Lexus · RX · 2001
0
Recalls
19
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2001 Lexus RX has no recalls and 19 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: power train (11 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
225 / 70 R 16 A tire shop inspected my tires and said that all 4 of my belts are separating and indicated to me a convex shape that peaks in the center of the steel belt. These tires were purchased new some years ago when they were balanced, struts replaced, and full alignment, yet at speeds 55+ the car made a vibration that no shop was able to identify. Yesterday I hit a nail in the center of the tread, but it punctured in a very uncharacteristic way. This prompted me to take it to a tire shop where they said "I've not ever seen something like this before where the belts are separating on all tires like this." I drive ~12K miles per year in residential areas and have kept my tires at 31psi. Out of curiosity, I looked online for recalls and found this same tire (but in different sizes) having recalls for this exact reason. Might it be possibly that my size too should be included in the recall but was somehow overlooked due to being a less popular size?
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. NOTE: Picture of inside of car, the car seat moved all the way to the drivers door - no airbags deployed INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
vehicle parked, came out next morning, tire had 5" split on sidewall, completely deflated original purchase date 12/11/21 tires have 5320 miles on them from new tire sidewall failed 5/15/2023 tire size 225 70R 16 mastercraft courser HSX tires available for inspection upon request
I BOUGHT A CAR FROM WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE A PRIVATE PARTY BUT NOT SURE BECAUSE HAVING TROUBLE NARROWING DOWN HIS CORRECT NAME. HE IS VERY SECRETIVE. AFTER THE PURCHASE I FOUND THAT THE ODOMETER HAD BEEN CHANGED AND MY ONLY RECOURSE IS TO SUE HIM. IT IS A LONG STORY BUT SHORT VERSION IS I GOT SCAMMED AND NOW STUCK WITH A CAR THAT WILL TAKE MORE MONEY TO FIX THAN IT'S WORTH.
I BOUGHT A CAR FROM A PRIVATE PARTY/DEALER ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT REPAIRS NEEDED ARE MORE THAN CARS WORTH, THEN I CHECKED CAR FAX TO FIND OUT THAT MILEAGE HAD BEEN TURNED BACK A LOT.. THIS PERSON LISTS 3-4 CARS FOR SALE A WEEK AND I CAN'T FIND ANY ONE THAT WANTS TO HELP. I KNOW I AM STUCK WITH CAR UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS FOR MY HANDICAPPED SON THAT STARTED COLLEGE RECENTLY AND USED ALL HIS SAVINGS FOR CAR. I FOUND THAT THIS PERSON GOES UNDER SEVERAL NAMES AND ONLY LOCATION I HAVE IS WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR. HIS HOME ADDRESS IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO CONTACT HIM WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR BUT EVERY THING FAILED AND PERSON IS STILL SELLING CARS TODAY. I FORGOT I WAS SUPPOSE TO BUY A 2003 BUT TURNED OUT A 2001, IF YOU COULD DIRECT ME TO SOMEBODY IN IL. THAT CAN HELP I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. EVERY ONE TELLS ME TO FIND A LAWYER BUT ALL MY SEARCHING CAME UP ZERO PLUS NO HOME ADDRESS AND NO HELP FROM LOCAL LAW. BEEN 2 MONTHS OF DIGGING AND SEARCHING. PLEASE HELP *TR
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. *TR
TRANSMISSION FAILED AT A LOW MILAGE, AND THE REPAIR COST IS MORE THAN A CAR. *TR
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. *TR
IN 2001 COMPLAINANT BOUGHT NEW RX 300. IN ACCORDANCE WITH SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE ALL WORK HAS BEEN DONE. NO EVIDENCE OF A POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM UNTIL SATURDAY WHILE MERGING ON INTERSTATE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT/ACCELERATOR BEYOND 30 MPG. IMMEDIATELY EXIT HIGHWAY DROVE HOME. PARKED VEHICLE FOR COUPLE HOURS DROVE TO STORE THROUGH CITY STREETS THEN ON THE WAY HOME VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO BEYOND 20 MPH. EXITED OFF MAIN STREET. MADE THE TURN THEN VEHICLE COMPLETELY STOPPED MOVING. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A HAZARDOUS AND DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STOPS MOVING, OR DOES NOT ACCELERATE WHILE MERGING. ALTHOUGH NO PERSON WAS INJURED THE POTENTIAL OF INJURY IS GREAT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LEXUS DEALER TO HEAR THAT IT IS IN FACT A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THAT NEEDS REPLACEMENT FOR 4K. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS DEFECTIVE ITEM OR A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FILED. *JB
