1999 Lexus RX300 complaints

ABS ENGAGES EVERY TIME BRAKES ARE APPLIED, INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCE, AND CAUSING A POTENTIAL HAZARD. *TR

I WANT YOU TO KNOW DURING THIS TIME OF TOYOTA PROBLEMS AND COVERUP, THAT WE LEASED NEW A 1999 LEXUS RX300, IT WAS MAINTAINED AT MEADE LEXUS ACCORDING TO PLAN AND MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON A FREEWAY AND THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SEIZED AND THE CAR QUIT WORKING. THE CAR HAD MY TWO INFANT CHILDREN IN IT AT THE TIME AND SHE WAS STUCK NEAR THE EXIT RAMP WITH VEHICLES/TRUCKS/SEMIS BEARING DOWN ON HER. SHE AND THE CHILDREN WERE SCARED AND NEARLY COLLIDED WITH AT ITS SUDDEN LOCATION TO STOP. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE LEXUS DEALER AND DISCOVERED SLUDGE HAD RUINED THE MOTOR. THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR IT AND TOWED THE VEHICLE TO OUR GARAGE WHERE IT SAT AS I MADE PAYMENTS ON IT. I TOOK LEXUS TO ARBITRATION WITH MY MAINTENANCE RECEIPTS AND LOST AS THE ARBITRATOR SAID I MAY HAVE ABUSED THE VEHICLE AFTER THE TOYOTA REP SHOWED A SAMPLE OF THE SLUDGE. THE VEHICLE STILL SAT IN THE GARAGE AND MONTHS LATER LEXUS ADMITTED FAULT WITH THE OIL PASSAGES ON THE MOTOR AND REPLACED THE ENGINE JUST IN TIME FOR ME TO RETURN IT OFF LEASE. I AGREE THEY FINALLY REPAIRED IT 5-6 MONTHS LATER, BUT THIS FAILURE NEARLY COST MY FAMILIES LIFE AND WAS IGNORED BY LEXUS. THE DATES STATED HERE ARE APPROX AND HERE IS AN INFORMATIONAL LINK I FOUND HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/NEWS04/2007/01/TOYOTA_SLUDGE_SETTLEMENT.HTML I WOULD LOVE TO TESTIFY ABOUT THE POOR TREATMENT AND IGNORING ATTITUDE ABOUT MY PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS RX300. WHENEVER THE CONTACT WOULD ATTEMPT TO STOP THE VEHICLE AT A LOW SPEED THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SURGE FORWARD BEFORE THE BRAKES WOULD ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING PROPERLY. THE CONTACT HAS NOTICED THE FAILURE SINCE THE DAY THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 91000.

THE SEATBELTS IN MY LEXUS RX300 DO NOT RETRACT ALL THE WAY. TOYOTA MADE A FEEBLE ATTEMPT TO FIX THIS BY PLACING TEFLON TAPE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT ON THE CLIP THAT HOLDS THE BELT UP, BUT IT DOES NOT WORK. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER ABOUT IT AT LEAST THREE TIMES AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IT IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION: IF I GET INTO A CAR ACCIDENT, THE SEAT BELT WILL BE TOO SLACK. *TR

WIFE DRIVING 1999 RX300 LEXUS W/ AWD AND IT JUST STOPPED AND UNABLE TO ENGAGE REVERSE DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. IT WAS TOWED HOME AND AFTER SOME INQUIRIES JUST PARKED UNTIL ENOUGH MONEY CAN BE RAISED TO ATTEMPT REPAIR (VERY COSTLY). *TR

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DOES NOT PROPERLY RETRACT AFTER BEING EXTENDED. WAS REPLACED ONCE BY THE LOCAL DEALER ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. BELT HAS GRADUALLY DEVELOPED THE SAME PROBLEM OVER THE RECENT YEARS. *TR

