2001 Lexus Rx problems
The Lexus RX (Japanese: レクサス・RX, Hepburn: Rekusasu RX) is a luxury crossover SUV sold since 1998 by Lexus, a luxury division of Toyota. Originally released in its home market of Japan in late 1997 as the Toyota Harrier, export sales began in March 1998 as the Lexus RX.
Considered as the first luxury crossover SUV, five generations of the RX have been produced to date, the first being compact in size, and the latter classified as mid-size. Both front- and four-wheel drive configurations have been used on the RX series, and several gasoline powertrain options, including V6 engines and hybrid systems, have been offered. In the Lexus model lineup, the RX sits below the larger Lexus LX (marketed as the Toyota Land Cruiser body-on-frame SUVs outside North America, respectively), and above the shorter and less wider, but taller GX SUV. The name "RX" stands for "Radiant Crossover". It has also been labelled as "Recreational Cross Country" in some markets. The RX's current Toyota counterpart is the Highlander/Kluger; past counterparts included the Harrier and Venza.
The first-generation RX 300, fitted with a 3.0-liter V6 engine, began sales in 1998. The Japanese market Harrier released in 1997 also offered a 2.2-liter inline-four, later uprated to 2.4 liters. The second-generation RX 300 (3.0-liter V6) and RX 330 (3.3-liter V6) models went on sale in 2003, with both variants supplanted by the more powerful RX 350 (3.5-liter V6) in 2006. Like the previous series, a 2.4-liter inline-four engine was sold alongside the 3.0-liter V6 in the Japanese market Harrier. In 2005, a hybridized gasoline-electric version of the 3.3-liter second-generation model was made available as the RX 400h in export markets and as the Harrier Hybrid in Japan. For the third generation released in 2009, both RX 350 (3.5-liter V6) and RX 450h (3.5-liter V6 hybrid) models were initially offered, with an entry-level RX 270 (2.7-liter inline-four) offered by Lexus in some Asian markets, including in Japan, since 2010. Since the release of the third generation, Japanese sales have occurred under the RX name as opposed to Harrier as had been the case previously. In the fourth generation, a turbocharged (2.0-liter inline-four) RX 200t/300 model was introduced to replace the previous 2.7-liter unit.
The RX has been assembled at Toyota Motor Kyushu since launch. The RX and RX Hybrid were the first Lexus models to be built outside Japan, with North American market versions produced at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada plant in Cambridge, Ontario beginning 2003 (RX) and expanded in 2014 (RX Hybrid). Hybrid transaxles are built at the Kokura plant in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka since 2009.
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Common 2001 Lexus Rx problems
The Lexus RX 300, produced from 2001 to 2003, is known for its reliability, but like any vehicle, it has some common issues that owners may encounter.
One common issue is the Check Engine Light due to a failed O2 sensor. This problem can lead to poor fuel efficiency and a decrease in engine performance. The O2 sensor, located in the exhaust system, measures the amount of oxygen in the exhaust gases and sends the information to the engine control module (ECM). A failed O2 sensor can cause the ECM to operate in an improper fuel-air mixture, leading to poor fuel efficiency and increased emissions.
Another common issue is transmission problems. The 2000 model year of the Lexus RX 300 is particularly prone to transmission issues, with the most reported problem being transmission failure. The average cost to fix this issue is around $4,000, with an average mileage of 133,000 miles. The 2001 model year also has a high number of transmission problems, with an average cost to fix of $3,600 and an average mileage of 121,000 miles.
The brakes of the Lexus RX 300 are also known to warp, causing a pulsating sensation when braking
. This issue can be caused by a few factors, including excessive heat buildup, uneven brake rotor wear, or a faulty brake caliper. Warped brake rotors can lead to longer stopping distances and decreased brake performance, making it a safety concern.
The suspension of the Lexus RX 300 is also prone to issues, with suspension arms needing to be replaced
. This issue can cause a jangly or unstable ride, making it uncomfortable for passengers. Additionally, the ball joints and bushings in the suspension system can wear out, leading to a decrease in ride quality and handling.
The power steering system of the Lexus RX 300 can also be problematic, with issues such as leaks or pump failure
. This issue can lead to a decrease in steering performance, making it difficult to control the vehicle.
The CD player in the Lexus RX 300 is also known to have issues, with the CD changer often failing to work properly
. This issue can be caused by a faulty mechanism or a damaged CD tray, making it difficult to play CDs.
Finally, the steering wheel of the Lexus RX 300 can vibrate excessively, indicating a problem with the lower control arm bushings. This issue can lead to a decrease in ride quality and handling, making it uncomfortable for passengers.
