2000 Lexus RX300 problems & reliability
216 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2000 Lexus RX300. 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.
12 complaints report injuries (15 injured).
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 138 | 64% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 20 | 9% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14 | 6% |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 8 | 4% |
| Electrical System | 7 | 3% |
| Engine | 6 | 3% |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 | 3% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 5 | 2% |
| Steering | 5 | 2% |
| Suspension | 5 | 2% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Mileage when problems occurred
Half of the failures with a reported odometer reading occurred by 104,000 miles (middle 50% between 84,958 and 124,000 miles), based on 160 complaints that included mileage.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“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…”
Power Train · filed Jun 13, 2018
“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…”
Power Train · filed Oct 28, 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…”
Exterior Lighting · filed Jan 31, 2017
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Federal defect investigations
- ENGINE SEIZURE
Defect Petition DP02004 · opened Apr 30, 2002 · closed Jun 20, 2002
Technical service bulletins
58 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2000 Lexus RX300. The 10 most recent:
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
TSB: Vehicles may display evidence of a fluid leak or fluid seep from powertrain components. This bulletin explains how to determine the differences between a fluid leak versus a fluid seep. Cases that are determined to…
L-SB-0002-20 Rev · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 5, 2020
TSB: Vehicles may display evidence of a fluid leak or fluid seep from powertrain components. This bulletin explains how to determine the differences between a fluid leak versus a fluid seep. Cases that are determined to…
L-SB-0002-20 Rev · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 5, 2020
Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
Lexus Safety Re · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 1, 2020
TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 06, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see L-SB-0008-20. Replacement Certification Labels and VIN Plates
L-SB-0179-17 Obs · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 6, 2020
TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos. L-SB-0048-08, PG007-07, PG016-01, PG015-01, PG004-97, PG003-97, PG003-93, PG002-90, L-SB-0048-08, PG007-07, PG016-01…
L-SB-0008-20 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 6, 2020
TSB: Vehicles may display evidence of a fluid leak or fluid seep from powertrain components. This bulletin explains how to determine the differences between a fluid leak versus a fluid seep. Cases that are determined to…
L-SB-0002-20 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 4, 2020
TSB: Replacement Certification Labels. OBSOLETE NOTICE November 28, 2017: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see L-SB-0179-17.
L-SB-0048-08 Obs · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 5, 2017
TSB: The Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset is a feature that allows the registration of new keys when all master keys are lost. Once the system is reset, all previously registered keys will be erased.
L-SB-0025-14 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 7, 2015
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 RX300 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 RX300?
- · 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.
- · Owners most often reported problems around 104,000 miles — budget accordingly if the car is approaching that mileage.