2001 LEXUS RX300 Power Train Problems

PURCHASED FROM MY MOTHER IN 2013 AT 115K AFTER SHE HAD PURCHASED NEW FROM DEALERSHIP. BABIED, DEALER SERVICED, MY TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT AT 130K AT A COST OF $3800!!! THEN IN LESS THAN A YEAR IT WENT AGAIN, AND IT WAS UNDER AAMCO WARRANTY. THEN TRANSMISSION WENT AGAIN IN 2018, AND JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. WHY IS THERE NOT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT!!!!!! CAR DIED 3 SEPARATE TIMES WITHOUT WARNING IN VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. $3800 WAS MY ENTIRE SAVINGS, AND NOW MY LEXUS WAS THE ONLY THING I HAD OF VALUE, AND IT IS WORTH $250 AS A JUNKER!

Mileage: 130,000

THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND IN PARK IN A FLAT LOT. WHEN I SHIFTED TO REVERSE, IT DID NOT ENGAGE/ROLL BACK. AS I APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR NOTHING HAPPENED UNTIL A IT SUDDENLY CLUNKED AND LURCHED BACK. I PUT IT BACK IN PARK AND THEN IT REPEATED THE SAME SYNPTOM. THE TRANSMISSION HAS NOW BEGUN TO WHINE AND THERE IS RUMBLING AND JERKILY BETWEEN ROUGH SHIFTS ON THE STREETS AND HIGHWAY. AFTER HEARING AND READING NUMEROUS HORROR STORIES OF THESE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, AND HOW THEY HAVE SUDDENLY GONE OUT OR LOCKED UP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, I'M SURE THIS IS A PROBLEM LEXUS HAS KNOWN ABOUT AND IS DEFECTIVE, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT REPRESENTS MORE THAN 70% OF THE NTHSAS PUBLISHED COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE. THERE SHOULD BE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS. THE SUDDEN UNRELIABILITY OF THIS TRANSMISSION AND IT'S POTENTIAL TO CAUSE HARM IS NOT A COINCIDENCE AMONG THESE MANY REPORTS. IF THIS WERE A BOEING MAX 8 PLANE IT'D BE OUT OF COMMISSION FOR A FAILURE LIKE THIS!

Mileage: 200,000

MY TRANSMISSION IS NOT SHIFTING SMOOTHLY BETWEEN GEARS. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 7 YEARS AGO AND I HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. NOW IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN.

TAKATA RECALL - TRANSMISSION FAILED. HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT 140,423 MILES. THERE WAS METAL IN THE TRANSMISSION. COST TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WAS $2,875.10

VEHICLE HAS 133,890 MILES ON IT, VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED EVERY 5000 MILES, ACCORDING TO THE VEHICLE HISTORY AND OWNERS MANUAL. WE HAD TRANSMISSION FAILURE 100 MILES FROM HOME. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE I-90 , HAD TO WAIT 2 HOURS FOR A FLATBED ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. MASS STATE POLICE WERE NOT HAPPY HAVING TO WAIT THAT LONG NOR SAFETY OF BEING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR 2 HOURS. WE TRIED MOVING VEHICLE AFTER IT WAS OFF FOR AN HOUR, MOVED GEAR SELECTOR HAD ONLY PARK AND NATURAL , WAS AT " FULL HOT " MARK ON THE DIP STICK, FLUID IS CLEAN, DOESN'T SMELL BURNT AT ALL.TOWED TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH , AND THEN HAD NO FORWARD MOVEMENT AT 70MPH. GOOGLE " RX300 TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS" AND YOU'LL FIND THOUSANDS OF LINKS TO PEOPLE HAVING SAME ISSUE. TOYOTA/LEXUS SHOULD BE STEPPING UP AND FIXING THESE TRANSMISSIONS , THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A WEAK POINT IN THEIR VEHICLES AND A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.

Mileage: 133,890

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON CITY STREETS I ATTEMPTED A U TURN WITH THE VEHICLE AS I WAS COMPLETING THE U TURN THE TRANSMISSION MADE A WEIRD NOISE AND THEN THERE WAS NOTHING. NO FORWARD OR REVERSE AND WHEN I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK IT ACTED LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. I HAD TO PUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON TO KEEP THE CAR FROM ROLLING. HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY HOUSE 115 MILES AWAY. HE CAR ONLY HAS 145,000 MILES ON IT. CAR STARTS UP AND RUNS GREAT BUT WILL NOT ENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE IS STILL FINANCED SO I NEED TO GET IT FIXED HOWEVER THE CHEAPEST REBUILD I CAN FIND IS $5,000.00. I CALLED TOYOTA AND ASKED IF I COULD TRADE IT IN ON A NEW CAR AND THEY SAID NOT WITH THE TRANSMISSION FIXED BECAUSE THEY WOULD LOSE MONEY ON IT. I FEEL TOYOTA SHOULD FIX THIS DUE TO THE FACT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH OTHER LEXUS OWNERS. I STILL OWE $5,500.00 ON THE LOAN AND CANT AFFORD THE COST OF ANOTHER TRANSMISSION. I THINK TOYOTA SHOULD FIX THIS SINCE THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE DRIVE TRAIN.

Mileage: 145,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REVERSE GEAR WAS NO LONGER OPERABLE IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,651. UPDATED 06/02/2016*LJ *TR

Mileage: 147,651

THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN DAMAGE NO POWER , NO GEARS ARE ENGAGE TOTAL FAILURE, THE VEHICLE HAS IN MOTION AT HIGHWAY SPEED.

Mileage: 165,000

TRANSMISSION FAILURE: STARTED TO MAKE NOISE COUPLE OF DAYS AGO AND FINALLY FAILED WHILE ON THE ROAD. ENGINE IS RUNNING GOOD, BUT NO GEAR ENGAGEMENT. ALL DRIVE TRAIN POSITION SEEMS LIKE THE CAR IS IN NATURAL. EXCESSIVE TRANSMISSION FAILURES WAS REPORTED BY OTHER RX300 OWNERS. COST TO SERVICE RE-BUILD TRANSMISSION IS $3,551.00

Mileage: 168,000

VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED WITH REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND TRANSMISSION FLUSH. HOWEVER, ON 06/22/2015, UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS IN MY 7 MILES COMMUTE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AFTER COMING TO A STOP. THE RPM/ENGINE REVVED UP, BUT VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE MUCH (COULD NOT SHIFT GEARS). PULLED TO THE SIDEWAY AND CALLED FOR HELP. TOOK IT TO LOCAL MECHANIC, AND DIAGNOSED WITH CODE P0770 (SOLENOID SHIFTER E FAILURE). MECHANIC SAYS NEW TRANSMISSION IS NEEDED ($5K PLUS). CHECKING ONLINE, THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE FOR THIS VEHICLE AND PROBABLY MODEL YEAR. TOYOTA HAS TO BE AWARE OF THIS MAJOR DEFECT, AND HAS PROBABLY INTENTIONALLY SAID SILENT. I WISH TOYOTA COULD BE TAKEN TO TASK ON THIS PROBLEM AS IT IS WRECKING FAMILY FINANCES!

Mileage: 162,100

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

Mileage: 162,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED AND THE GEAR COULD NOT BE SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000. UPDATED 3/13/15*CN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 01/25/16.*JB

Mileage: 145,000

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ,THE VEHICLE JUS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD THANK GOD IT WAS NOT THE HIGHWAY. THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THESE VEHICLE ,A VERY SERIOUS LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 131,345

WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING FORWARD AND SEEMED TO NOT BE IN GEAR. AS I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL THE ENGINE REVVED UP, BUT WOULD NOT GO FORWARD. CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED EVEN THOUGH THE CAR ONLY HAS 123K , YOU NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSAXLE. I CONFIRMED THAT THEIR WAS NO MAINTENANCE REQUIRED. *TR

Mileage: 123,117

LEFT HOME TO GO TO GROCERY STORE. AS I ENTERED A MAJOR ROAD NEAR MY HOME THE CAR LOST POWER ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I WAS ABLE TO LIMP HOME. THE REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSED A FAULTY TRANSMISSION AND COMMENTED THAT THEY SEE MANY RX300'S WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT AT A COST OF $3214.00. THIS CAR HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF, INCLUDING RECOMMENDED TRANSMISSION FLUID REPLACEMENT. I FEEL THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS VERY PREMATURE. JUDGING BY THE NUMBER OF SIMILAR REPORTS AT OR AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE, I FEEL THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT ENGINEERED PROPERLY AND LEXUS DID NOTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 105,795

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT, THE SHIFTER WOULD DELAY. IN ADDITION WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REVERSE AFTER THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 192,000.

Mileage: 192,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX 300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WOULD BE A SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Mileage: 150,000

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 145000 (APPROX) AFTER PERFORMING ALL SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE AT THE DEALER SINCE PURCHASE. I HAVE READ COUNTLESS ENTRIES WHERE THE 1999-2002 LEXUS RX300 HAS HAD PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURES. THIS IS A COSTLY REPAIR AND A I FEEL LEXUS SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THE VEHICLE AND PROVIDED ASSISTANCE. *TR

Mileage: 145,000

IT STARTED WITH A HIGH PITCH WHINNING NOISE FOLLOWED BY A CLUNKING NOISE WHENEVER IT SHIFTS. IT IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE EACH DAY. SHAVINGS WERE FOUND IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WHEN IT WAS CHANGED. *TR

Mileage: 142,000

MY WIFE WAS TAKING OUR KIDS, 7 AND 9, TO GO SHOPPING AND AS SHE DROVE DOWN THE HILL FROM OUR APARTMENT COMPLEX, WITH NO WARNING, THE WHEELS JUST SUDDENLY LOCKED UP AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR REVERSE. SHE WAS LITERALLY STUCK ON A ONE LANE HILL, DUE TO A MASSIVE SNOWSTORM THAT LEFT THE SIDES, OF THE STREET COVERED WITH PILES OF SNOW FROM THE SNOWPLOW, WITH OTHER VEHICLES BEHIND HER WHO COULD NOT GO ANYWHERE. SOME GUYS FROM THE APARTMENT COMPLEX GOT OUT AND HELPED HER AND MANAGED TO GET IT TO A PARKING LOT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE, BUT BEING A SUNDAY NIGHT, WE COULD NOT FIND OUT ANYTHING UNTIL MORNING. I WENT ONLINE AND STARTED RESEARCHING WHAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED THIS AND DISCOVERED NUMEROUS OTHERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS, ALL OF WHOM REPORTED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. A LOT OF THE PEOPLE SAID THEY REPORTED IT TO LEXUS AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED, BUT LEXUS REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL. THIS IS THE WEB ADDRESS THAT I DISCOVERED WHILE RESEARCHING IT, HTTP://FORUMS.EDMUNDS.COM/DISCUSSION/9657/LEXUS/RX-330/LEXUS-RX-TRANSMISSION-PROBLEMS/P35. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM MY BROTHER WHO BOUGHT IT WITH LESS THAN 10,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS VERY METICULOUS ABOUT HAVING ALL OF THE MAINTENANCE DONE AT THE DEALER RECOMMENDED INTERVALS. THE CAR WAS GARAGE KEPT AND WELL MAINTAINED. IN FACT WHEN I DROVE IT TO WORK AND SHOWED PEOPLE, MOST OF THEM SAID IT LOOKS LIKE IT JUST CAME OFF A SHOWROOM FLOOR. MY BROTHER HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED 3 TIMES AND TOLD US IT WAS DUE AGAIN WHEN HE SOLD IT TO US, AND WE HAD IT DONE RIGHT AWAY. WHEN I CONTACTED LEXUS ABOUT THIS THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING FOR US. MY CONCERN IS WITH ANOTHER TRANSMISSION, WHERE AND WHEN WILL IT HAPPEN AGAIN? ON A HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH? THEY COULD BE KILLED. *TR

Mileage: 222,000

I HAVE JUST SAT AND READ PROBABLY 50 COMPLAINTS; SAFETY AND DEFECTIVE, CONCERNING THE TRANSMISSION FOR THE 2001 LEXUS RX300. FROM WHAT IM READING, I GUESS I SHOULD CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY, I CURRENTLY HAVE 142,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE AND ALTHOUGH I'VE EXPERIENCED NON-PERIODIC SHIFTING ABNORMALITIES, I HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED ANY OF THE HORRIFIC PROBLEMS I'VE BEEN READING IN THE NHTSA COMPLAINT SECTION OF THIS SITE. IT IS OBVIOUS THERE IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE (IF NOT ALREADY) IS MANGLED OR WORST, KILLED. IT ASTONISHES ME THAT A COMPANY THAT SURVIVES BY THERE REPUTATION FOR QUALITY WOULD NOT ADDRESS WHAT IS OBVIOUSLY A SERIOUS AND COSTLY BURDEN TO THERE LOYAL CUSTOMERS. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A 35,000 DOLLAR VEHICLE IN 2001. APPARENTLY LEXUS IS NOT PLANNING ON RESOLVING THE ISSUE, SO WHAT CAN CONSUMERS DO OTHER THAN COMPLAIN WHICH OBVIOUSLY IS DOING NOTHING TO FORCE BIG BUSINESS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THERE POOR DESIGN THAT RESULTED IN UNSAFE COSTLY PRODUCTS, LEAVING THE CONSUMER POWERLESS, WITH NO OPTION BUT TO PAY THEM AGAIN TO FIX THE PROBLEM THEY CREATED IN THE FIRST PLACE. *TR

Mileage: 142,000

CAR CAN ONLY BE DRIVEN AT <5MILE FOR 10 SECOND. LOSS POWER AT HIGHER GEAR. *TR

Mileage: 133,000

DRIVING ALONG NORMALLY, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN MOVING IN AND OUT OF GEAR SPONTANEOUSLY. DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR RESULTED SOMETIMES IN REVVING THE ENGINE, OTHER TIMES IN ACCELERATION, AND OTHER TIMES SWITCHING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE TWO CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK. THANKFULLY, I WAS NOT FAR FROM HOME AND WAS ABLE TO GET BACK SAFELY. *TR

Mileage: 146,000

WHILE ENTERING A FREEWAY ONRAMP THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. I TRIED TO ACCELERATE BUT THERE WAS NO POWER THE ENGINE JUST REVVED. THE TRANSMISSION REINGAGED AS I WAS PULLING TO THE SHOULDER SO I CONTINUED MY TRIP HOME. LATER ON THE SAME DRIVE HOME, AT AN INTERCHANGE BETWEEN FREEWAYS IT HAPPENED AGAIN BUT THIS TIME THE TRANSMISSION DIDN'T RE-ENGAGE AND THERE WAS ALMOST A DEADLY MULTIPLE CAR ACCIDENT. IT WAS TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WHO HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. SOON AFTER REPLACEMENT I WAS ON ANOTHER TRIP AND I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE TO PASS A CAR, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND I BARELY AVOIDED BEING IN A DEADLY AUTO ACCIDENT ON THE FREEWAY WITH A BIG RIG. ON THIS SAME TRIP I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE THREE TIMES DUE TO THIS IDENTICAL OCCURRENCE. IT IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE AND UNFORGIVABLE THAT TOYOTA HASN'T TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS MANUFACTURING ERROR AND ANNOUNCED A COMPLETE RECALL AND REPLACEMENT OF ALL TRANSMISSIONS FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE. IF, I KEEP THIS CAR AND I HAVE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THEIR MANUFACTURING NEGLIGENCE ACTION MAY BE TAKEN. *TR

Mileage: 103,680

DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES AND FAILS TO DRIVE CAR. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. SERVICED TRANSMISSION AT 63,200 MILES. MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL YEAR. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

MY 2001 LEXUS RX300 WHICH ONLY HAS 115K MILES ON IT, COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I COULD NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL AND I WAS ALMOST SIDE SWAPPED BY AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. NO SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS INDICATING THIS. AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC, THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT MY TRANSMISSION HAD COMPLETELY FAILED, THE TRANS CLUTCHES BURNED OUT, ALONG WITH FLUID DEBRIS IN OIL PAN. I HAVE MY CAR REGULARLY SERVICED AND EVEN THE MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD HAVE DONE TO PREVENT THIS. MY MECHANIC SAID HE HAS WORKED ON SEVERAL RX300 WHOSE DIAGNOSIS WAS THE EXACT SAME-TRANSMISSION. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS FURTHER, IT APPEARS LEXUS HAS NOT TAKEN OWNERSHIP OF THIS PROBLEM AND EVEN THOUGH THIS IS AN OLDER MODEL, THIS SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY. WHAT IF MY 2 CHILDREN IN THE CAR? IS IT GOING TO TAKE A FATALITY FOR LEXUS TO OWN UP TO THIS? *TR

Mileage: 115,000

TRANSMISSION COMPLETLY FAILED TO MOVE THE CAR. HAD IT REPAIRED AND THE TECH TOLD ME THE PLANITARY GEAR UNIT HAD COMPLETLY DESTROYED ITS SELF. VERY COMMON I AM TOLD ON THIS MODEL.