ACCELERATOR ENTRAPMENT IN AFTERMARKET FLOOR PAD OF A LEXUS RX 300 LAST SEPTEMBER. (I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF FLOOR PAD, I BOUGHT IT IN 1999 AND INSTALLED IT THEN, IT IS ONE OF THE THICK ONES THAT IS GOOD A HOLDING SNOW AND WATER.) I FIGURED OUT THAT THE FLOOR PAD WAS THE PROBLEM WHILE THE ENGINE WAS REVVING TO 90 MPH AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE CAR. LEXUS COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG BUT SAID NOTHING TO ME ABOUT THIS BEING A PROBLEM IN TOYOTA PRODUCTS. NO CRASH AND NO INJURY SINCE I FIGURED IT OUT; THE FLOOR MAT FELT THICK TO MY FOOT SO I YANKED IT OUT FROM UNDER THE PEDALS. JUST REALLY SCARY.... SPECIFICALLY, I CAME OUT OF A SIDE STREET ON TO A MAIN ROAD AND NEEDED TO GET AHEAD OF TRAFFIC SO I STOMPED IN THE ACCELERATOR PRETTY HARD- NOT MY TYPICAL DRIVING STYLE- AND THEN THE ACCELERATOR STUCK, THE CAR REVVING AND GOING TO 90- 100 MPH. I STOOD ON THE BRAKES BUT IT WOULD NOT STOP. I TRIED TO THROW IT INTO PARK ( BUT THANKFULLY THE CAR WOULDN'T LET ME- I WAS THINKING ABOUT TRYING TO USE THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP IT, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE A HAND BRAKE SO THAT'S WHY I WAS SO STUPID AND TRIED TO THROW IT IN PARK. THE NOISE FROM THAT WAS SO HORRIFYING I DID NOT PUT IT IN NEUTRAL). THEN I FELT THE LUMPY FLOOR MAT AND YANKED IT OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE PEDALS. IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT AND THERE WERE NO CARS ON THE ROAD SO I HAD A MILE OF CLEAR ROAD TO WORK THIS OUT. CAR HAD ABOUT 275,000 MILES ON IT. BUILT IN JULY 1998, JT6H10U7X0032830 IS SERIAL I CAN'T GIVE YOU THE EXACT DATE BECAUSE I

THE 1999 LEXUS RX 300 TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH ONLY 125K MILES ON IT. BASED ON THE DISCUSSION BOARDS, I BELIEVE THAT LEXUS IS COVERED UP A DESIGN FLAW IN PARTICULAR MODELS. WE AS OWNERS DESERVE TO BE CONFRONTED AND LEXUS SHOULD REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT NO COST TO CUSTOMER. INFACT LEXUS SHOULD BE PENALIZED FOR NOT RECALLING THE TRANSMISSIONS. *CN

3 EPISODES OF SEVERE ACCELERATION TERMINATED BY SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL. IN EACH CASE THE RPM CYCLED FROM 3,000 TO 8,000 AND THEN SPONTANEOUSLY RETURNED TO NORMAL AFTER ABOUT A MINUTE. IN NEUTRAL GEAR. I WAS UNABLE TO OVERCOME ACCELERATION BY BRAKING. THE GAS PETAL FELL TO FLOOR EACH TIME BUT WAS NOT STUCK AND RETURNED TO NORMAL AFTER THE EPISODE WAS OVER. THESE 3 EVENTS OCCURRED IN A SINGLE WEEK. I FELT THERE WAS SOME MALFUNCTION OF THE CRUISE CONTROL--WHICH I NEVER USE. I HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL DISCONNECTED AT A LOCAL GARAGE AND NEVER HAD ANOTHER PROBLEM. WHEN I TOLD THE LEXUS DEALER ABOUT THIS AT THE NEXT ROUTINE SERVICE VISIT, THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD ANYTHING LIKE THIS AND DID NOT SUGGEST FURTHER ACTION. I NEVER RECONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL. I REPORT THIS NOW BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT CONCERNS. THIS WAS CLEARLY ELECTRONIC IN SOME FASHION AND I BELIEVE INVOLVED THE CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM. *TR

ON OR ABOUT 12/5/09 MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON 55 WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN SHE SAID THE CAR SEEMED TO LOSE TRACTION AND SHE SAID BEFORE SHE KNEW IT SHE WAS INCHES AWAY FROM GOING INTO A DITCH AND JUST MISSED HITTING ANOTHER CAR,THANK GOD THE TRAFFIC BEHIND HER DID NOT CRASH INTO HER. A GUY SHE MISSED HITTING GOT OUT OF HIS CAR AND ASKED IF SHE WAS OK AND THAT SHE ALMOST HIT HIM. WE CONTACTED LEXUS THAT MORNING AND WAS TOLD TO BRING THE CAR IN SO WE HAD IT TOWED AND WAS GIVEN A LOANER FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND WAS FINALLY TOLD WHAT WAS WRONG,THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL WAS LOCKING UP &FLUID INSIDE WAS COMPLETELY BLACK FROM METAL SHAVINGS TO THE TUNE OF $5000.00 WE AT THAT TIME ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY RECALLS ON THE CAR BECAUSE EVERYBODY WE TALKED TO SAID THE CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE THAT,WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE GUY THERE WERE NO RECALLS,WE WENT LOOKING ON THE INTERNET ABOUT DIFFERENTIALS AND HAPPENED UPON LEXUS WEBSITE AND THERE WE FOUND RECALL ON MY CAR 1999 RX300 RECALL #72421 DESCRIBING EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO US.CONTACTED LEXUS WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT MY CAR,NOT MY VIN #,DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER. AFTER NUMEROUS CALLS TO TRY AND RESOLVE THIS GETTING THE RUNAROUND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER HE WOULD BE WILLING TO DO THE LABOR FOR FREE AND BUT DID NOT FEEL LIKE HE SHOULD ASSUME ALL RESPONSIBILITY AND TO CALL CORPORATE WAS TOLD BY THEM THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL THAT IT WAS A "TECHNICAL BULLETIN".AND FINALLY THEY WOULD ALLOW 25% OFF OF PARTS AND THAT WAS A FINAL OFFER,ALSO I REC

