LEXUS RX300 · model year

2001 LEXUS RX300

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.

189
Complaints
17
Crashes
2
Fires
20
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

189 filings

Crashes Reported

17 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION87
POWER TRAIN35
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL16
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE7
AIR BAGS6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING4
ENGINE4
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
SUSPENSION2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD1
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT1

Recalls (5)

06E04900024/05/2006

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.

06E02600023/03/2006

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

09E02500011/05/2009

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

09E01200007/04/2009

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

08E02000006/03/2008

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

Recent Complaints

20190618SERVICE BRAKES

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

20190618POWER TRAIN

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

20190316POWER TRAIN

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

20180916POWER TRAIN

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.

20170107POWER TRAIN

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

20160704POWER TRAIN

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

20160620POWER TRAIN

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

20160316POWER TRAIN

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

20160223CrashAIR BAGS

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

20151005POWER TRAIN

THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN DAMAGE NO POWER , NO GEARS ARE ENGAGE TOTAL FAILURE, THE VEHICLE HAS IN MOTION AT HIGHWAY SPEED.

Mileage: 165,000

20150904POWER TRAIN

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

20150623POWER TRAIN

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

20150616POWER TRAIN

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

20150615VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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

20150531VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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

20150212ENGINE

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

20150107AIR BAGS

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH AND IS FLASHING BACK & FORTH 100% OF THE TIME. *TR

Mileage: 72,000

20150105POWER TRAIN

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

20150104POWER TRAIN

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

20141108POWER TRAIN

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

Compare 2001LEXUSRX300 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2001 LEXUS RX300 have?
The 2001 LEXUS RX300 has 189 NHTSA complaints, 17 crashes, 2 fires, 20 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2001 LEXUS RX300?
Yes, the 2001 LEXUS RX300 has 5 recall(s). The most common affected component is EXTERIOR LIGHTING. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 LEXUS RX300?
The most-complained component for the 2001 LEXUS RX300 is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 87 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 2001 LEXUS RX300 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

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.