Mileage: 173,453

THE TRANSMISSION OF MY 2001 LEXUS RX300 WITH ONLY 83,000 MILES, JUST FAILED. THIS CAR WAS FULLY AND TIMELY SERVICED BY LEXUS AND IS OTHERWISE IN PRISTINE DRIVING CONDITION. WE NOTICED THE PROBLEM MONTHS AGO WHEN WE EXPERIENCED ENGINE HESITATION AND TRANSMISSION RELATED SYMPTOMS, BUT OUR LEXUS DEALER CHECKED THE CAR AND ASSURED US IT WAS FINE. MY WIFE AND SON CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR AND WERE EXPOSED TO DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATIONS DUE TO ENGINE HESITATION AND FAILURE TO ACCELERATE. DESPITE TRANSMISSION RELATED SYMPTOMS AND FULL KNOWLEDGE OF WIDESPREAD TRANSMISSION FAILURES THE LEXUS DEALER DID NOT RAISE ANY WARNINGS WITH US AND ASSURED US THE CAR WAS FINE AND SAFE TO DRIVE. WHEN LEXUS FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGED IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION ALL ALONG, I WAS SHOCKED TO LEARN HOW WIDESPREAD, PERVASIVE AND WELL DOCUMENTED THIS PROBLEM IS AND HOW UNSAFE THIS CAR IS TO DRIVE GIVEN THE DANGEROUS EFFECTS OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. AS AN ATTORNEY I WILL NOT LET THIS REST AND WANT TO KNOW WHY NHTSA IS NOT TAKING ACTION ON THIS, AND WHY LEXUS IS NOT RECALLING THIS VEHICLE. *KB

Mileage: 83,000

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

Mileage: 97,600

OWN A 2001 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE EVEN WHEN I DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000. WILL COST ME $4500 TO REPAIR(REFURBISHED PART). *TR

Mileage: 125,000

TRANSMISSION FAILURE-2001 LEXUS RX 300, 88,000 MILES, PURCHASED NEW, CAR WAS BABIED, SERVICES REGULARLY WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSHED AT 30,000 MILE INTERVALS. NEVER TOWED ANYTHING, DROVE ABOUT 9,000 MILES PER YEAR. YOU DON'T EXPECT A CAR YOU BUY FOR RELIABILITY TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FAIL AT 88,000 MILES WITH A $5,000 PRICE TAG TO REPAIR. RESEARCH SHOW THIS IS A GENETIC PROBLEM FOR AN UNDER ENGINEERED TRANSMISSION FOR A AWD AUTO. 100'S UPON 100'S HAVE THE COMPLAINT ON THIS MODEL FROM 1999-2002 WITH FAILURES AT 85,000- 95,000 MILES. DECEPTIVE ADVERTISING AS TO QUALITY, RELIABILITY AND PURSUIT OF PERFECTION WITH THE MANUFACTURER NOT WILLING TO ADMIT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. JUST READ THE LEXUS AND EDMUND BOARDS ON RX 300 AWD TRANSMISSION FAILURE. MANUFACTURER CORRECTED THE PROBLEM IN 2003 OR 2004 TRANSMISSIONS BUT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT PURCHASED BEFORE WE HAVE TO PAY THE CONSEQUENCE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS ON TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. REPORTS ARE NUMEROUS. *KB

Mileage: 88,000

2001 LEXUS RX300 FAILED TRANSMISSION WITH NO PRIOR SYMPTOMS @ 106K MILES. ESTIMATED $3,800 - $4,800 TO REPLACE WITH REBUILT TRANSMISSION. *TR

Mileage: 106,000

2001 LEXUS RX300 SHIFTED OUT OF DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL WHILE GOING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 60MPH (REDLINING THE ENGINE) AND ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT FROM BEHIND. APPARENTLY THIS CAR HAS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO REVERSE WHILE IN THE DRIVE POSITION SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE TRANSMISSION IS NOW HAVING TO BE REBUILT FOR $3000 THAT WE DON'T HAVE. THE CAR SHIFTING INTO REVERSE WHILE IN THE DRIVE LOCATION SCARED THE HECK OUT OF US. THANK GOD NO ONE WAS BEHIND US!!! *TR

Mileage: 151,000

2001 LEXUS RX300 AT 113K MI. SUDDENLY THE GEARS ARE SLIPPING OR LOOSE IN REVERSE OR DRIVE WHEN STARTING FROM STOP - TAKES A SECOND TO CLICK INTO GEAR AND MOVE THE SUV- RANDOM IN NATURE AND OCCURRENCE. ABOUT A FEW MONTHS LATER THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON VSC AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS. LEXUS DEALER SAYS WARNING LIGHTS ARE FOR SOLENOID E. THEY RECOMMEND REPLACING FULL TRANSMISSION AS THEY CANNOT BE SURE REPLACING THE SOLENOID WILL NOT DAMAGE THE TRANSMISSION - $4,500 IS THE DAMAGE - OUCH! I AM READING THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR LEXUS RX300'S - WHY ISN'T LEXUS DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS- LARGE HIT TO THE FAMILY BUDGET!!!! *TR

Mileage: 113,000

I DROVE THIS CAR FROM SCHOOL TO HOME AS USUAL. THE TRANSMISSION IS GONE SUDDENLY THAT I HAD NO TIME TO PREPARE, THE CAR WAS LOSING CONTROL AND DRIVING INTO AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THE CAR ALMOST HIT AN OLD LADY WITH A SMALL GIRL. FORTUNATELY, I FINALLY GOT CONTROL OF THIS CAR AND WE WERE ALL SAFE. THIS GENERATION OF LEXUS RX300 HAS SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, MANY CASES CAN BE FOUND ONLINE. I WOULD HIGHLY SUGGEST THE MANUFACTURER RECALL THOSE CARS AND CAREFULLY EXAMINE THE PROBLEM, IN ORDER TO AVOID SUCH INCIDENT HAPPEN AGAIN. THOSE CARS ARE BECOMING OLDER, MANY MORE PROBLEMS WILL BE MANIFEST.

Mileage: 126,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE ENGINE WOULD EXHIBIT AN INCREASE IN RPMS BUT THE VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 104,000

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT A SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY 2001 LEXUS RX 300. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC WHEN ATTEMPTING TO GET ON INTERSTATE. THE VEHICLE HAS 120,000 MILES ON DRIVE TRAIN AND VEHICLE WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS LOOKED AT MONTHS EARLIER TO FIX POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION. THE TECHNICIAN DID NOT DISCOVER ANYTHING UNUSUAL AND SAID VEHICLE WAS OKAY TO DRIVE. THE TRANSMISSION JUST QUIT AND LEFT MY CHILDREN AND ME STRANDED IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. REAL DANGEROUS!!! I THINK VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. SHE THEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMALLY LOUD THUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000.

Mileage: 105,000

NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS APPLIED. TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING AT TRAFFIC LIGHT WHILE GOING HOME FROM WORK. WAS FINALLY ABLE TO MOVE FROM LIGHT INTO NEARBY PARKING LOT. HAD TO CALL TOW TRUCK FROM THERE. TOLD BY DEALER THAT THIS WAS RARE OCCASION AND THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. HAVE LEARNED SINCE THAT IT HAS HAPPENED QUITE FREQUENTLY. THIS HAPPENED AROUND 97,800 MILES. A COST OF AROUND $3957 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

Mileage: 97,822

MY VEHICLE WAS STOPPED FOR A TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND SHIFTER IN "DRIVE". WHEN LIGHT TURNED GREEN I APPLIES GAS AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO REVERSE WITH THE SHIFTER STILL IN THE DRIVE POSITION. TRANSMISSION WILL NEED REPLACING. REPAIRING DEALER ADVISED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 140,000

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON MY 2001 LEXUS RX300 FWD WENT OUT AT 142,000 MILES. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASE NEW FROM A LEXUS DEALER AND SERVICED, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SERVICE MANUAL, AT THE SAME DEALER. MOST RECENTLY THE TRANSMISSION WAS SERVICED AT 135,000 MILES AND ALL WAS FINE. ON JAN. 8 THE CAR WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND THE TRANSMISSION DROPPED INTO A LOWER GEAR FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND THE ENGINE REVVED CLOSE TO RED LINE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER JUST BEFORE ENTERING A TUNNEL. TRANSMISSION FLUID LOOKS FINE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND I'VE BEEN TOLD IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $5000+ FOR PARTS AND LABOR. *TR

Mileage: 142,000

2001 RX3000 TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 178,000 MILES WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT OFF-RAMP OF HIGHWAY STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF RAMP AND ALMOST CAUSING CRASH AND WAS REPLACED TO THEN FAIL AGAIN AT 192,000 MILES. *TR

Mileage: 178,000

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND MY CAR WENT INTO NEUTRAL. I WAS MOVING ABOUT 40 MPH AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 119,000

FAULTY LEXUS TRANSMISSION FAILURE BY MANUFACTURER'S DESIGN HAS CAUSED AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR TO THE CAR AND I CANNOT GET ANY HELP FROM LEXUS. WHY HASN'T NHTSA INVESTIGATED LEXUS FOR PUTTING A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS TRANSMISSION IN THE CAR....DO PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE FIRST? *TR

