1999 Lexus RX300 complaints

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT OF MY 1999 LEXUS RX300. *TR

CAR BEGINS TO LURCH BOTH BACKING UP AND ACCELERATING IN THE LOW GEARS. THE COMPUTER ERRONEOUSLY TELLS THE CLUTCH TO ENGAGE, THUS BLOWING THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE NECK PAIN FROM THE LURCHING; IT FEELS AS THOUGH YOU ARE GETTING HIT FROM BEHIND. BECAUSE OF THE JUMPING, IT COULD ALSO BE VERY EASY TO REAR END SOMEONE. MANY OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS ON VARIOUS BLOGS, INCLUDING 12 PAGES AT EDMUNDS.COM. THE COST TO REPLACE BOTH THE COMPUTER AND THE TRANSMISSION RANGES FROM $4000-8000 DEPENDING ON WHETHER OR NOT YOU USE THE DEALERSHIP. TOYOTA/LEXUS RECOGNIZES THIS AS A COMMON PROBLEM AND HAS CORRECTED IT IN NEWER MODELS, HOWEVER EVERY OLDER CAR HAS THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR

OWN A 1999 LEXUS RX 300. ENGINE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SLUGGISH SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2001. SINCE WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR WE COMPLAINED THE DEALER THAT WHEN YOU START TO RUN THE CAR IN THE MORNING IT WILL TAKE A FEW MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR WILL SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. THE DEALER KEPT TELLING US THAT WAS NORMAL FOR THE MODEL CAR. THE TRANSMISSION GOT CONTINUALLY MORE SLUGGISH OVER THE YEARS MEANING THAT THERE WAS HESITATION OR JERKY NESS WHEN YOU WOULD PULL YOUR FOOT OFF OF THE GAS. LAST WEEK I STARTED TO HEAR A GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE CAR WAS SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. I JUST GOT BACK FROM THE REPAIR SHOP WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WHICH JUST TURNED 130,000 MILES WAS SHOT AND THAT THE ONLY FIX WAS TO PURCHASE A REBUILT ONE FROM LEXUS AT A COST OF $4,500 TO $5,000. THEY TOLD ME THEY WERE AWARE THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1999 - 2001 RX 300 TRANSMISSIONS BUT THAT THERE WAS NEVER A RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED. IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THEN I THINK SOMEONE SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE 1999 LEXUS RX 300. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED. COULD NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE. OCCURRED ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH. *TR

I OWN TWO 1999 LEXUS RX300'S. ONE WITH 100,000 MILES AND ONE WITH 76,000 MILES. WITHIN THE LAST TWO MONTHS, THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED IN BOTH CARS. *TR

MY 1999 RX 300 HAS 110K MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF STREET AND ALMOST GOT AN ACCIDENT. I DID SOME RESEARCH, ITS DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER OWNERS WITH SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU GUYS CAN INVESTIGATE THIS. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION OF OUR 1999 LEXUS RX300 FAILED SUDDENLY AND COMPLETELY WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO BE IN NEUTRAL AND NO LONGER IN DRIVE. THIS WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT OUR EXPENSE SINCE THE DRIVETRAIN WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. A CURSORY SEARCH OF THE INTERNET SHOWS THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE IN THE 1999 RX300 AND IS WELL KNOWN TO LEXUS. THIS TYPE OF COMPLETE FAILURE IS NOT NORMAL. LEXUS SHOULD BE WARNING OF THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS FAILURE AND HELPING TO PREVENT/CORRECT IT. *TR

I AM THE OWNER OF A '99 LEXUS RX 300 WITH ONLY 60K MILES ON IT. I RECENTLY EXPERIENCED SERIOUS TRANSMISSIONS PROBLEMS. IT FIRST STARTED WHEN I TRIED TO GET OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE AND COULD NOT PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND FOR THE FIRST INITIAL ATTEMPTS AND THEN IT VIOLENTLY JERKED INTO REVERSE. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE DIAGNOSED A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I AM HAVING A REBUILT TRANSMISSION PUT IN THE CAR FOR $2000, WHICH APPEARS PRETTY COMPETITIVE COMPARED TO THE AVERAGE PRICE OF $4K THAT IS BEING QUOTED OVER THE INTERNET. LEXUS SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. *TR

TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP AT @55MPH ON RT 100 ON A CLEAR WARM SUNNY DAY WHILE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE WHEELS LOCKED UP AND THE 99 LEXUS RX300 SPUN 220 DEGREES INTO AN ADJACENT STONE LINED DRAINAGE DITCH. LEN STOLER LEXUS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

THE WHEELS OF A 1999 RX300 LOCKED UP AT HIGHWAY SPEED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN 220 DEGREES AND CRASH INTO A DRAINAGE DITCH. TRANSFER CASE WAS REPLACED BY DEALER/INSURANCE CO. ABS SENSORS ARE RUSTING AT THE WHEELS AND REQUIRE REPAIR AFTER ONLY 23 MONTHS/27K MILES SINCE THE LAST ABS SENSOR OVERHAUL. LEXUS HAS THE TRANSFER CASE. *TR

1999 RX300 FIRST HEARD KNOCKING FROM THE HOOD AND CUT OFF, NEXT DAY THE CAR WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR BACKWARD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HE WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE MORE THAN 5 MPH. THE MECHANIC DRAINED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. IN ADDITION, THEY RECOMMENDED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED A $1,500 VOUCHER TOWARDS THE REPAIR; BUT THE CONTACT DECLINED THE OFFER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 87,082.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS RX-300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HEARD A CRACKLING NOISE WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKE THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TEN MINUTES LATER HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CAUSED THE FAILURE. AS OF JANUARY 7, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000. UPDATED 02-14-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD FREQUENTLY LOOSE POWER.

RX300 1999 TRANSMISSION DIED AT ABOUT 160,000 KM (100,000 MILES): ENGINE WILL START AND THEN FROM 50-60 KMPH DIE DOWN AFTER DRIVEN FOR A LITTLE WHILE. GOT THE CAR TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT IS WAITING TO BE FIXED. I LIVE IN ONTARIO, CANADA. I WENT TO LEXUS OWNERS FORUM AND FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS OF RX300 COMPLAINING ABOUT THE TRANNY FAILURE AT AROUND 75,000-85,000 MILES. OTHER OWNERS ARE FRUSTRATED AND COMPLAINING ABOUT THE POOR DESIGN BY LEXUS FOR THIS PART AND ALSO STRONGLY FEEL THAT LEXUS SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. I ALSO OWN ES300 1993 WHOSE TRANNY ALSO FAILED ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO AT ABOUT 220,000 KM (137,500 MILES) AND I GOT A USED ONE REPLACED AND PAID FOR IT MYSELF ABOUT $2,000 CDN. ONE OF THE OWNERS IN THE FORUM MENTIONED ABOUT "SLUDGE" IN THE TRANSMISSION ADMITTED BY ONE OF THE LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE BEING THE CAUSE OF THE TRANNY FAILURES. MY FAMILY ONLY DRIVE LEXUS CARS AS MENTIONED ABOVE AND ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE TRANNY PROBLEMS WITH BOTH AND FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT LEXUS SHOULD PAY FOR IT'S REPAIR. *TR