I PURCHASED A LEXUS RX300 IN OCTOBER 2009. THE CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AND PROPER FLUIDS CHECKED OR REPLACED. ON FEBRUARY OF 2010 THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. NO WARNING LIGHTS INDICATING THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION. NOW I AM TOLD THAT IT WILL COST APPROXIMATELY 4400K TO REPLACE. AS I RESEARCH I COME TO FIND OUT THAT I HAVE PURCHASED A TOP OF LINE VEHICLE WITH A MID CLASS TRANSMISSION (CAMRY). CAR IS SITTING IN DRIVEWAY STILL NO CHECK ENGINE OR WARNING LIGHTS. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED A NOISE ON THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED MOVING FORWARD. SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND TRIED TO RESTART IT; HOWEVER, AFTER 10 ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE SHE WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED HER A 50% DISCOUNT OFF OF THE TOTAL REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED TO-DATE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 86,192.

WE OWNED A 1999 LEXUS RX 300 SUV. WE RECENTLY ENCOUNTERED A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON 11/26/2009 (THANKSGIVING DAY) AT ~134000 MILES WHILE DRIVING TO ATTEND A THANKSGIVING DINNER. THE CAR WAS WELL-MAINTAINED AND WELL-KEPT SINCE THE PURCHASE. THE ENTIRE MAINTENANCE HISTORY CAN BE VERIFIED & CONFIRMED BY LEXUS OF PORTLAND IN OREGON. WE WERE VERY SURPRISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT SO SOON FOR A LEXUS. THIS IS VERY DISAPPOINTING. NOT ONLY THE SITUATION WAS DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE FOR MY WIFE & I (WE WERE ON A HIGHWAY) BUT WE LATER FOUND OUT THAT LEXUS IS CHARGING US $4400 TO REPLACE A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. AS I INVESTIGATE FURTHER, SOUNDS LIKE LEXUS/TOYOTA IS WELL-AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND NOT OFFERING ANY COMPENSATION TO HELP WITH THE HEAVY BURDEN REPLACEMENT COST. WE WOULD LIKE TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT AS A WAY TO GET HIGHER AUTHORITY TO HELP THE AFFECTED LEXUS OWNER. HOPEFULLY YOU CAN REVIEW & INVESTIGATE INTO THE MATTER WITH LEXUS/TOYOTA FOR US. *TR

I HAD SOME DIAGNOSTICS RUN ON THE TRANSMISSION, AND THE VERDICT WAS THAT THE PLANETARY GEAR WOULD LIKELY NEED TO BE REPLACED IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. APPARENTLY THE ORIGINAL PLANETARY GEAR HAD FOUR GEARS MOUNTED IN AN ALUMINUM CARRIER... WHO KNOWS, HEAT, WEAR WHATEVER THE CARRIER FAILS AND ALLOWS THE GEARS TO TILT, AND THEN YOUR TRANNY IS TOAST.. THE NEW REPLACEMENT PLANETARY GEARS ARE MOUNTED IN A STEEL CARRIER, WITH 6 GEARS INSTEAD OF THE ORIGINAL 4....VERY INTERESTING.... AND MUCH STRONGER I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MY LOCAL LEXUS DEALER (WHO HIMSELF HAD AN RX300 AND HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, IRONICALLY), AND HE WENT TO LEXUS CORPORATE AND GOT THEM TO PAY FOR HALF OF THE REPLACEMENT COST. THIS BROUGHT THE ESTIMATED COST TO ABOUT $2200 INCLUDING TAX. THE ESTIMATED COSTS ON THE OVERHAUL WERE BETWEEN $1500-$2000. THE LEXUS SERVICE MANAGER HAD SAID THAT WHEN HIS OWN TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, HE'D GRILLED THE LEXUS ENGINEERS ON THE REMANUFACTURED PART. HE SAID THAT THE ENGINEERS ADMITTED THAT THERE WERE SOME "IMPROVEMENTS" MADE IN THAT TRANSMISSION POST-2001 AND THAT THEY'D RATHER HAVE A REMANUFACTURED 2001+ TRANNY THAN A BRAND NEW 2000 TRANSMISSION. THEY NEVER ADMITTED TO AN ISSUE, ONLY THAT THE 2001+ PART WAS DEFINITELY BETTER. I CONSIDER MYSELF TO BE PRETTY DARN GOOD AT KNOWING WHEN SOMEONE ISN'T TELLING THE FULL TRUTH, AND THIS GUY WAS, SO I BELIEVE HIM. *TR