Mileage: 108,000

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2001 LEXUS RX300 FAILED WITH A LITTLE OVER 108K MILES. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I HAD TROUBLE GETTING IT IN REVERSE 2 DAYS BEFORE - THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE. THEN I HAD TROUBLE STARTING IT FOR 2 DAYS. ON 8/16 IT STARTED FINE, SO I DROVE IT TO THE DEALER. TWICE ON THE WAY THERE, IT JERKED & HESITATED WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP - I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED. I AM THE 2ND OWNER - I BOUGHT IT IN 2003 WITH 41,462 MILES ON IT. IT WAS LEXUS CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED. THE CAR FAX REPORT NOTED THE ORIGINAL OWNER REGISTERED IT AS PRIVATE/PERSONAL USE & NO ISSUES WERE NOTED. I HAVE HAD ALL SERVICE DONE BY THE DEALER, EXCEPT THE LAST OIL CHANGE. I'VE ONLY DRIVEN ABOUT 9K MILES PER YEAR, DRIVE IT RESPONSIBLY & HAVE NEVER TOWED WITH IT. VERY FRIGHTENING THAT I HAD FEW SYMPTOMS, AND NO WARNING LIGHT TO ALERT ME THERE WAS A PROBLEM. LEXUS DEALER WANTS $4,300 TO REPLACE IT WITH A LEXUS REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. I HAVE NOT DECIDED WHAT TO DO. I'M SEEING LOTS OF INFORMATION ONLINE ABOUT HOW BAD THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE, AND THEY OFTEN NEED REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES. SCARES ME TO KNOW I COULD REPLACE IT, HAVE IT FAIL & PERHAPS BE IN AN ACCIDENT. I AM A REALTOR & FRIGHTENING THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT WITH CLIENTS IN MY VEHICLE. MY EXPECTATIONS OF LEXUS QUALITY & SAFETY HAVE NOT BEEN MET. *TR

Mileage: 108,200

2001 LEXUS RX 300 - TRANSMISSION FAILURE APPEARS TO BE COMMON. MINE WENT OUT ABOUT 1 YR AGO. CAR WOULDN'T MOVE AT ALL. HAD TO HAVE IT REBUILT WITH MORE DEPENDABLE PARTS. I DON'T HAVE THE OLD PARTS. THE SHOP I WENT TO SAID THEY FREQUENTLY HAVE THEM IN WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 143,000

2001 LEXUS RX300 WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CAR TOTALLY WENT OUT OF GEAR AT 50MPH WITH NO WARNING. TOWED AND FOUND OUT THAT WOULD NEED A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION AS ONE OF THE PLANETARY GEARS LOST BEARINGS AND CHEWED UP THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION. DESIGN FLAW THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED NUMEROUS TIMES WITHOUT LEXUS ACTING AT ALL. *TR

Mileage: 127,323

1. MAY18TH, 2010 ON MY WAY TO WORK THE LEXUS RX 300, 2001, 98K STALLED AND THE GEAR DID NOT SHIFT EITHER IN D OR IN R. THE TRANSMISSION DIED. 2. NO SIGN OF FAILURE OR SYMPTOM BEFORE THAT 3. I CALLED A LOCAL SHOP SPECIALIZED IN TRANSMISSION TO TOW IT TO THE SHOP. THE COST TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION IS 2800$. I WENT TO LEXUS DEALER AND ASK FOR A REPLACEMENT (LEXUS DOES NOT REBUILD TRANSMISSION). IT COSTS 5000$ OR MORE. I BELIEVE THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN. I'D LIKE TO COMPLAIN AND REQUEST LEXUS TO PROVIDE SUPPORTS FOR THIS DEFECT. *TR

Mileage: 98,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED AS SHE ACCELERATED FROM A TRAFFIC STOP AT SPEEDS OF 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE SHE WAS ADVISED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95577. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95780.

Mileage: 95,577

2000 LEXUS RX 300 (THIS IS A TOYOTA CAMRY ENGINE IN A LEXUS BODY) CAR TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT CHANGE INTO HIGH GEARS 3 & 4 FOR HIGHWAY DRIVING, PREVENTING ACCELERATION. LEXUS OF NORWOOD, MA REPLACED THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION UNDER WARRANTY. 5,000 MILES LATER THE NEW TRANSMISSION WAS DOING THE SAME THING, AFTER A WEEK THEY FINALLY GAVE IT BACK TO AND SAID IT WAS REPAIRED BUT NOT WHAT THEY HAD TO FIX AND WERE VERY SKETCHY, IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. FINALLY THE REPAIR TECHNICIAN TOLD IN LOW TONES SO NOT TO BE HEARD THAT IT WAS COMPUTER SOFTWARE PROBLEM AND THAT;S WHY THEY WOULD NOT TELL ME. SO THEY REPLACED AN ENTIRE TRANSMISSION AT 48000 MILES INCORRECTLY WHEN ALL THEY HAD TO DO WAS DO A SOFTWARE BUG FIX. I THINK THIS IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE THE COMPUTER PREVENTED ACCELERATION BUT COULD PROBABLY ALSO CAUSE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THEY DO NOT HAVE CONTROL OF THEIR SOFTWARE RUNNING THESE ENGINES AND DON'T WANT TO ADMIT BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. *TR

Mileage: 48,000

CAR WAS BEING PARKED WHEN IT SUDDENLY WENT TO MAX ACCELERATION JUMPING THE CURB. THE CARS FORWARD ACCELERATION WAS STOPPED BY LARGE DECORATIVE ROCK IN THE PARKING MEDIAN STRIP. CAR ENDED UP RESTING ON THE ROCK. CAR WAS TURNED OFF BY KEY. THIS IS THE ONLY OCCURRENCE OF THIS SURGE ACCELERATION THE CAR HAS EXHIBITED TO DATE. CAR IS CURRENTLY AT AUTOMOTIVE SHOP FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIRS. CAR HAS SIGNIFICANT DRIVE SHAFT AND UNDERCARRIAGE DAMAGE, BUT WAS DRIVABLE TO NEARBY AUTOSHOP AFTER BEING JACKED OFF ROCK BY TOW TRUCK.*TR

Mileage: 130,169

OK I BOUGHT A LEXUS RX300 1/08/10 WAS CONSTRICTED IN DRIVING IT DUE TO THE SNOW STORMS HITTING THE NORTHEAST. I GOT THE CAR WITH 128,000 MILES ON IT AND NOW IT HAS 129,095. I GO TO DRIVE TO SCHOOL TODAY AND WHILE ON A BACK HIGHWAY DOING 45-50 MPH MY CAR LOOSES POWER AND I HAVE TO STOP IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND PUSH IT OFF. I GO TO TRY AND MOVE THE CAR AND SHIFT GEARS AND IT DOESN'T MOVE. I CALLED THE TOW TRUCK AND GOT A TOW HOME AND CALL THE DEALERSHIP THEY TELL ME TO BASICALLY GO EFF' MYSELF. I SUSPECT IT IS THE TRANSMISSION AND WILL FIND OUT TOMORROW BECAUSE I CALLED LEXUS AND THEY TOLD ME TO GO TO A DEALER AND THEY WILL CALL ME IN 1-2 BUSINESS DAY. IF I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DOING SPEEDS EXCESS 50 WITH MY SON IN THE CAR THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFERENT I HOPE YOU CAN HELP. I HAD THE CAR FOR 45 DAYS.... *TR

Mileage: 129,095

DURING NORMAL DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT AT A COST OF OVER $4000. THE LEXUS DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AGREES THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW, BUT THE TOYOTA/LEXUS CORPORATION IS UNWILLING TO DO MORE THAN CONTRIBUTE $1000 TOWARDS REPAIR, AND ONLY IF IT IS REPAIRED AT A DEALER. *TR

Mileage: 81,406

I OWN A 2001 LEXUS RX300 AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT BUT LEXUS REFUSED TO COVER IT WITH MY 100.000 WARRANTY.THEY WERE VERY RACIST AND WRONG. THEY ALSO REFUSED TO TAKE CARE OF THE ENGINE REPAIRS. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER ONE IN MY LIFE FROM SUCH RACIST PIGS!! *TR

Mileage: 98,564

2001 LEXUS RX-300 1ST TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 142,000 MILES. *TR

Mileage: 142,000

2001 LEXUS RX-300 TRANSMISSION FAILURE (AFTER 142,000 MILES) 2ND FAILURE (1ST AFTER 142,000 MILES) CONSUMER PAID FOR BOTH FAILURES. *TR

Mileage: 142,000

MY TRANSMISSION DIED ON MY 2001 LEXUS RX300 AT 110K MILES. THE CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A ROAD DURING MORNING RUSH HOURS. *TR

Mileage: 110,000

TRANSMISSION FAILED AND HAS TO BE REBUILT/REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LEXUS DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE SINCE THERE WAS NO VALID WARRANTY. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 116,000.

