Vehicle stalls when giving it gas then lunges forward all at once ….brake light is on
- NHTSA ID
- 11477556
- Incident
- Aug 3, 2022
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 29 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2000 Lexus RX, most frequently naming the transmission, powertrain (other) and engine categories. 24 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| May 2006 | 1 | 1 |
| Jul 2006 | 1 | 2 |
| Aug 2006 | 2 | 4 |
| Jan 2007 | 4 | 8 |
| Feb 2007 | 2 | 10 |
| Mar 2007 | 1 | 11 |
| Apr 2007 | 2 | 13 |
| Aug 2007 | 4 | 17 |
| Oct 2007 | 1 | 18 |
| Nov 2007 | 1 | 19 |
| Dec 2007 | 2 | 21 |
| Nov 2011 | 1 | 22 |
| Aug 2012 | 1 | 23 |
| Sep 2012 | 1 | 24 |
| Jan 2013 | 1 | 25 |
| Apr 2014 | 1 | 26 |
| May 2020 | 1 | 27 |
| Jul 2022 | 1 | 28 |
| Aug 2022 | 1 | 29 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
Vehicle stalls when giving it gas then lunges forward all at once ….brake light is on
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 , HEAD, I WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL FOR EVALUATION, I ATTACH SOME PICTURES FROM MY CRASH , THE OFFICER HAD ME TO MOVE OUT OF DRIVERS SEAT JUST IN CASE THE AIRBAGS DID FINALLY GO OFF. WHY NOT THEY DIDN'T IMPLOYED ? AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF .... WHY ????????????
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
TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 98,000 MILES. SEEMS TO HAPPEN TO EVERYONE WITH THIS CAR. *TT
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR
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 2ND GEAR, BUT 3RD, 4TH AND REVERSE ALL WENT OUT WHEN I WAS ACCELERATING ONTO THE HIGHWAY - A LOUD BANG AND THEN IT REVVED UP LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL EVEN THOUGH IT WAS IN DRIVE. I'M CONCERNED THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW, BUT LEXUS DOES NOT AGREE AND HAS OFFERED NO COMPENSATION UP TO THIS POINT. THEY SAID IF I WANT TO TAKE IT FURTHER I NEED THE TOYOTA DEALER TO CONFIRM THE TRANNY IS OUT. I SAID THAT WOULD NOT BE DIFFICULT AND AM IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT NOW. I AM CURIOUS HOW SOME PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN LEXUS TO PAY A PORTION OF THEIR BILL. I ENDED UP RENTING A UHAUL AND TRAILER TO GET IT HOME. *TR
WHILE DRIVING CAR LOST POWER WOULD NOT GO FORWARD. NEVER GAVE ME ANY WARNING NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NOTHING! MADE IT HOME AT 5 MPH. TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING! $3600 TO FIX AT AAMCO, SEEMS LIKE THEY SEE THIS PROBLEM OFTEN IN THE RX300 MODELS 1999-2003 MINE IS A 2000. CALLED LEXUS BUT OFFERED NO HELP! VERY UNHAPPY LEXUS OWNER. *TR
AT 90,000 MILES MY DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS HAVE STOPPED WORKING . THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN DEC 2000 . *TR
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
STRUCTURE:BODY
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 remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage can occur. This damage is the result of actual etching of the paint and appears as pitting or water spots. As acid rain droplets on the vehicle surface evaporate, the concentration strength of the acid increases, causing deeper and more rapid damage. This evaporation and corrosive action also occur more rapidly on dark colored cars as direct sun heat increases. While Lexus paint quality, durability, and resistance to environmental factors is continuously being improved, it remains the responsibility of the dealer to protect and maintain the vehicle’s paint finish from the time of arrival at the dealership until retail delivery to the customer. In areas known for high frequency and/or concentration of acid rain, frequent vehicle washing during high heat or humidity periods will minimize the potential for paint damage caused by acid rain. It is further recommended that either reverse osmosis or deionized water be used to prevent water spotting. SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin No. BO029-91. •The entire bulletin has been updated. Service Bulletin No. BO029-91 is obsolete
STRUCTURE:BODY
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 be identified by the presence of small, red or brown particles on the paint surface. These particles are often difficult to see on dark color paints but can be easily felt when brushing a hand across horizontal body surfaces such as the hood, roof, or deck lid. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to clean vehicles that may have been subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles such as rail dust during rail transportation or extended storage near industrial areas.
