1999 Lexus RX300 complaints

THE HEATED SEAT IN MY LEXUS RX300 HAS BECOME SO HOT THAT IT HAS BURNT THE LEATHER AND IT HAS ALSO BURNT MY LEFT LEG. YOU CAN TURN THE HEATER OFF BUT IT TAKES A WHILE FOR IT TO COOL DOWN.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE BACKING INTO THE CAR PORT, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK ,CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH THROUGH A WALL.*AK

OUR VEHICLE'S OIL CONSUMPTION BEGAN TO INCREASE AT APPROXIMATELY 90K MILES. IT WOULD TAKE AT LEAST A QUART OF OIL EVERY 700 MILES OR SO. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED AROUND 100K MILES. FINALLY BROUGHT IT TO OUR LEXUS DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THAT WE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE BLOCK AND TOP END OVERHAUL. THE REASON GIVEN WAS "OIL SLUDGE" DUE TO LACK OF PROPER SERVICE. THE SERVICE DEPT QUOTED US 8,000 DOLLARS TO DO THE REPAIRS. UNFORTUNATELY WE DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY SO WE ARE GOING TO TRY AND FIND A NEW ENGINE ON OUR OWN.

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH OR LESS ON ROUGH SURFACES THE FRONT SUSPENSION PRODUCED A LOUD NOISE. CONSUMER BELIEVED THE NOISE CAME FROM AN IMPROPER SHAPING OF RUBBER BUSHING OF THE SUSPENSION SUPPORT. *AK

TOOK 1999 LEXUS RX 300 IN FOR REGULAR SERVICE AT 39,000 MILES, AND ASKED DEALER TO CHECK ENGINE NOISE. DEALER FOUND CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND SPLIT EXHAUST PIPE COMING OFF MANIFOLD. MAIFOLD REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY PLAN BUT SPLIT EXHAUST NOT COVERED BECAUSE CAR WAS OUT OF ORIGINAL WARRANTY. DEALER CARRIED EXHAUST MANIFOLDS IN STOCK DUE TO FREQUENCY OF PROBLEM. THIS WAS A DESIGN/MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY MANUFACTURER.*AK

AT 68K MILES, I TOOK TO INDEPENDENT GARAGE IN JANUARY & MARCH 2004 WITH PROBLEM OF VEHICLE HESITATING TO SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD. GARAGE COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM AND CHANGED TRANSMISSION FLUID. I LET VEHICLE WARM UP 2 MINUTES TO AVOID THE SHIFTING PROBLEM. IN SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER WITH 72K MILES, I TOOK TO DEALER WITH ADDITIONAL PROBLEM OF FAILING TO ENGAGE THE REVERSE GEAR AND SHUDDERING IN FORWARD GEAR. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE AND CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. IN NOVEMBER 2004, THE TRANSMISSION DROPPED COMPLETELY OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING ON THE STREET. THIS TIME DEALER FOUND METAL SHAVINGS IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND SAID I NEEDED $4250 TO REPLACE WITH A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION WARRANTED FOR ONLY 12 MONTHS. LEXUS SHOULD HAVE PAID TO REPLACE THEIR DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION INSTEAD OF HIDING THEIR HEAD IN THE SAND. *JB

JAN 2004-VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF GEAR FAILURE BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD. FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. MAR 2004-VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN AGAIN TO INDEPENDENT GARAGE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF GEAR FAILURE BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD. FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. SEPTEMBE R 2004-VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER AFTER GEAR FAILURE IN REVERSE AND SHUDDER IN FORWARD. FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.*AK NOV2004--VEHICLE WAS AGAIN TOWED TO DEALER AFTER SHUDDER WHILE IN DRIVE AND THEN GEAR FAILURE IN REVERSE AND FORWARD. DIAGNOSIS NEED COMPLETE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY.

