2000 Lexus RX Complaint Log

I HAVE A 2000 LEXUS RX300 WITH 124,000 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED IN THE CAR AFTER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE MAINTENANCE MANUAL DOES NOT INDICATE TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION OIL IN THE CAR, ONLY TO CHECK IT. I HAVE BEEN ON NUMEROUS LEXUS INTERNET SITES WHICH HAVE STATED THE SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED TO THEM WITH THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR LEXUS. *TR

S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING-LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM REGARDING HER LETTER TO TOYOTA THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF TOYOTAS. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED AS SHE APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR GENTLY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD, JUMPING THE CURB, KNOCKING DOWN AND RUNNING OVER A STEEL POST ON THE SIDEWALK THAT WAS ANCHORED IN CONCRETE ALL THE WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS FRANTICALLY STOMPING ON THE BRAKE TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED ABOUT SIX FEET FROM THE WALL OF A DEPARTMENT STORE. THE SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED ON JAN 31, 2011. AS THE CONSUMER PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD, OVER THE CURB AND HIT THE POST IN FRONT OF THE CURB. THE IMPACT KNOCKED THE VEHICLE BACK ABOUT THREE FEET AND BASHED IN THE FRONT FENDER AND GRILL. *JB UPDATED 05/19/11

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WITH MY SON IN THE SEAT. THE CAR STOPPED GOING. ALMOST GOT SMASHED BY AN 18 WHEELER. GOT IT TOWED HOME AND FOUND OUT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION! *TR

I HAVE A WELL KEPT 2000 RX300 - TRANSMISSION WENT COMPLETELY OUT. IT WAS ON THE INTERSTATE HEADING OUT OF TOWN FOR CHRISTMAS. IT IS A ONE OWNER CAR. WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE. I PAID $4000+ TO GET IT REPLACED. NOT INCLUDING TOWING 150 MILES AND RENTAL CAR. *TR

THE TRANSSMISION ON MY LUXUS RX 300 FAILED WITH 120,000 MILES. LUXUS WANTED TO PAY 25 % OF THE BILL.($4300). I TOLD THEM THA T A LUXUS CAR SHOULD NOT FAIL WITH THAT LOW MILEAGE. *TR

MY 2000 LEXUS RX300 TRANSMISSION FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR HAS ONLY 93,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED YESTERDAY. THIS IS THE 2ND TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT ON THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST TRANSMISSION FAILED AT APPROX. 55,000 MILES AND WAS REPLACED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THIS TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT I PAID $1,700 FOR THE LABOR AND DEALER GAVE ME THE PART. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ON MY 2000 LEXUS RX 300 AFTER LESS THAN 9 YEARS AND 106,000 MILES. LOOKING ONLINE I SEE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL YEAR. LEXUS IS REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $4000. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR CONSISTENTLY ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SHE HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 121,399.

BOUGHT THIS 2000 RX 300 5 MONTHS AGO TRANSMISSION IS BURNED OUT APPROXIMATE COST IS $5,000.00. *TR

TRANSMISSION HAS COMPLETELY FAILED AT APPROX 121,000 MILES. *TR

WELL TAKEN CARE OF 2000 LEXUS RX300 HAS FAILED TRANSMISSION. COULD HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENT AS WENT OUT ON BUSY ROAD WITH NO NOTICE. 100K PREDOMINANTLY HIGHWAY MILES. VERY WELL CARED FOR, ONE OWNER VEHICLE. NEW TRANSMISSION COST EQUALS $4000 PER DEALER CALL. A TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT GO OUT ON A WELL CARED FOR, HIGHWAY DRIVEN VEHICLE. WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SHARED A PICTURE OF MY GMC YUKON PULLING MY WIFE'S LEXUS TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THIS MORNING. AWFUL RELIABILITY FOR WHAT THE PRICE OF THIS CAR ORIGINALLY COST. THE LEXUS WAS PURCHASED FOR PERCEIVED RELIABILITY. I GUESS PERCEPTION IS NOT REALITY. BUYER BEWARE ON LEXUS HIGH PRICED GARBAGE! *TR

LUXURY 2000 LEXUS RX300 TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 100K MILES, COST $4K-$5K FOR THE REPAIRS. *TR

