2002 Lexus RX300 Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 15about this part
- Share
- 17%of 88 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 120,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 15 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 2002 Lexus RX300, 17% of the 88 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 120,000 miles. 8 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I entered parking lot and pulled into parking spot with my foot on brake barely going. I was almost all the way into spot when my car lunged up with extremely high rpms. I went into small tree, drove over another car, car flipped on side, then flipped over on roof and into another parked car. Engine overtook the brakes. I am original owner with car extremely well maintained by Lexus. I have never heard or felt this car like this before.”
NHTSA complaint #11047465, filed 2017-11, 197,500 miles“My wife was driving in freeway (highway 101 in bay area, ca) around 8:00pm. The car was at a speed of ~60 miles/hr. The car started accelerating independently. My wife exited 101 immediately and found that she could not get the car to fully stop even though she applied the brake fully. The car was still idling full throttle after my wife put the car in park. Then my wife shut off the engine. I had the car towed to Lexus dealer service. …”
NHTSA complaint #10556921, filed 2013-12, 128,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10018315, filed 2003-05, 24,500 miles“In attempting to park my vehicle at a store parking lot, at very low speed (<1 MPH) with my foot on or hovering over the brake pedal, my car lunged forward, jumped the 'stopper' and ran into a handicap parking pole. The car engine continued to race/accerlerate until I removed the key from the ignition. The store surveillance system caught the accident on tape. Had it not been for the upright concrete pole, my vehicle very well would have caused injury to others. Fortunately, neither my passenger nor I were injured. …”
NHTSA complaint #10395510, filed 2011-04, 159,000 miles“I experienced sudden unintended acceleration in my 2002 Lexus, RX300 on 4 aug, 2010. I was in a parking lot making a left turn into the parking area when the vehicle revved full throttle and surged forward. I applied the brakes fully and when the vehicle did not fully stop I put the vehicle in neutral while still applying the brakes and stopped the vehicle. It was still idling full throttle. I shut it off and let it sit a few minutes and started it again. It went to full throttle and would not throttle down. …”
NHTSA complaint #10350621, filed 2010-08, 110,000 milesVehicle speed control: other model years
Other parts of the 2002 Lexus RX300
38 complaintsEngine cooling
12 complaintsAir bags
10 complaintsElectrical system
5 complaintsBrakes
3 complaintsOther or unknown
3 complaintsElectronic stability control
2 complaintsFuel system
2 complaintsSeat belts
2 complaintsTires
2 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
2 complaintsWheels
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Lexus RX300
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 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