2000 Lexus RX: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
29 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
90,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: . 25 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 20 of 29 complaints (69.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 25 | 86.2% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 13.8% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 3.4% |
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 | 20 |
| Power Train | 5 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 20; Power Train: 5; Air Bags: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 1; Service Brakes: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 2
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 4 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 17 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
2006: 4; 2007: 17; 2011: 1; 2012: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2020: 1; 2022: 2
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 25 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10157730 · 2006-05-17 (May 17, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE 35 MPH THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE ACTED AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND WAS DRIVEN TO A DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SHIFT VERY HARD AND FELT AS IF WERE GOING TO STALL. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT THERE WAS A WHINING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD.
Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10157730 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10163752 · 2006-07-27 (July 27, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO THE DRIVE GEAR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE FAILED. NEITHER THE DRIVE NOR REVERSE GEAR COULD BE ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO MOVE AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. UPON INSPECTION, THE DEALERSHIP DISCOVERED METAL PARTICLES IN THE TRANSMISSION OIL. THE DIAGNOSIS INDENTIFIED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS LUBRICATED WITH METAL SHAVINGS AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS THEREFORE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED.
Owner-reported narrative. 74,268 miles reported. Look up ODI 10163752 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10165187 · 2006-08-10 (August 10, 2006)
2000 LEXUS RX300 WITH 85K MILES -- TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING. CAR ACTED LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. DEALER HAS SAID IT NEEDS A COMPLETELY NEW TRANSMISSION. I HAVE SINCE FOUND MANY, MANY SIMILAR STORIES ON VARIOUS WEB SITES. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND IN TRAFFIC I AM SURE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 85,199 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165187 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10165244 · 2006-08-11 (August 11, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RELEASE FROM THE RETRACTOR. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE RETRACTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. 08/29/06 RIGHT FRONT SEATBELT ASSEMBLY REPLACED GOODWILL WARRANTY REPAIR. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165244 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10177916 · 2007-01-05 (January 5, 2007)
AFTER $3000+ IN REPAIRS FOR THE MAIN SEALS LEAKING, THE REAR SEALS LEAKING, TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT, AND ALL OTHER BELTS REPLACED, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED, AND I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY LATER INFORMED ME THAT MY ENGINE IS BEING REPLACED. THEY MADE NO MENTION OF THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, DUE TO ENGINE SLUDGE BUILD-UP, THAT PROMPTED THE REPLACEMENT, BUT I SOON RECEIVED A LETTER REGARDING IT, AND ALL THE LEXUS AND TOYOTA MODELS AFFECTED. I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE $3000 CHARGE, BUT GOT NO SATISFACTION FROM THE DEALERSHIP, BUT ONLY TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 116,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10177916 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10178765 · 2007-01-15 (January 15, 2007)
FAILED TRANSMISSION 2000 RX300 LEXUS MILES 72000 I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND AT VICTORY TOYOTA SEASIDE CA AND THE MECHANICS HAD NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE I WAS PERUSING REGULAR MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES FOR THE RX300 AND FOUND ROUGHLY 20 SOME FAILED TRANSMISSIONS LISTED ON THE 1999 AND 2000 MODELS. TOYOTA IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS CRAPPY DESIGN BUT IT WAS MENTIONED THAT THE NEXT YEAR THE DESIGN WAS IMPROVED!! WE ALSO PAID 7000$ FOR THE JOB AND OTHER FOLKS PAID ON THE ORDER OF 4000.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10178765 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10178800 · 2007-01-16 (January 16, 2007)
2000 RX300 WITH 111000 MILES. OIL CHANGES WERE CONDUCTED AT EVERY 1500 MILES AND EVERY MAJOR SERVICE WAS DONE AS RECOMMENDED. TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY DIED ON THE HIGHWAY WITH NO WARNING SIGNS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10178800 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10181280 · 2007-01-31 (January 31, 2007)
2000 MODEL LEXUS RX300 WITH 75000 MILES. TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AFTER SPENDING A WEEK IN A COLD (NEVER ABOVER FREEZING) PARKING LOT. LEXUS DEALER IS CLAIMING THAT THE FLUID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED EVERY 20K MILES, ALTHOUGH THE USER MANUAL CLEARLY STATES THAT UNDER NORMAL USAGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID DOES NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING, AND NO FORWARD OR REVERSE ENGAGMENT WAS POSSIBLE. LEXUS IS QUOTING 5200 FOR A COMPLETE REBUILT (NOT EVEN NEW) TRANSMISSION. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS AND THIS IS THE FIRST TRANSMISSION…
Owner-reported narrative. 75,420 miles reported. Look up ODI 10181280 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.