I AM TRYING TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO AT THIS ROCK AND HARD PLACE WITH MY 1999 LEXUS RX THAT I PURCHASED NEW. I LOVE THIS CAR, HOWEVER SINCE THE WARRANTY ENDED, I'VE HAD A SERIES OF PROBLEMS. SENSORS MOSTLY AND A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE LINKED TO CO2 ISSUES. IT HAS BEEN ON AND OFF FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS NOW. FINALLY, I HAD A CHECKUP DONE WHEN MY CAR STARTED TO INFREQUENTLY SHUDDER WHEN IT DOWNSHIFTS FROM 3RD TO 2ND GEAR OR DELAY REVERSE WHEN PUT IN GEAR. NOTHING SHOWED UP ENGINE/TRANSMISSION WISE...... THOUGHT IT WAS AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES SO HAD IT REALIGNED. PROBLEM STILL REMAINS AND APPEARS TO BE WORSENING AND I'M GETTING CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING IT. THE CAR HAS 86,000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE ALWAYS HAD THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP DO THE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE WHEN APPROPRIATE. THIS IS A VERY POOR QUALITY ISSUE FOR A COMPANY WHO CLAIMS TO HAVE QUALITY AS THEIR MAIN GOAL. I GUESS THEY JUST DON'T CLAIM TO HAVE "GOOD OR GREAT" QUALITY AS THEIR MOTTO. I WILL BE SHOUTING THIS LOUD AND CLEAR TO ALL OF MY FRIENDS. *TR

TRANSMISSION ON MY 1999 LEXUS RX300 STARTED SLIPPING. WE TOOK IT INTO A LEXUS DEALER AND WERE TOLD TO NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, THEN BRING IT IN. I ASKED IF WE SHOULD HAVE IT SERVICED OR SOME MAINTENANCE TO PREVENT A FAILURE AND THEY ADVISED THAT IT WAS NOT WORTH IT. IT FAILED, THEN THE DEALER WANTS $4,200 TO FIX IT. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS YEAR AND MODEL LEXUS HAS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS NATIONWIDE AND SUGGESTS IT IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AS GENERAL MECHANICAL FAILURE. *TR

I HAVE READ AS MANY OF THE OWNERS OF 1999 LEXUS RX300 SUV , I AM NOT SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT I AM NOW A PROUD OWNER OF A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION THAT FAILED ON MY WIFE WHILE RETURNING FROM GREENVILLE TO COLUMBIA SC. THE TRANSMISSION WAS INDICATING PROBLEMS BY SHIFTING SLOW AS MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED . WHEN THESE TRANSMISSIONS START TO FAIL YOU EXPERIENCE SLOW SHIFTING WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING , EVEN IF YOU LET THE CAR WARM UP FIRST BEFORE MOVING INTO ANY GEAR DRIVE OR REVERSE. WHEN YOU TRY TO BACK UP IN REVERSE THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR, THEN JUMPS INTO GEAR HARD. I HAVE BEEN IN THE MECHANICAL FIELD FOR 35 YEARS WORKING FOR BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE IAS A MANAGING PARTNER OF RETAIL LOCATIONS AND KNOW THIS IS THE SIGNS OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED ONLY BY LEXUS ONLY. ALSO ARE SEVERE OIL SLUDGING PROBLEMS, HAVE SERVICED HUNDREDS OF THESE MODELS AND EVERY HORROR STORY IS THE SAME . OIL SLUDGING CAUSES SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE RESTRICTING OIL FLOW THROUGH OUT THE ENGINE. WHEN IS OUR RIGHTS AS CONSUMERS GOING TO BE UPHELD BY OUR GOVERNMENT . I DON`T THINK I WANT TO BUY OTHER NEW TRANSMISSION FROM TOYOTA CORPORATION OR ANOTHER TOYOTA PRODUCT . THE COST TO REPAIR WAS $4075.00 AND THE ONLY TRANSMISSIONS AVAILABLE ARE THRU TOYOTA WITH APPARENTLY WITH THE NEW DESIGN . THESE PROBLEMS WERE CORRECTED IN 2002 WITH THE NEW DESIGN, WHAT ABOUT US THE OWNERS OF THE DEFECTIVE ONES!!!! CHAPIN S.C. *TR

