2000 Lexus RX300 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
214 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
103,750 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: . 162 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 112 of 214 complaints (52.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 130 | 60.7% |
| Braking behavior | 26 | 12.1% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 3.3% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 2.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 1.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 112 |
| Power Train | 27 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 13 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 10 |
| Engine | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 6 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 112; Power Train: 27; Vehicle Speed Control: 13; Engine And Engine Cooling: 10; Engine: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 6; Electrical System: 5; Exterior Lighting: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 17 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 43 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 77 |
| 150,000 and above | 15 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 17; 75,000 to 99,999: 43; 100,000 to 149,999: 77; 150,000 and above: 15
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (77). 52 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 6 |
| 2001 | 11 |
| 2002 | 10 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 19 |
| 2008 | 32 |
| 2009 | 33 |
| 2010 | 27 |
| 2011 | 18 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
2000: 6; 2001: 11; 2002: 10; 2003: 5; 2004: 7; 2005: 9; 2006: 6; 2007: 19; 2008: 32; 2009: 33; 2010: 27; 2011: 18; 2012: 4; 2013: 5; 2014: 5; 2015: 6; 2016: 7; 2017: 2; 2018: 2
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 130 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 26 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 7 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10125165 · 2005-06-13 (June 13, 2005)
WHILE TRAVELING ON CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY IN DALLAS US75 GOING ABOUT 65 MY LEXUS RX300 LOST FORWARD ACCELERATION AS CARS ZOOMED PAST ME, THE ENGINE WAS STILL ON AS I MANAGED TO SAFELY EXIT ONTO THE ACCESS ROAD AND INTO A PARKING LOT. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND CHECKED FOR LEAKS OR A BROKEN BELT, BUT FOUND NO PROBLEM. I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND KEPT GOING. I TALKED TO THE LEXUS DEALER IN PLANO BUT SERVICE DEPT. WAS CLOSED AND THEY REFFERED ME TO TAKE IT INTO MY AUSTIN DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT WITHOUT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NOTHING WOULD BE FOUND. I…
Owner-reported narrative. 120,215 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125165 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10137029 · 2005-09-19 (September 19, 2005)
MILEAGE 75000 AWD RX300 COMPLETE FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION PUMP. LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND MANUVERABILITY => DANGEROUS CAR WAS 100% MAINTAINED BY A LEXUS DEALER WEB REVEALED MANY SIMILAR FAILURES FIRST TIME TOYOTA TRIED TO USE A LIFETIME TRANSMISSION FLUID, IT DID NOT WORK!!!!*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10137029 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10135723 · 2005-09-07 (September 7, 2005)
I TOOK MY LEXUS 2000 BECAUSE IT SHIMMIED BADLY. THE DEALER COULD NOT LOOSEN THE NUT BECAUSE THE WHOLE CYLINDER DISC ASSY WAS RUSTED SO BADLY THAT THEY HAVE TO SAW IT OFF. THE BRAKE PAD COULD NOT EVEN MOVE, THEY HAVE TO CHANGE THE ARM THAT CONNECT BRAKING. I WAS NEVER WARNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 70,914 miles reported. Look up ODI 10135723 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10141199 · 2005-10-29 (October 29, 2005)
THIS IS AN LEXUS RX300 2000 EDITION; THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. IT STARTED WITH AN UNTRACEABLE PROBLEM IN WHICH THE REAR TAIL BRAKE LIGHT STOPPED WORKING; LATER ON, THE TWO MAIN HEAD-LAMPS STOPPED WORKING; FUSES HAVE BEEN CHANGED, BULBS HAVE CHANGED, BUT NO PROBLEM HAS BEEN FOUND. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS OR DAMAGE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10141199 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10181107 · 2007-01-30 (January 30, 2007)
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION ON A 2000 LEXUS RX 300 FAILED. WHILE DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OR GO INTO REVERSE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. AT THE DEALERSHIP, THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD RECEIVED REGULARLY SCHEDULED SERVICING.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10181107 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10230153 · 2008-06-06 (June 6, 2008)
LOSS OF POWER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, RAN EXTREMELY ROUGH LEXUS RX300 2000. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 108,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10230153 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10164248 · 2006-08-02 (August 2, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH, ON WET ROAD CONDITIONS, VEHICLE CONTROL WAS LOST. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VEER TO THE RIGHT AND THE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE STOPPED WHEN IT COLLIDING WITH A PARKED VEHICLE. A PIECE OF METAL WAS OBSERVED ON THE GROUND AFTER THE INCIDENT. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED AN AIR BUBBLE IN THE METAL OF THE CONTROL ARM CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. THE SHOP REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM,…
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10164248 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10652460 · 2014-11-04 (November 4, 2014)
STEERING LOCKED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. TURNING RIGHT, MY VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE IN MOTION AND WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO STRAIGHTEN OUT. THIS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD, BUT THANKFULLY SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES, I STOPPED BEFORE DOING SO. UPON READING REVIEWS, OTHER LEXUS RX-300 DRIVERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME OCCURRENCE. THIS MALFUNCTION COULD CAUSE MAJOR INJURY OR DEATH. I AM REQUESTING THE NHTSA IMMEDIATELY CONDUCT A REVIEW OF THESE VEHICLES AND FORCE LEXUS TO PERFORM A MANDATORY RECALL BEFORE MORE PEOPLE ARE INJURED OR KIL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10652460 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10433975 · 2011-11-02 (November 2, 2011)
I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE (2000 LEXUS RX 300) IN 2004 WITH LESS THAN 35,000 AND EVERY YEAR SINCE 2007 I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH LIGHTING. I HAVE HAD THE PARK LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, CENTER STOP LAMP; CENTER BRAKE LIGHT SOCKET AND BULBS ALL REPLACED. THE UNFORTUNATE ISSUE IS THAT THE LIGHTS HAVE TO BE REPLACED EVERY YEAR SOMETIMES TWICE A YEAR BECAUSE THEY CONTINUE TO MALFUNCTION. I ALWAYS TAKE MY VEHICLE TO THE LEXUS OF ORLANDO DEALERSHIP FOR TESTING, SERVICE AND REPAIR BUT THEY OBVIOUSLY NEVER COMPLETELY FIX THIS ISSUE. THE MOST RECENT REPAIR WAS REPLAC…
Owner-reported narrative. 72,105 miles reported. Look up ODI 10433975 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10196175 · 2007-07-12 (July 12, 2007)
FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR WILL READ THE WRONG READING AND CAUSE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED.THE FUEL GAUGE WAS STANDING AT A QUARTER OF A TANK AND SUDDENLY WHEN NEXT TIME VEHICLE WAS STARTED THE INDICATOR WILL JUMP TO 3 QUATERS FULL , AND IT CREATED MISS JUDGEMENT. DEALER STATED NO TO FIX IT OR REPLACE IT . CONSUMER HAD NO IDEA THE FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10196175 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8016649 · 2002-08-19 (August 19, 2002)
FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR WILL READ THE WRONG READING AND CAUSE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AKTHE FUEL GAUGE WAS STANDING AT A QUARTER OF A TANK. CONSUMER HAD NO IDEA THE FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY. *JG
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8016649 at NHTSA ↗