Page 2 of 2 · complaints 51–88 of 88

2002 Lexus RX300 complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2002 record →

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 25, 2010174,000 milesFL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, HE NOTICED THAT THE RPM'S SUDDENLY INCREASED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD EVEN WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND THEN SHUT OFF WITHOUT BEING SERVICED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 174000. UPDATED 3/24/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION SEVERAL TIMES. UPDATED 06/17/10*JB

Power Train › Driveline › Driveshaft
Filed Feb 16, 201083,910 milesPA

IN NOV OF 2009 I STARTED HEARING A CLICKING SOUND IN MY CAR AND IT FELT LIKE THE FRONT AND REAR TIRES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS RUBBING AGAINST SOMETHING. I TOOK MY CAR TO A LEXUS DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT MY DRIVESHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER THAT MY DRIVESHAFT FELL OFF. BEING AS THOUGH I DID NOT HAVE THE $1800 I WAS QUOTED TO HAVE IT REPLACED. I CALLED THE LEXUS CORP AND EXPLAINED MY SITUATION TO THEM. THEY OFFERED ME A GOOD FAITH DISCOUNT OF 10% OFF OF THE PRICE I WAS QUOTED BY THE LEXUS DEALER. I TURNED IT DOWN BECAUSE I FELT THAT IT WAS SOME TYPE OF DEFECT THAT CAUSED MY DRIVESHIFT TO FALL OFF. IN LIGHT OF THE RESENT TOYOTA RECALL FOR DRIVESHAFTS FALLING OFF ON THEIR TACOMA PICKUP TRUCKS AND (BEING AS THOUGH LEXUS IS AN ENTITY OF TOYOTA) I STARTED THINKING THAT THERE HAS TO BE A CONNECTION. I CONTACTED THE LEXUS CORP AGAIN AND ASKED THEM IF THEY COULD LOOK INTO THE ISSUE IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT TOYOTA JUST RECALLED THEIR TACOMA TRUCKS FOR THE DRIVESHAFT ISSUE. THAT WAS ON SAT 2/13/10 WHEN I CALLED. LEXUS CORP CALLED ME BACK TUES MORN ON 2/16/10 TO SAY THAT THEY ARE NOT HAVING ANY RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE AT THIS TIME AND THAT THEIR POSITION STILL STANDS TO OFFER ME THE 10% DISCOUNT. AGAIN I REFUSED BECAUSE I BELIEVE THERE IS A CONNECTION. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS ISSUE INVESTIGATED TO SEE IF THE ISSUE WITH THE DRIVESHAFT EXTENDS BEYOND THE TACOMA TRUCKS. MY CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR OVER 2 MONTHS NOW BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED. IT HAS BEEN V

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 10, 2010120,000 milesCA

WHENEVER AT A STOP OR GOING AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS (LESS THAN 10MPH, FOR EXAMPLE), GAS PEDAL STICKS. I HAVE TO APPLY PRESSURE OR STOMP ON THE PEDAL TO GET THE CAR TO MOVE, THEN IT OFTEN LURCHES AHEAD. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN IF GOING AT SPEED (25 + MPH) WHEN TAKE FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL NOR DOES IT HAPPEN WHEN PUTTING CAR INTO REVERSE. AT TIMES HAVE TO APPLY EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO GET THE GAS PEDAL TO MOVE, OTHER TIMES NOT AS MUCH PRESSURE. SO FAR HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO REPAIR THE STICKING GAS PEDAL. PROBLEM HAS BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORST SINCE LATE LAST YEAR. *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Feb 4, 201061,000 milesKY

