2000 Lexus RX300 Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 6about this part
- Share
- 3%of 216 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 151,100miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the engine of the 2000 Lexus RX300, 3% of the 216 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 151,100 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“After first having to replace my transmission at 75,000 miles. It seems I will have to pay to do it again at 186,000. The problem started out with the vehicle having trouble climbing a hill. I changed the transmission oil and two weeks later the vehicle move about three feet from a parking stall made a loud noise jerked to a stop and would not move. I was able to put it into drive and repark the car. It will not reverse and had to be towed to a mechanic.”
NHTSA complaint #10563808, filed 2014-02, 186,000 miles“While driving, the car jerks and then cuts off. This has happened at least half a dozen times within the last 2 months. Engine light is constantly on, even after servicing the car at local Lexus dealer. When car is parked, I noticed exhaust fume smells heavily with gas.”
NHTSA complaint #10669802, filed 2015-01, 137,200 miles“My 2000 Lexus RX300 had an unexplained sudden unintended acceleration where the vehicle almost killed me and my son. I was driving residential backroads by my house, accelerated slightly to get up a hill and that's when it took off. The brake pedal was unresponsive, the emergency break was unresponsive, I pulled the floor mat out for good measure, nothing worked, it kept accelerating at a high rate until I finally slammed it through gears to park to get it to a stop. …”
NHTSA complaint #10929614, filed 2016-12Related service bulletins
- 10179601Aug 5, 2020TSB: Vehicles may display evidence of a fluid leak or fluid seep from powertrain components. This bulletin explains how to determine the differences between a fluid leak versus a…
Engine: other model years
Other parts of the 2000 Lexus RX300
138 complaintsEngine cooling
20 complaintsVehicle speed control
14 complaintsBrakes
11 complaintsElectrical system
7 complaintsExterior lighting
6 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
5 complaintsSteering
5 complaintsSuspension
5 complaintsOther or unknown
4 complaintsSeat belts
4 complaintsBody and structure
4 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2000 Lexus RX300
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology