NHTSA vehicle safety data

2002 Lexus RX300 Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2002 Lexus RX300 has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 88 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 2002 Lexus RX300, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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

2002 Lexus RX300 owner complaints

Owners have filed 88 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Lexus RX300, describing incidents dated December 28, 2001 to October 30, 2018.

Most-cited components

Power Train 38 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control 15 complaints
Engine 13 complaints
Air Bags 10 complaints
Electrical System 5 complaints
Service Brakes 3 complaints

Of the 88 complaints on file, 18 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 88 complaints, owners report 14 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11144280 · Filed October 31, 2018
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…
ODI #11140719 · Filed October 16, 2018
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…
ODI #11092486 · Filed May 8, 2018
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.

Read all 88 complaints

Owner-reported

2002 Lexus RX300 mileage at failure

73 of the 88 complaints on file for the 2002 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 100,000 miles	Middle half 85,000–130,000 miles	Based on 34 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.

Complaints received before December 15, 2002 rarely give a mileage, so they aren't counted here.

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

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.

2002 Lexus RX 300 4-DR. w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 4, Passenger: 5

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 5, Passenger: 5

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control

1 investigation

88 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2002 Lexus RX300.

Power Train; Exterior Lighting; Unknown or Other

ODI #11144280

Incident: October 30, 2018 · Filed: October 31, 2018

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 BRAKE AND TURN THE CAR OFF. I DO NOT KNOW THE CAUSE (UNKNOWN) IT JUST SUDDENLY HAPPENED ON A TOLL ROAD AT THE PAY STATION. ALSO, MY INTERNAL LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON WHEN I OPEN ANY DOOR, INCLUDING THE TRUNK LIGHTS. MY RADIO DOES NOT CHANGE STATIONS AND KNOB DOES NOTHING, RECEPTION IS POOR & COMES AND GOES. I CANNOT GET ANY AM STATIONS.

Air Bags; Seats

ODI #11140719

Incident: October 1, 2018 · Filed: October 16, 2018

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 ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE LOSE AND NOT PROPERLY SECURED WIRING. DEALER ASKS $1800 TO GET THIS CORRECTED WHERE AS THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. NEEDS A RECALL FOR BOTH (LEFT/RIGHT) SEATS AIRBAG WIRING/ECM CIRCUITS.

Electrical System

ODI #11092486

Incident: May 7, 2018 · Filed: May 8, 2018

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.

Service Brakes

ODI #11076732

Incident: January 5, 2018 · Filed: March 7, 2018

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.

Power Train

ODI #11076721

Incident: March 1, 2018 · Filed: March 7, 2018

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.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

ODI #11058124

Incident: October 20, 2007 · Filed: January 2, 2018

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 CONCERNING THIS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND I WONDER CAN I STILL HAVE MY VEHICLE CHECKED OUT FOR THIS ABNORMALITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #11047465

Crash 1 injury

Incident: November 10, 2017 · Filed: November 20, 2017

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 CAR EXTREMELY WELL MAINTAINED BY LEXUS. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OR FELT THIS CAR LIKE THIS BEFORE.

Power Train; Engine; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11010984

Incident: July 3, 2011 · Filed: July 27, 2017

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

Power Train

ODI #11010694

Incident: January 17, 2017 · Filed: July 26, 2017

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

Unknown or Other

ODI #10947118

Incident: December 12, 2016 · Filed: January 23, 2017

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 AS THE SUV WOULD ROLL/CREEP FORWARD OR BACKWARDS AND POSSIBLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND RESULTING IN BODILY HARM. TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE I NOW MAKE SURE THAT THE SHIFT LOCK SELECTOR LEVER IS LEFT IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL IS PUSHED DOWN WHEN I SWITCH OFF THE ENGINE. MY MAIN CONCERN IS IF MY FAMILY MEMBERS DRIVE THE SUV AND DO NOT PUT THE SHIFT LOCK SELECTOR LEVER IN THE PARK POSITION AND HAVE THE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL PUSHED DOWN THE VEHICLE WILL/CREEP FORWARD OR BACKWARDS IF THE SHIFT LOCK SELECTOR LEVER IS LEFT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. I BROUGHT THIS PROBLEM TO THE ATTENTION OF THE LEXUS DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT COME UNDER A 2002 LEXUS RX 300 SUV RECALL. THE LEXUS SERVICE CONSULTANT GAVE ME A QUOTE ON 10-10-2017 FOR $739.89 PLUS THE COST TO RE-CORE A AAA LOCK AND KEY. THIS WOULD INVOLVE REPLACING THE IGNITION HOUSING, R&R, PART # LE45280-33130, DESCRIPTION: BRACKET ASSY, STEERI. I WOULD LIKE YOUR COMMENTS ON THIS PROBLEM.

Other Lexus RX300 model years

Check your 2002 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