MY 1999 RX300 LEXUS LOST IT'S TRANSMISSION AT 110,000 MILES. I PAID TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THE NEW TRANSMISSION NOW FAILED AGAIN. THE SUN GEAR, RING GEAR AND 4 PLANET GEARS ON THAT ONE STAGE HAVE EXTENSIVE TOOTH FRACTURE. FAILURES OF THIS TYPE CAN GENERALLY BE ATTRIBUTED TO ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING CAUSES: 1. POOR DESIGN ANALYSIS RESULTING IN IMPROPER GEAR SELECTION RESULTING IN TOOTH OVERLOAD AND TOOTH FRACTURE. 2. IMPROPER ALIGNMENT AT ASSEMBLY RESULTING IN NON-EQUAL LOAD DISTRIBUTION LEADING TO FATIGUE FRACTURE OF THE TEETH. 3. FOREIGN MATERIAL, GETTING INTO THE PLANETARY GEARING FROM EITHER CONTAMINATION AT ASSEMBLY OR BREAKDOWN OF OTHER COMPONENTS WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE AND THE ENGINE REVVED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH HAD ONLY 90,000 MILES. THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. SHE PAID FOR HER NEW TRANSMISSION, BUT AFTER 6,000 MILES, THE VEHICLE INVOLUNTARILY ACCELERATES. SHE WILL RETURN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. THE SPEED AND MILEAGE INFORMATION WERE UNKNOWN.

AUTOMOBILE WAS A PERFECTLY FUNCTIONING 1999 CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED LEXUS RX300 UNDER A BUMPER TO BUMPER 'NEW CAR WARRANTY'. AUTO WAS CONSISTENTLY SERVICED BY LEXUS OF PALM BEACH. THE AUTOMOBILE WAS CONSUMED BY 20 FT. FLAMES IN ABOUT 15 MINUTES WHILE PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT. THE GARAGE WAS ABOUT 6 FT. AWAY AND CAUGHT FIRE. FORTUNATELY A NEIGHBORS DOG AWOKE THEM AND THE FIREMEN ARRIVED TO PUT THE FINAL CAR FLAMES OUT AND STOP THE FIRE ON THE GARAGE. WE SLEPT THROUGH THE ENTIRE INCIDENT AND WERE AWOKEN BY A FIREMAN. THE EXACT CAUSE IS STILL A MYSTERY. THE ARSON INVESTIGATOR RULED OUT ARSON, THE RESPONDING FIRE CHIEF RULED OUT WEATHER RELATED CAUSES. BOTH THE ARSON AND THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATORS DETERMINED THE IGNITION POINT AT THE REAR LEFT TIRE. BOTH CONCLUDED THAT POSSIBLY AN OVER HEATED BRAKE WAS TO BLAME. I AND THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AT TOYOTA MOTOR SALES AGREE THAT THIS EXPLANATION IS IMPOSSIBLE SINCE THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN TWO DAYS AND IT RAINED HEAVILY DURING THOSE TWO DAYS. I HAVE ENCOURAGED THEM TO DO THEIR OWN INVESTIGATION. TO DATE NO RESPONSE. THREE MONTHS HAVE ELAPSED AND LEXUS HAS SHOWN NO INTEREST IN THIS MATTER. I AM ESPECIALLY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF SMALL CHILDREN WHEN FLAMES CAN ERUPT SO UNEXPECTEDLY AND CONSUME A CAR SO QUICKLY. ON OUR STREET OF 34 HOUSES THERE ARE AT LEAST 10 OTHER LEXUS OWNERS. ONE HAS CONFIDED THAT HE PARKS HIS CAR FURTHER FROM THE GARAGE NOW AS A RESULT OF WHAT HE WITNESSED. HE ALSO IS THE FATHER OF AN 18 MON

1999 LEXUS RX 300 WITH REAR/HATCH DOOR LOCK PROBLEMS CUSTOMER STATES THAT HE HAS NOTIFIED LEXUS AND LEARNED FROM FRIENDS THAT SIMILAR MODELS WITH IDENTICAL PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN REPORTED**CC THE CONSUMER STATED THE DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK OR OPEN EITHER MANUALLY OR BY USING THE REMOTE CONTROL. THE CONSUMER LEARNED THERE WAS NO MECHANISM TO OPEN THE DOOR MANUALLY FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE. *JB

