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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

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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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88,000 miles · Jul 20, 2011
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILURE-2001 LEXUS RX 300, 88,000 MILES, PURCHASED NEW, CAR WAS BABIED, SERVICES REGULARLY WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSHED AT 30,000 MILE INTERVALS. NEVER TOWED ANYTHING, DROVE ABOUT 9,000 MILES PER YEAR. YOU DON'T EXPECT A CAR YOU BUY FOR RELIABILITY TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FAIL AT 88,000 MILES WITH A $5,000 P…

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TRANSMISSION FAILURE-2001 LEXUS RX 300, 88,000 MILES, PURCHASED NEW, CAR WAS BABIED, SERVICES REGULARLY WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSHED AT 30,000 MILE INTERVALS. NEVER TOWED ANYTHING, DROVE ABOUT 9,000 MILES PER YEAR. YOU DON'T EXPECT A CAR YOU BUY FOR RELIABILITY TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FAIL AT 88,000 MILES WITH A $5,000 PRICE TAG TO REPAIR. RESEARCH SHOW THIS IS A GENETIC PROBLEM FOR AN UNDER ENGINEERED TRANSMISSION FOR A AWD AUTO. 100'S UPON 100'S HAVE THE COMPLAINT ON THIS MODEL FROM 1999-2002 WITH FAILURES AT 85,000- 95,000 MILES. DECEPTIVE ADVERTISING AS TO QUALITY, RELIABILITY AND PURSUIT OF PERFECTION WITH THE MANUFACTURER NOT WILLING TO ADMIT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. JUST READ THE LEXUS AND EDMUND BOARDS ON RX 300 AWD TRANSMISSION FAILURE. MANUFACTURER CORRECTED THE PROBLEM IN 2003 OR 2004 TRANSMISSIONS BUT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT PURCHASED BEFORE WE HAVE TO PAY THE CONSEQUENCE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS ON TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. REPORTS ARE NUMEROUS. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10413795

106,000 miles · Jun 27, 2011
Power Train

2001 LEXUS RX300 FAILED TRANSMISSION WITH NO PRIOR SYMPTOMS @ 106K MILES. ESTIMATED $3,800 - $4,800 TO REPLACE WITH REBUILT TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10409037

151,000 miles · May 20, 2011
Power Train

2001 LEXUS RX300 SHIFTED OUT OF DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL WHILE GOING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 60MPH (REDLINING THE ENGINE) AND ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT FROM BEHIND. APPARENTLY THIS CAR HAS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO REVERSE WHILE IN THE DRIVE POSITION SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE TRANSMISSION IS NOW HAVI…

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2001 LEXUS RX300 SHIFTED OUT OF DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL WHILE GOING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 60MPH (REDLINING THE ENGINE) AND ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT FROM BEHIND. APPARENTLY THIS CAR HAS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO REVERSE WHILE IN THE DRIVE POSITION SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE TRANSMISSION IS NOW HAVING TO BE REBUILT FOR $3000 THAT WE DON'T HAVE. THE CAR SHIFTING INTO REVERSE WHILE IN THE DRIVE LOCATION SCARED THE HECK OUT OF US. THANK GOD NO ONE WAS BEHIND US!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10402238

113,000 miles · May 5, 2011
Power Train

2001 LEXUS RX300 AT 113K MI. SUDDENLY THE GEARS ARE SLIPPING OR LOOSE IN REVERSE OR DRIVE WHEN STARTING FROM STOP - TAKES A SECOND TO CLICK INTO GEAR AND MOVE THE SUV- RANDOM IN NATURE AND OCCURRENCE. ABOUT A FEW MONTHS LATER THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON VSC AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS. LEXUS DEALER SAYS WARNING LIGHTS ARE FOR SOLENOID …

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2001 LEXUS RX300 AT 113K MI. SUDDENLY THE GEARS ARE SLIPPING OR LOOSE IN REVERSE OR DRIVE WHEN STARTING FROM STOP - TAKES A SECOND TO CLICK INTO GEAR AND MOVE THE SUV- RANDOM IN NATURE AND OCCURRENCE. ABOUT A FEW MONTHS LATER THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON VSC AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS. LEXUS DEALER SAYS WARNING LIGHTS ARE FOR SOLENOID E. THEY RECOMMEND REPLACING FULL TRANSMISSION AS THEY CANNOT BE SURE REPLACING THE SOLENOID WILL NOT DAMAGE THE TRANSMISSION - $4,500 IS THE DAMAGE - OUCH! I AM READING THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR LEXUS RX300'S - WHY ISN'T LEXUS DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS- LARGE HIT TO THE FAMILY BUDGET!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10399283