Mileage: 116,000

THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED IN MY 2001 LEXUS RX 300. I NEED TO HAVE IT REPLACED WITH A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. *TR

Mileage: 100,020

WAS DRIVING TO WORK, NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS REVVING BUT SPEED WAS DROPPING. APPLIED GAS, ENGINE ONLY REVVED HARDER. PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT, HEADING INTO A PARKING SPOT. DETERMINED IT WOULD BE BETTER TO BACK IN, IN CASE A ROLL BACK WAS REQUIRED, IT WOULDN'T ENGAGE IN ANY GEAR. AFTER LETTING IT SIT AND COOL FOR AN HOUR OR SO IT WENT INTO REVERSE AND I BACKED IT OUT FOR THE WRECKER. I LOVE(D) MY LEXUS, WHY IS MY TRAN GOING OUT AT 140K MILES. IT WAS TOO MUCH MONEY TO HAVE A MAJOR FAILURE AT THIS POINT. *TR

Mileage: 140,000

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM CODE 0770 THIS IS VERY COMMON COMPLAINT FROM 2001 LEXUS RX300 HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE MOST OF THE OWNERS. *TR

Mileage: 110,000

LEXUS RX300 TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 170,000

MY TRANSMISSION DIED ON THURSDAY, JULY 2ND, 2009 IN MY 2001 LEXUS. IT HAD PREVIOUSLY DIED IN 2007 AND REPLACED BY THE LEXUS DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW. BASICALLY, THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TRANSMISSION ON THIS CAR IN 9 YEARS. *TR

Mileage: 163,000

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN MY 2001 LEXUS RX300 AT 122,000 MILES. I ALSO HAVE A 1999 LEXUS RX300 WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 67,000 MILES. LEXUS DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THIS AS A DEFECT. WE WERE TOLD WE SHOULD HAVE REQUESTED A FLUSH OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUIDS AS IT IS NOT A ROUTINE SERVICE PROVIDED AND THAT IT IS ONLY DONE WHEN THE FLUIDS ARE DIRTY. HOW WOULD WE KNOW THAT? AREN'T THEY SUPPOSED TO DETERMINE APPROPRIATE SERVICES FOR THEIR VEHICLES? *TR

Mileage: 122,000

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON FRIDAY 6-13-09 AND STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. AS I ATTEMPTED TO PROCEED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION THE CAR STARTED TO BUCK VIOLENTLY. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE GAS AND PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THE BUCKING STOPPED. I THEN CAME TO A STOP AND PUT THE CAR BACK INTO DRIVE AND THE CAR BEGAN TO BUCK AGAIN AND I HEARD A GRINDING SOUND AND THEN NOTHING. MY CAR WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR REVERSE. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN ADVISED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS VERY CLEAN AND HE COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE TRANSMISSION FAILED LIKE THIS. I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION AND IT COST ME $4,418.00. *TR

Mileage: 118,189

2001 LEXUS RX 300 TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 115K. *TR

Mileage: 115,000

2001 RX300 WITH 135K MILES. WE SUFFERED A TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING 200 MILES FROM HOME. FORTUNATELY WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OUT OF TRAFFIC. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LEXUS DEALER WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH FACTORY RECONDITIONED UNIT. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

2001 LEXUS RX300 TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I AM ONE OF HUNDREDS (POSSIBLY THOUSANDS) THAT HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 88K MILES. MY CAR HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED BY THE DEALER. NOISE - WHINING SOUND- BEGAN IN ENGINE WITHOUT REAL PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS; HOWEVER, WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER I WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING AND NEEDED A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT. COST TO REPAIR IS $3,888.27 NOT INCLUDING TAXES. *TR

Mileage: 88,611

I HAVE JUST DISCOVERED ON A RECENT TRIP - THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK ON MY 2001 LEXUS - 300RX - SYSTEM WILL NOT ENGAGE. HAS ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM? THE CAR HAS JUST UNDER 60,000 MILES. COULD THIS PROBLEM BE IN ANY WAY RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION(POWER TRAIN) PROBLEMS THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MODEL LEXUS HAVE REPORTED? GUESS I WILL FIND OUT WHAT'S INVOLVED NEXT WEEK WHEN I TAKE THE CARE IN FOR 60,000 MILE CHECK-UP. * TR

Mileage: 59,800

MY TRANSMISSION ON MY 2001 LEXUS RX 300 DIED AT 100,000 MILES. I TAKE EXCELLENT CARE OF MY CAR. A REBUILT TRANSMISSION WITH NO WARRANTY IS COSTING ME $2500 FROM A FRIEND WHO IS A MECHANIC. LEXUS QUOTED ME AT $5,000 WITH A 1 YEAR WARRANTY! THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS, A TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT FAIL AT 100,000 MILES. I HAVE BEEN READING ALL ABOUT MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS IN REGARDS TO THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE AND NO ONE AT LEXUS SEEMS TO CARE. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM VACATION AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I PULLED OVER ON THE SHOULDER TO TRY TO GET IT TO GO. IT STALLED FOR A WHILE THEN KICKED BACK INTO GEAR. I GOT OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT AND THEN THE ATF LIGHT CAME ON. I PUT SOME TRANSMISSION FLUID IN THE CAR AND SLOWLY DROVE HOME. THE CAR DIED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I HAD TO GET THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED ($4,000). *TR

Mileage: 125,000

WAS DRIVING HOME FROM MINNESOTA TO PENNSYLVANIA IN MY 2001 LEXUS RX300 ON JUNE 28TH, 2008; AND MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON ME. I WAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AT NIGHT TIME IN THE POURING RAIN AND IT FELL DOWN TO 5 MPH. I FOUND THE NEAREST EXIT AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST GARAGE WHERE I REBUILT LEXUS TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED, AT A COST OF $,4600.00. I RECEIVED A TWELVE MONTH UNLIMITED MILEAGE WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION FROM LEXUS. MY SUV HAD APPROXIMATELY, 112.000 MILES ON IT AT THIS POINT. NOW, LESS THAT 10 MONTHS LATER, I HAVE METAL CHIPS IN MY FLUID AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEED YET ANOTHER TRANSMISSION, AT A COST OF OVER $4,000; AS THE DEALER HERE IN MY STATE WON'T HONOR THE LEXUS WARRANTY. I HAVE BEEN BACK AND FORTH ON THE PHONE WITH THE DEALER HERE AND THE DEALER IN OHIO AND WAS TREATED VERY RUDELY BY THE DEALER HERE. I WAS INFORMED THAT EVEN THOUGH LEXUS ISSUED THE WARRANTY, THEY CAN NOT FOLLOW THROUGH WITH IT, EVEN THOUGH THE DEALER IN OHIO SAID THAT THEY HAVE TO. I AM COMPLETELY AT MY WITS END. I CALLED THE 1-800 NUMBER FOR LEXUS AND HAVE ALSO CONTACTED MY ATTORNEY. SOMEONE NEEDS TO ADMIT THAT THERE ARE SEVERE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THESE VEHICLES, AND QUIT TRYING TO PASS OVER US; THE PEOPLE THAT PAID FOR THEM. IF THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT IN THE MAKING, I ANT TO BECOME A PART OF IT. THE WHOLE IDEA OF "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION" FLEW OUT THE WINDOW AND LEXUS DEALERS NEED TO BE REMINDED WHERE THEIR PAYCHECKS COME FROM. I WAS TREATED RUDELY TODAY , WITHOUT REASON; AND HERE I SIT WITH A WARRANTY THAT I CAN'T USE TO GET MY VEHICLE FIXED. *TR

Mileage: 115,000

ACTUALLY, THERE WAS LITTLE OR NO WARNING. ON SATURDAY, WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR SEEMED TO GET STUCK IN NEUTRAL, AND THEN LURCH FORWARD. THIS HAPPENED A COUPLE OF MORE TIMES, AND EACH TIME WAS SOMEWHAT MORE EXAGGERATED, SO MUCH SO, THAT I ATTEMPTED TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR, TRYING TO CIRCUMVENT A STALL. BY THE THIRD TIME, THE CAR SOUNDED AS IF I WAS DRAGGING SOMETHING UNDERNEATH. I RETURNED HOME SAFELY, BUT WHEN MY HUSBAND WENT TO CHECK THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT EVEN SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL! AAA CAME TO TOW THE CAR AND THE REAR WHEELS SEEMED TO LOCK, SO MUCH SO THAT THE CAR WAS DRAGGED ONTO THE TOWING BED, LEAVING SOME RUBBER ON THE DRIVEWAY. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPORTED TO ME THAT I NEED A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION ON MY 2001 RX300 LEXUS, WITH 125,000 MILES, TO THE TUNE OF $5000. *TR

Mileage: 125,000

DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION ON LEXUS RX300 FROM A KNOWN MODEL DEFECT STRANDED MY WIFE ON THE HIGHWAY. TRANSMISSION IS BEING REPLACED BY LEXUS DEALERSHIP AT OUR COST OF OVER $5000. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

FAULTY TRANSMISSION. FAULTY DESIGN LEADS TO FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION ON GENERATION ONE LEXUS RX300. *TR

Mileage: 131,000

2001 RX300 TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 110,000 MILES AND HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. NORMAL COMMUTER DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, VERY LITTLE CITY OR HIGH TRAFFIC SITUATIONS. *TR

