Home › Lexus › RX300 › 2002

2002 Lexus RX300 Problems and Recalls

Owners filed 88 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Lexus RX300, most often about the transmission (43% of complaints, typically around 102,000 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about RX300 model year since 2000.

Complaints88
Recalls0
Crashes reported18
Fires reported1
Injuries reported14

Most common 2002 Lexus RX300 problems

  1. Transmission

    38 complaints · 43%

    Half of these problems showed up before 102,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline.

    2002 Lexus RX300 complete transmission failure at 102k miles. No warning, no problems noted before failure. A new transmission had to be installed.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2009, at 102,000 miles
    Tl contact owns a 2002 Lexus RX300. While driving at approximately 40-50 MPH, the contact attempted to accelerate and the transmission failed without warning. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership where the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. He called the manufacturer who…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2010, at 100,500 miles

  2. Speed control

    15 complaints · 17%

    Half of these problems showed up before 120,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal, linkages.

    Whenever at a stop or going at very slow speeds (less than 10mph, for example), gas pedal sticks. I have to apply pressure or stomp on the pedal to get the car to move, then it often lurches ahead. This does not happen if going at speed (25 + MPH) when take foot off gas pedal nor does it happen when putting car into…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2010, at 120,000 miles
    My wife was driving in freeway (highway 101 in bay area, ca) around 8:00pm. The car was at a speed of ~60 miles/hr. The car started accelerating independently. My wife exited 101 immediately and found that she could not get the car to fully stop even though she applied the brake fully. The car was still idling full…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2013, at 128,000 miles

  3. Engine

    13 complaints · 15%

    Half of these problems showed up before 84,000 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system, cooling system.

    2002 Lexus RX300 85000 miles the steel lines running to the transmission oil cooler started to leak. Upon inspection they were found to be rusted through. The line must be in a bad place and receive road spray.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2010, at 85,000 miles
    The contact owns a 2002 Lexus RX300. The contact was driving at an unknown speed when the check engine light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop where the failure was diagnosed as the vehicle having excessive engine sludge. The contact was informed by the technician that if he had…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2011, at 83,400 miles

  4. Air bags

    10 complaints · 11%

    Half of these problems showed up before 82,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.

    Dt: the consumer was involved in an accident in which the driver's side air bag did not deploy correctly. The consumer indicated that the air bag only partially deployed after impact and when it deployed in was towards the center of the vehicle.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2005, at 82,000 miles
    Tl contact owns a 2002 Lexus RX300. While driving 35-45 MPH, the contact stated that another vehicle crashed into the drivers side of her vehicle. The airbags did not deploy. The contact sustained a concussion and neck injuries and felt this was caused because the airbags did not deploy. As of may 27, 2008, the dealer…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2008, at 70,000 miles

  5. Electrical

    5 complaints · 6%

    Half of these problems showed up before 40,000 miles. Parts named most often: 12v/24v/48v battery.

    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…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2005, at 33,433 miles
    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.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2018, at 92,000 miles

  6. Wheels and tires

    4 complaints · 5%

    Parts named most often: sidewall.

    Tl contact owns a 2002 Lexus RX300. The vehicle has cooper discoverer h/t, size p225/70r16 tires. The contact stated that all four tires cracked around the rim and were gradually losing air. The dealer was unable to determine the cause of the cracks. The tire failure mileage was less than 10,000. Updated 10/24/07.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2007, at 30,000 miles
    Tl contact owns a 2002 Lexus RX300. The contact took the vehicle to a repair shop for a routine tire inspection. The mechanic noticed that the wheels were cracked and defective. It would cost $480 to replace each wheel. A report was filed with the manufacturer and they advised her to take the vehicle to the dealer.…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2009, at 150,000 miles

  7. Brakes

    3 complaints · 3%

    Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, foundation components.

    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.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2003, at 12,000 miles
    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…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2005, at 9,000 miles

  8. Other or unspecified

    3 complaints · 3%

    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…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2017, at 92,500 miles
    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…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2018, at 142,128 miles

Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

2002 Lexus RX300 recalls

NHTSA lists no recalls for this model year.

Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.

Questions about the 2002 Lexus RX300

What are the most common problems with the 2002 Lexus RX300?
By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (38 complaints, typically around 102,000 miles); speed control (15 complaints, typically around 120,000 miles); engine (13 complaints, typically around 84,000 miles).
How many recalls does the 2002 Lexus RX300 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2002 Lexus RX300. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls in case one is issued later.
Is the 2002 a bad year for the Lexus RX300?
It is the 3rd most complained-about RX300 model year since 2000, with 88 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.

Other Lexus RX300 years

Lexus RX300 problems by year