STRUCTURE:BODY
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 be identified by the presence of small, red or brown particles on the paint surface. These particles are often difficult to see on dark color paints but can be easily felt when brushing a hand across horizontal body surfaces such as the hood, roof, or deck lid. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to clean vehicles that may have been subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles such as rail dust during rail transportation or extended storage near industrial areas.
STRUCTURE:BODY
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 Removal Procedure in this bulletin to remove the RapgardTM protective film within 90 days from initial application. SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin No. L-PG004-94. •The entire bulletin has been updated.
STRUCTURE:BODY
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 areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfaces can occur. Acid rain damage can typically be identified on vehicles by the presence of stains on the paint surface that resemble hard water spots. Unlike water spots however, acid rain damage cannot be removed by regular washing procedures. Also, because acid rain can etch and soften the paint, normal buffing or polishing repair procedures should not be attempted. This can cause further damage and result in visible depressions in the paint surface. The following are the three major categories of acid rain damage: •Minor damage: requires only buffing to repair. •Moderate damage: usually requires neutralizing, color sanding, and buffing. •Severe damage: extending beyond 1/2 mil of clearcoat on a pearl, metallic, or solid color, requires neutralization, sanding, and repainting. In cases where acid rain damage is minor, neutralization and buffing with a liquid-type paint finessing product may provide an adequate repair. Only specially formulated products outlined in this bulletin should be used for that purpose. Unfortunately, other than minor damage, there is no simple method of determining the actual extent (depth) of acid penetration other than color sanding a representative affected area until there is no visible etching or depressions, followed by measuring the amount of paint removed with either a magnetic or digital-type film thickness gauge. The procedures in this bulletin are intended for use by qualified body/paint technicians and should not be attempted by inexperienced personnel. While the quality and durability of paint on Lexus vehicles is continuously being improved, it remains the dealer’s responsibility to protect and maintain the quality of the vehicle’s paint finish after receipt at the dealership prior to the first sale. Perform frequent vehicle washing, as often as daily, during high heat and humidity periods to minimize the potential for paint damage due to acid rain exposure. This is especially important in geographical areas known for high frequency and concentration of acid rain and industrial fallout.
STRUCTURE:BODY
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 Removal Procedure in this bulletin to remove the RapgardTM protective film within 90 days from initial application. SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin No. L-PG004-94. •The entire bulletin has been updated.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 66.9 |
| 2024 | 54 | 4 | 0 | 58.2 |
| 2023 | 55 | 3 | 0 | 58.8 |
| 2022 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 50.5 |
| 2021 | 69 | 1 | 0 | 54.7 |
| 2020 | 44 | 1 | 0 | 54.9 |
| 2019 | 33 | 1 | 0 | 56.6 |
| 2018 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 45.5 |
| 2017 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 51.0 |
| 2016 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 42.2 |
| 2015 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 53.8 |
| 2014 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 50.6 |
| 2013 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 57.2 |
| 2012 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 41.8 |
| 2011 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 55.4 |
| 2010 | 76 | 0 | 0 | 48.0 |
| 2009 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 40.9 |
| 2008 | 70 | 0 | 0 | 44.6 |
| 2007 | 58 | 0 | 1 | 40.6 |
| 2006 | 31 | 1 | 1 | 52.3 |
| 2005 | 27 | 1 | 1 | 57.4 |
| 2004 | 40 | 1 | 1 | 48.1 |
| 2003 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2002 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 52.3 |
| 2001 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 32.3 |
| 2000Viewing | 29 | 0 | 0 | 34.1 |
| 1999 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 33.0 |
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.