'99 LEXUS RX300 WITH 157,000. TRANSMISSION DIED. IT STARTED JERKING AND HAD TROUBLE SHIFTING. I WAS ABLE TO LIMP ABOUT 5 MILES TO THE DEALER. I HAD READ ABOUT A NUMBER OF THESE FAILING AND PAID EXTRA AT THE LAST REGULAR SERVICE TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED IN ADDITION TO THE REGULAR SERVICE. THAT WAS 1,000 BEFORE FAILURE. LEXUS CHARGED $4700 OUT THE DOOR TO DIAGNOSE AND REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WITH A REBUILT ONE. *TR

I HAVE A 99 RX 300 LEXUS WITH 75,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION JUST DIED TODAY. I DID ALL THAT LEXUS RECOMMENDED WITH FLUIDS REPLACEMENT (EACH 10K MILES WHICH IS OUTRAGEOUS) AND WITH ALL THAT THE TRANSMISSION DIED I HOPE THAT YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR

1999 LEXUS RX 300 TRANSMISSION BROKE ON FREEWAY. SEEMS THIS IS VERY COMMON AMONG THESE CARS. THEY KNOW ABOUT IT AND ARE BURYING THEIR HEAD IN THE SAND AND NOT HELPFUL AT ALL. WE NEED A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. *TR

THIS IS MY SECOND TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN THIS VEHICLE. IF YOU READ ANY LEXUS OWNER'S BLOG, YOU WILL REALIZE THAT THE EARLY RX300 MODELS HAVE A SERIOUSLY HIGH FAIL RATE FOR TRANSMISSIONS. MOST FAIL AROUND 80K MILES. MINE HAS AVERAGED 70K MILES PER TRANSMISSION. LEXUS REALLY NEED TO OWN UP TO THEIR DESIGN FLAW. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN A LEXUS RX300. *TR

MY 1999 LEXUS RX-300 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE IN HIGHER GEAR AND CONTINUED AT 2ND GEAR. I HAVE FLUSHED THE ATF WITH ORIGINAL TOYOTA TYPE 4 ATF FLUID EVERY 30K MILES. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL-MAINTAINED REGULARLY AND DRIVEN UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION. *TR

1999 LEXUS RX-300. I HAVE 94,000 MILES ON IT, ORIGINAL OWNER. HAVE GOTTEN EVERY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE SERVICE ON IT INCLUDING 30,000 , 60,000 AND 90,000 MILES SERVICE IN OCTOBER 2008. NOW MARCH 2009 AND HAVE COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 94,000 MILES WHEN I HAD 92,000 MILES ON MY CAR FOR ITS SERVICE IN OCTOBER 2008. SAW ALL THE TALK ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN SAME SITUATION AND LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE SAYS THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I AM REFERRING TO! *TR

TRANSMISSION HAD SLIPPING PROBLEMS ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. DRAINED TRANS & CHANGED FILTERS. REMOVED SHIFT SOLENOIDS & CHECKED TO SEE IF THEY OPERATED. ROAD TESTED FAIRLY GOOD. FOUND OUT FROM REPUTABLE TRANS REPAIR PERSON THAT THIS PARTICULAR YEAR MODEL TRANS HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS THAT LEXUS HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSING. THEY CAN REBUILD TRANS BUT CANNOT UPDATE COMPUTER FOR THE SHIFTING PROBLEMS WHICH WILL RUIN TRANS DURING TEST DRIVE. NOW MY TRANS WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE. *TR

WHEN I RUN THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM, WATER SEEPS FROM UNDER THE FLOOR BOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, SOMETIMES UP TO 3/4 INCH. I HAVE TO USE A VACUUM AND OR A CUP TO GET IT OUT. IT IS DAMAGING THE BODY. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR

DURING NORMAL DRIVING - THE ENGINE STARTED TO REV HIGHER THAN NORMAL - BARELY GOT THE CAR HOME (2 1/2 MILES) - GOING DOWN THE ROAD WITH A 55MPH SPEED LIMIT AT 20 MPH, THE NEXT DAY I TOOK THE CAR FOR A SHORT TEST DRIVE AND IT WOULD NOT SHIFT - WILL BE TAKING THE CAR (99 RX300) TO A SHOP TO HAVE IT FIXED. *TR

LEXUS RX300 1999 MODEL COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT JUST OVER 100K MILES. BASED ON INTERNET COMMENTS THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE A RECALL. COST TO REPLACE IS FROM $3500-4500. ON AN EXPENSIVE CAR LIKE THIS, IT IS CRAZY. *TR

I WAS JUST DRIVING ALONG AND AS I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE THE RPMS WENT REAL HIGH AND THE SPEED WOULD NOT INCREASE. AFTER STOPPING AND STARTING AGAIN IT BEGAN JERKING AND WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS. IT TURNED OUT THAT MY TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. I BOUGHT A 2000 RECONDITIONED ONE TO SAVE MONEY. NOW I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT! *TR

MY 1999 LEXUS RX300 TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY BROKE WHILE DRIVING. THE RPMS WENT UP THEN THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS FULL. THE CAR SERVICE RECORD IS AS RECOMMENDED BY LEXUS. MILEAGE AROUND 110,000M. I FOUND ON THE WEB HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR REPORTED PROBLEMS BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS IS AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. PLEASE CHECK IT OUT AND TAKE ACTION TO HAVE LEXUS STAND BEHIND THE CAR. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED. *TR

I OWN A 1999 LEXUS RX300 FWD. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. WHEN I BOUGHT IT JAN 2008 IGNITION COIL 1 AND 3 FAILED. TWO MONTHS LATER 3, , AND 6 FAILED. BOTH TIMES WHEN VEHICLE FAILED I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 85 VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO OVER 45 AND WOULD NOT GO INTO OVERDRIVE!!! NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS ACTING UP. IT IS SLIPPING AND ALSO DECIDES TO GEAR DOWN WHEN DOING 70MPH DOWN THE INTERSTATE. WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AND THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T MOVE, FINALLY CAUGHT GEAR AND JERKED. WAS ALMOST HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS SO CALLED "LUXURY VEHICLE". IT IS STILL UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, AND IS GOING TO LEXUS DEALERSHIP TOMM. I CANT WAIT TO HEAR WHAT THEY SAY THE OUT COME IS. CAR HAS BEEN FULLY SERVICED AND UP TO DATE. JUST CAME OUT OF LEXUS DEALERSHIP 2 WEEKS AGO HAVING PROBLEMS!!??? NOW ITS GOING BACK. LEXUS NEEDS TO RECALL THE TRANSMISSIONS THEY ARE FAULTY!! I HAVE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS AND NOT ONE ACTION FROM THE MANUFACTURER YET?? THEY HAVE ALREADY REPLACE REAR MAIN SEALS, CAM SEALS, AND SOMETHING ELSE AT 2000.00 DOLLARS...UGH WHEN ITS COLD, IT TAKES THE CAR ABOUT 12 MINS TO GO INTO OVERDRIVE. I KEEP HEARING A WHINING SOUND, AND SHUDDER SOUNDS. I ONLY HAVE LIKE 16,000 MILES LEFT ON WARRANTY. SO SOME ONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT TO DO OR WHERE TO GO!!! THIS IS SUCH A HEADACHE!! *TR

I HAVE HAD CONTINUED PROBLEMS, THAT AT TIMES LEFT ME STRANDED. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BROKE ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS. AT THIS TIME IT LEFT ME WITHOUT THE 3RD AND THE OVERDRIVE GEAR (4TH) WHILE DRIVING ON A MAIN INTERSTATE CAUSING A HAZARD DUE TO THE SPEED IN WHICH I WAS TRAVELING. THE POSTED SPEED WAS 65, BUT I COULD ONLY TRAVEL AT 35MPH. *TR

SIMPLY DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP, VERY QUICKLY (20-30 MILES) THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING SO BADLY THE CAR HAD TO BE PUT INTO 2ND GEAR TO GET IT TO THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP. THE CAR WILL NOT DRIVE IN DRIVE AND CAN ONLY MOVE FORWARD IN THE LOWER AUTOMATIC GEARS. *TR