LEXUS RX300-HAVE OWNED CAR SINCE BEGINNING 1999-NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH CAR EXCEPT NORMAL TUNE UPS AND NEW BRAKES-HOWEVER, THAT ALL CHANGED SEPTEMBER 2004. YES, I'VE HAD THE CAR 6 SIX YEARS BUT WITH ONLY 68,000 MILES ON THE CAR WHICH IS CONSIDERED LOW MILEAGE USE. WHILE TRAVELING TO SAN DIEGO TO TAKE MY GRANDDAUGHTER BACK HOME FROM MY CURRENT HOME AT THE TIME IN ALISO VIEJO, CALIFORNIA MY AUTO WHILE ON THE I-5 JUST COMPLETELY DROPPED OUT OF GEAR-I HAD ENOUGH SPEED GOING THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY AND CAME TO A STOP AT THE CAMP PENDLETON MARINE BASE FRONT GATES. THE SOLDIERS WERE ABLE TO PUSH MY CAR BEHIND THEIR STATION GATE UNTIL AAA COULD SEND A TRUCK TO TOW ME AND FOR MY SON TO PICK UP MY GRANDDAUGHTER THERE. MY TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY GONE AND COST ME OVER $4,000.00 TO GET IT FIXED. I WAS TOLD BY THE REPAIRMAN THAT THE PLANETARY GEAR IS WHAT BROKE BUT THAT LEXUS HAS HAD TO UPDATE THE PLANETARY GEAR FOR MY MODEL AND YEAR 4 (FOUR) TIMES. IT SOUNDS TO ME THAT LEXUS KNOWS THAT THEY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS MAIN GEAR AND I WANT TO KNOW WHY THERE WAS NEVER A RECALL TO HAVE IT FIXED. LEXUS IS RATED TOPS SO WHY WOULD MY TRANSMISSION GO OUT AT ONLY 68,000 MILES? I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE I WAS MOVING TO FLORIDA IN TWO WEEKS AND DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME OR WHEELS TO TAKE MY COMPLAINT TO THE DEALER. IS THERE ANY RECOURSE SINCE THE PLANETARY GEAR WAS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE?*AK

AFTER HAVING MY TRANSMISSION REPLACED BY LEXUS OF ROSEVILLE, CALIFORNIA THE REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION FROM LEXUS DROPPED OUT OF GEAR DURING MOVING TRAFFIC, ENDANGERING MY FAMILY WITH THE LOSS OF DRIVE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. *AK

HAD MY 60,000 MILE SERVICE DONE ON MY 1999 RX300. THE WIFE DROVE IT WHEN I GOT HOME AND TOLD ME THE CAR WAS RUNNING SLUGGISH, DIDN'T ACCELERATE LIKE IT DID BEFORE I BROUGHT IT IN. I TOOK THE CAR OUT TO DRIVE IT AND FEEL WHAT SHE WAS TELLING ME AND NOTICED THAT WHEN I WOULD LET OFF THE GAS AND COAST THEM GIVE IT GAS THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THE MECHANIC HEARD THE NOISE AND SAID HE WASN'T SURE WHAT IT WAS. THE SERVICE PERSON SAID THAT I SHOULD JUST DRIVE IT NORMAL AND NOT TRY TO MAKE IT CLUNK AND IT SHOULD BE OK. IF IT KEPT DOING IT TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING IT BACK. CAR WILL BE OUT OF WARRANTY! IN 4 MONTHS. *LA

TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITH 1999 RX300. MY TRANSMISSION IS SHOT. WE ONLY HAVE 85,000 MILES ON THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME THAT WE SHOULD HAVE CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION OIL MORE FREQUENTLY. HOWEVER, WE WERE NEVER APPROACHED WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION DURING SERVICE VISITS. THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LITTLE SLUGGISH. WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN CA AND TWO YEARS AGO MOVED TO NC. DURING ONE OF OUR FIRST SERVICE VISITS, WE ASKED THEM ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE. THE SERVICE STAFF AT THE TIME TOLD US IT WAS INHERENT TO THE DESIGN. EVEN WORST, WE BOUGHT THE PRE-OWN VEHICLE IN CA. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS THROUGHLY INSPECTED. THEY EVEN PRESENTED A INSPECTION CERTIFICATION CERTIFICATE. WE I PRESENTED THIS CERTIFICATE TO THE DEALER IN NC, THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT IT DOES NOT MATCH THE VIN FOR MY VEHICLE. ALSO, THEY CAN NOT TRACK ANY INFORMATION OF THIS INSPECTION IN THEIR INTERNAL NETWORK. NOW I HAVE A CASTISTROPHIC FAILURE ON A VEHICLE THAT I BOUGHT FOR $30,000 WITH ONLY 85,000 MILES!?!? PLEASE HELP WITH ANY RECOMMENDATIONS. THANKS.