COMPLETE TRANSAXLE FAILURE - AT 91000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION ON THE 1999 AWT LEXUS RACKS FAILED AT 50 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING NORMALLY, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS AND THE CAR COASTED TO A STOP. THIS HAPPENED ON A NARROW COUNTRY ROAD WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC AND IT WAS ONLY LUCK THAT AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR HAD BEEN ROUTINELY SERVICED AS REQUIRED BY LEXUS AND HAD BEEN IN FOR A ROUTINE SERVICE THE DAY PRIOR. REVIEW OF THE NHTSA COMPLAINT DATABASE SUGGESTS THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND, IF SO, IT REPRESENTED A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN FOR THIS MODEL AND YEAR OF CAR, IN GENERAL. IT WAS VERY TROUBLING THAT ANY VEHICLE WOULD HAVE THE TYPE OF DEFECT THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UNANNOUNCED SUDDEN MAJOR FAILURE AT LESS THAN 100000 MILES. THE REPAIR REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION. LEXUS WAS CONTACTED FOR MORE INFORMATION, BUT WAS OF NO HELP BEYOND NOTING THAT THE CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. LEXUS REQUIRED THAT THE REMOVED TRANSAXLE BE RETURNED TO THEM, UNOPENED.*AK

IN NOVEMBER 2006, THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 1999 RX300 UNEXPECTEDLY FAILED. WHILE TRAVELING HOME, THE CAR STARTED TO REV UP, BUT WOULD NOT MOVE - AS IF IN NEUTRAL. I HAD THE RX TOWED TO LOCAL LEXUS DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION AND I COULD PROBABLY SAVE MONEY BY GOING TO A TRANSMISSION REBUILDER. I HAD THE WORK DONE - AROUND $5000. MY RX HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED AND HAD 130K MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THE EVENT. NOW, I'M HEARING THAT THIS MAY BE A COMMON PROBLEM.

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED IN MY 1999 LEXUS RX300 WITH NO WARNING AT ONLY 97,000 MILES. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION ON THE 1999 RX 300 WA S SERVICED EXCLUSIVELY BY PERFORMANCE LEXUS, STARTED TO SLIP, AND BY THE TIME I GOT IT HOME IT HAD NO GEARING. I HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT ONE YEAR AGO, AND TOOK IT TO MY DEALER, WHO SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *AK

MY TRANSMISSION BROKE DOWN ON ME AND HAD TO BE REPLACED ON MY 1999 LEXUS RX 300, WITH LESS THAN 124,000 MILES. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOING BAD.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED SUDDENLY LEAVING ME STRANDED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO DECELERATE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND BEGAN HEARING A GRINDING SOUND. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NO GOOD. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 105,000.

THE LEXUS RX300 HAD 123000 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHEN TRAFFIC WAS AT ITS PEAK. I HAVE LEARNT AFTER THE FACT THAT THE RX300 TRANSMISSION PRONE TO FAILURE AND LEXUS HAD NOT POSTED ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THIS.*AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 169K WITH NO WARNING, CAR HAS BEEN FULLY SERVICED ACCORDING TO LEXUS GUIDELINES. DEALER WANTS $5K TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS RX300. AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WITH CLEAR ROAD CONDITIONS, THE TRANSMISSION UNEXPECTEDLY SHIFTED GEARS. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK FOLLOWED BY A LOSS IN POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS INTERNAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE VEHICLE MILEAGE WERE 103000. *AK

AT 67,000, MY TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT. FORTUNATELY, THIS OCCURRED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND NOT ON THE ROAD. NO WARNING, JUST NO TRANSMISSION. AFTER REPLACING TRANSMISSION, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STUCK ON. REPLACED A BROKEN SENSOR. I AM OUT $4,000.00 FOR A DEFECT THAT I BELIEVE LEXUS IS VERY AWARE OF. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS RX 300. WHILE SHIFTING IN REVERSE OR SECOND GEAR THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE LOCAL MECHANIC ON 02/11/07 STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND THE PLANETARY ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000. *AK UPDATE 4/9 *TR