BAD LEXUS RX300 TRANSMISSION. *TR

BOUGHT THE CAR USED AT 145,000 MI. NOTICED THE CAR WAS NOT SHIFTING INTO OVERDRIVE AT ABOUT 160,000 MIS. TOOK CAR THE TOYOTA DEALER FOR REPAIR. AFTER $200 OF DIAGNOSTICS AND 3 DAYS THEY DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD. THE CAR WILL SOMETIMES GO INTO OVERDRIVE AND SOMETIME IT WILL NOT CAUSING THE ENGINE TO REV TO 4000 TO 5000 RPM AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE PERFORMANCE. I HAVE READ HOW TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON THESE CARS CAN CAUSE UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS AND NOW I DON'T KNOW WHETHER I CAN TRUST THE SAFETY OF DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS IN THIS CAR ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

2000 LEXUS RX300 TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 104,000 MILES. COST TO REPLACE, INCLUDING LABOR IS $3,976.00. *TR

2008 TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 100,600, REPLACED AND AGAIN FAILED IN 2011 AT 131,000, FAILED AT 134,000, NOW BEING TOLD THE ECM COMPUTER IS CAUSING THE HARD SHIFTING AT 2ND TO 3RD UPSHIFT. WAS TOLD THE SAME TRANNY IS IN THE RECALLED RAV4. *TR

TRANSMISSION ON 2000 LEXUS RX300 IS RUINED AT 110,000 MILES AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT, ACCORDING TO THE LEXUS DEALER. THE OWNER'S MANUAL SAID NO TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGES ARE NECESSARY, YET WITH THE FAILURE THE DEALER WROTE ON THE RECEIPT THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD NOT BEEN CHANGED IN A TIMELY MANNER. CLEARLY THEY ARE AT FAULT. *TR

2000 RX 300 FAILING TRANSMISSION. STARTED HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING IN LOW GEARS WHEN COLD, NOW SHIFTS INCONSISTENTLY AND SPUTTERS WHILE IDLING. MECHANIC SAYS WE NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION, BUT I'M AFRAID FIXING THE TRANSMISSION IS JUST TREATING THE SYMPTOMS OF A DESIGN FLAW. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE LEXUS RX300 2000 WITH ONLY 73K MILES ON CAR. ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE COMPLETED BY DEALER UP TO THIS POINT. REBUILT TRANSMISSION CURRENTLY BEING INSTALLED AT A COST OF 3,800 TO 4,000 DOLLARS BY VALLEY TRANSMISSION. PLANETARY GEARS COMPLETELY BROKEN IN TRANSMISSION. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THESE COMPLAINTS ON LEXUSCLUB FORUM, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY NAME TO THE LIST. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN LOSING POWER AND SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR. EVENTUALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

LOSS OF POWER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, RAN EXTREMELY ROUGH LEXUS RX300 2000. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 110,000 MILES ON 2000 RX-200. RAN FINE UNTIL IT STARTED MAKING A GRINDING NOISE. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED (INCLUDING THE CASE). COST $4500.00. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE TO WORK AND SUDDENLY THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT MOVE THE VEHICLE. I TRIED SHIFTING TO OTHER GEAR POSITIONS BUT THE VEHICLE STILL WON'T MOVE. FIRST TIME THAT THIS HAPPENED ON ME, I DON NOT KNOW IF IT OCCURRED BEFORE TO THE PREVIOUS OWNER. BOUGHT THE 2000 LEXUS RX 300 IN 2004 AND HAS 85K MILES WHEN TRANSMISSION PROBLEM HAPPENED. HAS TO PAY THE DEALER $4,000 TO REPAIR. SOME OWNERS OF THE SAME MODEL VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

LEXUS 2000 RX300 OIL GEL PROBLEM THAT IS REQUIRING A REBUILT ENGINE AND AT THE SAME TIME MY TRANSMISSION IS FAILING AND I AM BEING TOLD IT WILL COST $5,000. THIS VEHICLE HAS 106,000 MILES BUT TWO CATASTROPHIC FAILURES. *TR

LEXUS RX 300 TRANSMISSION FAILING. MAKING NOISE. HAVE HAD TWO MECHANICS LOOK AT IT. APPEARS TO BE A FAULTY DESIGN. *TR

THERE WERE NO INCIDENTS THAT LEAD UP TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE IT JUST HAPPENED OUT OF THE BLUE. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ONE DAY AND IT WOULD NOT GO IN TO OVER DRIVE. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 148K, TRANSMISSION JUMPED FROM GEARS AND FAILED TO MOVE. NO WARNING SIGNS. I HAVE KEPT UP WITH MAINTENANCE ON THIS VEHICLE AND STILL OWE AND HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR MODEL AND IT APPEAR AS THOUGH THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT IN PROCESS. *TR