I OWNED A 2002 LEXUS RX300, WHICH WAS TOTALED IN MAY OF 2009 DUE TO A STICKING ACCELERATOR. AFTER I STARTED IT IN MY GARAGE, THE VERY SECOND, I ENGAGED THE DRIVE GEAR, WITH MY FOOT SECURELY PLANTED ON THE BRAKE, MY VEHICLE TOOK OFF LIKE A ROCKET. IT CRASHED THRU MY GARAGE DOOR, PROCEEDED ABOUT 20 FEET ACROSS MY DRIVING PAD, CRASHED THRU A BRICK RETAINING WALL AND DID NOT STOP UNTIL IT HIT MY NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE NEXT DOOR. MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND COLLISION RESULTED IN MASSIVE DAMAGE TO MY HOME AND MY NEIGHBOR'S HOME. TOYOTA INSPECTED MY VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT MY INCIDENT WAS NOT THE RESULT OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. MY VEHICLE HAD 61,000 MILES AND WAS IN MINT CONDITION, AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. I REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO NHTSA ON 6/1/09. THERE HAS BEEN NO MENTION OF LATER MODEL LEXUS IN ANY OF THE CONVERSATIONS. I'D LIKE FOR SOMEONE TO ADDRESS MY ISSUE AS WELL. THANK YOU. *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Dec 23, 200998,000 milesGA

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 98,000 MILES. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Dec 11, 200965,500 milesPA

2002 LEXUS RX 300 STOPPED DEAD WHILE OWNER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. WE LEARNED THAT THE TRANSMISSION ON THE VEHICLE COMPLETE FAILED. VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 65,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. *TR

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Dec 3, 200943,433 milesPA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 RX300 LEXUS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON A HILL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND THE PEDAL WAS STUCK TO THE FLOOR. SHE WAS ONLY ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AFTER SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL GEAR. THE CONTACT SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN UNTIL SHE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE PRESENT IN THE ENGINE AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN MOVING IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER TEST INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FLOOR MATS COULD HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE; ALTHOUGH, THE HOOKS WERE SECURELY FASTENED ONTO THE FLOOR MATS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON ONE OCCASION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,433 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000. UPDATED 01/05/10 *BF UPDATED 01/07/10.*JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 16, 200985,000 milesNY

2002 LEXUS RX 300 TRANSMISSION FAILED,STUCK ON NJ TURNPIKE,TOWED TO PRESTIGE LEXUS IN RAMSEY NJ. DEALER SAID TRANSMISSION BAD. HAVE READ HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN 1999-2002 LEXUS RX 300 VEHICLES. SO FAR LEXUS HAS NOT ADMITTED ANY PROBLEMS AND WILL LOOK INTO IT. COST OF REPAIR 4000.00. STILL IN SHOP. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 10, 2009130,000 milesAL

TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN LEXUS 2002 RX 300. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 18, 200979,550 milesRI

ON FEBRUARY 20, 2009, I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 LEXUS RX300 WITH APPROXIMATELY 79K MILES WHEN IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE. I BROUGHT VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE KNOCK SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD THEM REPLACED AND VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE WORKING FINE. ON MAY 5, 2009, MY TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO 3RD. WHEN VEHICLE BROUGHT TO REPAIR FACILITY AND I WAS INFORMED THAT TRANSMISSION IS NO GOOD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. AT THIS TIME I LOOKED ON INTERNET AND FOUND THAT MANY LEXUS RX300 ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE COST OF REPAIRS IS APPROXIMATELY $4,500. I PAID $1,500 FOR KNOCK SENSORS TO BE REPLACED ALREADY. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator PedalCrash
Filed Jun 1, 200961,232 milesKY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE ATTEMPTED TO START ITSELF BEFORE THE KEY WAS TURNED ALL THE WAY IN THE IGNITION. SHE PROCEEDED TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE FROM PARK INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED QUICKLY AND WOULD NOT STOP, EVEN WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR AND, APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET FURTHER, STRUCK A RETAINING WALL, HER NEIGHBOR'S HOME, AND A GAS METER. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE AND IT SPED BACK THROUGH HER RETAINING WALL AND STRUCK HER HOME. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. SHE ATTEMPTED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REACH ANYONE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 61,232. UPDATED 11/10/09

Power Train
Filed May 28, 2009150,000 milesWA

2002 LEXUS RX300 TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE TRANNY FAILED AT ONLY 150,000 MILES. THE REPLACEMENT WAS $4200. NO TRANSMISSION SHOULD FAIL THAT SOON, AND NOTHING SHORT OF A BENTLEY SHOULD COST THAT MUCH FOR A REBUILT. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 1, 200994,000 milesMN

