2000 Lexus RX Problems, Recalls & Reliability
277 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2000 Lexus RX, alongside 0 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 59/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Transmission & drivetrain leads the reports, typically around 104,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2000 Lexus RX sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2003, 2013–2014, 2018, 2020, 2022.
Avoid
Where 2000 sits among all RX years
What owners report
“Transmission failed due to bad design. Many others have same failures. Need recall.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2000 RX
“Engine failed due to sludging. I was unaware of the spa and had a used engine installed. Lexus refuses to pay for the repair because i perform my own maintenance”— owner report to NHTSA, 2000 RX
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 200 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 104,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 85,000 and 126,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls
No recall campaigns on file for the 2000 Lexus RX.
Federal defect investigations
Technical service bulletins
68 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on body & structure and transmission & drivetrain — are on file for the 2000 Lexus RX. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2000 Lexus RX reliable?
The 2000 Lexus RX drew 277 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 59/100, scored against the model's worst year (2004).
What are the most common 2000 Lexus RX problems?
The top reported problems for the 2000 Lexus RX are transmission & drivetrain (165 complaints), engine (27), and speed control (14).
At what mileage do 2000 Lexus RX problems show up?
Owners most often report 2000 Lexus RX problems around 104,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 85,000 and 126,000 miles.
Does the 2000 Lexus RX have recalls?
No recall campaigns are on file for the 2000 Lexus RX. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check the VIN before buying.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.