2002 Lexus RX Problems, Recalls & Reliability
119 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2002 Lexus RX, alongside 0 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 35/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Transmission & drivetrain leads the reports, typically around 102,000 miles.
Below average
Where 2002 sits among all RX years
What owners report
“Transmission failure, the transmission fails to work and lags at first and second gear.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 RX
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 97 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 98,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 61,232 and 130,000 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 2002 Lexus RX.
Technical service bulletins
68 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and transmission & drivetrain — are on file for the 2002 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 2002 Lexus RX reliable?
The 2002 Lexus RX drew 119 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 35/100, scored against the model's worst year (2004).
What are the most common 2002 Lexus RX problems?
The top reported problems for the 2002 Lexus RX are transmission & drivetrain (44 complaints), speed control (16), and engine (14).
At what mileage do 2002 Lexus RX problems show up?
Owners most often report 2002 Lexus RX problems around 98,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 61,232 and 130,000 miles.
Does the 2002 Lexus RX have recalls?
No recall campaigns are on file for the 2002 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.