The 2000 Lexus RX has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 2 recurring issue clusters, led by “Automatic transmission failure and loss of drive.” Lexus follows Toyota's service rhythm: oil and filter every 10,000 miles or 12 months with 0W-20 synthetic, plus an interim 5,000-mile visit for tire rotation and inspection. Hybrid models (UX 250h, NX 350h, RX 350h/450h+) add long-interval hybrid-specific items — inverter coolant and hybrid-battery cooling-duct checks — while shedding brake wear thanks to regeneration. Modern Lexus engines are chain-driven; there is no timing-belt service on these models.
No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2000 Lexus RX.
POWER TRAIN
18 NHTSA complaints · 2006-08 → 2014-04
“WHEN THE CONTACT PLACED THE GEAR IN DRIVE OR REVERSE, THE ENGINE WOULD REV BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE”
“THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING, AND NO FORWARD OR REVERSE ENGAGMENT WAS POSSIBLE”
“TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY DIED ON THE HIGHWAY WITH NO WARNING SIGNS”
POWER TRAIN
7 NHTSA complaints · 2006-05 → 2020-05
“WHILE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT THE DRIVER SMELLED SMOKE. THE SMOKE WAS PRESENT IN THE TRANSMISSION , AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID”
“UPON INSPECTION, THE DEALERSHIP DISCOVERED METAL PARTICLES IN THE TRANSMISSION OIL”
“THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FROM 1 &2 BUT NOT 3. THE ENGINE SPEED IS HIGH AND DOESN'T SHIFT”
Issues on other model years
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.
We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.
Critical for safety and preventing major damage
Replace every 10,000 miles or 12 months with 0W-20 full synthetic. Severe service (repeated short trips, extensive idling, dirt roads): 5,000 miles per the Lexus guide.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$120–$160
Shop
~$85–$115
DIY
~$25–$55
Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.
Rotate every 5,000 miles — the interim Lexus service visit. Heavy hybrid SUVs are hard on front tires despite gentle brake wear.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.
Inspect at each 5,000-mile visit. Hybrids: pads can last 60,000+ miles from regen braking, but rotors corrode from disuse — inspection catches surface rust before it pits.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.
Replace roughly every 3 years / 30,000 miles. Hybrid brake actuators are expensive — clean fluid is cheap protection.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$180–$200
Shop
~$125–$140
DIY
~$10–$25
DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.
Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently
Replace every 30,000 miles; inspect at 15,000 in dusty conditions.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.
Iridium plugs at 120,000 miles per the Toyota/Lexus schedule — among the longest plug intervals in the industry.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$390
Shop
~$200–$275
DIY
~$25–$100
Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.
Labeled lifetime fill (Toyota WS), but Lexus specialists commonly recommend a drain-and-fill around 60,000 miles — including the hybrid transaxle, whose fluid cools the motor-generators. Toyota WS fluid only.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$330–$500
Shop
~$235–$355
DIY
~$60–$180
Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.
Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort
Replace every 15,000 miles. Behind the glovebox on UX, NX, RX, and IS — one of the easiest DIY jobs on the car.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.
Toyota Super Long Life coolant: first change at 100,000 miles, then every 50,000. Hybrids have a second, separate inverter coolant loop on the same schedule — make sure a shop services both.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$330
Shop
~$200–$235
DIY
~$25–$60
Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.
Test annually after year 3. Hybrid 12V batteries are small AGM units that die quietly — the car won't 'ready' even with a healthy hybrid battery. Hybrid-battery cooling ducts (under/behind rear seats) should be checked for dust at service.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$225–$390
Shop
~$160–$280
DIY
~$130–$250
Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.
Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)
108 crashes 1990–2024
How the 108 occupant deaths break down
68
driver deaths
40
passenger deaths
108
occupant deaths
Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2000 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.
FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number
FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.
Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.
Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.
IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.
Owner-reported problem signals
Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.
1
complaints mentioning a crash
0
complaints mentioning a fire
Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.
How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.
This maintenance schedule for the 2000 Lexus RX reflects Lexus's published service intervals. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.