Mileage: 110,000

WITHOUT ANY WARNING, OUT RX300 DECIDED TO GIVE UP ITS REVERSE GEAR. TOWED IT TO THE LEXUS DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED - WHICH IS A $5000 JOB. FOR A LEXUS, THIS IS SILLY. WE PAY "EXTRA" TO HAVE A CAR THAT HAS NO WORRIES AND WILL LAST FOREVER. SURE - WE ARE NOW AT 102,000 MILES, BUT THAT IS STILL YOUNG FOR A LEXUS. IN THE MEAN TIME, I HAVE CONTACTED LEXUS AND THEY HAVE OPENED UP A CASE TO SEE HOW THEY CAN SERVE ME BY REDUCING THE COST OF THE REPAIR, BUT I DON'T THINK THE REPAIR WILL BE $0. READING ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS, AND THE REMARKS FROM THE LEXUS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION GUY, LEXUS KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY FAIL TO HELP THEIR LOYAL CUSTOMERS BY REPAIRING A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. SO MUCH FOR THE LEXUS BRAND. PLEASE CONTACT LEXUS AND FORCE THEM TO REIMBURSE ALL REPAIR COSTS FOR ALL THE OWNERS WHO HAD TO GO THROUGH THIS. OR START A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN WHICH THE RESULT WOULD BE THE SAME. IF YOU ARE A LEXUS PERSON READING THIS, HINT... HELP YOUR CUSTOMERS, DON'T DRAG YOUR LEXUS NAME THROUGH THE MUD. IF YOU ARE A LAWYER READING THIS - START A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AND GET LEXUS TO FIX ITS KNOWN PROBLEMS. *TR

Mileage: 102,283

LEXUS 2001 MODEL RX300 IN EXCELLENT CONDITION PURCHASED NEW WITH ZERO MILES FROM LEXUS DEALER. THIS ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING. TRANSMISSION TYPE U14F. VEHICLE WAS ALWAYS DEALER SERVICED AND JUST COMPLETED THE 85,000 MILES SERVICE. TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE, AND A CHRONIC PROBLEM ON ALL RX MODELS. DEALER WOULD NOT PROVIDE SERVICE UNDER 100K EXTENDED WARRANTY DUE TO AGE. COST OF REPAIR $5,500.00 PLUS LABOR & TAXES. THERE SHOULD BE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT STARTED FOR THESE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TR

Mileage: 86,000

I HAVE A 2001 LEXUS RX300 WITH 105,300 MILES; THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT PREMATURELY, BEGINNING TO SLIP WITH COLDER WEATHER AND FAILING ENTIRELY SOME 300 MILES LATER. ACCORDING TO OTHER INTERNET SOURCES, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM OCCURRING ON THESE MODEL VEHICLES BETWEEN 70K AND 120K MILES AND IS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW BY THE MANUFACTURER (TOYOTA). YET THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT REPAIR THE TRANSMISSIONS AS AT THIS MILEAGE THE VEHICLES ARE OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. COST TO REPAIR RANGES FROM ABOUT $2000-$3300 FROM AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP TO APPROXIMATELY $4400 BY THE DEALER. *TR

Mileage: 105,000

CAR BEGAN HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS TRANSMISSION FAILED IN PROCESS OF HAVING TO REBUILD/REPLACE TRANSMISSION. *TR

Mileage: 125,000

RX300 CAR EITHER WON'T GO INTO GEAR OR JUMPS OUT OF GEAR. IT HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND MANY MANY REPORTS ON OWNER SITES RE: TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE LATEST INCIDENT LEFT MYSELF AND MY 4 YEAR OLD SON STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT IN LOW TEENS WEATHER. IT ALSO JUMPED OUT OF GEAR ONCE WHILE DRIVING. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. *TR

Mileage: 115,000

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 137,000 MILES AND NEEDS COMPLETE REPLACEMENT. *TR

Mileage: 137,000

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR JUST STOPPED DANGEROUSLY IN THE MIDDLE OF A 4 LANE HIGHWAY AND WAS UNABLE TO BE PUSHED TO SIDE OF ROAD ,EVEN WHEN PUT IN NEUTRAL POSITION ON THE GEAR SELECTOR. THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP INTERNALLY AND VEHICLE IMPEDED TRAFFIC FOR QUITE SOME TIME CAUSING A SEVERE SAFETY DANGER FOR US AND ANY CARS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ENCOUNTERING AN UNEXPECTED SLOWING OF TRAFFIC BECAUSE OF THE BLOCKED ROADWAY . *TR

Mileage: 115,000

1. GRINDING NOISE. 2. TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CAR STOPPED MOVING. 3. TRANSMISSION REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 132,810

OUR TRANSMISSION FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY CAUSING OUR WHEELS TO LOCK. I SPENT NEARLY $4000 TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED LIKE THE MANY LEXUS RX300 OWNERS HAVE HAD TO DO. THIS HAS NOT ONLY SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED OUR WALLETS BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY COULD HAVE KILLED MY WIFE AND I. *TR

Mileage: 87,400

AT ONLY 98K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ON MY 2001 LEXUS RX300. MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND WERE NEARLY HOME WHEN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING. WE HAD SOME MINOR PROBLEMS WITH IT FOR THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, BUT THEY SEEMED TO GO AWAY ONCE THE ENGINE WARMED UP. THIS TIME, HOWEVER, IT WENT FROM DRIVING TO JUST REVVING, AS IF IN NEUTRAL, IN ABOUT A MINUTE OR LESS. WE HAD TO COAST DOWN AN OFF-RAMP AND PUSH TO A PARKING SPOT BEFORE HAVING IT TOWED. OUR MECHANIC SAYS IT WILL BE BETWEEN $2-3K TO FIX IT. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE FOR A LUXURY VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 100K MILES ON IT. *TR

Mileage: 98,000

MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT .. IT WILL NOT SHIFT RIGHT OR DRIVE CORRECTLY AND LEXUS WILL NOT FIX IT. *TR

Mileage: 95,000

I HAVE A 2001 RX300, AS I AM READING I HAVE NOT BEEN THE ONLY ONE TO EXPERIENCE A TRANSMISSION ISSUE! I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 3 YEARS AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE OVERHAULED, AS I WAS DRIVING MY CHILDREN TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY THE CAR GOT TO ABOUT 30 MPH AND STARTED REVVING UP REALLY HARD AND THEN JERKED, IN A 65MPH ZONE, WHERE I WAS NEARLY REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRYING TO GET OFF THE INTERSTATE! THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD, I CANNOT LEXUS TO HELP AND WILL BE PAYING $3500 TO REPLACE! I WORK IN TRANSPORTATION SAFETY AND I MUST SAY THIS IS A HUGE HAZARD AND THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING SOMEONE CAN DO TO MAKE LEXUS FIX THIS PROBLEM BEING THEY ARE NOT GOING TO CARE ABOUT FIXING IT ON THEIR OWN! *TR

Mileage: 110,000

FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION IN 2001 LEXUS RX 300. THERE IS A KNOWN, WELL-DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND TRANSAXLES IN THIS VEHICLE. LEXUS HAS NOT RECALLED THE VEHICLE AND FIXED THE PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 111,244

2001 LEXUS RX300. TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 120,000 MILES. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 30-40 MPH ON HIGHWAY THE WOULD COME TO COMPLETE STOP. WILL HAVE TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION OR REBUILD OLD ONE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH 99-02 LEXUS 300. WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP AND NEARLY CAUSED SEVERE CRASH ON A LUXURY SUV WITH LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. *TR

Mileage: 96,000

COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 115,000

FIRST, THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THEN, AFTER ATTEMPTING SEVERAL TIMES, THE CAR VIOLENTLY JERKED ME INTO REVERSE AND I ALMOST CRASHED. AFTER BACKING UP, I SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, BUT LOCKED UP ON ME AGAIN. AFTER REVVING THE ACCELERATOR AND TRYING DIFFERENT GEARS, FINALLY JERKED ME AND CHILDREN FORWARD INTO DRIVE. INITIALLY, LEXUS "SUPPOSEDLY" FIXED THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING O2 SENSOR, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED IN JUNE AGAIN. SINCE THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED AT LEXUS SHOP, THEY GAVE ME MY CAR WITHOUT ANY REPAIR. THEN, A MORE SERIOUS OCCURRENCE HAPPENED IN MID JULY WHEN THE GEAR GOT STUCK WHILE DRIVING. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH WHEN GEAR GOT STUCK, SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL, THEN VIOLENTLY JERKED ME AND KIDS FORWARD AND INTO DRIVE AGAIN. CHILDREN AND I WERE VERY FRIGHTENED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE NOT ONLY ARE YOU DROPPED OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION, BUT THEN YOU ARE SUDDENLY JERKED FORWARD INTO DRIVE. TO MAKE IT WORSE, ITS FREQUENCY IS ERRATIC SO YOU JUST HOPE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN ON THE FREEWAY. ACCORDING TO MANY ONLINE BLOGS (ESPECIALLY EDMUNDS.COM), IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT 1999-2001 LEXUS HAS BUT WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE. MOSTLY HAPPENS AT ABOUT 65,000 MILES. DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL ALREADY. ARE WE WAITING FOR THERE TO BE A FATALITY OR SERIOUS INJURY FOR THIS TO RECEIVE ATTENTION? *TR

