Total Complaints
189 filings
LEXUS RX300 · model year
189 NHTSA complaints, 17 crash reports, and 5 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2001LEXUSRX300 carries 189 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 17 crashes, 2 fires, 20 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 2001 RX300 is power train:automatic transmission with 87 filings, followed by power train (35) and vehicle speed control (16). 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. This model year has 5 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 2001 RX300. 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
189 filings
Crashes Reported
17 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 87 |
| POWER TRAIN | 35 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 16 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 7 |
| AIR BAGS | 6 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 4 |
| ENGINE | 4 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| SUSPENSION | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT | 1 |
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE D
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
POLYMER PROCESS DEVELOPMENT IS RECALLING 931 UNITS OF BACK GLASS, P/NO. FB20415ZPY, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON 1999-2004 LEXUS RX300 VEHICLES. THE GLASS FAILS TO CONFORM TO THE AUTOMOTIVE GLAZING MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 205, GLAZING MATERIALS
PURCHASED FROM MY MOTHER IN 2013 AT 115K AFTER SHE HAD PURCHASED NEW FROM DEALERSHIP. BABIED, DEALER SERVICED, MY TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT AT 130K AT A COST OF $3800!!! THEN IN LESS THAN A YEAR IT WENT AGAIN, AND IT WAS UNDER AAMCO WARRANTY. THEN TRANSMISSION WENT AGAIN IN 2018, AND JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. WHY IS THERE NOT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT!!!!!! CAR DIED 3 SEPARATE TIMES WITHOUT WARNING IN VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. $3800 WAS MY ENTIRE SAVINGS, AND NOW MY LEXUS WAS THE ONLY THING I HAD OF VALUE, AND IT IS WORTH $250 AS A JUNKER!
Mileage: 130,000
PURCHASED FROM MY MOTHER IN 2013 AT 115K AFTER SHE HAD PURCHASED NEW FROM DEALERSHIP. BABIED, DEALER SERVICED, MY TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT AT 130K AT A COST OF $3800!!! THEN IN LESS THAN A YEAR IT WENT AGAIN, AND IT WAS UNDER AAMCO WARRANTY. THEN TRANSMISSION WENT AGAIN IN 2018, AND JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. WHY IS THERE NOT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT!!!!!! CAR DIED 3 SEPARATE TIMES WITHOUT WARNING IN VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. $3800 WAS MY ENTIRE SAVINGS, AND NOW MY LEXUS WAS THE ONLY THING I HAD OF VALUE, AND IT IS WORTH $250 AS A JUNKER!
Mileage: 130,000
THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND IN PARK IN A FLAT LOT. WHEN I SHIFTED TO REVERSE, IT DID NOT ENGAGE/ROLL BACK. AS I APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR NOTHING HAPPENED UNTIL A IT SUDDENLY CLUNKED AND LURCHED BACK. I PUT IT BACK IN PARK AND THEN IT REPEATED THE SAME SYNPTOM. THE TRANSMISSION HAS NOW BEGUN TO WHINE AND THERE IS RUMBLING AND JERKILY BETWEEN ROUGH SHIFTS ON THE STREETS AND HIGHWAY. AFTER HEARING AND READING NUMEROUS HORROR STORIES OF THESE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, AND HOW THEY HAVE SUDDENLY GONE OUT OR LOCKED UP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, I'M SURE THIS IS A PROBLEM LEXUS HAS KNOWN ABOUT AND IS DEFECTIVE, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT REPRESENTS MORE THAN 70% OF THE NTHSAS PUBLISHED COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE. THERE SHOULD BE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS. THE SUDDEN UNRELIABILITY OF THIS TRANSMISSION AND IT'S POTENTIAL TO CAUSE HARM IS NOT A COINCIDENCE AMONG THESE MANY REPORTS. IF THIS WERE A BOEING MAX 8 PLANE IT'D BE OUT OF COMMISSION FOR A FAILURE LIKE THIS!
Mileage: 200,000
MY TRANSMISSION IS NOT SHIFTING SMOOTHLY BETWEEN GEARS. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 7 YEARS AGO AND I HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. NOW IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN.
TAKATA RECALL - TRANSMISSION FAILED. HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT 140,423 MILES. THERE WAS METAL IN THE TRANSMISSION. COST TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WAS $2,875.10
VEHICLE HAS 133,890 MILES ON IT, VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED EVERY 5000 MILES, ACCORDING TO THE VEHICLE HISTORY AND OWNERS MANUAL. WE HAD TRANSMISSION FAILURE 100 MILES FROM HOME. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE I-90 , HAD TO WAIT 2 HOURS FOR A FLATBED ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. MASS STATE POLICE WERE NOT HAPPY HAVING TO WAIT THAT LONG NOR SAFETY OF BEING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR 2 HOURS. WE TRIED MOVING VEHICLE AFTER IT WAS OFF FOR AN HOUR, MOVED GEAR SELECTOR HAD ONLY PARK AND NATURAL , WAS AT " FULL HOT " MARK ON THE DIP STICK, FLUID IS CLEAN, DOESN'T SMELL BURNT AT ALL.TOWED TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH , AND THEN HAD NO FORWARD MOVEMENT AT 70MPH. GOOGLE " RX300 TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS" AND YOU'LL FIND THOUSANDS OF LINKS TO PEOPLE HAVING SAME ISSUE. TOYOTA/LEXUS SHOULD BE STEPPING UP AND FIXING THESE TRANSMISSIONS , THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A WEAK POINT IN THEIR VEHICLES AND A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.
