AI DamageLexus RX300: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Lexus RX300 across 7 model years: 724 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 60% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 10% of all complaints
- 3 Vehicle speed control 9% of all complaints
- 4 Air bags 5% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 4% of all complaints
- 6 Electrical system 4% of all complaints
- 7 Engine 2% of all complaints
- 8 Seat belts 2% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 435 complaints (60% of all), 8 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 72 complaints (10% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Vehicle speed control: 67 complaints (9% of all), 31 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 36 complaints (5% of all), 27 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 32 complaints (4% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 724 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 435 | 8 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 72 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 67 | 31 | 0 |
| Air bags | 36 | 27 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 32 | 4 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 28 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine | 16 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 16 | 4 | 0 |
| Visibility | 16 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 15 | 3 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 13 | 1 | 0 |
| Tires | 13 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment | 11 | 2 | 0 |
| Structure | 10 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained head and left knee injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and then towed to her residence. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 178,000.
The vehicle crashed into a tree and the air bags failed to deploy. The driver sustained a broken breast bone (sternum) and head injuries that required medical attention. The passenger sustained neck and knee injuries, and bruises from the seat belt that required medical attention. A police report was not filed.
The contact stated that while traveling 60 mph, the vehicle crashed head on into another vehicle and the rear passenger side seat belt failed to secure the passenger. As a result, the passenger sustained a broken leg, broken wrist and needed to undergo surgery. The vehicle was destroyed. A police report was filed.
Subject: sudden acceleration lexus 2002--near fatal crash comments: on 3.16.2012 at 8 :30 am I pulled into a parking spot in a parking garage in baltimore, maryland. The car was stopping in a parking space.
Both the fire dept. And police arrived at the scene and the driver that ran the stop sign admitted her fault. I have photo's of the accident and a police report was filed. I reported this incident to lexus corp. And they are in the process of performing an engineering analysis.
The air bag did not deploy, at the time of the crash. He was able to brace himself from the impact. However, he did suffer upper back and neck discomfort. Both the fire department and police arrived at the scene and the driver that ran the stop sign admitted her fault.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.