1999 LEXUS RX300. FIVE DAYS AFTER DISCS, CALIPERS, PADS REPLACED, THE RIGHT FRONT CALIPER FELL OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 80 AT 65 MPH. THE CAR BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE AND VEER TO THE RIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. THE LEXUS DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE CALIPER FELL OFF AND WAS WEDGED BETWEEN THE RIM OF THE WHEEL AND THE DISC. THE BOLTS WERE MISSING. THE SERVICE MANAGER DID NOT KNOW IF THE BOLTS BROKE FROM A MANUFACTURING DEFECT OR A SERVICE DEFECT. *AK

CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION DUE TO FATIGUE OF INTERNAL PART RESULTING IN TOTAL FAILURE. *LA

EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACK. *LA

AFTER ATTACHING A U-HAUL TRAILER TO THE RX300 TRAILER HITCH, THE TAIL LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS AND TRAILER LIGHTS WEREN'T FUNCTIONING. *PH U-HAUL TECHNICIANS CHECKED THE VEHICLE, BUT WASN'T SUCCESSFUL TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER WENT TO A DIFFERENT SERVICE DEALER TO REPAIR PROBLEM WITH THE REAR LIGHTING AND TRAILER LIGHTS. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AND INSTALLED A NEW CONVERTER BOX AND TRAILER WIRE HARNESS WHERE THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE UPGRADE VERSION OF THE COMPONENT. *LA

I OWN A 1999 LEXUS RX-300. THE KEYS ARE DEFECTIVE, RESULTING IN A DANGEROUS CONDITION. LEXUS'S DEALERS AND ITS "ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE" PERSONNEL HAVE TOLD ME THAT THE KEYS WERE ORIGINALLY MADE WITH METAL THAT IS TOO BRITTLE. AS A RESULT, THE KEYS GRIND DOWN, AND EVENTUALLY THE KEYS CAN COME OUT WHILE THE CAR IS ON, OR CAN COME OUT BEFORE THE LOCK IS DISENGAGED, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO START THE CAR. LEXUS HAS ISSUED INTERNAL TECHNICAL BULLETINS, BUT HAS NEVER ADVISED ITS CUSTOMER OF THIS PROBLEM, WHICH RESULTS IN A $900 REPAIR PROBLEM AFTER ABOUT 4 YEARS OF USE. KEYS SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 4 YEARS, OR LEXUS SHOULD BE FORCED TO ADVERTISE THAT FACT TO ITS CUSTOMRES.

BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT RETRACT PROPERLY AFTER THEY'VE BEEN TAKEN OFF, OR DURING SUDDEN BRAKING. DEALER REPLACED BOTH UNITS, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED.*AK

THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS HIT IN THE SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH, YET NONE OF THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. *NLM

THE RIGHT REAR TIRE FAILED. *JB

THERE IS A SHUDDER OF THE TRANSMISSION WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR AT APPROXIMATELY 2000 RPM'S. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE. I BOUGHT IT WITH 65,570 MI. THE DEALER REPLACED DRIVE SHAFT TO REAR WHEELS AND FRONT AXLE(S). THE PROBLEM REMAINS AND IS A NUISANCE REGARDLESS OF VEHICLE TEMPERATURE.

WHILE DRIVING, THE GEAR SHIFT WILL GO INTO NEUTRAL, IF BUMPED. ALSO I'VE NOTICED THE CAR JERKING WHILE DRIVING. I'VE TAKEN IT TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY NEVER OBSERVED THE PROBLEM AND THUS WAS NEVER ABLE TO FIX IT.*AK

INJURIES TO CHEST, ABDOMEN, KNEES, WRIST DUE TO AIR BAGS NON DEPLOYMENT IN COLLISION. OBVIOUS FRONT IMPACT DAMAGE TO VEHICLE IMPACT ESTIMATED @ 40 MPH. NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. OTHER VEHICLE INVOLVED PULLED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WITH NO CHANCE OF AVOIDANCE. MY SEAT BELT LOCKED AND CAUSED SEVERE BRUISING TO MY STERNUM, ABDOMEN, KNEES. I BOUGHT THIS PREMIUM PRICED VEHICLE BASED IN PART ON THE SAFETY FEATURES THAT DID NOT PERFORM. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. VEHICLE I WAS DRIVING AS OWNER IS 1999 LEXUS RX 300 EQUIPPED WITH FRONT AND SIDE SRS. *JB

