2001 Lexus RX Complaint Log

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

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

I OWN A 2001 LEXUS RX300 AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT BUT LEXUS REFUSED TO COVER IT WITH MY 100.000 WARRANTY.THEY WERE VERY RACIST AND WRONG. THEY ALSO REFUSED TO TAKE CARE OF THE ENGINE REPAIRS. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER ONE IN MY LIFE FROM SUCH RACIST PIGS!! *TR

TRANSMISSION WHINNING NOISE AT START, AND SLIPPING ONCE WARMED UP. DEALER SAYS THE TRANSMISSION FRONT PUMP NEEDS REPLACED, QUOTED $4247 FOR LEXUS REMAMUFACTURED TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. *AK

PARKED THE CAR AT A PARKING LOT FOR 5 MINUTES, CAME BACK AND THE CAR WON'T GO IN REVERSE, CHECKED FLUID LEVEL, IT WAS FINE.. CAR WOULD GO FORWARD, BUT NOT BACKWARDS.. TRIED PUSHING THE CAR WHILE IN NEUTRAL SO I CAN DRIVE HOME, ALL 4 WHEELS WERE LOCKED, I THOUGHT I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH STRENGTH TO PUSH SO I HAD 2 MORE PEOPLE PUSH WITH ME, BUT THE CAR WON'T BUDGE. EVEN TRIED PUSHING THE CAR WHILE RUNNING AND IN NEUTRAL AS WELL AS NOT RUNNING AND IN NEUTRAL AND ALL OTHER GEAR SELECTIONS, BUT TO NO AVAIL. EVEN THE TOW TRUCK GUY HAD TO USE SOAPY WATER TO SLIDE THE CAR UP THE FLAT BED. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 68000 MILES APPROXIMATELY. *AK

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

LEXUS RX 300 TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO FAIL. *JB

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *JB

CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS DRIVING ON I-495 @ A SPEED OF 60 MPH ON A SUNNY DAY. HER TIRES BLEW OUT ON HER THIS WAS ON THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE. THE ENTIRE TIRE CAME OFF THE RIM. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE A NEW TIRE WAS PURCHASE. THE OLD TIRE WAS LEFT AT THE DEALER. SHE NEED TO KNOW WHY HER TIRES JUST BLEW OUT HER. WILL SOMEONE CALL HER TO FIND OUT WHAT CAN PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.

I HAD A TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON MY 2001 LEXUS RX 300 VIN [XXX] WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR SUDDENLY WENT INTO NUETRAL AND SLOWED TO A STOP ON THE ROAD PUTTING MYSELF AND MY FAMILY IN DANGER. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THAT COMPLAINTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN FILED. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS APPLIED. TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING AT TRAFFIC LIGHT WHILE GOING HOME FROM WORK. WAS FINALLY ABLE TO MOVE FROM LIGHT INTO NEARBY PARKING LOT. HAD TO CALL TOW TRUCK FROM THERE. TOLD BY DEALER THAT THIS WAS RARE OCCASION AND THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. HAVE LEARNED SINCE THAT IT HAS HAPPENED QUITE FREQUENTLY. THIS HAPPENED AROUND 97,800 MILES. A COST OF AROUND $3957 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

2001 LEXUS RX-300 TRANSMISSION FAILED JUST BEFORE 84,000 MILES, DISABLING VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY. WARRANTY DID NOT COVER REPAIR. *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

WHILE DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED THE LEXUS LURCHED FORWARD, AND THEN BECAME INOPERABLE. TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 86,000 MILES. THE CAR WAS RECENTLY SERVICED FOR THE TRANSMISSION MAINTENANCE AT 80,000 MILES. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON EARLY FAILURE, AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. *JB

PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURE> REPLACED TRANSMISSION FEB 06 STILL NOT SHIFTING AFTER 3 TRIES SERVICED THE TRANS - MIRACLE FIX? MAY 06 DIRTY FLUID REPORTED BY ANOTHER SHOP. LEXUS SOLUTION SERVICE AGAIN WITHIN 4,500 MILES OF THE TRANS REPLACEMENT. NO FURTHER ACTION TAKEN. *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 RX-300 1ST TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 142,000 MILES. *TR

VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING A SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM. CONSUMER WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE ACCELERATION BEGAN. VEHICLE HIT A BRICK PILLAR. *AK

