2000 Lexus RX problems & reliability
29 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2000 Lexus RX. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
1 complaint report injuries (1 injured).
Federal crash records (FARS 2020–2023): 2000 Lexus RX vehicles were involved in 24 fatal crashes with 19 occupant deaths. Involvement counts are not adjusted for how many are on the road and do not imply fault or a vehicle defect.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train → | 25 | 86% |
| Air Bags | 1 | 3% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 3% |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 3% |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 3% |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 3% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Mileage when problems occurred
Among the 25 complaints that included a usable odometer reading, the median reported incident mileage was 90,000 miles (middle 50% between 75,500 and 116,000 miles).
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“On 7/26/2022 approx 8:00 am I was driving on brighton clopton rd when this flat bed wrecker was backing out on highway and I was looking down to make sure my speedometer was at 30 mph all of a sudden I crashed into this bed of the wrecker, (not one) airbag deployed my knees, shins, chest bones , hurt like crazy …”
Air Bags · filed Jul 27, 2022
“2000 rx300 do not shift into the 3 gear while driving, the transmission shifts from 1 &2 but not 3. The engine speed is high and doesn't shift. We haven't driven it since, trying to find out what to do next with this vehicle. I have a friend that have the same make & model and he's had the same problems also! *tr”
Power Train · filed May 9, 2020
“Transmission started making a whining sound at certain speeds about a year and a half earlier. Toyota dealer confirmed odd noise from transmission, but said there was nothing they could do apart from removing transmission. I was in a nearby state when the tranny finally went out - 1st gear still works and sometimes…”
Power Train · filed Sep 3, 2012
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
24 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2000 Lexus RX. The 10 most recent:
The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and…
L-SB-0024-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 19, 2024
Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal…
L-SB-0022-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 19, 2024
Lexus vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. Follow the…
L-SB-0021-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 19, 2024
Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. This type of contamination can…
L-SB-0020-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 19, 2024
The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and…
L-SB-0024-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 19, 2024
Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal…
L-SB-0022-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 19, 2024
Lexus vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. Follow the…
L-SB-0021-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 19, 2024
Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. This type of contamination can…
L-SB-0020-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 19, 2024
Lexus Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements 4.13.2022
Safety Recall 22 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 13, 2022
POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Lexus. This information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be…
Lexus PRO19-02 - · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 12, 2022
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
No NHTSA recall campaigns name the 2000 Lexus RX in our current data. Recalls may apply only to certain VIN ranges — always confirm with a VIN check.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2000 Lexus RX?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.
- · Among complaints with usable mileage, the median reported incident mileage was 90,000 miles. This does not predict when a particular vehicle will develop a problem.