FWD VEHICLE. GEAR SLIPPAGE BEGAN WITHOUT WARNING AND IN MINUTES THE TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETELY. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE MECHANIC SAYS THE CLUTCH IS BURNED OUT, REQUIRING A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CAR HAS 94K MILES ON IT AND THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE COST FOR REPLACEMENT WITH A RE-MANNED OEM TRANSMISSION IS $3,900. IT IS BEING REPLACED BY THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER. *TR

Wheels
Filed Apr 1, 2009150,000 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR A ROUTINE TIRE INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE WHEELS WERE CRACKED AND DEFECTIVE. IT WOULD COST $480 TO REPLACE EACH WHEEL. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER TOOK PICTURES OF THE WHEELS AND FORWARDED THEM TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OLD AND OUT OF WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. HOWEVER, THEY OFFERED THE CONTACT A $150 OIL CHANGE CERTIFICATE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000.UPDATED 12/08/09 *LJ UPDATED 12/10/09.*JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Feb 21, 2009125,500 milesTX

I OWN A 2002 RX300 BY LEXUS. THIS HAS IN GENERAL BEEN A GOOD VEHICLE, UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHEN I WAS 350 MILES FROM HOME. THE INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP THAT I TOOK THE CAR TO SHOWED ME INFORMATION THAT INDICATED THE LEXUS VEHICLES FROM 1998 - 2002 HAVE A HISTORY OF SIGNIFICANT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THESE PROBLEMS INCLUDE THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION AND THE INABILITY IN SOME CASES OF GETTING A NEW "REBUILT" TRANSMISSION TO SYNC WITH THE VEHICLE COMPUTER. THE INFORMATION I READ INDICATED THAT UP TO 25% OF VEHICLES IN THESE MODEL YEARS HAVE FAILURE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. CAN YOU PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Feb 19, 2009102,000 milesSC

2002 LEXUS RX300 COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 102K MILES. NO WARNING, NO PROBLEMS NOTED BEFORE FAILURE. A NEW TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE INSTALLED. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jan 12, 2009130,000 milesTX

A TOTAL FAILURE OF MY TRANSMISSION LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY, NO WARNING, NO SIGNALS, JUST QUIT. I'VE DRIVEN TOYOTA PRODUCTS FOR 30 YEARS AND SEVERAL OVER 200K MILES AND I'VE NEVER HAD SUCH A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE COST TO REPAIR IS $4000 FROM THE DEALER. THE SAD THING IS THAT I JUST PAID THIS VEHICLE OFF LESS THAN A WEEK AGO. AFTER SEARCHING MANY FORUMS OF LEXUS OWNERS I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THE EARLY RX300S WERE ALL SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS FAILURE., WHY HASN'T AND DOESN'T LEXUS ADMIT THIS FAILURE. LEXUS HAS JUST LOST LOYAL CUSTOMER FOR THEM AND TOYOTA PRODUCTS. *TR

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed May 27, 200870,000 milesTX

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 35-45 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVERS SIDE OF HER VEHICLE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND NECK INJURIES AND FELT THIS WAS CAUSED BECAUSE THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AS OF MAY 27, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,000. UPDATED 07/29/08 *BF UPDATED 07/29/08

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System
Filed May 20, 2008WI

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

Tires › Sidewall
Filed Sep 25, 200730,000 milesNJ

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER DISCOVERER H/T, SIZE P225/70R16 TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES CRACKED AROUND THE RIM AND WERE GRADUALLY LOSING AIR. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE CRACKS. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 10,000. UPDATED 10/24/07.*JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Torque Converter
Filed Sep 11, 2007121,326 milesTX

FAILURE OF TORQUE CONVERTER IN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, RESULTING IN TOTAL FAILURE OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE DISABLED ON BUSY FREEWAY. NO PRIOR WARNING, NO ENGINE CHECK LIGHT, NO TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE ALARM. *TR

Seat Belts › Rear/Other › Buckle Assembly
Filed Nov 14, 200655,950 milesSC

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE RIGHT REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED TO REMAIN LATCHED. WHEN THE BELT WAS REBUCKLED, THE BUCKLE DISENGAGED AFTER 5 MINUTES. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jun 15, 20059,000 milesCA