HESITANT SHIFTING WAS NOTICED INFREQUENTLY FOR A DAY OR TWO. THEN UPON STARTUP WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE UNTIL ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED VERY FAR. AT THAT POINT TRANSMISSION JARRED INTO REVERSE AND BEGAN BACKING, THEN TRIED TO SHIFT BACK INTO DRIVE AND UPON DRIVING FORWARD A LOUD GRINDING WAS HEARD. DEALER INVESTIGATED AND SAYS IT WILL NEED FULL REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION FOR $5500. *JB
TRANSMISSION FAILED, SYMPTOMS WERE THAT IT WOULD NOT BACK UP. TRANSMISSION LOCKED AND THE CAR HAD TO BE DRAGGED, WHEELS NOT TURNING ONTO A TOW TRUCK FLAT BED. CAR HAD 90,000 SERVICE INCLUDING CHANGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID AND CHECK LESS THAN 6,000 MILES AGO. IT HAD ALSO HAD ITS 60,000 SERVICE AND ALL IMPORTANT SERVICES AS WELL. *TR
TRANSMISSION WHINNING NOISE AT START, AND SLIPPING ONCE WARMED UP. DEALER SAYS THE TRANSMISSION FRONT PUMP NEEDS REPLACED, QUOTED $4247 FOR LEXUS REMAMUFACTURED TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. *AK
PARKED THE CAR AT A PARKING LOT FOR 5 MINUTES, CAME BACK AND THE CAR WON'T GO IN REVERSE, CHECKED FLUID LEVEL, IT WAS FINE.. CAR WOULD GO FORWARD, BUT NOT BACKWARDS.. TRIED PUSHING THE CAR WHILE IN NEUTRAL SO I CAN DRIVE HOME, ALL 4 WHEELS WERE LOCKED, I THOUGHT I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH STRENGTH TO PUSH SO I HAD 2 MORE PEOPLE PUSH WITH ME, BUT THE CAR WON'T BUDGE. EVEN TRIED PUSHING THE CAR WHILE RUNNING AND IN NEUTRAL AS WELL AS NOT RUNNING AND IN NEUTRAL AND ALL OTHER GEAR SELECTIONS, BUT TO NO AVAIL. EVEN THE TOW TRUCK GUY HAD TO USE SOAPY WATER TO SLIDE THE CAR UP THE FLAT BED. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 68000 MILES APPROXIMATELY. *AK
LEXUS RX 300 TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO FAIL. *JB
CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS DRIVING ON I-495 @ A SPEED OF 60 MPH ON A SUNNY DAY. HER TIRES BLEW OUT ON HER THIS WAS ON THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE. THE ENTIRE TIRE CAME OFF THE RIM. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE A NEW TIRE WAS PURCHASE. THE OLD TIRE WAS LEFT AT THE DEALER. SHE NEED TO KNOW WHY HER TIRES JUST BLEW OUT HER. WILL SOMEONE CALL HER TO FIND OUT WHAT CAN PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.
I HAD A TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON MY 2001 LEXUS RX 300 VIN [XXX] WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR SUDDENLY WENT INTO NUETRAL AND SLOWED TO A STOP ON THE ROAD PUTTING MYSELF AND MY FAMILY IN DANGER. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THAT COMPLAINTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN FILED. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2001 LEXUS RX-300 TRANSMISSION FAILED JUST BEFORE 84,000 MILES, DISABLING VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY. WARRANTY DID NOT COVER REPAIR. *JB
WHILE DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED THE LEXUS LURCHED FORWARD, AND THEN BECAME INOPERABLE. TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 86,000 MILES. THE CAR WAS RECENTLY SERVICED FOR THE TRANSMISSION MAINTENANCE AT 80,000 MILES. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON EARLY FAILURE, AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. *JB
PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURE> REPLACED TRANSMISSION FEB 06 STILL NOT SHIFTING AFTER 3 TRIES SERVICED THE TRANS - MIRACLE FIX? MAY 06 DIRTY FLUID REPORTED BY ANOTHER SHOP. LEXUS SOLUTION SERVICE AGAIN WITHIN 4,500 MILES OF THE TRANS REPLACEMENT. NO FURTHER ACTION TAKEN. *JB
The 2001 Lexus RX has 0 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 19 owner-reported complaints for the 2001 Lexus RX.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2001 Lexus RX.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2001 Lexus RX are power train (11 reports), tires (3 reports), air bags,lane departure,forward collision avoidance (1 reports).
NHTSA does not currently list any recalls on record for the 2001 Lexus RX. To verify the status of your specific vehicle, check nhtsa.gov/recalls with your VIN.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.