LEXUS RX300 TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 68,000 MILES AND 7.5 YEARS OLD. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN 2000 LEXUS RX-300 AWD WITH 110,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON A VERY BUSY 3-LANE HIGHWAY, I STOPPED TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN WITH A NUMBER OF CARS BEHIND ME. AFTER COMING TO A STOP AT THE INTERSECTION, WAITING FOR CARS TO CLEAR, WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE THROUGH, THE CAR WENT INTO NEUTRAL ALTHOUGH IT WAS STILL IN DRIVE. I TRIED REVERSE (RISKING HITTING THE CAR BEHIND ME) AND IT STAYED IN NEUTRAL. AFTER TURNING THE CAR ON AND OFF A COUPLE OF TIMES, IT FINALLY WENT INTO DRIVE AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TWO BLOCKS TO THE TOYOTA DEALER. THEIR SERVICE SHOP CHECKED IT OUT AND SIMPLY SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO REPLACED AT A COST OF $5200. THE LEXUS "OWNER'S MANUAL SUPPLEMENT" WITH MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES SAYS ONLY TO "INSPECT" TRANSMISSION FLUID AT 30K, 60K, 90K, 120K, AND 150K MILES. SEE PAGES 77 - 97 OF THE MAINTENANCE LOG BOOK. ONLY FOR "SPECIAL OPERATING CONDITIONS" IS IT RECOMMENDED TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND THEN ONLY AT 60K AND 120K MILES. I HAVE NOT OPERATED THE VEHICLE UNDER ANY OF THE SPECIAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. YET, BOTH THE LEXUS AND TOYOTA DEALERS I USE RECOMMEND REPLACING THE OIL EVERY 15K MILES, WHICH I HAVE DONE. BASED ON MY LIMITED RESEARCH, THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH EARLY MODEL LEXUS RX300'S AND UNACCEPTABLE THAT IT SHOULD FAIL, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE ADDED SERVICE / MAINTENANCE THAT LEXUS RECOMMENDS, WHICH IS AT ODDS WITH WHAT IS WRITTEN IN THEIR OWN MANUAL. HAD THIS TRANSMISSION FAILURE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING IN 50 -60 MPH RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC , IT WOULD HAVE PUT ME IN A POTENTIALLY DEADLY SITUATION. I STRONGLY SUSPECT LEXUS IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION, GIVEN THEIR DEALER SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS AND SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE COST OF REPAIR. *TR

2000 LEXUS RX300 WITH AWD TRANSMISSION HAD VERY HARD SHIFTS,AND WOULDN'T EVEN SHIFT INTO REVERSE. TOOK IT TO AAMCO AND THEY OPENED IT UP AND TOLD ME I NEED COMPLETE PLANETARY SET GEARS,AND CHARGED ME $1300 TO PUT IT BACK TOGETHER. STILL PROBLEM CONTINUED,TOOK IT TO WORLD WIDE TRANSMISSION AND THEY REBUILT FOR $3,400. NOW IT SHIFTS BETTER,BUT OFTEN WITH A KICK ON THE DOWNSHIFTS BETWEEN 2ND TO 1ST. *TR

RX300 FAILED TO GO INTO REVERSE FROM PARK IN OCTOBER 2007. TOOK TO TOYOTA DEALER INSOFAR AS NO LOCAL LEXUS DEALER IN BEND, OREGON. FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. PROBLEM RETURNED 4 MONTHS LATER AT 2,000 MILES INTO THE NEW ATF, WITH OCCASIONAL FAILURE IN DRIVE GEAR. 4/9/08 VEHICLE WAS MOVING IN DRIVE FROM HOME GARAGE WHEN TRANSMISSION WENT BUMP/THUMP TWICE. 50 YARDS FURTHER FORWARD, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN A GRINDING NOISE. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE, BUT DRIVE FORWARD WAS OKAY. RETURNED TO VEHICLE IN 2 HRS AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. NO REVERSE GEAR WHEN SHIFTER WAS IN REVERSE. NEUTRAL WOULD ALLOW FREEWHEEL. TRIED TO TURN 180 AND RETURN TO HOME GARAGE. VEHICLE WAS NOW PERPENDICULAR TO BOTH LANES OF TRAFFIC. TRIED TO ENGAGE NEUTRAL TO FREEWHEEL IN REVERSE. VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE IN GEAR OR PARK WHEN IN NEUTRAL ON THE SHIFTER. DROVE FORWARD ONE FOOT AND TRIED NEUTRAL, GOT A SOUND LIKE SOMETHING COMING UNSTUCK AND BECOMING SYNCHRONIZED. NEUTRAL NOW ALLOWED FREEWHEEL. REVERSE GEAR NOW WORKED AND I DROVE THE VEHICLE THE 50 YARDS HOME AND BACKED IT USING REVERSE GEAR INTO THE GARAGE. 68,745 TOTAL MILES ON 2000 RX300.LEXUS SAYS VEHICLE OUT OF THE 6 YEAR/70,000 DRIVE TRAIN WARRANTY. LEXUS SAYS TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION IN THE 2000 LEXUS RX 300 HAS FAILED COMPLETELY AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT. *TR