Mileage: 97,500

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING UPHILL AT 70 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE LOST POWER WHEN SHE SWERVED TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE. SHE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE REVVED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE FEELS THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE SHE AND HER FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS CRASH. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85,000. UPDATED 08/15/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP AND HESITATE WHEN SHE WOULD ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE. AT ONE POINT, THE CONSUMER PUT THE GEAR IN PARK WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER IT WAS THE SAME TRANSMISSION THAT WAS REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 08/15/08

Mileage: 85,000

I OWN 2001 MODEL YEAR OF LEXUS RX300 2WD, AND I BOUGHT IT PRE-OWN CERTIFIED BY A LEXUS DEALER IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA BACK IN OCTOBER, 2004. I STRICTLY FOLLOWED THE MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES RECOMMENDED BY LEXUS AND CHANGED DEFECTIVE PARTS AT LEXUS DEALERS, AND KEPT ALL THE DOCUMENTS IN FILE. HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION ON JULY 16, 2008, WITH MILEAGE OF 77,450, FAILED FUNCTIONING NORMAL WITH A SHARP WHINING NOISE. THIS WAS WHEN CAR GOT STARTED COLD AND PULLED BACKWARD AND MOVED FORWARD IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES. MY CAR WAS DIAGNOSED ON JULY 15, 2008 BY LEXUS DEALER WHO TOLD ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS WORN AND THE TOTAL COST FOR REPLACEMENT WILL BE SOME $6,500. A LOT OF SUCH REPORTS WERE LISTED IN THE AUTO CLUBS AND BLOGS. I LAWFULLY FILE THIS CASE FOR A RECALL AND FULL REPAIR BY LEXUS AT NO COST TO ME UPON PRESENCE OF PROVEN TRACK RECORDS OF CAR MAINTENANCE. I HOPE THIS WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE COURT FOR SETTLEMENT IN AN EARLIER DATE NO LATER THAN AUGUST 31, 2008. *TR

Mileage: 77,450

I HAD SERVICE AT LEXUS AND MY TRANSMISSION STILL WENT OUT. THEY WERE RACIST AND BIASED AND WOULD NOT FIX IT. I HAD TO PAY OUT OF MY POCKET. AFTER THAT HAPPENED, A CYLINDER WENT OUT SO NOW I NEED THAT FIXED. I THOUGHT THAT LEXUS WAS A SUPERIOR CAR. (THEY DO NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY AS THEY SHOULD, AT LEAST NOT IN HOUSTON WEST LEXUS). THIS ONE CERTAINLY IS NOT WORTH WHAT I PAID AND IS NOT WHAT I EXPECT FROM LEXUS. *TR

Mileage: 98,741

A LITTLE OVER ONE YEAR AGO MY CAR WAS MAKING A NOISE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO MY USUAL MECHANIC AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. A FRIEND OF MINE WITH THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE HAD JUST RECENTLY EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, SO I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP. WHEN I TOLD THE REPRESENTATIVE AT THE DEALERSHIP WHAT THE MECHANIC SAID, I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO TELL HIM THE YEAR OF MY CAR. HE KNEW IMMEDIATELY THE YEAR OF MY CAR AND ALMOST THE EXACT MILEAGE, AND SAID YES IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. HE SAID THAT IT WAS A "NORMAL" PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR SINCE IT WAS A CAR ENGINE ON A TRUCK CHASSIS. SINCE I WAS ABLE TO SHOW PROOF THAT I DID THE MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE HE SPOKE WITH HIS MANAGER AND THEY PAID FOR THE PARTS ( A REBUILT TRANSMISSION) AND I PAID FOR THE LABOR. ($1400) WHILE SITTING IN THE LOBBY TO PICK UP MY CAR I OVERHEARD 2 OTHER PEOPLE PICKING UP THEIR CARS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I NEVER FOLLOWED UP WITH IT, BUT HAVE SINCE HEARD OF 2 OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AT THE SAME APPROXIMATE MILEAGE (80,000- 85,000). I AM NOW EXPERIENCING FURTHER ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE THAT THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE OUT, WHICH HAS PROMPTED ME TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH A COMPLAINT. IF NOTHING ELSE I THINK THIS TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR

Mileage: 81,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS BACKING OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED MOVING. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO MOVE IN ANY DIRECTION, AS WELL AS IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SERVICE STATION. FOUR THOUSAND MILES BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE BEFOREHAND AND HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 146,000.

Mileage: 146,000

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 67,000 MILES. IT GAVE OUT IN STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC. WHEN ACCELERATING, THE ENGINE STARTED REVVING AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD THEN SLAM INTO GEAR. THE THIRD TIME THE CAR JERKED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY GONE ' THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL IN ANY GEAR. I HAD TO PUSH THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND GET IT TOWED. REPAIR REQUIRED PUTTING IN A REBUILT TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $3,800. LEXUS PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE ON THIS ISSUE. THE CAR WAS ALWAYS MAINTAINED PER LEXUS/TOYOTA SCHEDULES, SO THERE IS NO REASON FOR A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE ESPECIALLY THIS EARLY. THE TRANSMISSION WAS FULL OF FLUID AND THERE WERE NO LEAKS, ETC. YOU WILL SEE MANY COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 67,000

MY 2001 LEXUS RX300 DIED ON THE FREEWAY. I AM TOLD MY TRANSMISSION IS RUINED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I REGULARLY SERVICED MY CAR AND THERE IS NO WAY IT SHOULD HAVE A BLOWN TRANSMISSION WITH ONLY 84,000 MILES. AFTER SEEING ALL THE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET, I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST LEXUS. *TR

Mileage: 84,250

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

POWER TRAIN- AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 87000 MI. LEXUS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE AS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL (2001 RX300) PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED BY CONSUMERS. LEXUS REFUSED ANY COMPENSATION FOR COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF TRANSMISSION. *TR

Mileage: 87,271

MY 2001 LEXUS RX300 HAS RECENTLY HAD TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT ONLY 87,000 MILES. IT HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE COST WILL BE ALMOST $4,000. I HAVE BEEN ON SEVERAL WEBSITES THAT HAVE MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON LEXUS RX300 MODELS FROM 1999 TO 2003. *TR

Mileage: 87,000

FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION IN 2001 LEXUS RX300. VEHICLE MADE A WHINING SOUND AND LATER THAT DAY WOULD STRUGGLE TO CHANGE GEARS, AND WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. TRANSMISSION FAILURE DIAGNOSIS. I CAN DRIVE FOR NOW BUT AM RISKING THE VEHICLE FAILING AND TRANSMISSION LOCKING COMPLETELY ANY DAY NOW. CANT AFFORD THE $5,500 PRICE TAG TO REPAIR IT. LEXUS WILL NOT HELP EVEN ALTHOUGH THIS FAULTY TRANSMISSION IS DOCUMENTED ALL OVER THE INTERNET ON VARIOUS LEXUS OWNER SITES AND CAR SURVEY SITES. *TR

Mileage: 116,000

COMPLETE FAILURE OF 2001 LEXUS RX300 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AT ONLY 62,000 MILES. WE PURCHASED THIS CPO RX300 (APPROX 20K MILES ON IT) IN EARLY 2004 AND SERVICED IT REGULARLY, PER THE LEXUS MANUAL, AT A LOCAL LEXUS DEALERSHIP. AT 60K MILES ON TWO OCCASIONS (A FEW DAYS APART) IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE. WE HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED AND THE FLUID REPLACED BY A 3RD PARTY SHOP. AT 62,000 MILES, WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY THE TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETELY. LUCKILY SHE WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER IT OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. WE TOWED IT TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP WHO EVEN BEFORE OPENING IT UP TOLD US THEY HAD SEEN MANY RX300'S OF THIS YEAR FOR PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURES. I AM CURRENTLY DEALING WITH LEXUS COOPERATION TO SEEK SOME FORM OF REIMBURSEMENT (IT COST US $4,300 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION) BUT AS EXPECTED AM BEING STONEWALLED WITH ENDLESS REQUESTS FOR SERVICE RECEIPTS, PAPERWORK, ETC. MARKETING STUDIES SHOW IT COSTS 5 TIMES MORE TO FIND A NEW CUSTOMER THAN IT DOES TO KEEP AN EXISTING ONE. BUT I GUESS LEXUS DOES NOT CARE. *TR

