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Lexus RXModel year report

2002 Lexus RX Problems

Complaints
12filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
101,930miles, 8 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2002 Lexus RX (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 12 consumer complaints for the 2002 Lexus RX. The part named most often is transmission and drivetrain, with 5 complaints (42% of the total), followed by air bags (2) and other or unknown (2). 8 of the complaints include a mileage, and 25% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 101,930 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 28 technical service bulletins for this model year. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 3 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Air bags complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Transmission and drivetrain: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #10157959, filed 2006-05, 42,883 miles

Air bags: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #10203605, filed 2007-09, 40,000 miles

Other or unknown: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #11307336, filed 2020-02, 115,860 miles

Engine: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10872278, filed 2016-06, 166,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

25% of the 8 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 60,000 and 115,950 miles.

0%0–100%10–2525%25–5013%50–7513%75–10025%100–15025%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (8 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 101,930 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

2006200720112012201620202021320242026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2002 Lexus RX in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 28 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 28 bulletins →

Other model years of the Lexus RX

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2026121,00034–525—Too new
20252211244–525—Too new
2024603,00044–525Too new to compareToo new
2023628,2503536100 · MoreToo new
20222931,600043068 · MoreRising
20217058,000143086 · MoreRising
20204731,50014–53087 · MoreRising
20193417,5001—3079 · MoreRising
20182642,5480—300 · FewerRising
20174732,7300—300 · FewerRising
20162867,5000—300 · FewerRising
20152045,0000—29—Rising
20141292,5450—29—Not enough data
201319105,6060—29—Rising
201212143,6820—29—Not enough data
201129125,0000—291 · FewerFalling
20107725,0000——96 · MoreFalling
20093473,5000——19 · FewerFalling
200870114,1830—2515 · FewerFalling
20075893,4260—26Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200632130,0001—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20052780,0001——Not compared (before 2008)Rising
20044066,0001——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200212101,9300———Not enough data
20011995,0000———Rising
20002990,0000——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199935107,0000——Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Lexus RX model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2002 Lexus RX have?

NHTSA recorded 12 consumer complaints for the 2002 Lexus RX as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2002 Lexus RX is reported most often?

Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 5 complaints (42% of the total), followed by air bags with 2.

Has the 2002 Lexus RX been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2002 Lexus RX reported?

Among the 8 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 101,930 miles and the middle half falls between 60,000 and 115,950 miles; 25% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.