2002 Lexus RX300 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
88 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
96,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 74 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 88 complaints (20.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 35 | 39.8% |
| Braking behavior | 16 | 18.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 4.5% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 2.3% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 2.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.1% |
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 | 18 |
| Power Train | 17 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 10 |
| Air Bags | 7 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 18; Power Train: 17; Vehicle Speed Control: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling: 10; Air Bags: 7; Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Electrical System: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3
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 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 16 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 26 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 26; 150,000 and above: 10
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (26). 14 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 13 |
| 2010 | 16 |
| 2011 | 13 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 6 |
2002: 3; 2003: 5; 2004: 4; 2005: 4; 2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 13; 2010: 16; 2011: 13; 2012: 6; 2013: 2; 2014: 2; 2015: 2; 2016: 3; 2017: 4; 2018: 6
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 35 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 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 10202584 · 2007-09-11 (September 11, 2007)
FAILURE OF TORQUE CONVERTER IN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, RESULTING IN TOTAL FAILURE OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE DISABLED ON BUSY FREEWAY. NO PRIOR WARNING, NO ENGINE CHECK LIGHT, NO TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE ALARM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 121,326 miles reported. Look up ODI 10202584 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10254804 · 2009-01-12 (January 12, 2009)
A TOTAL FAILURE OF MY TRANSMISSION LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY, NO WARNING, NO SIGNALS, JUST QUIT. I'VE DRIVEN TOYOTA PRODUCTS FOR 30 YEARS AND SEVERAL OVER 200K MILES AND I'VE NEVER HAD SUCH A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE COST TO REPAIR IS $4000 FROM THE DEALER. THE SAD THING IS THAT I JUST PAID THIS VEHICLE OFF LESS THAN A WEEK AGO. AFTER SEARCHING MANY FORUMS OF LEXUS OWNERS I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THE EARLY RX300S WERE ALL SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS FAILURE., WHY HASN'T AND DOESN'T LEXUS ADMIT THIS FAILURE. LEXUS HAS JUST LOST LOYAL CUS…
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10254804 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046242 · 2003-11-03 (November 3, 2003)
WHEN BRAKING THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE HIT A TREE AND A CAR AS A RESULT OF BRAKE FAILURE. DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10046242 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10125377 · 2005-06-15 (June 15, 2005)
DT: LEXUS, RX 300 SUV 2002, CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF A BRAKE PROBLEM. EVERY 9,000 MILES BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED. THE DRUMS WORE OUT, AND THE STEERING COLUM SHIMMIED LEFT TO RIGHT. DEALERSHIP ADMITTED THERE WAS A BRAKE PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP FIXED THE PROBLEM TWICE. CONSUMER WAS AFFRAID TO DRIVE VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY, CONSUMER HAD NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE BECAUSE OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125377 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10124868 · 2005-06-09 (June 9, 2005)
HAVE GONE THROUGH 4 BATTERIES -- 3 WITHIN 3 MONTHS. FLETCHER JONES DEALERSHIP IN LAS VEGAS, NV KEEPS INSISTING NOTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE (LEXUS RX300-2002) + SIMPLY REPLACES THE DEAD BATTERY. LEXUS REGIONAL SERVICE NEVER SEEMS ABLE TO REACH THE DEALERSHIP. NO ONE HAS ANY IDEA OR EXPLANATION WHY BATTERIES KEEP FAILING FOR NO APPARANT REASON.
Owner-reported narrative. 33,433 miles reported. Look up ODI 10124868 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10330737 · 2010-05-17 (May 17, 2010)
NUMEROUS INCIDENCES OF A DEAD BATTERY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10330737 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10360509 · 2010-10-14 (October 14, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED, IT WAS SHAKING. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAILPIPE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 40,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10360509 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10661338 · 2014-11-30 (November 30, 2014)
WHILE DRIVING WITH CLIENT FRIENDS TO THE RITZ CARLTON IN RANCHO MIRAGE FOR THANKSGIVING DINNER, THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING BUT WHEN THE GAS WAS STEPPED ON THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. WE MANAGED TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AT WHICH TIME WE HEARD AN EXPLOSION AND THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. WE ALL IMMEDIATELY JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR FEARING THAT THE GAS TANK WOULD EXPLODE. WE CALLED 911 AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED IN TIME TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES BEFORE THE GAS TANK COULD EXPLODE. THE WINDSHIELD BLEW OUT...THE TIRE…
Owner-reported narrative. 140,478 miles reported. Look up ODI 10661338 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10112938 · 2005-04-18 (April 18, 2005)
THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION OF 25 MPH, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE UPPER HARNESS OF THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO HOLD THE CONSUMER IN PLACE. THE CONSUMERS CHEST HIT UP AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONSUMER WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *JB *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10112938 at NHTSA ↗