The Lemon Index2003 Lexus RX.
The 2003 Lexus RX has too few complaints to score: 8 in its first 3 years. Owners complain most about visibility, it has 3 recalls, and it gets 18 mpg combined. The best Lexus RX year is 2014.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 29 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Lexus RX year. 2003 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 47K to 135K miles on the car (22 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 3
- visibility 2008
POLYMER PROCESS DEVELOPMENT IS RECALLING 931 UNITS OF BACK GLASS, P/NO.
- lights 2006
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE.
- lights 2006
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Lexus told dealers about
Lexus sent dealers 65 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Vibration feeling when applying the brakes
- Fuel injector ticking noise
- The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide information regarding the installation of…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★☆ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★★☆☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $3550 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.0L 6-cyl.
Quick answers
Is the 2003 Lexus RX reliable?
There isn't enough data to score it: owners filed only 8 complaints in its first 3 years.
What are the most common 2003 Lexus RX problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are visibility (25%), engine (25%) and equipment & accessories (12%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2003 Lexus RX have?
3 safety recalls (latest: visibility). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2003 Lexus RX get?
18 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2003 Lexus RX problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 47,800 and 135,000 miles. The middle report was at 91,000 miles, from 22 complaints.
Does the 2003 Lexus RX have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 12% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2003 Lexus RX cost in fuel a year?
About $3550 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2003 Lexus RX have?
3.0L 6-cyl.
What Lexus RX year is better than the 2003?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2014, 2011 and 2012.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works