Mileage: 62,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT PULLED INTO HER DRIVEWAY AND ATTEMPTED TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE, WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK AND THE GEARS WOULD NOT SWITCH PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND THEY REPLACED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CV JOINT IN 2007. AFTER BEING TOWED TO HIS FACILITY, THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE DRIVER SIDE CV JOINT, BUT FOUND THAT WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN SHE CALLED LEXUS, THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THEM IN ORDER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE LEXUS DEALER WAS 35 MILES AWAY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000. UPDATED 09/16/08 *BF UPDATED 09/22/08. *JB

Mileage: 109,000

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON MY 2001 RX300 AT 100,000 MILES. NORMALLY I WOULD JUST CONSIDER THIS BAD LUCK BUT THE 3RD PARTY TRANSMISSION GUY SAYS THAT HE REPLACES TONS OF THESE AND THAT HE IS CONVINCED THERE IS A PROBLEM. THIS PRESENTS A DANGEROUS CONDITION AS THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT VIRTUALLY IMMEDIATELY, LEAVING THE VEHICLE ESSENTIALLY DISABLED AND ALMOST AS IF IN NEUTRAL. OTHER INTERNET POSTERS HAVE CLAIMED THAT THIS TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP CAUSING UNSTABLE VEHICLE PERFORMANCE WHILE MOVING. WHEN I GO TO THE INTERNET AND SEARCH THIS ISSUE THERE ARE COUNTLESS WEBSITES WITH OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. YOU SEE COUNTLESS POSTS ON LEXUS FORUMS, EDMUNDS, ETC., ABOUT 1999, 2000 AND 2001 RX 300 SUVS WITH TRANSMISSION ISSUES. MANY AS EARLY AS 50,000 MILES (WHICH ARE COVERED BY LEXUS) AND MANY MORE OVER 70,000 TO 100,000 LIKE ME. *TR

Mileage: 103,000

I EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON MY 2001 LEXUS RX300 AT 115000 MILES. THIS VEHICLE WAS WELL-SERVICED, AND HAD TRANSMISSION FLUID SERVICE PER THE LEXUS MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. AFTER REVIEWING EXPERIENCES OF OTHER RX300 OWNERS (ESPECIALLY AT CLUBLEXUS.COM), THIS COMES ACROSS AS A DEFECT THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR. I HAD TO PAY OVER $3300 FOR REPAIRS FOR A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. *TR

Mileage: 114,744

OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW MONTHS THE FOLLOWING OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES: I WOULD SHIFT THE CAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT. AT FIRST THE CAR DIDN'T RESPOND, THEN IT WOULD MAKE A CLUNKING NOISE AND A JOLT AND THEN SHIFT. SHORTLY AFTER, IT MADE A HIGH PITCHED WHINNYING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE, BUT ONLY WHEN IT WAS COLD. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM WHEN THE CAR WAS WARM. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT IT NEEDED A RE-MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION AND THE COST WAS ALMOST $5,000. CAR HAS JUST OVER 100,000 MILES. ALL SERVICE WAS DONE, INCLUDING THE 90,000 MILE SERVICE. *TR

2001 LEXUS RX300 W/80K MILES. DRIVING ON FREEWAY, PRESSED GAS AN NOTHING HAPPENED. CAR KEPT REVVING BUT WOULDN'T DRIVE. VERY DANGEROUS. FOUND OUT THE TRANSMISSION WENT. RESEARCHED THIS AND DISCOVERED THIS WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURE DEFECT THAT LEXUS WILL NOT ADMIT TO (ALTHOUGH THEIR SERVICE STAFF WILL ADMIT TO THIS). LEXUS PAID FOR THE NEW TRANSMISSION, BUT FORCED ME TO PAY $1500 LABOR WHEN THEY ARE AT FAULT. THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED! PLEASE RESEARCH THIS ONLINE. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND SPOKE TO SEVERAL OWNERS OF THIS MODEL WHO ALL HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE BETWEEN 70-80K MILES. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A HIGH PITCHED NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE GEARS WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. AS OF FEBRUARY 28, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 84,000.

Mileage: 84,000

VEHICLE STARTED SHIFTING HARD & MAKING A WHINNYING SOUND. WHEN ENGINE WARM COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. LEFT CAR AT DEALER FOR COLD START THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM. REPLACED W/ REBUILT TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $1199.00. *TR

Mileage: 89,112

MADE A COMPLETE STOP AT A STOP SIGN AND WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR LOST POWER AND WOULD REV LESS THAN 2000RPM. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE AND SHUT ENGINE OFF. RESTARTED THE CAR AND TRIED TO ACCELERATE, BUT CAR STILL WOULDN'T REV ABOVE 2000RPM. SINCE I DIDN'T WANT TO BLOCK A DRIVEWAY, I ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, BUT IT DIDN'T MOVE. HAD TO TOW MY 2001 RX300 WITH ONLY 56K MILES TO THE DEALERSHIP AND REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION. *TR

Mileage: 56,500

1) WHILE DRIVING ON 101 FREEWAY IN LOS ANGELES ON A 90 DEGREE DAY THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE. 2) THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND I WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH BY EXITING THE FREEWAY. 3) THE AUTO DEALER MADE A GOOD WILL REPAIR EVEN THOUGH IT WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. *JB

Mileage: 70,345

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 138,000. UPDATED 08/14/07. *JB

Mileage: 101,000

2001 LEXUS RX300. MULTIPLE INCIDENCES OF TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, REQUIRING A FULL REBUILD.

Mileage: 99,033

AFTER 101,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION ON THE 2001 LEXUS RX300 SIMPLY WENT OUT. I COULD NOT GO IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. I PARKED IN A STALL AT MY SON'S PRESCHOOL AND AFTER DROPPING HIM OFF, I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT. AT FIRST THE CARD DIDN'T MOVE, THEN A QUICK JOLT AND A CLANKING NOISE AND THAT WAS IT. I HAVE REGULARLY SERVICED THE CAR, AND JUST CLEANED THE TRANSMISSION NOT MORE THAT 2 MONTHS AGO. THAT WAS THE THIRD TRANSMISSION FLUSH I HAD DONE SINCE 2001. MY FATHER OWNS A REPAIR SHOP SO MAINTENANCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN KEPT UP. *AK

Mileage: 101,230

MY 2001 LEXUS RX300'S TRANSMISSION FAILED. IT HAS 80,000 MILES AND IS DEALER SERVICED. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR UNTIL THE CAR SUDDENLY WOULDN'T REVERSE. IN DRIVE THE CAR WOULD SHIFT AND STOP ABRUPTLY. I WAS SCARED THAT I WAS GOING TO GET HIT IN THE BACK BY ANOTHER CAR. DEALER WANTS $4800 TO FIX TRANSMISSION AND THEY CLAIM IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE CAR. MY QUESTION WAS WHY IT WASN'T RECALLED THEN AND I GOT NO RESPONSE. *TR

Mileage: 79,990

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *JB

Mileage: 81,000

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON A BUSY INTERSTATE AT NIGHT WITH MYSELF, MY HUSBAND AND OUR 8 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER. HAD TO GET THE HIGHWAY PATROL TO FOLLOW US TO AN EXIT. THIS CAR HAD 98000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME AND ACCORDING TO ALL MY INTERNET RESEARCH THIS IS A COMMON, KNOWN DEFECT WITH THE LEXUS RX300 THAT THEY REFUSE TO ADDRESS. ITS A SAFETY HAZARD. LEXUS OF COURSE REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. COST 3600.00 IN REPAIRS. NEVER HAD A TRANSMISSION GO OUT THIS EARLY, ACTUALLY NEVER HAD ONE GO OUT PERIOD ON CARS WITH MANY MORE MILES. *JB

Mileage: 98,000

THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AFTER THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF, AND THE KEYS WERE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION, WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *JB

Mileage: 27,000

VEHICLE WAS AT A FULL STOP AND PUT INTO PARK. PAVEMENT WAS LEVEL. PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGED. BOTH DRIVER SIDE DOORS WERE OPEN AND REAR DOOR LIFTED. I WAS LOADING VEHICLE FOR FULL 5 MINUTES. AS I TURNED, SAW VEHICLE BEGIN TO MOVE IN REVERSE AT A VERY FAST PACE. ROLLED INTO EXTERIOR STUCCO WALL OF GARAGE. DAMAGED BUMPER AND LIFT GATE. NO INJURIES. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PUT INTO PARK WHILE RUNNING, WHEN AUTO IS PUT IN REVERSE AND FOOT IS TAKEN OFF BRAKE THE VEHICLE MOVES BACKWARD VERY QUICKLY WITH NO GAS APPLIED. WHEN PUT IN FORWARD, IT CREEPS AT A SLOWER SPEED THAN REVERSE. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO POSSIBILITY THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT IN REVERSE WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURED. THE CAR WOULD HAVE KNOCKED ME OVER BEFORE I COULD HAVE CLEARED IT BECAUSE IT MOVES SO FAST IN REVERSE. *AK