2002 Lexus RX300: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10005082 · 2003-02-01 (February 1, 2003)
2/1/03 WFS 2002 LEXUS RX 300 WITH 1800 MILES TURNING INTO PARKING LOT HIT THE CURB TRAVELING SLOWLY AND THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. TIRE MAKE P225/70 R26 MADE BY INTEGRITY THIS EVENT HAS NEVER HAPPEN IN OUR EXPERIENCE OF COMBINED 70 YEARS OF DRIVING. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005082 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018315 · 2003-05-06 (May 6, 2003)
THROTTLE BECAME STUCK ON 2002 LEXUS RX300 WHILE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN CAUSING IT TO RAPIDLY ACCELERATE. CAR HAD TO BE TURNED OFF BEFORE IT COULD BE STOPPED. CAR WAS TOWED TO LEXUS DEALER. I WAS TOLD IT WAS JUST A "FREAK" ACCIDENT THAT A TINY PIECE OF PLASTIC HAD GOTTEN SUCKED INTO THROTTLE. I WANT TO BE SURE THIS WAS AN ACCIDENT AND IS NOT A DEFECT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 24,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018315 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018360 · 2003-05-07 (May 7, 2003)
WHILE GOING SLOW THE CAR ACCELERATES SUDDENLY, ALREADY THIS HAPPENED TWICE AND BOTH TIMES I HIT THE WALL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018360 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10045133 · 2003-10-30 (October 30, 2003)
I DRIVE A 2002 LEXUS RX300. I WAS SMELLING A BURNING ODOR FROM BELOW MY CAR AND CALLED UP TO HAVE IT CHECKED BY THE LEXUS SERVICE. THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T SEE ME FOR A WEEK AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE THE CAR IN FOR CHECK UP. I EXPRESSED MY CONCERN ABOUT DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHILE THIS SMELL WAS PRESENT AND WAS TOLD TO CHECK IF :THERE WAS ANY OBJECT SUCH AS A PLASTIC BAG STUCK UNDER MY CAR. *CHECKED THE OIL, SINCE HE SAID THAT THE ENGINE OIL LUBRICATES THE ENTIRE POWER TRAIN. AFTER TELLING HIM THAT THE DIPSTICK SHOWED THAT THERE WAS NO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10045133 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 10066605 · 2004-03-31 (March 31, 2004)
ANOTHER VEHICLE CUT THROUGH THE CENTER MEDIAN AND TURNED INTO THE CONSUMER'S PATH STRIKING THE LEFT FRONT BUMPER AND FENDER; YET NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *PH VEHICLE IS TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10066605 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067892 · 2004-04-27 (April 27, 2004)
THE WINDSHIELD GLARE FROM MY 2002 LEXUS RX 300 IS SO GREAT THAT I CAN NOT DRIVE THE CAR DURING THE DAY AND SAFELY SEE OTHER VEHICLES TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. I SPOKE TO THE DEALER PARTS MANAGER WHO TOLD ME IT WAS VERY COMMON AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE. IS THAT TRUE? I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR. I HAVE TRIED COVERING THE DASH BUT IT DID NOT HELP. HAVE YOU CONSIDERED THIS GLARE ISSUE? THE DEALER SAID LEXUS WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAD MADE CHANGES IN DESIGN BECAUSE OF IT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10067892 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079338 · 2004-06-14 (June 14, 2004)
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN COLLISION AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS CHEST, LEFT LEG, BACK SHOULDER, ETC. THE PASSENGERS SUSTAINED MINOR CUTS BRUISES AND CONTUSIONS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10079338 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.