I OWN A 1999 LEXUS RX300 AND HAVE HAD AN ENGINE SLUDGE PROBLEM WHICH WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER WITH THE VALVE SEAL REPLACEMENT BEING PERFORMED. ALSO HAD FRONT EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND FRONT DOWN PIPE FAILURE(CRACK) OCCURRING AT ABOUT 71,000 MILES. UNSURE AS TO ANY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO.*JB

I OWN 1999 LEXUS RX300, SINCE FEBRUARY OF THE LAST YEAR, I HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR'S ENGINE (IT HAS SLUDGE), TRANSMISSION, EMISSION SYSTEM, AND OVER USE OF GAS PER MILE. FIRST PROBLEM STARTED DURING THE FIRST MONTH OF MY OWNERSHIP AND SINCE THAT TIME THE VEHICLE HAS SPENT WEEKS IN AUTO REPAIR SHOPS. LEXUS DEALER AND OTHERS CHARGED ME LAVISH FEES BUT NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEMS AND LEXUS DEALERS EVEN NEVER ADMITTED THAT SERIOUS PROBLEMS EXISTED. *JB

EXHAUST MANIFOLD ON RIGHT SIDE OF ENGINE CRACKED, WHICH RESULATED IN REPLACEMENT OF THE MANIFOLD AND 2 SENSOR AT OWNERS EXPENSE. THE PART CRACKED AT 71,000 MILES AND LEXUS WOULD NOT REIMBURSE REPAIR BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. EXHAUST MANIFOLDS SHOULD NOT CRACK AT 71,000 MILES, IF EVER. DT

THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION IN WHICH THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE HIT THE SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE SUSTAINED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DAMAGE, HOWEVER THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB *SCC

VEHICLE DID NOT START FOUR TIMES IN SIX WEEK PERIOD. BATTERY REPLACED TWICE. PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *TT

ENGINE FAILED DUE TO SLUDGE. TOOK TO ARBITRATION DID NOT WIN. VEHICLE OUT OF SERVICE FOR LAST 10 MONTHS. LEXUS DEALER AND CUSTOMER SERVICE CONTACTED OVER 50 TIMES. EVEN WITH NEW POLICY ENGINE STILL HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. LEXUS AND DEALER HAVE TREATED ME LIKE A VILLIAN. PIAD FOR VEHICLE THAT IS UNUSEABLE. *AK

ENGINE DESIGN IS FAULTY. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OIL BECOMES VERY HOT AND TURNS INTO SLUDGE. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON DASH CONTINUOUSLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ENGINE SLUDGE, RESULTING IN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. *AK

ENGINE DESIGN FAULT IN THE COOLING CHANNELS TO THE CYLINDER HEAD OF THE VEHICLE WERE MADE TOO SMALL RESULTING IN EXCESSIVES ENGINE OPERATING TEMPERATURES CAUSING FRYING OF THE ENGINE OIL TURNING IT TO SLUDGE, THE SLUDGE CLOGS THE ENGINE PORTS EVENTUALLY CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE. NLM

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AFTER APPROXIMATELY 5 HOURS ON THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE DROPPING MELTING, BURNING DEBRIS ONTO THE ROADWAY. THE CAR HAD 16,000 MILES AT THE TIME. A PLASTIC "UNDER ENGINE COVER" AND TWO VACUUM HOSES WERE DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THERE WAS NO RESPONSIBILITY ON THEIR PART FOR THE FIRE OR DAMAGE. THEY SUGGESTED A PLASTIC BAG OR SIMILAR OBJECT BLEW UP FROM THE ROADWAY SETTING THE VEHICLE COMPONENTS ON FIRE. ANOTHER SUGGESTION WAS THAT A SERVICE PERSON LEFT SOMETHING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE HADN'T BEEN SERVICED FOR ALMOST 4 MONTHS AND HAD BEEN DRIVEN OVER 1000 MILES SINCE THE LAST SERVICE. NO SIGNS OF BURNING WERE FOUND ON OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS. WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE DEALER'S EXPLANATION OF A PIECE OF TRASH BLOWN UNDERNEATH THE CAR SHOULD SET VEHICLE COMPONENTS ON FIRE AND SUSPECT A POSSIBLE DEFECT IN DESIGN OR CONSTRUCTION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM UNDER THE HOOD, HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND STOP. HAD NO PRIOR WARNING OF PROBLEM. VEHICLE DESTROYED. INSURANCE ADJUSTOR INDICATED PROBLEM WAS A FAN MOTOR. *AK

