Lexus RX300 Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Lexus RX300 model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 1998 drew the fewest (3) and the 1999 the most (221).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 Among the fewest complaints |
3 | 0 | Electrical system | — | — |
| 2003 Among the fewest complaints |
25 | 0 | Power train | — | 18 |
| 2002 Among the fewest complaints |
88 | 0 | Power train | — | 18 |
| 2001 Among the most complaints |
169 | 0 | Power train | — | 18 |
| 2000 Among the most complaints |
216 | 0 | Power train | — | 18–19 |
| 1999 Among the most complaints |
221 | 2 | Power train | — | 18–19 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Lexus RX300 years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
1999 Lexus RX300: 221 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 129 (58%); Engine and engine cooling 24 (11%); Air bags 14 (6%).
Reports mention 18 crashes, 10 fires, 16 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 104,000 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
2000 Lexus RX300: 216 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 138 (64%); Engine and engine cooling 20 (9%); Vehicle speed control 14 (6%).
Reports mention 16 crashes, 15 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 104,000 miles. 0 recall campaigns listed.
2001 Lexus RX300: 169 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 123 (73%); Vehicle speed control 20 (12%); Engine and engine cooling 13 (8%).
Reports mention 14 crashes, 2 fires, 13 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 108,200 miles. 0 recall campaigns listed.
The Lexus RX300 years with the fewest complaints
1998 Lexus RX300: 3 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 1 (33%); Structure 1 (33%); Tires 1 (33%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 1 injury. 0 recall campaigns listed.
2003 Lexus RX300: 25 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 7 (28%); Vehicle speed control 5 (20%); Air bags 3 (12%).
Reports mention 5 crashes, 3 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 70,000 miles. 0 recall campaigns listed.
2002 Lexus RX300: 88 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 38 (43%); Vehicle speed control 15 (17%); Engine and engine cooling 12 (14%).
Reports mention 18 crashes, 1 fire, 14 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 98,000 miles. 0 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Lexus RX300 owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 25 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 70,000 |
| 2002 | 88 | 18 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 98,000 |
| 2001 | 169 | 14 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 108,200 |
| 2000 | 216 | 16 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 104,000 |
| 1999 | 221 | 18 | 10 | 16 | 0 | 104,000 |
| 1998 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Lexus RX300 recalls
- TOYOTA/AUTOMATIC LIGHT CONTROL (1999 model year; 23,441 vehicles across all models; filed Jan 1999; 99V011000)
- TOYOTA/BRAKE LINE (1999 model year; 6,503 vehicles across all models; filed Jan 1999; 99V012000)
All 2 Lexus RX300 recall campaigns · Lexus RX300 problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Lexus RX300 years FAQ
Which Lexus RX300 year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 1998 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (3). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Lexus RX300 years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 1999, 2000 and 2001 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the power train. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Lexus RX300 problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the power train (435 of 722 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Lexus RX300 have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns covering the Lexus RX300. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Lexus RX300 recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.