Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Lexus RX300 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
ENGINE KNOCKS ON ACCELERATION, BURNS OIL BAD, HARD TO START, TRANSMMISION WILL NOT AUTO SHIFT INTO HIGH RANGE ON FREEWAY, CAR LURCHES WHEN GETTING UP TO FREEWAY SPEED
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. IT TOOK ABOUT 3-4 HOURS AND THE END RESULT WAS THAT THE CAR DID NOT HAVE ANY DEFECTS. I CONTINUE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND MAINTAIN A LARGE DISTANCE BETWEEN VEHICLES. IN 2007 MY CAR HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WHEN IT ACCELERATED TO A HIGH SPEED BECAUSE THE THROTTLE GOT STUCK DUE TO A MECHANIC'S SERVICE ERROR WHEN WORKED ON THE DAY BEFORE. SINCE TOYOTA SAID MY VEHICLE IS OKAY, I HAD TO PAY THE ALMOST $500 FOR THE REPAIR AND RENTAL CAR AND MY INSURANCE WILL PROBABLY GO UP DUE TO THE PAYMENT MADE TO MY COMPANY FOR THE TREE AND FENCE REPAIR. I THINK THE THROTTLE HAS A FAULTY DESIGN AND I TOLD TOYOTA THAT THIS WAS MY OPINION. *TR
WHEN I WAS DRIVING THREE LIGHT TURNED ON AT THE SAME TIME. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, VSC AND TRAC OFF LIGHT. I WENT TO A MECHANIC AND HE STATED THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SOLENOID. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC TO CHECK THE OIL PAN AND THE STOLENOIS IS GETTING CLOGGED BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHECK OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE OIL WAS CONTAMINATING THE ENGINE THROUGH A CRACKED PISTON RING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS 94,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONSUMED OIL EXCESSIVELY. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN AND BEGAN TO SPUTTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO BECAME STUCK AND TOOK AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT BOTH THE TRANSMISSION AND MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE VEHICLE HAVING EXCESSIVE ENGINE SLUDGE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT IF HE HAD CONTINUED DRIVING THE VEHICLE, HE WOULD HAVE SEIZED AND DESTROYED THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,400.
2002 LEXUS RX300 85000 MILES THE STEEL LINES RUNNING TO THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER STARTED TO LEAK. UPON INSPECTION THEY WERE FOUND TO BE RUSTED THROUGH. THE LINE MUST BE IN A BAD PLACE AND RECEIVE ROAD SPRAY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED, IT WAS SHAKING. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAILPIPE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 40,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN AUGUST 2010, SHE NOTICED THAT THE OIL LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THEN TURN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE OIL WAS CHANGED. THE DEALER INSTRUCTED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK AFTER 1,000 MILES. SHE DID AND THE DEALER NOTICED OIL CONSUMPTION BUT COULD NOT FIND OUT WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. THE DEALER STATED THAT ALL THEY COULD DO WAS TO INSTALL A NEW ENGINE OR TO HAVE THE ENGINE RECONSTRUCTED. THE DEALER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD PAY 80% OF THE REPAIR COSTS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE THAN THE 80%. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 63,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER YET THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED WITH A USED ENGINE WITH GREATER MILEAGE THAN THE ORIGINAL FAILED ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE ALSO EXPERIENCED A FAILURE WITH AN UNKNOWN ELECTRONIC COMPONENT. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE THE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 12/23/10*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE OIL DEPLETED AT AN EXCESSIVE RATE, DESPITE REGULAR OIL CHANGES. UPDATED 01/03/11
ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION IS TOO RAPID. TOOK THE CAR TO THE LEXUS DEALER BUT THEY ARE NOT ADMITTING THAT IT IS A OIL GEL INSTEAD THEY ARE SAYING THAT MY VALVE IS DAMAGED AND THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
TL*THE 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. THEY ALSO STATED IF THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALERSHIP, HE WOULD BE BILLED FOR A STORAGE FEE. THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED AND THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
I HAVE A LEXUS RX300 2002 WHICH I PURCHASED USED BECAUSE OF THEIR WELL KNOW REPUTATION TO OPERATE FOR A LONG TIME. TWO WEEKS AGO OUR MECHANIC NOTICED OUR OIL DOWN A QUART AND DID A OIL CHANGE AND ASKED US TO WATCH OIL LEVEL. 300 MILES LATER IT WAS DOWN AGAIN. WE WERE REFERRED TO TAKE IT TO A LEXUS DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CHECKED OUT. THERE IS A RECALL FOR OIL GEL FOR 1999 TO 2002. WELL OURS HAD NO SIGNS OF OIL GEL, BUT IT IS ENGINE RELATED. THEY CAN NOT TELL US WHAT THE PROBLEM IS UNTIL THEY TAKE THE ENGINE COMPLETELY APART. THE REFERRED US TO LEXUS FOR A GOODWILL REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE OF THE HIGH COST TO FIX THE ENGINE. WE SENT ALL OUR RECORDS OF OIL CHANGES AND IT TOOK LEXUS 4 DAYS TO GET BACK TO US WITH A OFFER OF THEY WILL PAY FOR THE PARTS AND WE PAY FOR THE LABOR OF APPROX. $3,100.00. I HAVE READ ABOUT THE LEXUS ENGINES OF THOSE YEARS HAVING PROBLEMS AND I FEEL IT IS A MECHANICAL DEFECT FROM THE FACTORY. OUR CAR HAS 56,000MILES AND I AM TOLD THE ENGINE IS JUST BREAKING IN. I FEEL I HAVE A LEMON AND I NEED SOME HELP BECAUSE I AM HAVING A PROBLEM ACCEPTING THEIR OFFER... *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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