Lexus RX300 Problems by Year
Lexus RX300 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical RX300 year: 1999, 2000. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1999 RX300: 221 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2000 RX300: 216 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2001 RX300: 169 complaints, 0 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 1998 RX300: 3 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2003 RX300: 25 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2002 RX300: 88 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Lexus RX300 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train problems | 435 | 5 | 8 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 72 | 5 | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 66 | 6 | 31 |
| Air Bags | 36 | 5 | 27 |
| Electrical System | 28 | 6 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 20 | 4 | 2 |
| Engine | 16 | 5 | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 16 | 3 | 4 |
| Visibility | 16 | 6 | 1 |
| Suspension | 15 | 4 | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting | 13 | 3 | 1 |
| Tires | 13 | 4 | 1 |
| Equipment | 11 | 5 | 2 |
| Structure | 10 | 4 | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 9 | 5 | 1 |
| Steering | 9 | 3 | 1 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Wheels | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Seats | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Lexus RX300 problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2001: power train (123)
- 2000: power train (138)
- 1999: power train (129)
All Lexus RX300 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 RX300 | 25 | 0 | — | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2002 RX300 | 88 | 0 | — | Power Train | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2001 RX300 | 169 | 0 | — | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 2000 RX300 | 216 | 0 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1999 RX300 | 221 | 2 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1998 RX300 | 3 | 0 | — | Electrical System | |
| 1997 RX300 | 0 | 0 | — | — |
More from Lexus: all Lexus models · Lexus VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Lexus RX300 years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1999 (221), 2000 (216) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical RX300 year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Lexus RX300?
Power Train, with 435 complaints across 5 model years.
How many recalls does the Lexus RX300 have?
2 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.