There are 5 owner-reported air bags & restraints complaints for the 2003 Lexus RXin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
MY SON WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON CRASH RESULTING IN BOTH VEHICLES BEING TOTALED. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES FROM HIS AIR BAG. MY SON HOWEVER PUNCHED HIS HEAD THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT INJURY TO HIS HEAD AND FACE. BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, AND HE WAS WEARING HIS SEAT BELT. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK CORRECTLY UPON IMPACT
AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN CAR IS RUNNING AND WHEN I HAD IT CHECKED OUT THE MECHANIC SAID IT COULD INFLATE AT ANY TIME. DON'T HAVE THE MONEY IN BUDGET TO HAVE DONE RIGHT NOW.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS 300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE AIRBAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIRBAG FAILURE WAS DUE TO WATER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
SIX MONTHS AGO, THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. TWO WEEKS AGO, THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THIS APPEARS TO BE A WIDE SPREAD ISSUE WITH THESE LEXUS RX 300'S EVIDENCED BY THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS LOGGED ON THE WEB. MY CAR WAS GARAGE KEPT FOR THE MAJORITY OF IT'S LIFE. THIS ISSUE SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY LEXUS AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. *TR
AIR BAG "PROBLEM" WARNING LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER STATED THAT IF THE LIGHT WAS ON, THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026