2001 Lexus RX problems
NHTSA has received 25 complaints about the 2001 Lexus RX, and 36% of them involve transmission. After that come drivetrain & axles (20%) and tires (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 25 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Transmission 36% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 3 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 3 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 102,000 miles 20 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 1 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 0 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 0 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 4 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 3 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 6 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 2 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 2 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 2 |
What the data shows
Among the 20 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 102,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 3 complaints mention a crash; 3 injuries reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 80% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2001 ranks 17th most-complained-about out of 23 model years of the Lexus RX with enough data (5 complaints in that window).
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
on [XXX] traveling NB on [XXX] during a green light to make a left turn WB on [XXX] the defendant ran a red light and broadsided my 2001 RX300 Lexus and was cited. The airbags did not go off, and my head hit the windshield. The defendant was cited. I filed a claim with Toyota , case no [XXX] who inspected the totaled car at the yard tow. They stated they were unable to read the black box. They declined. There were side airbags and front air bags which should have deployed and did not.
I was just getting off the highway and my car stopped moving. My transmission totally went out with no warning. If this would have happened moments sooner I could have been in a terrible accident as I was going 60 MPH. I tried to contact lexus, but they will not admit to this problem or help repair it or recall it. They say that it isn't a know issue but it is and several people have tried to get help with it and lexus will say no. Be careful, it will happen with no warning.
The transmission was rebuilt on 11/15/13 at 242,600 miles and has gone out again at 250,379. Many others on the internet have had similar problems with their rx300 transmissions. My brother also has an rx300 and his transmission failed too. The planetary gears are often the problem. There should be a recall by lexus to deal with this defective design.