. THE CAR WOULD HAVE KNOCKED ME OVER BEFORE I COULD HAVE CLEARED IT BECAUSE IT MOVES SO FAST IN REVERSE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #756070

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.