Most common 2002 Lexus RX300 problems
Share of the 88 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Lexus RX300 complaints by model year
Best RX300 years: 2003, 2002. Years to avoid: 2000, 1999. Compare all years →
What 2002 Lexus RX300 owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 38 →
Early transmission failure on early model Lexus RX300 from 1997 to 2003. I own a 2002 RX300 and the transmission failed at about 100,000 miles. It happened with no notice causing my engine to slow on the road and then was rear ended by another vehicle. I seem to be a lucky one as I read thousands of Lexus RX300 owners transmissions needed to be replaced between 70,000 and 90,000 miles. Lexus/Toyota has done nothing to admit their is a problem with the transmission in this car and in fact denied any problems to myself. It is costing owners of these vehicles to outlay between $3,000 to $6,000 for the transmission to be replaced. All you need to do is go on the club Lexus forum for Lexus owners and type in transmission problems for RX300 and you will see thousands of owners complaining. …
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.
Speed control & acceleration
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.
While pulling into a parking space in my office parking lot, I had an unattended acceleration while my foot was on the brake. The car lunged over the curb, up a slight incline, hit a small tree which knocked down the perimeter fence. I called the Lexus dealership and they gave me an 800 number to call. I reported what happened and they sent a tow truck to bring my car to the dealership because I was afraid to drive it. At the dealership they indicated to me that I was not suppose to bring it to them so I had the manager drive it to their collision place where I had the bumper repaired. My insurance company did not pay for a rental replacement. The repair cost me $250 (my deductible) + the rental car cost of approx. $210.00. My insurance paid for the tree and fence repair of about $2,000+. My car was subsequently inspected by Toyota's inspection company. …
Engine & cooling
While pulling into a parking space in my office parking lot, I had an unattended acceleration while my foot was on the brake. The car lunged over the curb, up a slight incline, hit a small tree which knocked down the perimeter fence. I called the Lexus dealership and they gave me an 800 number to call. I reported what happened and they sent a tow truck to bring my car to the dealership because I was afraid to drive it. At the dealership they indicated to me that I was not suppose to bring it to them so I had the manager drive it to their collision place where I had the bumper repaired. My insurance company did not pay for a rental replacement. The repair cost me $250 (my deductible) + the rental car cost of approx. $210.00. My insurance paid for the tree and fence repair of about $2,000+. My car was subsequently inspected by Toyota's inspection company. …
Tl contact owns a 2002 Lexus RX300. The contact was driving 70 MPH when the vehicle accelerated. The contact depressed the brake pedal to the floor and the vehicle stopped. After the dealer inspected the vehicle they informed the contact that it the fuel sensor caused the failure. The dealer repaired the fuel sensor. The engine oil was always low and the contact had to add oil to the vehicle every week. The engine also exhibited a large amount of dark smoke. The check engine light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle back to the dealer and they stated that they would not repair it. The dealer stated that they would repair the vehicle if he paid $2,000 in advance. The manufacturer was contacted and they stated that his vehicle was not a part of any recalls and there was nothing they could they do unless the contact paid the repair cost. …
2002 Lexus RX300 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 21 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Wagon.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Lexus RX300 a good car?
Based on 88 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 RX300 rates better than average: 50% fewer complaints than a typical year of the RX300 at the same age. It is one of the best RX300 years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Lexus RX300?
The transmission & drivetrain — 38 complaints, 43% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the speed control & acceleration (15) and engine & cooling (13).
How many recalls does the 2002 Lexus RX300 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2002 Lexus RX300. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Lexus RX300?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2003 and 2002. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2000 and 1999. See the full Lexus RX300 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Lexus RX300 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 98,000 miles; 18% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.