I HAVE A LEXUS RX300 AWD AND JUST FOUND OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT 120,000 MILES. I WAS VERY SHOCKED WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT AND IT WOULD BE $5720 TO REPAIR IT. I AM VERY DISGUSTED WITH THIS BECAUSE I STARTED RESEARCHING THE ISSUE AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS "SO CALLED LUXURY VEHICLE" THAT IS SUPPOSE TO LAST YOU TO 250,000 MILES OR MORE. *NM

NO EVENTS LEADING TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE NEEDS REPLACING. *NM

OUR 1999 RX300 HAS ONLY 70,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON A VERY BUSY STREET. THE FAILURE WAS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE SHE WAS IN THE MIDST OF TRAFFIC WHEN SHE COULD NOT MANEUVER HER CAR SAFELY TO THE CURB. SHE WAS ABLE AFTER SITTING IN TRAFFIC FOR AWHILE TO RESTART THE CAR AND MOVE THE CAR OVER TO THE CURB. SHE CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK WHICH TOWED THE CAR TO OUR MECHANIC'S SHOP. THE COST FOR A REBUILT TRANSMISSION WILL COST US $5000. AFTER SEARCH THE INTERNET, WE HAVE FOUND THAT MANY MANY !999 RX300 OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND WITH MANY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS OF BEING WITHOUT POWER TO MOVE SAFELY OFF FREEWAYS AND HIGHWAYS. T THERE OUGHT TO BE A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL ON THIS CAR AND A CHARGE TO TOYOTA AMERICA TO DEVELOP A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. HAS THERE BEEN ANY MEDIA INVESTIGATIONS INTO THIS? LEXUS BEING THE FLAGSHIP FOR TOYOTA, YOU WOULD THINK THAT TOYOTA WOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT HAVING THEIR ARMS TWISTED. *JB

HAVE A LEXUS RX 300 1999 MODEL WITH 4X4 DRIVE. THE CAR RAN OK FOR 80,000 MILES OR SO. OUR CURRENT MILEAGE IS AROUND 81,000. THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON AN EXPRESSWAY WHEN IT GOT REALLY SLOW (15 MPH) AND THEN STOPPED ON ITS OWN. I BARELY AVOIDED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. ANYWAYS, I TOOK THE CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY TELL ME THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND WILL COST ME 4800 TO DO SO. PLEASE HELP. APPARENTLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR RX 300 1999-2000 MODELS. THE GOOGLE SEARCH ONLINE BRINGS UP TONS OF BLOGS MENTIONING THE SAME PROBLEM. HERE IS A COPY OF ONE OF THE BLOGS POSTED ON HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWMORECOMMENTS_REVIEW_54694_2.HTML MANY LEXUS CARS ARE EQUIPPED WITH A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION THAT FAILS PREMATURELY. LEXUS ADMITS THIS, BUT WILL NOT BACK UP THEIR PRODUCT WHEN THE EVENT OCCURS OUT OF WARRANTY (7/70) - UNLESS THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND SERVICED EXCLUSIVELY AT A LEXUS DEALERSHIP. SINCE THE MANUFACTURE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPLACEMENT COSTS (NOT THE DEALER), THE PRACTICE OF REPLACING ONLY DEALER-SERVICED CARS APPEARS ARROGANT AND DISCRIMINATORY. IF REPAIR RECORDS CAN BE PROVIDED SHOWING THAT TRANSMISSION SERVICE WAS DONE ACCORDING TO THE DEALER SERVICE INTERVALS - AND BY A CERTIFIED GARAGE - THEN THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BACK UP THEIR PRODUCT REGARDLESS. IN OUR PARTICULAR CASE, WE HAVE A BABIED 1999 RX300 THAT STARTED MAKING ODD NOISES WHILE IN THE WARRANTY PERIOD, AND THEN FAILED COMPLETELY (POST-WARRANTY). THE DEALER HAS DECLINED OUR REQUEST F

HI, I AM OWNER OF LEXUS RX300 AWD. THE RX300 TRANSMISSION BROKEN DOWN AT 115K MILES. I WAS ON HIGHWAY GOING 60 MPH WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE TRANSMISSION BROKEN. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT RX300 HAS A VERY HIGH RATE FAILURE ON TRANSMISSION. *JB

THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING A 99 LEXUS RX300 AND WAS TOLD BY ANOTHER DRIVER THAT TAIL LIGHTS WERE OUT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH AND THE ROAD WAS DRY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSED THE THE PROBLEM AS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. THE REPAIR SHOP TOLD CONTACT ABOUT RECALL CAMPAIGN 99V01100. THE CONTACT CALLED DEALER AND GAVE THEM VIN ,AND SHE WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL CAMPAIGNS. KB. *AK UPDATED 1/29/2007 - *NM

LEXUS 1999 RX 300 HAD OIL SLUDGE IN 2000 AND I WAS ORIGINALLY CHARGED BY LEXUS PEMBROKE PINES THEN ABOUT 1 YEAR LATER REIMBURSED AS A CUSTOMER CONVIENCE. MY LEXUS NOW HAS THROWN A ROD AT 88,000 WHICH I FEEL AND CAN GET EXPERT MECHANICS TO VERIFY THAT THIS IS THE AFTER EFFECT OF THE OIL GEL. THE ONLY THING THAT WAS DONE WAS A OIL CLEANING AND GASKET CHANGE. THE INTERNAL PARTS OIL PUMP, RODS,CRANKSHAFT WERE NOT DISMANTLED AND THOROUGHLY CLEANED REMOVING ANY LEFT OVER REMNANTS OF OIL GUNK WHICH AFTER TIME WOULD RESTRICT OIL FLOW TO THE WORKING PARTS. LEXUS DENIES ALL LIABILITY AND I FEEL THIS FALLS UNDER THE CLASS ACTION SUIT AND I NEED PROTECTION WHICH I CANNOT AFFORD. YOUR ASSISTANCE AND FURTHER HELP IN POINTING OUT CASES IN COMPLETE ENGINE BREAKDOWN WILL HELP ME GET LEXUS TO OPEN THERE EYES AND HOPEFULLY HELP OTHERS. *NM

I OWN A 99 RX300 AWD. PURCHASED THE CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP CORPORATION THAT ALSO OWNED LEXUS OF SERRAMONTE IN SF BAY AREA AT 68K MILES. THE VEHICLE APPARENTLY HAD ALL SERVICES DONE ON TIME AS MY DEALER NOTED AND WAS SERVICED AT THEIR FACILITY SINCE THE VEHICLE LEFT THEIR DEALER LOT. SO THE CAR WAS LOCALLY OWNED AND REPAIRED. AT 74K MY TRANSMISSION STARTED TO ACT UP WHERE I FOUND THE CAR TO BE BELLOW 20% OF ITS TEMPERATURE THE CAR WILL EITHER NOT SHIFT INTO 4TH OR OVER DRIVE. MY DEALER TOLD ME TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID BUT THAT ONLY WORSENED THE PROBLEM WHERE IF THE ENGINE IS BELLOW THAT TEMPERATURE IT WILL START JUMPING WHEN GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND, AND TAKES A WHILE TO SHIFT BETWEEN GEARS. THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION OF ANY CAR AT 90K MILES. NOW MY BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT MY CAR STALLS IF IT''S AT IT NORMAL TEMPERATURE AFTER STARTING IT UP, IT WILL DIE, UNLESS I KEEP THE PEDAL DEPRESSED FOR FUEL TO FLOW INTO THE ENGINE AFTER THE STARTER DISABLES. I OWNED PLENTY OF CARS WELL OVER 20 AND NEVER HAD ANY OF MY VEHICLES EVER HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM EXCEPT ONE CAR THAT HAS BEEN TOTALED TWICE IN ITS ENTIRE LIFE. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL VEHICLE BEHAVIOR NOR APPROPRIATE DEALER RESPONSE WHEN TRYING TO KEEP A GREAT CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP. THIS CREATES A LOT OF DISTRUST AND FEELING THAT YOU'RE HAVING YOUR LEG PULLED. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER AND TURNED INTO A RECALL, AS I AM FINDING OUT THAT 90% OF 99-2000 LEXUS RX300'S