I THOUGHT THAT I HAD PREVIOUSLY FILLED OUT A QUESTIONNAIRE WITH NHTSA, SO THIS MAY BE A DUPLICATE, BUT WE WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE IT SO I THOUGHT TO FILE A SECOND ONE. THIS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR FENDER BENDER IN WHICH A PLYMOUTH VOYAGER HIT THE REAR LEFT OF THE VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELLING APPROXIMATELY 10MPH. MY WIFE (SOPHIA ROSLIN), WHO WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AND THE OTHER DRIVER, EXCHANGED INSURANCE INFORMATION BUT DID NOT INTEND TO FILE A CLAIM AS THE DAMAGE SEEMED MINOR. SOPHIA THEN PARKED THE VEHICLE AND ATTENDED A BIRTHDAY PARTY THAT MY 3 YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER WAS ATTENDING. AFTER THE PARTY, APPROXIMATELY 90 MINUTES LATER, SOPHIA AGAIN BEGAN DRIVING THE CAR AND HEADED HOME. AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE, AND WITHOUT FEELING ANY PULLING, DRAGGING OR TUGGING, SOPHIA WAS ALERTED BY GOOD SAMARITAN THAT THE REAR LEFT TIRE WAS ON FIRE (UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T RECALL THE MAKE OR MANUFACTURERE OF THE TIRE, BUT IT WAS THE STANDARD TIRES THAT COME WITH THE LEXUS RX300). SOPHIA ESCAPED THE CAR ALONG WITH MY DAUGHTER. THE FIRE WOUND UP ENGULFING THE VEHICLE, MELTING THE CAR SEAT AND TOTALLING THE CAR. *AK

WHEN VEHCILE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH, HITTING A TREE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG.

VEHICLE OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND WALKED TO GET HELP. UPON RETURNING VEHICLE WAS BURNING. VEHICLE TOTALLED. *AK

GOODYEAR INTEGRITY TIRES (P225/70R16) WERE NOT DESIGNED TO HOLD THE WEIGHT OF A SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE ACCORDING TO A DEALER, THREE OF THE CONSUMER'S TIRES HAVE EXPERIENCED BLOWOUTS OR HAVE GONE FLAT. *SLC

WE HAVE HAD 3 TIRE FAILURES WITHIN 20 MONTHS OF OWNING OUR LEXUS RX-300. GOODYEAR IS TELLING US THAT LEXUS SHOULD NOT USE THIS TIRE ON AN SUV, IT IS A CAR TIRE, AND USE OF THIS TIRE ISN'T APPROVED BY GOODYEAR. THE TIRE SIDEWALL IS MAKING CONTACT WITH THE PAVEMENT BECAUSE THE SUV IS HEAVIER THAN A CAR. LEXUS HAS SINCE SWITCHED TO BRIDGESTONE TRUCK TIRES ON THE RX300. WE WOULD LIKE LEXUS TO PAY FOR OUR TIRES TO BE CHANGED OUT TO SAFER, APPROPRIATE TIRES.*AK (DOT NUMBER: M65L TIRESIZE: 225/70R16)

THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL AXLE SHEARED IN TWO, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO FALL OFF. THE VEHICLE BECAME VIOLENT, THEN COMPLETELY ROLLED OVER. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. WE WOULD LIKE A COMPLETE INVESTIGATION.

