Total Complaints
13 filings
LEXUS RX · model year
13 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002LEXUSRX carries 13 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2002 RX is power train:automatic transmission with 3 filings, followed by power train (2) and unknown or other (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 2002 RX. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
13 filings
Crashes Reported
4 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN | 2 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 |
| AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
I want to raise concern about the safety issue and health issues relating to the new LED headlights on cars now. In the morning and evenings, I regularly encounter these extremely bright headlights. It's a big distraction and my driving visual field is impacted by these lights. I would like to see this addressed and resolved! Please advise. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2002 Lexus RX300. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the air bag warning light flashed on the instrument panel. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.
Mileage: 190,000
The system component that malfunctioned was the Fuel Tank Overfill Check Valve, also referred to the Rollover Valve located in the top of the gas tank. The valve is suppose to prevent any fuel purging or fuel leaking during a rollover accident. Unfortunately, the valve can malfunction during normal refueling without the owner being aware. For a few years, I have been smelling fuel fumes during and after refueling. I would sometimes discover a pool of raw fuel under the gas tank and charcoal canister during/after refueling and up to 12 miles later. The vehicle started hesitating, missing and actually stalling after refueling. Three professional mechanics couldn't solve the problem. In an attempt to eliminate this safety issue, I replaced the gas tank, gas filler tube, fuel vapor purge valve and charcoal canister. I finally discovered a tube from the malfunctioning Overfill Valve was sending raw fuel directly to the charcoal canister, filling the charcoal canister and ultima
4 new tyres were installed by Firestone but driver side wore out despite balancing rotation, alignment performed during install. TyrePlus sister concern replaced with new tyre and prorated as the tyre was at fault. Same tyre blew out on the road. The tread, side all etc damaged the wire harness and car went out of control causing damage to suspension and fuel tank. Fuel began to leak. Car is toatled due to several other damages. TyrePlus does not want to take ownership. However they have all records of up to date maintenance. They referred me to Bridgestone wherein I need to submit 2 estimates. Tyre purchase dates maintenence etc. I have secured the tread and parts of the tyre which blew out and they want me to submit that. I am hesitatnt to submit it as they may tamper with the proof I have to fix it.
Transmission wouldnt shift all of the sudden on the high way no prior mechanical issues was t boned and broke my leg abs and trac off lights mechanic says total transmission failure 121000 miles and this is the second owner of this vehicle
Transmission wouldnt shift all of the sudden on the high way no prior mechanical issues was t boned and broke my leg abs and trac off lights mechanic says total transmission failure 121000 miles and this is the second owner of this vehicle
VEHICLES RETRACTABLE ANTENNA STOPPED RETRACTING AND ANTENNA MOTOR CONTINUES TO RUN TRYING TO PULL THE TELESCOPING ANTENNA BACK DOWN. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, ENGINE HAD BEEN SHUT DOWN AND KEYS REMOVED, BUT ANTENNA MOTOR KEPT RUNNING.
Mileage: 115,860
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY REPAIRED PROBLEMS. WAS ACCELERATING FROM STOP LIGHT ON BUSY CITY STREET, HIGHWAY FRONTAGE ROAD AND ENGINE DIED IN MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION CAUSING NO POWER OR STEERING AND HAD TO COME/COAST TO FINAL STOP WITH NO POWER OR STEERING CAPABILITIES. ENGINE DIED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. CAR WAS DISABLED UNDER HIGHWAY BRIDGE IN BUSY INTERSECTION. COULD NOT GET IT STARTED. DRIVERS WOULD TURN LEFT FROM THE LIGHT AND ALMOST REAR END ME BECAUSE I WAS DISABLED RIGHT AFTER THE TURN. TURNED OUT TO BE THE INFAMOUS TOYOTA RECALL AND CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT OF ENGINE SLUDGE. PAID $6000 TO REPAIR ALL CAR COMPONENTS AFFECTED BY THE LAWSUIT.
Mileage: 166,000
I WAS OUT OF TOWN I WAS DRIVING, NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY RX AT ALL. IT'S A 2002 LEXUS RX 300, THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN I GO TO TAKE OFF AT THE STOPLIGHT AND IT WAS HESITATING TO TAKE OFF. MY TRANSMISSION IS NOW COMPLETELY GONE. NO WARNING AT ALL. IF I TAKE MY VEHICLE OVER 35 MPH IS JERKS. TRANSMISSION SLIPS AT STOP LIGHTS, (WITH NO INCLINE). 115000 MILES, AND THE TRANNY GOES OUT. I DO BELIEVE IT HAS BEEN REPLACED BEFORE I PURCHASED THE CAR AS WELL. GREAT JOB LEXUS, NOT. I THOUGHT GOING WITH A LEXUS I WOULD HAVE A QUALITY VEHICLE. MAN WAS I WRONG. *TR
Mileage: 115,950
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION GEARS WOULD BECOME STUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT THE DEALER FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE FAILURE BEFORE MAKING A DECISION IF THEY COULD ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Mileage: 60,000
A CAR CRASHED INTO SIDE DOOR OF PASSENGER AND SIDE AIR DID NOT INFLATE IN MY 2002 LEXUS RX 300. MY CAR WAS THEN IN A ROLL OVER AND NO OTHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INCLUDING THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG. *TR
Mileage: 40,000
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THERE WAS A LACK OF RESPONSIVENESS IN THE VEHICLE WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE.
Mileage: 88,000
VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH TRANSMISSION IN PARK AND EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED. WHILE UNATTENDED THE VEHICLE STARTED MOVING FORWARD SLOWLY, I (THE DRIVER) JUMPED INTO FRONT SEAT TO APPLY THE FOOT BRAKE AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR (NO BRAKES!) VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STOPPED AND RAN IN TO THE WALL OF MY GARAGE. *JB
Mileage: 42,883
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.