MY 1999 LEXUS RX 300 TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSED BY A FAULTY DESIGN IN THE FRONT PLANETARY ASSEMBLY. I HAVE FOLLOWED UP ONLINE AND THERE ARE 1000'S OF POSTINGS OF THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENING TO THIS MODEL. THE COST IS $5000 TO REPAIR. WITH SUCH A HIGH FAILURE RATE (BASED UPON THE INFORMATION I HAVE GATHERED) I AM CONFUSED AS TO WHY A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO COAST TO A STOP WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER, ALLOWED TO COOL DOWN, THEN PROCEEDED 100 MILES. THIS CYCLE RECURRED UNTIL ARRIVING AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHICH DETERMINED THE PLANET PINION GEAR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE TO TRANSMISSION REPLACED.

FIRST FAILURE HAPPENED DURING A LEFT TURN AT A BUSY MULTI-LANE INTERSECTION. TRANSMISSION DROPPED OUT OF GEAR INSTEAD OF SHIFTING LEAVING ME POWERLESS AT A VERY VULNERABLE TIME. THE VEHICLE HAD SUFFICIENT MOMENTUM THAT I MANAGED TO DRIFT UP AND OVER AN ADJACENT CURB. I WAS AT THE MERCY OF ALERT DRIVERS IN THE INTERSECTION AT THE TIME. A LEXUS REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED BY A TOYOTA MECHANIC. AFTER 12 MONTHS AND MANY ATTEMPTS AT GETTING THE ENGINE LIGHT TO REMAIN EXTINGUISHED I WAS ADVISED TODAY BY LEXUS OF CALGARY THAT THE SECOND TRANSMISSION IS NOW FAILING. THE FIRST TRANSMISSION AND NOW THIS ONE ARE FAILING TO SHIFT WHEN REQUIRED MOST, RECENTLY WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE DURING A LANE CHANGE. IT IS DANGEROUS TO NOT HAVE POWER WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST. *NM

EVEN THOUGH HAVING ALL MAJOR SERVICE PERFORMED BY THE LEXUS DEALER, PLUS HAVING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FILTER CHANGED TWICE, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDS REPLACING AT A HIGH COST. I AM AWARE OF HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE RX300. *JB

WHEN STARTING MY 1999 LEXUS RX 300 AFTER WORK, I NOTICED A "WHINING" SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. MY COMMUTE HOME IS ABOUT 15 MILES. I NOTICED WHEN DRIVING THAT IT WOULD "JERK" WHEN TRYING TO CHANGE GEARS. IT MADE ME THINK BACK TO A COUPLE OF MONTHS BACK WHEN I WAS IN A PARKING SPACE AND PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE AND STARTED TO EASE OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE WHEN IT FELT LIKE SOMEONE HAS HIT ME OR I HAD HIT SOMETHING. I GOT OUT, BUT NOTHING? I THEN GOT BACK INTO THE CAR AND STARTED TO LEAVE AND THE CAR WOULD GO INTO REVERSE, BUT WHEN APPLYING THE GAS THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. I TRIED AGAIN AND THE CAR FINALLY "CAUGHT" INTO GEAR AND MADE A TERRIBLE SOUND. I NOTICED IN THE WEEKS LEADING UP TO THE DAY OF FAILURE THAT THE CAR WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME CHANGING INTO SECOND GEAR. IT WOULD "WIND OUT" BEFORE CATCHING. NOW, THE DAY OF THE FAILURE, I WAS LEAVING WORK AND I NOTICED A "WHINING" SOUND IN THE ENGINE AND IN MY COMMUTE HOME IT GOT WORSE. THE CAR STARTED JUMPING BACK AND FORTH AND THE RPMS WERE RANDOMLY JUMPING. EVEN WHILE COASTING DOWN A HILL THE RMPS WOULD JUMP AND ACCELERATE AND SLOW DOWN THE CAR MAKING IT JERK. AT TIMES IT WOULD ACT AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL AND I WAS TRAVELING AT 45 MILES PER HOUR. WHEN THIS WOULD HAPPEN, THE RMPS WOULDN'T MOVE? MY CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 78K MILES ON IT. I IMMEDIATELY TOLD MY HUSBAND, WE CALLED LEXUS AND TOOK IT STRAIGHT TO THEM. I HAD TO GET A RENTAL CAR. I GOT A CALL THE NEXT DAY TO TELL ME THAT THE PUMP FAILED AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS BL

