2001 Lexus RX300

Defect. DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Defect. SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Defect. POLYMER PROCESS DEVELOPMENT IS RECALLING 931 UNITS OF BACK GLASS, P/NO. FB20415ZPY, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON 1999-2004 LEXUS RX300 VEHICLES. THE GLASS FAILS TO CONFORM TO THE AUTOMOTIVE GLAZING MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 205, GLAZING MATERIALS.

Risk. THE PURPOSE OF THIS STANDARD IS TO REDUCE INJURIES RESULTING FROM IMPACT TO GLAZING SURFACES.

Remedy. POLYMER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED GLASS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT POLYMER TOLL-FREE AT 800-510-9879.

Defect. CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

Defect. CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A BROKEN BREAST BONE (STERNUM) AND HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED NECK AND KNEE INJURIES, AND BRUISES FROM THE SEAT BELT THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.

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

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

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!

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED 40, I NOTICED LAG IN GEAR SHIFT WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE TO 60 MPH. I NOTICED NO PICK IN SPEED RATHER 40 MPH BECAME 20 MPH, THE MORE I PRESS ON THE GAS PETAL THE ONLY ACCELERATION WAS NOTICE ON THE RPM. I HAD TO PUT ON THE HAZARDS AND PULL OVER TO LET OTHER CARS PASS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH AND IS FLASHING BACK & FORTH 100% OF THE TIME. *TR

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LEXUS DEALER WHEN PURCHASE. I TOLD THE REPAIR PERSON THAT THERE WAS A NOISE/ROARING COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE SUSPENSION NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT. FOR THIS INSPECTION I PAID OVER $300.00. NOW THE NOISE IS BACK AND IT IS MUCH LOUDER AND IT IS CONSTANT.FROM 45MPH AND HIGHER.THE NOISE OCCURS WHEN I AM DRIVING STRAIGHT AND WHEN I TURN TO THE RIGHT.WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT THE NOISE STOPS. I SOUND LIKE THE NOISE IS COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN MECHANISM. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED.PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS MY COMPLAINT. *TR

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

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

I WAS TRAVELING WEST AT 30MPH. A VEHICLE TRAVELING SOUTH RAN A STOP SIGN AND ATTEMPTED A LEFT TURN. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP AND COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE THAT RAN THE STOP SIGN. MY VEHICLE ENCOUNTER SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT END AND HOOD. THE AIRBAG OF MY VEHICLE DID NOT ACTIVATE AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. I WAS ABLE TO BRACE MYSELF FROM THE IMPACT. I AM NOW EXPERIENCING UPPER BACK AND NECK DISCOMFORT. BOTH THE FIRE DEPT. AND POLICE ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND THE DRIVER THAT RAN THE STOP SIGN ADMITTED HER FAULT. I HAVE PHOTO'S OF THE ACCIDENT AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. I REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO LEXUS CORP. AND THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF PERFORMING AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS. I AM GREATLY CONCERNED WITH THIS LIFE SAFETY DEFECT.

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 SHOWROO

WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE THE DRIVER WAS NOT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. DESPITE THE DRIVER'S EFFORTS TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE JUMPED OVER A CURB AND HEADED TOWARD A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH TRAFFIC. IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID A POSSIBLY FATAL COLLISION, THE DRIVER SWERVED HARD TO THE LEFT INTENDING TO HIT A POLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE MISSED THE POLE AND HIT A STARBUCKS WITH THE VEHICLE ENDING UP COMPLETELY INSIDE THE STARBUCKS. SIX PEOPLE WHO WERE INSIDE THE STARBUCKS WERE INJURED. THE DRIVER NEVER PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR DURING THE ENTIRE INCIDENT. *TR

2001 LEXUS RX300. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIR BAG MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS TRAVELING WEST AT 30 MPH. A VEHICLE TRAVELING SOUTH RAN A STOP SIGN AND ATTEMPTED A LEFT TURN. HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP AND COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE THAT RAN THE STOP SIGN. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE ENCOUNTERED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT END AND HOOD. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. HE WAS ABLE TO BRACE HIMSELF FROM THE IMPACT. HOWEVER, HE DID SUFFER UPPER BACK AND NECK DISCOMFORT. BOTH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND THE DRIVER THAT RAN THE STOP SIGN ADMITTED HER FAULT.

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

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

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

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS HE STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE FOR AN ENGINE OIL LEAK. THEY FOUND THE LEAKAGE IN THE NUMBER THREE AND NUMBER FOUR CYLINDER INTAKE VALVES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THEY WOULD ONLY COVER $2500 OF THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. ....UPDATED 10/11/12 *BF THE CONSUMER THE ENGINE OIL INDICATOR IS ALSO DEFECTIVE. IT DOES NOT WARN THE DRIVER WHEN THE HAS DEPLETED. UPDATED 10/15/2012 *JS

LEXUS RX300 ABS ENGAGES EVERY TIME BRAKES. *JS

AIR BAG FAILURE. WIFE RECEIVED SEVERE HEAD LACARATIONS AND CONCUSSION. WAS LIFE LINED TO IU MED CENTER. TREATED AT TRAMU CENTER. LEFT FROM BUMPER WAS PUSHED BACK INTO TIRE. *TR

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

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.

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

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED FRONT END DAMAGE AND THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES AS HER BREAST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOT NOTIFIED. NEITHER THE DEALER, NOR THE MANUFACTURER, WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

I PURCHASED A 2001 LEXUS RX 300 FROM A PRIVATE PARTY IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR. WITHIN DAYS OF THE PURCHASE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THAT WAS REPLACED, BUT I HAD ALSO NOTICED SOME BLUE SMOKE WHEN I STARTED IT. I TOOK IT INTO MY AUTO MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE CAR WAS BURNING OIL, AND ACTUALLY THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT FILED AGAINST TOYOTA RELATED TO THE PROBLEMS, I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THIS CONDITION WILL LEAD TO ENGINE FAILURE IF THE ENGINE IS NOT REPLACED. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO FILE A COMPLAINT IN REGARDS TO THIS ISSUE TO SEE IF I QUALIFY TO BE PART OF THE LAWSUIT AND FILE A CLAIM. *KB

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

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

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

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

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A SLUDGE BUILDUP IN THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED A VALVE COVER AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. THE MECHANIC MADE THE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS LOOSING OIL EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 147,000.