Problems · NHTSA complaints
2003 Lexus RX300 problems
Owners filed 30 complaints about the 2003 Lexus RX300 with NHTSA between Aug 2002 and Jan 2024. The most-cited component is power train (7).
Complaints
30
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Power train7
- Vehicle speed control6
- Air bags4
- Engine and engine cooling4
- Visibility3
- Electrical system3
- Electronic stability control (esc)2
- Equipment2
- Engine1
- Seat belts1
- Service brakes1
- Fuel/propulsion system1
- Suspension1
- Steering1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
3
1
1
2
1
0
4
3
2
1
0
2
2
1
1
0
1
1
0
1
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Power train
7 reports1 crash
“DURING NORMAL DRIVING, WITH NO SIGNS OF FAILURE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WOULD LOSE POWER WHEN PRESSED ON GAS, IT ACTED AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL---ENGINE REVS UP, BUT CAR DOES NOT MOVE. THEN WHEN SWITCHED TO SECOND GEAR OR L, TRANSMISSION STILL WOULD NOT ENGAGE. HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP, IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE PLANETARY GEAR BROKE. SEARCHED ONLINE LEXUS FORUM, FOUND OUT VERY MANY PEOPLE REPORTED THE SAME FAILURE IN TRANSMISSION. *TR”
Vehicle speed control
6 reports3 crashes
“AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR STARTED TO SPEED UP UNCONTROLLABLY AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN EVEN WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED. I HAD TO PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL TO APPLY THE BRAKES BUT WE WENT FROM 45 - 85MPH IN A MATTER OF SECONDS WHILE DRIVING IN 45MPH ZONE IN THE INNER CITY. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON WHILE IN PARK THE ACCELERATOR WAS STILL STUCK UP TO 100MPH + SO IT WAS NOT DRIVABLE. WE FOUND OUT LATER FROM THE MECHANIC THAT THE THROTTLE WAS STICKY AND STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION.”
Air bags
4 reports
“AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN CAR IS RUNNING AND WHEN I HAD IT CHECKED OUT THE MECHANIC SAID IT COULD INFLATE AT ANY TIME. DON'T HAVE THE MONEY IN BUDGET TO HAVE DONE RIGHT NOW.”
Engine and engine cooling
4 reports
“2003 LEXUS RX300 VEHICLE STALLED. REPLACE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE TWICE**CW** THE CONSUMER ALSO REFERENCED A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER THAT HAD THE SAME STALLING ISSUE. *JB”
Visibility
3 reports1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2003 Lexus RX300. The contact stated that the HVAC system was inoperable. Additionally, the VSC and check engine warning lights were illuminated while starting the vehicle. The vehicle was diagnosed at an AutoZone with a catalytic converter failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 106,000.”
Electrical system
3 reports1 crash
“I OWN A 2003 LEXUS RX300. AFTER I HAD CAME FROM A COMPLETED STOP WHILE DEPRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE BRAKES BEGAN TO LOCK WITH THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE AV PUMP FAILED OR THAT IT MAYBE SOMETHING WITH THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURERS WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 320,000.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.