THE CAR WAS WORKING PERFECTLY. ONE DAY WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT THE TRANSMISSION BLEW, AND I COULD NOT MOVE. HAD TO PAY $4000+ OUT OF POCKET, THE WARRANTY JUST EXPIRED 2 MONTHS BEFORE AND LEXUS WOULD NOT STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT. THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 80,000 MILES. AFTER DOING RESEARCH, IT TURNS OUT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE RX300 1999 AND 2000 AWD. HOW CAN LEXUS NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR A RECALL. THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY FAULT, BUT I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

LEXUS 1999 RX 300 AWD TRANSMISSION FAILED - MARKED DROP OF ACCELERATION POWER ON FREEWAY. SINCE ORIGINAL PURCHASE OF NEW VEHICLE, IT HAS RECEIVED REGULAR SERVICE MAINTENANCE THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP. LAST SERVICE INCLUDED A FLUSH OF THE TRANSMISSION. PROBLEM EXPERIENCED AT 74,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP ADVISED THAT LEXUS NO LONGER OFFERS A TRANSMISSION REBUILD AND THAT I NEEDED TO TAKE IT TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP (FOUND OUT LATER THAT'S NOT ENTIRELY TRUE). TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REBUILT INCLUDING SOLENOIDS, PLANETARIES, TORQUE CONVERTER, SUN GEAR) AT COST OF OVER $4,200. I'VE SINCE DISCOVERED THAT SEVERAL '99 RX300 OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION FAILURE OR ISSUES AT RELATIVELY LOW ODOMETER MILEAGES, AND LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS AS WELL. *NM

MY 99 LEXUS RX300 HAD A TRANSMISSION FAILURE @ 82000 MILES. AFTER BEING SERVICED PROPERLY ON A REGULAR BASIS BY AUTHORIZED REPAIR SPECIALISTS. *JB

MY 1999 LEXUS RX 300 TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE I WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER AGREES MY SERVICE RECORD WAS IN "TIPTOP" SHAPE AND YET I LOST ALL GEARS WITH 66,000 MILES ON THE CAR. SEARCHING THE INTERNET REVEALS THAT THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES OF THIS SAME PROBLEM. OF COURSE, MY WARRANTY JUST EXPIRED 4 MONTHS AGO. LEXUS OFFERED TO SPLIT THE $5000 REPLACEMENT COST IN HALF. IT SEEMS TO ME THEY SHOULD COVER 100% OF THE COST. *NM

1999 LEXUS RX 300 DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WITH THE TAILGATE DOOR LATCH.*MR THE REAR HATCH HANDLE SEIZED AND IT DIDN'T OPERATE WITH THE REMOTE KEY ENTRY OR POWER LOCKS. THE CONSUMER HAD TO MANUALLY CLOSE THE HATCH TO PREVENT IT FROM ACCIDENTALLY OPENING WHILE DRIVING, WHICH DID HAPPEN TWICE. *JB

THE MANIFOLD SYSTEM ON MY 1999 LEXUS RX300 HAD TO BE REPLACED AT ONLY 68,320 MILES WHICH COST WELL OVER $1,000. USUALLY THE MANIFOLD SYSTEM ON A CAR IS NOT REPLACED. LEXUS SHOULD BE REPSONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM FOR US. I ALSO HAD THE JELLYING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. YES, I DO ALL THE REQUIRED ONLY CHANGES AND ETC.