DT: LEXUS, RX 300 SUV 2002, CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF A BRAKE PROBLEM. EVERY 9,000 MILES BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED. THE DRUMS WORE OUT, AND THE STEERING COLUM SHIMMIED LEFT TO RIGHT. DEALERSHIP ADMITTED THERE WAS A BRAKE PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP FIXED THE PROBLEM TWICE. CONSUMER WAS AFFRAID TO DRIVE VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY, CONSUMER HAD NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE BECAUSE OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery
Filed Jun 9, 200533,433 milesNV

HAVE GONE THROUGH 4 BATTERIES -- 3 WITHIN 3 MONTHS. FLETCHER JONES DEALERSHIP IN LAS VEGAS, NV KEEPS INSISTING NOTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE (LEXUS RX300-2002) + SIMPLY REPLACES THE DEAD BATTERY. LEXUS REGIONAL SERVICE NEVER SEEMS ABLE TO REACH THE DEALERSHIP. NO ONE HAS ANY IDEA OR EXPLANATION WHY BATTERIES KEEP FAILING FOR NO APPARANT REASON.

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed May 5, 200582,000 milesFL

DT: THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CORRECTLY. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG ONLY PARTIALLY DEPLOYED AFTER IMPACT AND WHEN IT DEPLOYED IN WAS TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE VEHICLE. *NM

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 18, 200543,000 milesCO

THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION OF 25 MPH, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE UPPER HARNESS OF THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO HOLD THE CONSUMER IN PLACE. THE CONSUMERS CHEST HIT UP AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONSUMER WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *JB *SC *JB

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Aug 18, 2004IL

WHILE DRIVING CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THEN, VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash6 injured
Filed Jun 14, 2004FL

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN COLLISION AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS CHEST, LEFT LEG, BACK SHOULDER, ETC. THE PASSENGERS SUSTAINED MINOR CUTS BRUISES AND CONTUSIONS. *NM

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Apr 27, 2004FL

THE WINDSHIELD GLARE FROM MY 2002 LEXUS RX 300 IS SO GREAT THAT I CAN NOT DRIVE THE CAR DURING THE DAY AND SAFELY SEE OTHER VEHICLES TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. I SPOKE TO THE DEALER PARTS MANAGER WHO TOLD ME IT WAS VERY COMMON AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE. IS THAT TRUE? I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR. I HAVE TRIED COVERING THE DASH BUT IT DID NOT HELP. HAVE YOU CONSIDERED THIS GLARE ISSUE? THE DEALER SAID LEXUS WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAD MADE CHANGES IN DESIGN BECAUSE OF IT.*AK

Air BagsCrash
Filed Mar 31, 2004FL

ANOTHER VEHICLE CUT THROUGH THE CENTER MEDIAN AND TURNED INTO THE CONSUMER'S PATH STRIKING THE LEFT FRONT BUMPER AND FENDER; YET NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *PH VEHICLE IS TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. *LA

Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
Filed Nov 3, 200312,000 milesNY

WHEN BRAKING THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE HIT A TREE AND A CAR AS A RESULT OF BRAKE FAILURE. DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Power Train › Driveline › Differential UnitCrash
Filed Oct 30, 2003NJ

