NHTSA vehicle safety data

2000 Lexus RX300 Recalls & Complaints

The 2000 Lexus RX300 has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 216 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Lexus dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2000 Lexus RX300. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2000 Lexus RX300 owner complaints

Owners have filed 216 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Lexus RX300, describing incidents dated October 10, 1999 to October 6, 2018.

Most-cited components

Power Train 138 complaints
Engine 26 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control 14 complaints
Service Brakes 11 complaints
Electrical System 7 complaints
Exterior Lighting 6 complaints

Of the 216 complaints on file, 16 report a crash; across all 216 complaints, owners report 15 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11138843 · Filed October 6, 2018
TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO BAD DESIGN. MANY OTHERS HAVE SAME FAILURES. NEED RECALL.
ODI #11101580 · Filed June 13, 2018
TRANSMISSION BEGAN NOT SHIFTING SMOOTHLY AND MECHANIC PUT IN TRANSMISSION FLUID BUT COULD NOT LOCATE ANY ISSUES WITH IT. TRANMISSION SOON WENT COMPLETELY OUT AT 88,000 MILES WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. ONLY OWNED SUV FOR A YEAR AND A HALF. HAD INSPECTED BEFORE PURCHASE AND NO PROBLEMS NOTED. VERY…
ODI #11040687 · Filed October 28, 2017
AT APPROXIMATELY 150,000 MY LEXUS RX 300 SEIZED AFTER PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT. I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE/TURNOVER. OBVIOUSLY, HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AND THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I PURCHASED A REBUILT TRANSMISSION TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $4,000. THERE ARE…

Read all 216 complaints

Owner-reported

2000 Lexus RX300 mileage at failure

159 of the 216 complaints on file for the 2000 Lexus RX300 give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Component	Median	Middle half	Based on
Power Train	Median 105,000 miles	Middle half 90,000–125,000 miles	Based on 125 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2000 Lexus RX300 in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Defect Petition DP02-004: ENGINE SEIZURE
Closed June 20, 2002

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS/AMBER REFLECTOR

NHTSA #09E025000 · Exterior Lighting — Headlights · NHTSA notice

Reported May 11, 2009 · DOPE, INC.

Potentially affected: 42,540 vehicles

Owners notified July 28, 2009

Defect description

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Safety consequence

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON VEHICLES PRODUCED BY THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER.IN ORDER TO DETERMINE IF YOUR AFTERMARKET LAMP ASSEMBLY IS AFFECTED BY THIS NONCOMPLIANCE, PLEASE REVIEW THE LIST OF MODEL NUMBERS PROVIDED TO US BY DOPE, INC.THE LIST CAN BE FOUND UNDER "DOCUMENT SEARCH" LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS

NHTSA #09E012000 · Exterior Lighting · NHTSA notice

Reported April 7, 2009 · SABERSPORT

Potentially affected: 16,270 vehicles

Owners notified May 11, 2009

Defect description

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Safety consequence

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON VEHICLES PRODUCED BY THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER.IN ORDER TO DETERMINE IF YOUR AFTERMARKET LAMP ASSEMBLY IS AFFECTED BY THIS NONCOMPLIANCE, PLEASE REVIEW THE LIST OF MODEL NUMBERS PROVIDED TO US BY SABERSPORT.THE LIST CAN BE FOUND UNDER "DOCUMENT SEARCH" LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

FMVSS 205/REPLACEMENT BACK GLASS/GLAZING MATERIAL

NHTSA #08E020000 · Visibility — Glass, Side/Rear · NHTSA notice

Reported March 6, 2008 · POLYMER PROCESS DEVELOPMENT, LLC

Potentially affected: 931 vehicles

Owners notified April 18, 2008

Defect description

POLYMER PROCESS DEVELOPMENT IS RECALLING 931 UNITS OF BACK GLASS, P/NO. FB20415ZPY, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON 1999-2004 LEXUS RX300 VEHICLES. THE GLASS FAILS TO CONFORM TO THE AUTOMOTIVE GLAZING MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 205, GLAZING MATERIALS.

