2001 LEXUS RX Problems

Complaints Reported

Complaints by Component

POWER TRAIN

11 complaints

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT A LOW MILAGE, AND THE REPAIR COST IS MORE THAN A CAR. *TR

Jul 31, 2013

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

Oct 02, 2007

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

Sep 11, 2007

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

Jun 25, 2007

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

Jun 22, 2007

+ 6 more complaints for this component

TIRES

3 complaints

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?

Nov 26, 2023

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

May 19, 2023

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.

Dec 14, 2006

AIR BAGS,LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

1 complaint

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)

Apr 22, 2024

Crash: 1

Injuries: 1

POWER TRAIN,WHEELS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

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

Jan 06, 2020

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

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.

Dec 13, 2019

POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1 complaint

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

Dec 11, 2014

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE

1 complaint

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

May 08, 2013

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92 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

How many problems does the 2001 LEXUS RX have?

The 2001 LEXUS RX currently has 19 owner-reported complaints according to NHTSA database. These complaints are organized by component to help identify common issues.

What are the most common problems with 2001 LEXUS RX?

The most common problems reported for the 2001 LEXUS RX are organized by component above. Each component section shows owner-reported issues, crash reports, and fire incidents to help identify patterns and problem areas.

Where does this 2001 LEXUS RX problem data come from?

All problem and complaint data for the 2001 LEXUS RX comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.