I AM THE OWNER A 1999 LEXUS RX 300 THAT HAD A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. DEPENDING ON WHO I TALK TO IT WILL COST ANYWHERE FROM $4000 TO $6500 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. I FOUND OUT SINCE THIS FAILURE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. MY SOURCE FOR THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN THE INTERNET, TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOPS AND THE DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEES THEMSELVES. THIS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR A WHILE. LEXUS SHOULD DO THE RIGHT THING AND RECALL THESE VEHICLES TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A TRANSMISSION THAT HAS A DESIGN FLAW. THANK YOU *TR

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 1999 LEXUS RX300 FAILED. THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO INDICATION OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE FULL FAILURE OCCURRED. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT STALLED AND WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS LOOKS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT WILL COST ME $5000 TO REPAIR. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS CAR WENT COMPLETELY DEAD LAST WEEK. THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE AND THEN IT SUDDENLY WOULD NOT GO ANYWHERE. YOU CAN PUT THE CAR IN GEAR AND PUSH GAS BUT IT WON'T BUDGE. I GOT IT TOWED TO A LEXUS DEALERSHIP AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS GONE. *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK @ MIDNIGHT IN HER 1999 LEXUS RX300 WITH 98,000 MILES AND TRANSMISSION GOES OUT WITH NO PREVIOUS SIGNS OF MALFUNCTION. NOW A NEW TRANSMISSION IS NEEDED AT THE PRICE OF $4000. MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THE LEXUS RX300 HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AND FEEL LEXUS SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR POOR PRODUCT. *TR

ON DECEMBER 29, 2008 THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 1999 LEXUS RX 300 FAILED IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THIS IS AN EXISTING ISSUE WITH THE 1999-2000 LEXUS RX 300 AND HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED BY THE TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY, USA. I AM DISTURBED THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT TAKEN THE RESPONSIBILITY AND RECALLED THE VEHICLE. PLEASE CONTACT ME. *TR

EVEN THOUGH HAVING ALL MAJOR SERVICE PERFORMED TO THE LEXUS OWNERS MANUAL SPECS, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 110K MILES, LEFT MY WIFE STRANDED IN A REMOTE LOCATION, AND NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. IT NEEDS REPLACING AT A COST OF $4000. I AM AWARE OF HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE RX300. *TR

I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MY 1999 LEXUS RX300. I HAVE NOTICE VIA THE INTERNET THAT THESE ARE WIDE SPREAD PROBLEMS BUT NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN OCCURRING. THESE ARE THE INCIDENCES THAT I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH: * DEBRIS CAN GET INTO THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE THAT ALLOWS AIR INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO HAVE A LOW IDLE SPEED, OR STALL WHEN IT IS COLD. (THIS OCCURRED IN THE PAST, PERHAPS 2004. LEXUS EVENTUALLY REPLACED MY ENGINE IN 2005.) * SLUDGE CAN BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE. I ROUTINELY HAVE TO HAVE THE SLUDGE CLEANED OUT TO AVOID ENGINE PROBLEMS. * THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT COMES ON BECAUSE THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR SENDS INCORRECT INFORMATION TO THE ENGINE'S COMPUTER. THIS CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF POWER ON ACCELERATION. (THIS STARTED OCCURRING ON DECEMBER 11, 2008.) * THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT COMES ON BECAUSE A COMPONENT OF THE OXYGEN SENSOR STOPS WORKING, AND THE CAR IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROPER RATIO OF AIR TO FUEL FOR THE ENGINE. (THIS HAS OCCURRED IN THE PAST, PERHAPS 2005. WE HAD TO PAY FOR NEW AIR FLOW SENSORS.) * LIGHT BULBS FREQUENTLY BURN OUT IN THE TAILLIGHTS. * THE FRONT SUSPENSION MAKES VERY LOUD NOISES WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS OR ROUGH ROADS. THE SUPPORT BUSHING FOR THE SUSPENSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. (THIS BEGAN HAPPENING IN DECEMBER 2007. LEXUS TOLD US WE NEED NEW STRUTS.) * A THROBBING WIND NOISE FROM THE MOONROOF. ONE CANNOT HAVE THE MOONROOF OPEN AT THE SAME TIME AS THE WINDOWS OR ONES EAR DRUMS EXPERIENCE SEVERE PAIN. (THIS HAS EXISTED FROM PURC