Mileage: 133,890
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON CITY STREETS I ATTEMPTED A U TURN WITH THE VEHICLE AS I WAS COMPLETING THE U TURN THE TRANSMISSION MADE A WEIRD NOISE AND THEN THERE WAS NOTHING. NO FORWARD OR REVERSE AND WHEN I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK IT ACTED LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. I HAD TO PUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON TO KEEP THE CAR FROM ROLLING. HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY HOUSE 115 MILES AWAY. HE CAR ONLY HAS 145,000 MILES ON IT. CAR STARTS UP AND RUNS GREAT BUT WILL NOT ENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE IS STILL FINANCED SO I NEED TO GET IT FIXED HOWEVER THE CHEAPEST REBUILD I CAN FIND IS $5,000.00. I CALLED TOYOTA AND ASKED IF I COULD TRADE IT IN ON A NEW CAR AND THEY SAID NOT WITH THE TRANSMISSION FIXED BECAUSE THEY WOULD LOSE MONEY ON IT. I FEEL TOYOTA SHOULD FIX THIS DUE TO THE FACT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH OTHER LEXUS OWNERS. I STILL OWE $5,500.00 ON THE LOAN AND CANT AFFORD THE COST OF ANOTHER TRANSMISSION. I THINK TOYOTA SHOULD FIX THIS SINCE THERE ARE A LOT O
Mileage: 145,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REVERSE GEAR WAS NO LONGER OPERABLE IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,651. UPDATED 06/02/2016*LJ *TR
Mileage: 147,651
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A BROKEN BREAST BONE (STERNUM) AND HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED NECK AND KNEE INJURIES, AND BRUISES FROM THE SEAT BELT THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.
Mileage: 156,000
THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN DAMAGE NO POWER , NO GEARS ARE ENGAGE TOTAL FAILURE, THE VEHICLE HAS IN MOTION AT HIGHWAY SPEED.
Mileage: 165,000
TRANSMISSION FAILURE: STARTED TO MAKE NOISE COUPLE OF DAYS AGO AND FINALLY FAILED WHILE ON THE ROAD. ENGINE IS RUNNING GOOD, BUT NO GEAR ENGAGEMENT. ALL DRIVE TRAIN POSITION SEEMS LIKE THE CAR IS IN NATURAL. EXCESSIVE TRANSMISSION FAILURES WAS REPORTED BY OTHER RX300 OWNERS. COST TO SERVICE RE-BUILD TRANSMISSION IS $3,551.00
Mileage: 168,000
VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED WITH REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND TRANSMISSION FLUSH. HOWEVER, ON 06/22/2015, UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS IN MY 7 MILES COMMUTE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AFTER COMING TO A STOP. THE RPM/ENGINE REVVED UP, BUT VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE MUCH (COULD NOT SHIFT GEARS). PULLED TO THE SIDEWAY AND CALLED FOR HELP. TOOK IT TO LOCAL MECHANIC, AND DIAGNOSED WITH CODE P0770 (SOLENOID SHIFTER E FAILURE). MECHANIC SAYS NEW TRANSMISSION IS NEEDED ($5K PLUS). CHECKING ONLINE, THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE FOR THIS VEHICLE AND PROBABLY MODEL YEAR. TOYOTA HAS TO BE AWARE OF THIS MAJOR DEFECT, AND HAS PROBABLY INTENTIONALLY SAID SILENT. I WISH TOYOTA COULD BE TAKEN TO TASK ON THIS PROBLEM AS IT IS WRECKING FAMILY FINANCES!
Mileage: 162,100
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.
Mileage: 162,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
Mileage: 200,000
WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED 40, I NOTICED LAG IN GEAR SHIFT WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE TO 60 MPH. I NOTICED NO PICK IN SPEED RATHER 40 MPH BECAME 20 MPH, THE MORE I PRESS ON THE GAS PETAL THE ONLY ACCELERATION WAS NOTICE ON THE RPM. I HAD TO PUT ON THE HAZARDS AND PULL OVER TO LET OTHER CARS PASS.
Mileage: 142,100
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
Mileage: 200,000
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH AND IS FLASHING BACK & FORTH 100% OF THE TIME. *TR
Mileage: 72,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED AND THE GEAR COULD NOT BE SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000. UPDATED 3/13/15*CN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 01/25/16.*JB
Mileage: 145,000
TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ,THE VEHICLE JUS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD THANK GOD IT WAS NOT THE HIGHWAY. THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THESE VEHICLE ,A VERY SERIOUS LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM. *TR
Mileage: 131,345
WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING FORWARD AND SEEMED TO NOT BE IN GEAR. AS I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL THE ENGINE REVVED UP, BUT WOULD NOT GO FORWARD. CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED EVEN THOUGH THE CAR ONLY HAS 123K , YOU NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSAXLE. I CONFIRMED THAT THEIR WAS NO MAINTENANCE REQUIRED. *TR
Mileage: 123,117
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.