2002 Lexus Rx problems

General information about Lexus-Rx
Overview of popular issues

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 2002 Lexus Rx problems

The Lexus RX300, also known as the RX 330 in the USA, is a mid-size luxury crossover known for its reliability

. However, like any vehicle, it can still develop common issues as it ages. Here are some of the most frequently reported problems with the 2002 Lexus RX300, based on owner complaints:

Shifting lag: Some owners of the 2002-2006 Lexus RX300 have reported delayed shifting when accelerating at certain speeds, particularly between 10 and 20 mph.

No-start issues: Some owners of the 2002 Lexus RX300 have reported that their vehicle won't start for no reason, particularly around 24,000 miles.

Suspension issues: Some owners of the 2002 Lexus RX300 have reported issues with the suspension, including warped brakes and worn-out suspension arms . These issues can be caused by the age of the vehicle and can be resolved by replacing the affected parts .
Timing belt and water pump issues: Some owners of the 2002 Lexus RX300 have reported issues with the timing belt and water pump, which can fail after a certain mileage.

Power steering issues: Some owners of the 2002 Lexus RX300 have reported issues with the power steering, which can be caused by a leaking power steering hose or pump failure . If you're experiencing this issue, it's recommended to take your vehicle to an auto repair shop for proper diagnosis and repair .
CD player issues: Some owners of the 2002 Lexus RX300 have reported issues with the CD player, which can stop accepting CDs altogether . If you're experiencing this issue, it's recommended to have the CD player replaced .
Rough idling and backfiring: Some owners of the 2002 Lexus RX300 have reported rough idling and backfiring, which can be caused by faulty ignition coils or rapidly burning out engine valves.

Brake corrosion: Some owners of the 2002 Lexus RX300 have reported brake corrosion, which can be caused by the regenerative braking system not requiring the brakes to work as hard as they do on other vehicles.

Steering wheel vibration and clunking noises: Some owners of the 2002 Lexus RX300 have reported excessive steering wheel vibration and clunking noises, which can be caused by worn-out lower control arm bushes.

In summary, the 2002 Lexus RX300 is a reliable vehicle, but it can still develop common issues as it ages. Some of the most frequently reported problems include radiator leaks, shifting lag, no-start issues, suspension issues, timing belt and water pump issues, power steering issues, CD player issues, rough idling and backfiring, brake corrosion, and steering wheel vibration and clunking noises. If you're experiencing any of these issues, it's recommended to take your vehicle to an auto repair shop for proper diagnosis and repair.

What is the engine problem with the Lexus RX300?

Does a 2002 Lexus RX300 have a timing belt?

the 2002 lexus rx 300 have a timing belt or timing chain. When should it be replaced? Lexus recommends replacing the timing belt on the 3.0L engine every 90,000 miles, or every 72 months (6 years).

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.

What is the mileage on a 2002 Lexus RX300?

18 combined

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EPA MPG	Regular Gasoline 18 combined city/highway MPG 17 city 21 highway 5.6 gals/100 miles
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2002 Lexus Rx complaints

The NHTSA has received 0 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2002 Lexus Rx.

You can leave your car complaint via the special form below.

Additional sources

More sources of information about 2002 Lexus Rx problems:

2002 Lexus RX300 Problems and Complaints - 9 Issues

https://repairpal.com/2002-lexus-rx300/problems

Problem with your 2002 Lexus RX300? Our list of 9 known complaints reported by owners can help you fix your 2002 Lexus RX300.

RX300 Engine/Trans problems: Widespread or not? - ClubLexus ...

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-1st-gen-1999-2003/448393-rx300-engine-trans-problems-widespread-or-not.html

Aug 22, 2009 ... Lexus Champion. Quote: Originally Posted by joychri. I am curious as to the issue of flushing the transmission fluid. I just had our 2002 rx300 ...

Lexus RX Questions - Is there anyone out there without a problem ...

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/Discussion-t101343_ds678503

Aug 26, 2015 ... Is there anyone out there without a problem with the Lexus Rx300? I bought mine from an Independent. I'm a Disabled Veteran and had a doctor ...

Transmission problems in 2001 RX300 AWD? - ClubLexus - Lexus ...

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-1st-gen-1999-2003/270881-transmission-problems-in-2001-rx300-awd.html

Mar 16, 2007 ... ... common on the 99-01 model years. Lexus switched transmissions for 2002 and beyond and solved the problem. When I was car shopping she said ...