Safety consequence

THE PURPOSE OF THIS STANDARD IS TO REDUCE INJURIES RESULTING FROM IMPACT TO GLAZING SURFACES.

Manufacturer remedy

POLYMER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED GLASS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT POLYMER TOLL-FREE AT 800-510-9879.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO POLYMER AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT BACK GLASS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY TOYOTA.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS

NHTSA #06E049000 · Exterior Lighting · NHTSA notice

Reported May 24, 2006 · CK MOTORSPORT, INC.

Potentially affected: 27,176 vehicles

Owners notified July 1, 2006

Defect description

CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Safety consequence

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Manufacturer remedy

CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS.FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE LAMP MODEL NUMBERS, CLICK ON DOCUMENT SEARCH AND VIEW DOCUMENT TITLED "LAMP MODEL NUMBERS."CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS

NHTSA #06E026000 · Exterior Lighting · NHTSA notice

Reported March 23, 2006 · PRO-A MOTORS, INC.

Potentially affected: 61,944 vehicles

Owners notified April 3, 2006

Defect description

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Safety consequence

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Manufacturer remedy

PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO PRO-A MOTORS AFTERMARKET LAMPS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON THE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES.FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE LAMP MODEL NUMBERS, CLICK ON DOCUMENT SEARCH AND VIEW DOCUMENT TITLED "LAMP MODEL NUMBERS."CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2000 Lexus RX300. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

216 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2000 Lexus RX300.

Power Train

ODI #11138843

Incident: October 6, 2018 · Filed: October 6, 2018

TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO BAD DESIGN. MANY OTHERS HAVE SAME FAILURES. NEED RECALL.

Power Train

ODI #11101580

Incident: February 2, 2018 · Filed: June 13, 2018

TRANSMISSION BEGAN NOT SHIFTING SMOOTHLY AND MECHANIC PUT IN TRANSMISSION FLUID BUT COULD NOT LOCATE ANY ISSUES WITH IT. TRANMISSION SOON WENT COMPLETELY OUT AT 88,000 MILES WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. ONLY OWNED SUV FOR A YEAR AND A HALF. HAD INSPECTED BEFORE PURCHASE AND NO PROBLEMS NOTED. VERY DISAPPOINTED AND WILL NOT PAY SEVERAL GRAND TO BUY ANOTHER TRANSMISSION WHICH IS MORE THAN THE VALUE OF THE CAR. LEXUS SHOULD BE ASHAMED. JUST FOUND OUT HOW TO REPORT THIS HERE.

Power Train

ODI #11040687

Incident: September 8, 2017 · Filed: October 28, 2017

AT APPROXIMATELY 150,000 MY LEXUS RX 300 SEIZED AFTER PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT. I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE/TURNOVER. OBVIOUSLY, HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AND THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I PURCHASED A REBUILT TRANSMISSION TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $4,000. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS MODEL OF LEXUS REPEATEDLY HAVING THE TRANSMISSION FAIL. I'M WONDERING WHY THE NHTSA DOES NOT ISSUE A RECALL AT THIS POINT - AT LEAST INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE., SO THOSE WHO OWN THESE VEHICLES CAN RECOUP SOME OF THE COST FOR THE FAILURES OF THIS TRANSMISSION.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10948727

Incident: April 16, 2014 · Filed: January 31, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS HAD A LOT OF CONDENSATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE PROVIDED MINIMUM VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT COVERS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,000.

