2001 Lexus RX300: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
169 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
108,100 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 152 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 87 of 169 complaints (51.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 121 | 71.6% |
| Braking behavior | 14 | 8.3% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 4.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 1.2% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 1.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.6% |
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 | 87 |
| Power Train | 35 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 16 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 7 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 4 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 87; Power Train: 35; Vehicle Speed Control: 16; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 7; Air Bags: 6; Engine: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 15 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 38 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 75 |
| 150,000 and above | 17 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 38; 100,000 to 149,999: 75; 150,000 and above: 17
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (75). 17 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 27 |
| 2009 | 33 |
| 2010 | 22 |
| 2011 | 18 |
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
2001: 4; 2002: 2; 2003: 4; 2004: 8; 2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2007: 9; 2008: 27; 2009: 33; 2010: 22; 2011: 18; 2012: 9; 2013: 3; 2014: 9; 2015: 10; 2016: 4; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 2
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 121 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 14 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10001255 · 2002-12-31 (December 31, 2002)
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER HIT A PIECE OF RUBBER TIRE THAT HAD FLEW OFF A TRUCK, MINUTES LATER THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY ANOTHER MOTORIST THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING GAS, CONSUMER THEN PULLED OVER AND DISCOVERED A HOLE APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER ON THE SIDE OF THE GAS TANK, CONSUMER STATED THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURED JUST FROM HITTING A PIECE OF RUBBER.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001255 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002800 · 2003-01-16 (January 16, 2003)
2001 LEXUS RX300, 30DEGREE OUTSIDE TEMP, VEHICLE WARMED UP UNTIL HEATED SEATS WORKED, DROVE VEHICLE ABOUT 80 YARDS FORWARD, VEHICLE PUT INTO REVERSE, SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURED AT FULL THROTTLE, BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION, UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE POSITION WITH VEHICLE IN MOTION, RPM NEEDLE AT REDLINE 8000RPM, VEHICLE FINALLY BROUGHT TO SCREECHING AND SHAKING STOP WHEN SHIFTED INTO PARK. ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF, WHEN STARTED AGAIN, RMP NEEDLE JUMPED UP TO REDLINE AGAIN AND STAYED THERE. THIS REPEATED ABOUT 5 TIMES. ACCELERATION WAS STUCK AT FUL…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002800 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015097 · 2003-04-03 (April 3, 2003)
THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AFTER THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF, AND THE KEYS WERE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION, WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10015097 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044933 · 2003-10-29 (October 29, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. DUE TO SEVERE DAMAGE FROM THE FIRE VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044933 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10045408 · 2003-11-04 (November 4, 2003)
FRONT BRAKE DISC ROTORS ARE WARPED AT ONLY 28000 MILES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045408 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063065 · 2004-04-01 (April 1, 2004)
WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A BUILDING HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10063065 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10069308 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
OIL SLUDGE IN 3.0L ENGINE CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE.
Owner-reported narrative. 40,987 miles reported. Look up ODI 10069308 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10082834 · 2004-07-28 (July 28, 2004)
TWO (2) INCIDENTS OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION BY THE VEHICLE - THE DEALER WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY SIMILAR ISSUES. I WAS NOT AWARE THAT NHTSA WAS CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION INTO SIMILAR OCCURRENCES WITH OTHER TOYOTA/LEXUS VEHICLES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10082834 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.