PREMATURE FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION ON LEXUS RX 300. DEALERS REFUSAL TO STEP UP TO PAY FOR AN ORIGINALLY DEFECTIVE PRODUCT, AND REQUEST TO PAY $4500 FOR A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. LEXUS' REFUSAL TO ADDRESS MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF A WIDESPREAD ISSUE ON AN OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. LEXUS DENIAL OF A CLEARLY MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY RX300 THE VEHICLE RPM STARTED GOING HIGHER THAN NORMAL. I COULD ONLY DRY THE VEHICLE LOCALLY SINCE DOES NOT WANT TO SHIFT. WHEN I DRIVE IT A 40MPH THE RPMS ARE AT 3 RPM. I SEARCH TO SEE IF HAS BEEN A RECALL OR IF THE LEXUS CORPORATION IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE TRANNY IN THIS MODEL.. *TR

DROVE MY LEXUS RX300 TO LAKE TAHOE. IT WAS 28 DEGREES AS I ENTERED THE TAHOE AREA. THE TRANSMISSION BEGAIN TO SLIP, NOT MAINTAINING ENGAGEMENT. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE HOTEL BUT ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER REGISTERING I TRIED TO DRIVE AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE. IT WAS NOW 24 DEGREES. I TRIED AGAIN IN THE MORNING BUT IT STILL WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND NOW THERE WAS A WHIRLING SOUND. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP ONE HUNDRED MILES AWAY. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO THE FRONT-SIDE TRANSMISSION PUMP. LEXUS/TOYOTA WILL NOT REPLACE THE PART. SINCE IT IS AN INTERNAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THEY WILL ONLY REPLACE THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION. LEXUS POLICY. IT IS A 15 HOUR REPAIR. EVEN IF IT WERE POSSIBLE TO REPLACE THE PUMP IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN MORE HOURS TO REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER PRIOR TO PURCHASING IT THAT IT WAS IN IMPECCABLE CONDITION. AN INSPECTING AUTHORIZED MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT ITS RARE TO SEE A VEHICLE IN AS EXCELLENT OF A CONDITION. AN SUV SHOULD NOT HAVE A PROBLEM IN SLIGHT EXTREMELY COLD CONDITIONS. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE ISNT UNCOMMON IF THEY ARE IN EXTREMELY HOT OR COLD CLIMATES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW. HE HAS NEVER HAD TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AS FREQUENT IN HIS PREVIOUS VEHICLES. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. IT COST $4700.00

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

WELL TAKEN CARE OF LEXUS RX 300 TRANSMISSION FAILURE TWICE. USED TRANSMISSION INSTALLED IN 2004 AFTER FIRST FAILURE. SPECIAL ATTENTION WAS GIVEN SUCH AS NEVER SHIFTING GEARS QUICKLY WHEN BACKING UP AND TO PUT INTO DRIVE. TRANSMISSION WILL BE REPLACED... AGAIN. THE USED TRANSMISSION HELPS TO PROVE TRANSMISSION FAILURE IS INEVITABLE. *TR

TRANSMISSION CONSTANTLY SLIPS OUT OF GEAR OR FAILS TO ENGAGE REVERSE GEAR FROM PARK. CAR SLOWS SUDDENLY OR FAILS TO ACCELERATE BECAUSE OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

MY 2000 LEXUS RX 300 STARTED SHIFTING FUNNY ON DECEMBER 4TH. WE TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC ON DECEMBER 5TH AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A VERY, VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THESE VEHICLES AND AM NOW OUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR

COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. AFTER DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY PARKED CAR IN DRIVEWAY AT HOME. 20 MIN. LATER TRIED TO PUT CAR IN GARAGE AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE. HAD IT TOWED TO SHOP ON CAR CARRIER AND FOUND BROKEN GEARS IN TRANSMISSION. *TR

THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING ON A 300 MILE TRIP TO SEE FAMILY, OUR LEXUS RX 300 LOST THE TRANSMISSION AT 86,000 MILES AND RUINED OUR ENTIRE HOLIDAY WEEKEND. AFTER GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH CORPORATE LEXUS THEY HAVE DECIDED EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE PUT OUR A TSB AND ARE WELL AWARE OF THE TRANSAXLE FAILURE IN THIS MODEL, THEY WILL NOT CONTRIBUTE ANY FINANCIAL MONIES TO HELP JUSTIFY OUR $6,000.00 BILL. I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER LEXUS NOR ANYONE WITHIN MY FAMILY. VERY DISSATISFIED CUSTOMER *TR

MY 2000 LEXUS RX300 TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT TO HIGHER GEAR. I PURCHASED AND USED THE CAR IN USA UNTIL 09/2004 AND THEN SHIPPED IT TO BAHRAIN. IT IS STILL IN BAHRAIN. HOW TO GET IT FIXED WITH NO COST? SINCE IT IS MANUFACTURER FAILURE. *TR

DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MY CAR CEASED FORWARD ENGAGEMENT. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED HOWEVER, I WAS SUCCESSFUL IN MANEUVERING OFF THE FREEWAY. I WAS STRANDED OUT OF TOWN FOR SEVERAL HOURS. AFTER HAVING TOWED TO A LEXUS DEALERSHIP IN SACRAMENTO FOR AN ASSESSMENT IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED AND ADVISED THE COST WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $4,400. I CONTACTED THE LEXUS CORPORATION BECAUSE NO TRANSMISSION SHOULD FAIL ONLY HAVING 89,000 MILES AND 7 YEARS OF AGE WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THE LEXUS 1999 & 2000 RX300 MODELS HAVE A KNOWN TRANSMISSION DEFECT BUT NO RECALL, WHY? *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

HELLO RECENTLY I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY LEXUS RX300 HATCH BACK DOOR COMING LOOSE. FIRST, THE BOLT THAT HOLDS ONE OF THE HYDRAULIC CYLIDER THAT WERE USED TO KEEP THE DOOR OPEN BROKE, AND THEN THE HANDLE THAT OPENS THE HATCHBACK DOOR BROKE AND SHOT CLOSED. THE ONLY THING THAT WAS HOLDING THE DOOR WAS THE OTHER CYLIDER. HAD THAT BROKEN LOOSE, THE DOOR WOULD HAVE HAD FALLEN OFF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR, I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY LEXUS THAT IT WAS A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT. I HAVE LEARNED SINCE THEN THAT THIS ISSUE THAT I HAD EXPERIENCED IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENTS. I HAVE HEARD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN RX300 AND DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED TO BE FIXED. I AM WRITING THIS LETTER TO NHTSA HEADQUARTER IN WASHINTON TO REQUEST TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT IT COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD ON THE ROAD. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.*CN

LEXUS RX300 TRANSMISSION FAILED ON MAJOR HIGHWAY AT 86000 MILES. INTERNET SEARCH AND PHONE CALLS TO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS REVEAL MANY SIMILAR INCIDENTS AND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM LEXUS IS AWARE OF. CAR WAS 8 DAYS PASSED A 3 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY PROVIDED AT PURCHASE, CURRENTLY LEXUS WILL REPLACE AT ABOUT THE COST THAT AN INDEPENDENT WILL REBUILD

TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. NO PRIOR INDICATION OF A PROBLEM. CAR COULD NOT BE PLACED IN GEAR, HAD TO BE TOWED. LEXUS SAID THAT 120K MILES WAS THE LIFE SPAN OF THE TRANSMISSION AND WANTED TO CHARGE $5,400 FOR REPAIR. CAR HAD ONLY BEEN SERVICE BY LEXUS SINCE PURCHASE, LAST SERVICE WAS 6 MONTHS PRIOR AND NO INDICATION WAS GIVEN OF ANY EXPECTED TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *TR

FAILED TRANSMISSION. *TR

THERE IS A FORUM ON EDMUNDS.COM WITH POSTINGS OF A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THEIR LEXUS RX300'S. I ASKED FOR HELP BACK IN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER OF 2007 AND HAVE SINCE HAD MY PROBLEM FIXED FOR N/C BY LEXUS. APPARENTLY OTHERS ARE NOT AS LUCKY.

LEXUS RX-300 YR2000 (TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS). *TR