In summary, the Lexus RX 300 is known for its reliability, but like any vehicle, it has some common issues that owners may encounter. These issues include Check Engine Light due to a failed O2 sensor, transmission problems, warped brakes, suspension issues, power steering problems, CD player issues, and steering wheel vibration. It is important for owners to address these issues promptly to ensure the safety and longevity of their vehicle.
How many miles will a 2001 Lexus RX300 last?
300,000 thousand miles
The 2001 Lexus RX300 is a great vehicle that will easily last 300,000 thousand miles and that in style and comfort.....but expect to replace the transmission at $5K every 100,000 miles. I love my RX300 so much that it has had two transmissions replaced and still gets to park in the garage.
What is the common problem of Lexus RX300?
The automatic boot motor is known for failing on the RX300. If you are finding that the automatic boot is making a clunking noise when you press the button to open/close the boot, then this is an indication of the motor starting to fail. If the boot does not open at all, then the motor has completely failed.
What is the problem if the car has a check engine Lexus RX300?
Lexus RX300 Check Engine Light Flashing
Other common reasons for a Check Engine Light are faulty head gasket, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, dirty mass airflow sensor, faulty emissions control part, damaged oxygen sensor, or defective spark plugs to name a few.
Is 2001 Lexus RX300 4wd?
With a large, rakish windshield and goofy front quarter windows, the view from the driver's seat imparts the same feel as a Toyota Sienna. Unlike the Sienna, the RX 300 can be had with your choice of front-wheel drive or full-time four-wheel drive.
2001 Lexus Rx car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Lexus Rx problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Power train problems
- Tires problems
- Unknown or other problems
- Air bags problems
- Lane departure problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2001 Lexus Rx vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2001 Lexus Rx complaints
The NHTSA has received 19 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2001 Lexus Rx.
AIR BAGS,LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-06-03
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Crash: 1
- VIN: JTJHF10U310
- Components: AIR BAGS,LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
- Summary: 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)
TIRES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-11-24
- VIN: JTJGF10U910
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: 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?
TIRES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-05-15
- VIN: JTJHF10U610
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: 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
POWER TRAIN,WHEELS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2019-10-22
- VIN: JTJHF10U410
- Components: POWER TRAIN,WHEELS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: 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
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2019-10-22
- VIN: JTJHF10U410
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: 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.
POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2014-12-01
- VIN: JTJHF10U110
- Components: POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: 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
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2013-07-17
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: TRANSMISSION FAILED AT A LOW MILAGE, AND THE REPAIR COST IS MORE THAN A CAR. *TR
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2013-04-10
- Components: POWER TRAIN,ENGINE
- Summary: 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
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2007-09-30
- VIN: JTJGF10U110
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: 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
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2007-09-02
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: 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
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2007-04-03
- VIN: JTJGF10U010
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: 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
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2007-06-09
- VIN: JTJGF10U310
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: 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
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2007-03-17
- VIN: JTJHF10U410
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: 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
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2007-02-12
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: LEXUS RX 300 TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO FAIL. *JB
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2006-08-23
- VIN: JTJHF10U210
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: 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)
TIRES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2006-12-08
- VIN: 1GNDT13W4X2
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: 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.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2006-06-01
- VIN: JTJGF10U510
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: 2001 LEXUS RX-300 TRANSMISSION FAILED JUST BEFORE 84,000 MILES, DISABLING VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY. WARRANTY DID NOT COVER REPAIR. *JB
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2005-10-15
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: 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
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2006-03-24
- VIN: JTJHF10U610
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: 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
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2001 Lexus Rx problems:
Transmission problems in 2001 RX300 AWD? - ClubLexus - Lexus ...
Mar 16, 2007 ... The 1st transmission was Lexus Junk. That tranny obviously had a a problem. The second had in the wrong tranny fluid and destroyed a good tranny ...
2001 Lexus RX300 Problems and Complaints - 10 Issues
Problem with your 2001 Lexus RX300? Our list of 10 known complaints reported by owners can help you fix your 2001 Lexus RX300.
Lexus RX Questions - Is there anyone out there without a problem ...
Aug 26, 2015 ... Haven't had the car for even two weeks and want rid of it. I am broke. Thanks Omid Omidi if that's you're real name! 2001 Lexus RX 300 AWD ...
Common Rx300 Problems - 99 - 03 Lexus RX300 - Lexus Owners ...
Nov 16, 2004 ... Hi, this is a great forum. My wife has a 99 RX300 with about 55K miles on it and so far it has been good. However, checking this forum and ...
2001 Lexus RX 300 Transmission problem - Maintenance/Repairs ...
Jul 8, 2011 ... Lexus is under no obligation to do anything. This car was probably manufactured in the year 2000. This means it's close to 11 years old and all ...
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