2001 Lexus RX300 complaints

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 67 MPH THE VEHICLE'S VARIABLE SKID CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BEEPER ACTIVATED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND BEGAN TO SWERVE BEFORE AUTOMATICALLY SHUTTING OFF. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED THREE TIMES WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE VARIABLE SKID CONTROL BEEPER DEACTIVATED AND THE LIGHT DIMMED. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR WITH DRY ROAD CONDITIONS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 103,675.*AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *JB

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

CONSUMER COMPLAINT REFERENCING 2001 LEXUS RX 300. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HAD DEVELOPED SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER SHE WILL HAVE TO PAY $13000 TO HAVE A NEW ENGINE INSTALLED. THE CONSUMER HAS FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON VARIOUS WEBSITE IN REFERENCE TO THIS PROBLEM. *NM