2002 Lexus RX

Routine

Owners filed 12 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train › automatic transmission. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train › Automatic Transmission3
100
Unknown or Other2
000
Power Train2
101
Tires1
000
Fuel/Propulsion System1
000
Engine1
000
Air Bags › Side/Window1
101
Air Bags1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 30, 2026OK

I want to raise concern about the safety issue and health issues relating to the new LED headlights on cars now. In the morning and evenings, I regularly encounter these extremely bright headlights. It's a big distraction and my driving visual field is impacted by these lights. I would like to see this addressed and resolved! Please advise. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Air Bags
Filed Sep 6, 2024190,000 milesNJ

The contact owns a 2002 Lexus RX300. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the air bag warning light flashed on the instrument panel. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Nov 7, 2021MN

The system component that malfunctioned was the Fuel Tank Overfill Check Valve, also referred to the Rollover Valve located in the top of the gas tank. The valve is suppose to prevent any fuel purging or fuel leaking during a rollover accident. Unfortunately, the valve can malfunction during normal refueling without the owner being aware. For a few years, I have been smelling fuel fumes during and after refueling. I would sometimes discover a pool of raw fuel under the gas tank and charcoal canister during/after refueling and up to 12 miles later. The vehicle started hesitating, missing and actually stalling after refueling. Three professional mechanics couldn't solve the problem. In an attempt to eliminate this safety issue, I replaced the gas tank, gas filler tube, fuel vapor purge valve and charcoal canister. I finally discovered a tube from the malfunctioning Overfill Valve was sending raw fuel directly to the charcoal canister, filling the charcoal canister and ultimately overflowing onto the ground outside of the vehicle. I decided to cut a hole in the vehicle floor under the rear seat and replace the Fuel Tank Overfill Check Valve. The design of the replacement valve was different from the original and incorporated a float type check valve rather than just the simple diaphragm in the original. Maybe Toyota/Lexus quietly redesigned the valve, but all owners should be aware of the redesign and the vehicles should be recalled. Thousands of these vehicles are still on the

Tires
Filed Sep 1, 2021GA

4 new tyres were installed by Firestone but driver side wore out despite balancing rotation, alignment performed during install. TyrePlus sister concern replaced with new tyre and prorated as the tyre was at fault. Same tyre blew out on the road. The tread, side all etc damaged the wire harness and car went out of control causing damage to suspension and fuel tank. Fuel began to leak. Car is toatled due to several other damages. TyrePlus does not want to take ownership. However they have all records of up to date maintenance. They referred me to Bridgestone wherein I need to submit 2 estimates. Tyre purchase dates maintenence etc. I have secured the tread and parts of the tyre which blew out and they want me to submit that. I am hesitatnt to submit it as they may tamper with the proof I have to fix it.

Power TrainCrash1 injured
Filed Jul 23, 2021MS

Transmission wouldnt shift all of the sudden on the high way no prior mechanical issues was t boned and broke my leg abs and trac off lights mechanic says total transmission failure 121000 miles and this is the second owner of this vehicle

Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 5, 2020115,860 milesOR

VEHICLES RETRACTABLE ANTENNA STOPPED RETRACTING AND ANTENNA MOTOR CONTINUES TO RUN TRYING TO PULL THE TELESCOPING ANTENNA BACK DOWN. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, ENGINE HAD BEEN SHUT DOWN AND KEYS REMOVED, BUT ANTENNA MOTOR KEPT RUNNING.

Engine
Filed Jun 3, 2016166,000 milesTX

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY REPAIRED PROBLEMS. WAS ACCELERATING FROM STOP LIGHT ON BUSY CITY STREET, HIGHWAY FRONTAGE ROAD AND ENGINE DIED IN MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION CAUSING NO POWER OR STEERING AND HAD TO COME/COAST TO FINAL STOP WITH NO POWER OR STEERING CAPABILITIES. ENGINE DIED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. CAR WAS DISABLED UNDER HIGHWAY BRIDGE IN BUSY INTERSECTION. COULD NOT GET IT STARTED. DRIVERS WOULD TURN LEFT FROM THE LIGHT AND ALMOST REAR END ME BECAUSE I WAS DISABLED RIGHT AFTER THE TURN. TURNED OUT TO BE THE INFAMOUS TOYOTA RECALL AND CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT OF ENGINE SLUDGE. PAID $6000 TO REPAIR ALL CAR COMPONENTS AFFECTED BY THE LAWSUIT.

Power Train
Filed Jul 15, 2012115,950 milesOH

I WAS OUT OF TOWN I WAS DRIVING, NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY RX AT ALL. IT'S A 2002 LEXUS RX 300, THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN I GO TO TAKE OFF AT THE STOPLIGHT AND IT WAS HESITATING TO TAKE OFF. MY TRANSMISSION IS NOW COMPLETELY GONE. NO WARNING AT ALL. IF I TAKE MY VEHICLE OVER 35 MPH IS JERKS. TRANSMISSION SLIPS AT STOP LIGHTS, (WITH NO INCLINE). 115000 MILES, AND THE TRANNY GOES OUT. I DO BELIEVE IT HAS BEEN REPLACED BEFORE I PURCHASED THE CAR AS WELL. GREAT JOB LEXUS, NOT. I THOUGHT GOING WITH A LEXUS I WOULD HAVE A QUALITY VEHICLE. MAN WAS I WRONG. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Feb 8, 201160,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION GEARS WOULD BECOME STUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT THE DEALER FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE FAILURE BEFORE MAKING A DECISION IF THEY COULD ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

Air Bags › Side/WindowCrash1 injured
Filed Sep 20, 200740,000 milesNJ

A CAR CRASHED INTO SIDE DOOR OF PASSENGER AND SIDE AIR DID NOT INFLATE IN MY 2002 LEXUS RX 300. MY CAR WAS THEN IN A ROLL OVER AND NO OTHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INCLUDING THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 12, 200688,000 milesVA

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THERE WAS A LACK OF RESPONSIVENESS IN THE VEHICLE WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE.

Power Train › Automatic TransmissionCrash
Filed May 21, 200642,883 milesMN

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH TRANSMISSION IN PARK AND EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED. WHILE UNATTENDED THE VEHICLE STARTED MOVING FORWARD SLOWLY, I (THE DRIVER) JUMPED INTO FRONT SEAT TO APPLY THE FOOT BRAKE AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR (NO BRAKES!) VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STOPPED AND RAN IN TO THE WALL OF MY GARAGE. *JB

12 of 12 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2010
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20267200Routine
202518400Routine
202455400Routine
202361300Routine
202228010Routine
202169100Routine
202046100Routine
201934100Routine
201825000Routine
201747000Routine
201628000Routine
201520010Routine
201411001Fatalities reported
201319010Routine
201212000Routine
201129020Routine
201076000Routine
200934000Routine
200870020Routine
200758010Routine
200632120Routine
200527110Routine
200440110Routine
20034000Routine
2002 — this page12000Routine
200119000Routine
200029000Routine
199935000Routine

Compare every RX year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.