I DRIVE A 2002 LEXUS RX300. I WAS SMELLING A BURNING ODOR FROM BELOW MY CAR AND CALLED UP TO HAVE IT CHECKED BY THE LEXUS SERVICE. THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T SEE ME FOR A WEEK AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE THE CAR IN FOR CHECK UP. I EXPRESSED MY CONCERN ABOUT DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHILE THIS SMELL WAS PRESENT AND WAS TOLD TO CHECK IF :THERE WAS ANY OBJECT SUCH AS A PLASTIC BAG STUCK UNDER MY CAR. *CHECKED THE OIL, SINCE HE SAID THAT THE ENGINE OIL LUBRICATES THE ENTIRE POWER TRAIN. AFTER TELLING HIM THAT THE DIPSTICK SHOWED THAT THERE WAS NO NEED FOR OIL HE SAID THAT THE VEHICLE "SHOULD BE OK UNTIL I BRING IT IN FOR CHECKUP. BY THIS TIME I HAD DEVELOPED A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY AND TOTALLY FORGOT ABOUT THE ODOR. UNTIL SATURDAY NIGHT AUGUST 30 WHEN I WAS HEADING WEST ON THE CROSS BRONX EXPRESSWAY.I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY I HEARD THIS LOUD BANG AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL ON THE HIGH WAY WITH 18 WHEELERS ON EITHER SIDE OF ME. GOD I WAS TERRIFIED. FORTUNATELY I REMEMBERED TO STEER THE CAR IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SKID AND WAS ABLE TO STABILIZE THE VEHICLE AND PREVENT A ROLLOVER. AFTER COMING OUT OF THE CAR AND INSPECTING IT I FOUND THAT THERE WAS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE BUT THE [XXX] CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. HERE I WAS CRIS-CROSSED 21/2 LANES OF TRAFFIC ON THE CROSS BRONX EXPRESSWAY WITH OTHER PEOPLE YELLING AT ME TO MOVE MY[XXX] VEHICLE OUT OF THE WAY AND I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO WAY OF MOVING IT BECAUSE THE REAR AXLE WAS JAMMED. AFTER NOT HAVING MY C

Vehicle Speed Control › LinkagesCrash
Filed May 7, 2003CA

WHILE GOING SLOW THE CAR ACCELERATES SUDDENLY, ALREADY THIS HAPPENED TWICE AND BOTH TIMES I HIT THE WALL. *JB

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed May 6, 200324,500 milesOK

THROTTLE BECAME STUCK ON 2002 LEXUS RX300 WHILE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN CAUSING IT TO RAPIDLY ACCELERATE. CAR HAD TO BE TURNED OFF BEFORE IT COULD BE STOPPED. CAR WAS TOWED TO LEXUS DEALER. I WAS TOLD IT WAS JUST A "FREAK" ACCIDENT THAT A TINY PIECE OF PLASTIC HAD GOTTEN SUCKED INTO THROTTLE. I WANT TO BE SURE THIS WAS AN ACCIDENT AND IS NOT A DEFECT. *JB

Tires › Sidewall
Filed Feb 1, 2003CA

2/1/03 WFS 2002 LEXUS RX 300 WITH 1800 MILES TURNING INTO PARKING LOT HIT THE CURB TRAVELING SLOWLY AND THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. TIRE MAKE P225/70 R26 MADE BY INTEGRITY THIS EVENT HAS NEVER HAPPEN IN OUR EXPERIENCE OF COMBINED 70 YEARS OF DRIVING. TS

Structure › Body
Filed Apr 10, 2002FL

THE TWO CUP HOLDERS ON TOP OF THE CENTER CONSOLE. THE HOLDERS ARE NOT DEEP ENOUGH T O HOLD A STANDARD ALUMINUM COFFEE MUG. ALSO, THE HOLE IS MUCH LARGER AND DOES NOT HOLD THE CUP SECURELY. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT APPROX. 20 MPH BOTH CUPS TIPPED, SPILLING COFFEE ON THE FLOOR AND PARTLY ON MY RIGHT LEG. IF THIS COFFEE HAS BEEN VERY HOT AT THE TIME IT COULD HAVE CAUSED ME TO JERK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND POSSIBLY CAUSING THE CAR BEHIND ME TO REAR END ME. WHETHER MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN THE MUGS WILL SPILL.*AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
Filed Jan 23, 2002GA

VEHICLE WOULD ROLL BACKWARD WHEN STOPPING ON A HILL . DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Filed Jan 9, 2002PA

SUN ROOF DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME PINCH PROTECTION AS SIDE WINDOWS. THE SUN ROOF CLOSED ON MY HAND AS I WAS DEMONSTRATING THIS FEATURE. THE BROCHURE FOR THE 2002 LEXUS RX 300 STATES ON PAGE 43 UNDER SAFETY AND SECURITY " PINCH PROTECTION FOR POWER WINDOWS AND AVAILABLE SUN NROOF" WHICH I HAVE ON MY CAR.*AK

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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