I HAD A 1999 LEXUS RX300. IT HAD TRANSMISSION SENSOR REPLACED AT ~86K MILES. AND RECENTLY, AT 140K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION TOTALLY BROKE DOWN. FROM READING HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWMORECOMMENTS_REVIEW_54694_4.HTML, THERE ARE SO MANY 1999 RX300 OWNERS HAD THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *TR

ON 12-31-2007 MY HUSBAND AND I WERE COMING HOME FROM A RESTAURANT. WE LIVE IN THE COUNTRY,SO THERE ARE NO STREET LIGHTS AND IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT. WE WERE DRIVING HOME AND ALL OF A SUDDEN OUR LEXUS STOPPED ACCELERATING WAS NO PLACE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD,NEEDLESS TO SAY THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PULL IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. SI WE HAD TO SIT THERE IN THE ROAD. AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME THE LEXUS WOULD PULL AGAIN NOT FAR AND THEN IT WOULD QUIT PULLING. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT. SINCE JANUARY 2008 I HAVE READ SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I FILED A REPORT WITH NHTSA AND AS FAR AS I KNOW THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN INVESTIGATION YOU DON'T THINK TRANSMISSION FAILURE IS A HAZARD PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FIXED,MY LEXUS WILL PULL A SHORT DISTANT SO IF KNOW ONE THINKS THIS IS IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO DO AN INVESTIGATION OR NO ONE SEES THE HAZARD THAT COULD HAPPEN. THEN I AM LEFT WITH NO CHOICE BUT TO START DRIVING MY 1999 LEXUS RX 300. I HAVE BEEN WAITING SINCE JANUARY 2008 AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE NOR HAVE I HEARD BACK FROM ANYONE. AND AS FAR AS THE DEALERSHIP ALL I GET IS THE RUN AROUND. AND TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH I AM TIRED OF IT. SOMEONE PLEASE GIVE US CONSUMERS AN ANSWER WE DESERVE THAT MUCH. TO THIS DAY I HAVE NO VEHICLE TO DRIVE. DO I SEE A HAZARD YES. SOMEONE PLEASE HEAR OUR CRIES. WE NEED YOUR HELP. *TR

I CHANGE MOTOR OIL EVERY 5,000 MILES, AS PER MANUFACTURER'S SCHEDULE. ALSO PERFORMED A 'LARGE' ($1,400) MAINTENANCE AT LEXUS DEALER. CAR ('99 RX300 AWD) HAD REAR ENGINE SEAL LEAK AT 68,000 MILES. IT SEEMS A LARGE NUMBER OF THE RX300S EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM, DUE TO HARDENING (DEFECTIVE) SEAL MATERIAL ABUTTING A HOT CRANKCASE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO LOW GEAR AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 25 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE REPAIRS WERE MADE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. LESS THAN FOUR YEARS LATER, WHILE TRAVELING AFTER AN EXTENDED DRIVE, HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SLIP INTO FIRST GEAR INTERMITTENTLY. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SERVICED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION EITHER NEEDED TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 240,000.

LEXUS RX300 TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 100,000 MILES. *TR

WHILE RUNNING LOCAL ERRANDS ON 9-1-08, MY 1999 LEXUS RX 300 SUV EXPERIENCED SUDDEN FAILURE OF AWD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, RESULTING IN RAPID DECELERATION AND MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER, WHICH STATED THAT TRANSMISSION WAS DESTROYED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. ESTIMATED COST IS $5,100. *TR

I WAS SLOWLY BACKING UP THROUGH A NARROW EXIT, AND THEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, SLOWLY PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR JUST TOOK OFF LIKE A BULLET, I HIT THE WALL OF A HOUSE, I WAS ABOUT 10 OR 15 FEET FROM THE WALL, IT WAS SO UNEXPECTED, FAST AND SCARY THAT I FROZE, I WAS WITH THREE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE CAR, WE WERE LUCKY THAT NOBODY GOT HURT. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THIS IS THE ONLY TIME THIS HAPPENED. *TR

I HAVE A 1999 LEXUS RX300...TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 150K MILES NO WARNING JUST STRANDED ME WHILE OUT RUNNING ERRANDS. THE COST TO FIX THIS WAS 3K AND NO CAR DOOR OVER A WEEK. THIS CAR ALSO HAD AN ENGINE THAT LEXUS REPLACED DUE TO OIL SLUDGING. REALLY WANTED TO KEPT HE CAR UNTIL 200K BUT NOW THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. *TR

NOTICED INABILITY OF THE TRANSMISSION TO CONSISTENTLY UPSHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE IN FREEWAY CONDITIONS WITH MINIMUM LOAD, FLAT SURFACE. *TR