126,000 miles · May 2, 2011
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

I DROVE THIS CAR FROM SCHOOL TO HOME AS USUAL. THE TRANSMISSION IS GONE SUDDENLY THAT I HAD NO TIME TO PREPARE, THE CAR WAS LOSING CONTROL AND DRIVING INTO AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THE CAR ALMOST HIT AN OLD LADY WITH A SMALL GIRL. FORTUNATELY, I FINALLY GOT CONTROL OF THIS CAR AND WE WERE ALL SAFE. THIS GENERATION OF LEXUS RX300 H…

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I DROVE THIS CAR FROM SCHOOL TO HOME AS USUAL. THE TRANSMISSION IS GONE SUDDENLY THAT I HAD NO TIME TO PREPARE, THE CAR WAS LOSING CONTROL AND DRIVING INTO AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THE CAR ALMOST HIT AN OLD LADY WITH A SMALL GIRL. FORTUNATELY, I FINALLY GOT CONTROL OF THIS CAR AND WE WERE ALL SAFE. THIS GENERATION OF LEXUS RX300 HAS SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, MANY CASES CAN BE FOUND ONLINE. I WOULD HIGHLY SUGGEST THE MANUFACTURER RECALL THOSE CARS AND CAREFULLY EXAMINE THE PROBLEM, IN ORDER TO AVOID SUCH INCIDENT HAPPEN AGAIN. THOSE CARS ARE BECOMING OLDER, MANY MORE PROBLEMS WILL BE MANIFEST.

NHTSA ODI #10399025

104,000 miles · Apr 25, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE ENGINE WOULD EXHIBIT AN INCREASE IN RPMS BUT THE VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEP…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE ENGINE WOULD EXHIBIT AN INCREASE IN RPMS BUT THE VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10397387

120,000 miles · Mar 24, 2011
Power Train

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT A SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY 2001 LEXUS RX 300. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC WHEN ATTEMPTING TO GET ON INTERSTATE. THE VEHICLE HAS 120,000 MILES ON DRIVE TRAIN AND VEHICLE WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS LOOKED AT MONTHS EARLIER TO FIX POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION…

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I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT A SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY 2001 LEXUS RX 300. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC WHEN ATTEMPTING TO GET ON INTERSTATE. THE VEHICLE HAS 120,000 MILES ON DRIVE TRAIN AND VEHICLE WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS LOOKED AT MONTHS EARLIER TO FIX POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION. THE TECHNICIAN DID NOT DISCOVER ANYTHING UNUSUAL AND SAID VEHICLE WAS OKAY TO DRIVE. THE TRANSMISSION JUST QUIT AND LEFT MY CHILDREN AND ME STRANDED IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. REAL DANGEROUS!!! I THINK VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10392770

105,000 miles · Mar 4, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. SHE THEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMALLY LOUD THUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000.

NHTSA ODI #10386457

97,822 miles · Feb 27, 2011
Power Train

NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS APPLIED. TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING AT TRAFFIC LIGHT WHILE GOING HOME FROM WORK. WAS FINALLY ABLE TO MOVE FROM LIGHT INTO NEARBY PARKING LOT. HAD TO CALL TOW TRUCK FROM THERE. TOLD BY DEALER THAT THIS WAS RARE OCCASION AND THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. HAVE LEARNED SINCE THAT IT HA…

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NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS APPLIED. TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING AT TRAFFIC LIGHT WHILE GOING HOME FROM WORK. WAS FINALLY ABLE TO MOVE FROM LIGHT INTO NEARBY PARKING LOT. HAD TO CALL TOW TRUCK FROM THERE. TOLD BY DEALER THAT THIS WAS RARE OCCASION AND THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. HAVE LEARNED SINCE THAT IT HAS HAPPENED QUITE FREQUENTLY. THIS HAPPENED AROUND 97,800 MILES. A COST OF AROUND $3957 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10384655

140,000 miles · Feb 24, 2011
Power Train

MY VEHICLE WAS STOPPED FOR A TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND SHIFTER IN "DRIVE". WHEN LIGHT TURNED GREEN I APPLIES GAS AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO REVERSE WITH THE SHIFTER STILL IN THE DRIVE POSITION. TRANSMISSION WILL NEED REPLACING. REPAIRING DEALER ADVISED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10384438

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.