Power Train; Vehicle Speed Control; Engine

ODI #10929614

Incident: April 26, 2012 · Filed: December 2, 2016

MY 2000 LEXUS RX300 HAD AN UNEXPLAINED SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHERE THE VEHICLE ALMOST KILLED ME AND MY SON. I WAS DRIVING RESIDENTIAL BACKROADS BY MY HOUSE, ACCELERATED SLIGHTLY TO GET UP A HILL AND THAT'S WHEN IT TOOK OFF. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS UNRESPONSIVE, THE EMERGENCY BREAK WAS UNRESPONSIVE, I PULLED THE FLOOR MAT OUT FOR GOOD MEASURE, NOTHING WORKED, IT KEPT ACCELERATING AT A HIGH RATE UNTIL I FINALLY SLAMMED IT THROUGH GEARS TO "PARK" TO GET IT TO A STOP. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER EVEN TOLD ME WHEN IT STARTED THE CAR TO GET IT UP ON THE TRUCK, AFTER BEING TURNED OFF FOR OVER 12 HOURS, IT WAS STILL RED LINING THE ENGINE, AND EVEN LURCHED FORWARD BUT BECAUSE THE CAR WAS IN PARK, IT DIDN'T CRASH INTO THE BACK OF THE TOW TRUCK. LEXUS INVESTIGATED THE CAR AND DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. THEY WOULDN'T TELL ME WHY IT HAPPENED. I DEMAND AN EXPLANATION AND A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE - ONE THAT DOESN'T HAVE A HISTORY OF HAVING SUA PROBLEMS. I FEAR FOR MY LIFE EVERYTIME I HAVE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. *TR

Power Train; Engine

ODI #10929512

Incident: November 28, 2016 · Filed: December 2, 2016

BAD TRANSMISSION

Power Train

ODI #10889261

Incident: July 21, 2016 · Filed: July 28, 2016

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY RX300 JUST GAVE OUT. IT WAS REGULARLY MAINTAINED - THE FLUID LEVELS WERE CHECKED AND HAD A MAJOR OVERHAUL ON IT BEFORE I GAVE IT TO MY DAUGHTER WHO GOES TO SCHOOL IN HOUSTON, WHERE THE INCIDENT HAPPENED. SHE ONLY USES IT FOR LOCAL COMMUTE - NOT LONG DISTANCE DRIVING. THE INTENT WAS TO GIVE HER A DEPENDABLE VEHICLE! IT I HAVE ABOUT 149000 MILES ON IT. THE REPLACEMENT COST IS ENORMOUS - MORE THAN THE VEHICLE IS WORTH. I DEMAND BETTER QUALITY FOR A LUXURY VEHICLE. OBVIOUSLY IT IS A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. I NOW SEE NUMEROUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS REPORTED ON THIS VEHICLE. WHY ARE WE ALLOWING SUCH LEMONS ON OUR STREETS!

Power Train; Unknown or Other

ODI #10881916

Incident: May 30, 2015 · Filed: June 30, 2016

WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE HIGHWAY IT STARTED SLIPPING IT WAS GETTING OUT GEAR NOW IT MOVES ON LOW GEAR NO DRIVE REVERSE OR 2ND ONLY LOW GEAR

Power Train; Exterior Lighting; Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

ODI #10875007

Incident: June 16, 2016 · Filed: June 18, 2016

TOLD BEFORE PURCHASING THAT TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. I WAS TOLD IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE POWER TRAIN. I ALSO AM NOT VISIBLE TO MOST DRIVERS IN THE WE MORNING DUSK DARK HOURS OF THE DAYS DUE TO LIGHTING. PULLED OVER BY LAW ENFORCEMENT A FEW TIMES IN REGARDS TO THE LIGHTS. ONE OWNER BEFORE ME AND DID NOT GET ANY RECALLS DONE. I CALLED LEXUS @ GRAPEVINE TX AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON MY TRUCK. THERE H E BEEN AND THEY NEED TO BE DONE ASAP. I HAVE A DISABLED CHILD AND CAN NOT JEOPARDIZE THE SAFETY OF MY CHILD. I NEED HELP GETTING THIS MATTER TAKEN CARE OF ASAP. THANK YOU!

Power Train

ODI #10864474

Incident: April 11, 2016 · Filed: May 11, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LEXUS RX300. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE GEAR SHIFT FAILED TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Other Lexus RX300 model years

Check your 2000 Lexus RX300 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Lexus RX300 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Lexus VIN