FaultScore

Worst years for a Lexus RX300

Owners have filed 849 complaints about the Lexus RX300 with NHTSA across model years 1998 to 2003. More of them are about the transmission & drivetrain than anything else.

Avoid

1999 Lexus RX300

268 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly transmission & drivetrain.

Cleanest on record

2003 Lexus RX300

33 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Lexus RX300 year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2003 B 33 5 0 92,463 Transmission & Drivetrain
2002 C 106 22 1 94,000 Transmission & Drivetrain
2001 C 189 17 2 105,897 Transmission & Drivetrain
2000 D 247 23 0 106,000 Transmission & Drivetrain
1999 D 268 21 13 103,835 Transmission & Drivetrain
1998 6 1 0 Windows, Mirrors & Wipers

What breaks on a Lexus RX300

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Worst in 2000

Engine & Cooling 92 10.8%

Worst in 1999

Worst in 2001

Airbags 37 4.4%

Worst in 1999

Brakes 36 4.2%

Worst in 1999

Worst in 1999

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 17 2.0%

Worst in 1999

Seat Belts 16 1.9%

Worst in 1999

Suspension 15 1.8%

Worst in 1999

Lights 14 1.6%

Worst in 1999

Tires 13 1.5%

Worst in 1999

Fuel & Propulsion 11 1.3%

Worst in 1999

Equipment & Accessories 11 1.3%

Worst in 1999

Body & Structure 10 1.2%

Worst in 1999

Exactly what failed on a Lexus RX300

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Automatic Transmission 332 81.2%
Engine 19 4.6%
Gasoline 13 3.2%
Frontal 10 2.4%
Accelerator Pedal 8 2.0%
Body 6 1.5%
Front 6 1.5%
Exhaust System 5 1.2%
Front Underhood 5 1.2%
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 5 1.2%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Lexus RX300, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Aug 1998 peak 31 Mar 2022

Lexus RX300 problems by state

Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.

Compare the Lexus RX300

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.