WAS TRAVELING 10MPH WHEN VEHICLE LOST POWER. NOTICED A GLOW UNDER HOOD. STOPPED VEHICLE & JUMPED OUT. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS. FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED & PUT FLAMES OUT. GAVE NO INDICATION OF CAUSE OF FIRE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO LEXUS DEALERSHIP. EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE & MELTED.*AK

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AS IT WAS BEING DRIVEN. ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS DESTROYED AND THE CAR WAS TOTALED.*AK

ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED. NO RESPONSE. *AK

ENGINE STALLS AT IDLE, DEALER CLAIMS FROM HIGH OIL VISCOSITY DESPITE OIL BEING CHANGED EVERY 5000 MILES. DEALER SAYS THAT BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE ENGINE IS MOUNTED THAT IT RUNS HOT AND THAT ONLY CERTAIN OILS ARE RECCOMENDED. SAYS THAT QUAKER STATE OIL, WHICH WE USED, SHOULD BE CHANGED EVERY 3000 MILES SINCE IT IS NOT "AS GOOD" AS THE OIL THEY USE AT THE DEALER. THIS IS NOT SUGGESTED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL AND I WOULD SUSPECT POOR ENGINE DESIGN THAT ALLOWS DEVELOPMENT OF EXCESSIVE HEAT. SECONDLY, THE GAS TANK SENSOR FAILED- GAS GAUGE RAN HALF WHEN THE TANK WAS EMPTY. DEALER SAYS HE HAS SEEN THIS "SEVERAL" TIMES. SUSPECT PROBLEM WITH THIS COMPONENT.

CONTACT PERSON: KEVIN EZRATTY SERVICE MANGER, BOB BAKER LEXUS EL CAJON,CA 92020 (619) 440 5398 CAR OVERHEATS AND STALLS WHEN TOWING A 2500 LB R/V TRAILER RX300 SPECS 3500LB. WHEN TOWING IN MOUNTAIN TERRAIN WITH AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AROUND 100 DEGREES AND GOING UP HILL, THE CAR TEMP INDICATOR WILL APPROACH THE RED ZONE AND WILL LOSE ALL POWER AND STALL. THERE IS NO WARNING OR TIME TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, TRAFFIC MOSTLY TRUCKS MAKES IT VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AND THE CAR DRIVEN 1000 MILES AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN, WITH NO PLACE TO PULL OFF. I RETURNED THE CAR TO DEALER, THEY HAVE NO IDEA IF THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, THER IS NO HISTORY OF ANY LEXUS RX300 WITH THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. THEIR SUGGESTIONS ARE DON'T DRIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS, DON'T DRIVE IN THE DESERT, DON'T USE THE AIR CONDITIONER, DON'T TOW THE R/V TRAILER, DON'T DRIVE WITH ANY WIND. THEY ALSO REQUESTED THAT THEY BE ALLOWED TO TAKE MY PERSONAL PROPERTY, THE R/V TRAILER AND TOW IT AROUND THE MOUNTAINS AND DESERT AND SEE IF THEY CAN MAKE IT FAIL AGAIN. I ASKED IF ANYONE IN THE FACILITY HAD EVER PULLED A TRAILER, THE ANSWER WAS NO ONE, SO I DECLINED. (I HAVE $55,000 INVESTED) I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF TOWING THIS TRAILER , NOW THEY TELL ME THAT JUST BECAUSE THE CAR IS CERTIFIED TO TOW 3500 LBS DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT CAN. AT THIS TIME WE ARE AT A STAND STILL, THEY CAN'T REPAIR THE CAR AND I TRAVEL A LOT AND DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT. WITHOUT THE T

DELAMINATION OF TIRE WIRE FROM MATRX AT 18,000 & 22,000 MILES(TWO TIRES)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P8225/7016 )

THIS CAR IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD. HEADLIGHTS DIM TO DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS AT NIGHT, TRANSMISSION LURCHES BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR AND SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONS. *AK

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ERRATIC JERKING. ALSO, FRONT WHEEL WOULD COMMENCE TO SPIN, AND TRACKING LIGHT WOULD COME ON. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

DURING VEHICLE COLLISION THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, VEHICLE WAS HIT DIRECTLY ON THE SIDE OF THE SENSOR. *MJS

NO DEPLOYMENT OF ANY OF THE AIR BAGS DURING VEHICLE COLLISION, INCLUDING SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG. *MJS

WHEN REAR WINDOWS ARE OPENED AND VEHICLE IS TRAVELING OVER 30MPH ROOF SHAKES AND VIBRATES. ALSO, THE PASSENGER'S EARS START TO POP. DEALER IS AWARE AND SAYS IT'S NORMAL. *AK