2002 Lexus RX300 RX from North America - Comments

I bought this car 6 months before when it had only 50000 miles on it. It ran for 6 months with out any problems since I owned it. I used to do the required maintenance regularly. When it got around 75000 miles on a cold day the check engine and VSC lights turned on. When I took to the dealer they said, knock sensors had gone bad and need replacement.

Gave an estimate of about $800.00 to replace both sensors. I said I would get back to them within couple of days.

Surprisingly the lights went off next day and I learned the lights may even turn on when the fuel tank is not closed tightly. But that did not last long. The lights came again after a day and thereafter I did not worry much thinking the lights would go off eventually. I also experienced some power loss when I applied gas and the vehicle could not accelerate enough.

Hoping the Knock would have been caused by bad gas, I asked the dealer about it. The dealer told me generally 87 would be good for Lexus RX300. But even I was using 89 to be in the safer side the lights did not go.

I am now spending $1000.00 along with some other issues to replace the sensors. But I am not sure whether it will permanently solve the issue or not.

Later I learnt that RX300 model is definitely not a maintenance free vehicle since this is one of the design issues the model has.

Should have done your research. had you been buying a ford or chevy, you would have known about it. this site is one of the few that tells you the good and the bad by all.

Not an import fan. but had you had the same issue and the same repair bill on a ford, what would have you reaction been? since you think toyota/lexus are perfect you thought you were going to just change the oil? just hope the transmission doesn't go out.

Most Toyota and Lexus products only need oil changes until the 90K service. The RX300 (99-00) are the only Lexus models with problems.

Lots of owners have not heard about Oil Sludge until the motor implodes. Covers rx

http://www.petitiononline.com/TMC2003/petition.html

http://www.oilgelsettlement.com/

Also now the rx transmission.

Http://en.allexperts.com/q/Lexus-Repair-818/RX-300-Transmission-failure.htm

$4K repair.

These comments are b.s. Check this out:

Mileage: 175,000 Body Style: SUV Get a CARFAX Record Check.

LEXUS 1999 RX300. 175,000 miles, exc.condition, new tires, Lexus service,$5,700. Call 631-226-5600 x116

Listing Source: Newsday.

The VSC and Check engine lights could have come on because the vacuum hose that's connected to the air filter got disconnected.

"Later I learnt that RX300 model is definitely not a maintenance free vehicle since this is one of the design issues the model has."

Lexus is Toyota, and I can assure you, Toyota is NOT a "maintenance free" car by any stretch of the imagination. Just note some of the horror stories on here about Camry and Tundra issues. As far as "maintenance free", very few cars come close to ANY domestic in terms of low maintenance. Tune-ups on my GM cars aren't even required or recommended until 100,000 miles. My 9-year-old Pontiac has required one light bulb and front brake pads at a cost of $17 at 70,000 miles (the rear pads are STILL original). My 7-year-old GMC has never had ANY problems.

I tire of reading comments assuming Japanese vehicles are somehow magically perfect. We put 325,000+ miles on a lowly Ford with less than $500 in repairs over 17 years. Our Dodge was sold in perfect condition at 240,000+ miles. It had required 2 brake jobs, two timing belts and 1 hose. Our Buick La Sabre was sold at 277,000 miles. It had never had ANY problems beyond brakes, belts and hoses.

One the flip side, our Japanese imports both were ready for the junk yard before 100,000 miles. In fact, the Honda WAS sold to a junk dealer at 99,000 miles with parts of the engine's innards poking through a hole in the block.

Consumer Reports ran an article on long-lasting vehicles in their October, 2007 issue. The longest lasting vehicle featured was NOT a Toyota, Honda or even a Lexus. It was a FORD with 488,000+ miles.