2002 Lexus Rx300 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train:automatic Transmission (17) · Power Train (16) · Vehicle Speed Control (12)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Lexus Rx300 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
74 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (57)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Equipment 2022-04-13 · Safety Recall 22 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
lexus safety recall and service campaign - technician certification requirements 4.13.2022
Wheels 2022-01-12 · Lexus PRO19-02 - · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
pol: this consolidated tire warranty guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by lexus. this information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be available to any customer that requests it. customers can find this information o
Power Train:automatic Transmission:fluid/Lubricant 2020-08-05 · L-SB-0002-20 Rev · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
tsb: vehicles may display evidence of a fluid leak or fluid seep from powertrain components. this bulletin explains how to determine the differences between a fluid leak versus a fluid seep. cases that are determined to be a ?leak? should be repaired accordingly and will be covered under warranty
Power Train:manual Transmission:lubricant 2020-08-05 · L-SB-0002-20 Rev · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
tsb: vehicles may display evidence of a fluid leak or fluid seep from powertrain components. this bulletin explains how to determine the differences between a fluid leak versus a fluid seep. cases that are determined to be a ?leak? should be repaired accordingly and will be covered under warranty
Steering 2020-06-23 · L-SB-0174-08 Obs · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
tsb: obsolete notice june 23, 2020: this bulletin is now obsolete. please see l-sb-0023-20.
Wheels 2020-06-23 · L-SB-0023-20 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
tsb: supersession notice the information contained in this bulletin supersedes service bulletin nos. st004-01, su001-08, and l-sb-0174-08. the aforementioned bulletins are obsolete, and any printed versions should be discarded. be sure to review the entire content of this service bulletin before
Showing the 6 most recent of 57 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2018-10-31 · Unknown Or Other · 142,128 mi“suddenly my gears began shifting into neutral, park, reverse and into !st and 2nd gear without locking into any of them. no matter what the shifter moves freely. my car only moves forward no matter which gear it's in, including reverse. i put it into park and it still keeps moving forward. in order to park and stop, i have to use my emergency br…”
2018-10-16 · Seats · 110,000 mi“lexus has not assembled/secured the airbag wiring proper underneath of seat and prompts the b1140 right-hand side air bag sensor assembly b1141 left-hand side air bag sensor assembly codes in 2002 rx300 models. this is one of the most common problem on this vehicle and can be deadly for these cars considering the airbags want deploy in an acci…”
2018-05-08 · Electrical System · 92,000 mi“windows and sunroof opened on their own!!! the doors were locked and no one was in the car. car was parked and left overnight locked and empty.…”
2018-03-07 · Power Train · 165,000 mi“i was driving to work till i heard grinding noise then i realized car does not accelerate any more then it towed away to mechanic shop and they told me it is the transmission.…”
2018-03-07 · Service Brakes · 164,700 mi“at 6:30 pm going 45 mph to mall and the road was wet apply brake and then car start spinning while abs making lots of sound.…”
2018-01-02 · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) · 87,000 mi“i have for years experienced a challenge with the check engine light illuminating. i have tried for years to get these lights to remain off, but with every repair, it comes back on. i basically ride with these lights on almost always for years. i have paid to have it repaired on several occasions. i found a week or two ago, a letter from lexus co…”
2017-11-20 · Vehicle Speed Control · 197,500 mi · 💥 crash“i entered parking lot and pulled into parking spot with my foot on brake barely going. i was almost all the way into spot when my car lunged up with extremely high rpms. i went into small tree, drove over another car, car flipped on side, then flipped over on roof and into another parked car. engine overtook the brakes. i am original owner with ca…”
2017-07-27 · Power Train · 65,000 mi“engine knocks on acceleration, burns oil bad, hard to start, transmmision will not auto shift into high range on freeway, car lurches when getting up to freeway speed…”
2017-07-26 · Power Train“takata recall, lexus transmission is messing up not shifting properly. there is a bunch of complaints about the transmission messing up and no one is doing anything about it. i am scared to drive my car because it could fail at any given time. so please i ask you to look into this problem and at least try to help thank you…”
2017-01-23 · Unknown Or Other · 92,500 mi“when i switch off the engine, remove the ignition key the vehicle will roll/creep forward or backwards when the shift lock selector lever is left in drive or reverse when the suv is parked on an incline. i strongly feel this is a serious safety hazard if the suv is parked on an incline with the shift lock selector lever is left in drive or reverse…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.