CONSUMER REQUESTING INFORMATION REGARDING OXYGEN SENSORS ON LEXUS RX300.*MR THE OXYGEN SENOR WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE FRONT CALIPERS, ROTORS AND WASHER PUMP WERE REPLACED. *JB

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I COLLIDED WITH A PICKUP TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. WE WERE TRAVELING ABOUT 40 MPH, WHEN WE BOTH BRAKED WHEN A THIRD CAR IN FRONT SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES TO MAKE A SUDDEN LEFT TURN WITHOUT SIGNALING. I'M CONCERNED MY AIRBAGS ARE DEFECTIVE BECAUSE THEY DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DONE TO THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. IT'S A GOOD THING THE SEAT BELT WORKED AS IT SHOULD, OR I WOULD HAVE SUSTAINED INJURIES.*AK

CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING VEHICLE ON AUGUST 3, 2004 AT 25 MPH UPHILL WHEN SUDDENLY THE ACCELERATOR STUCK. VEHICLE RED LINED UP THE HILL, AND WHEN IT REACHED THE TOP OF THE HILL, THE MOTOR WAS STILL RACING. CONSUMER'S SON MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND CUT THE VEHICLE OFF. IT WAS WITNESSED BY POLICE OFFICER,WHO WAS AT THE TOP OF THE HILL. THEN POLICE OFFICER ASKED CONSUMER'S SON TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, AND THE MOTOR IMMEDIATELY BEGUN TO RACE, RED LINING AGAIN. HE WAS THEN ASKED TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF, ALLOWING IT TO COOL DOWN. THEN, THE TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED BY THE POLICE OFFICER. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED ON THE SCENE CONSUMER'S SON WAS AGAIN ASKED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE REPEATED THE SAME THING, IT RED LINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, AND TOWED TO A LEXUS DEALER. *AK

THROTTLE STUCK WIDE OPEN FOLLOWING ROUTINE ACCELERATION GOING UP HILL. ENGINE CONTINUED AT HIGH REVS. CONTROL AND BRAKING WERE DIFFICULT AS ENGINE RACED UNCONTROLLABLY. VEHICLE STOPPED BY EXITING INTO PARKING LOT AND BEING PUT IN PARK.*AK AFTER 1 HOUR WHEN VEHICLE RESTARTED ENGINE IMMEDIATELY RED LINED. IT DID THE SAME THE FOLLOWING DAY AND AT DEALER AFTER BEING TOWED IN. DIAGNOSIS FROM DEALER- THROTTLE CONTROL BODY STUCK. FORTUNATELY DRIVER DEALT WITH POTENTIALLY FATAL SITUATION WITHOUT INJURY OR DAMAGE. MANUFACTURER UNWILLING TO DISCLOSE SIMILAR EPISODES.

TWO (2) INCIDENTS OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION BY THE VEHICLE - THE DEALER WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY SIMILAR ISSUES. I WAS NOT AWARE THAT NHTSA WAS CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION INTO SIMILAR OCCURRENCES WITH OTHER TOYOTA/LEXUS VEHICLES.*AK

ENGINE OIL SLUDGE. *AK

2000 LEXUS RX 300 (THIS IS A TOYOTA CAMRY ENGINE IN A LEXUS BODY) CAR TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT CHANGE INTO HIGH GEARS 3 & 4 FOR HIGHWAY DRIVING, PREVENTING ACCELERATION. LEXUS OF NORWOOD, MA REPLACED THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION UNDER WARRANTY. 5,000 MILES LATER THE NEW TRANSMISSION WAS DOING THE SAME THING, AFTER A WEEK THEY FINALLY GAVE IT BACK TO AND SAID IT WAS REPAIRED BUT NOT WHAT THEY HAD TO FIX AND WERE VERY SKETCHY, IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. FINALLY THE REPAIR TECHNICIAN TOLD IN LOW TONES SO NOT TO BE HEARD THAT IT WAS COMPUTER SOFTWARE PROBLEM AND THAT;S WHY THEY WOULD NOT TELL ME. SO THEY REPLACED AN ENTIRE TRANSMISSION AT 48000 MILES INCORRECTLY WHEN ALL THEY HAD TO DO WAS DO A SOFTWARE BUG FIX. I THINK THIS IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE THE COMPUTER PREVENTED ACCELERATION BUT COULD PROBABLY ALSO CAUSE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THEY DO NOT HAVE CONTROL OF THEIR SOFTWARE RUNNING THESE ENGINES AND DON'T WANT TO ADMIT BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. DUE TO SEVERE DAMAGE FROM THE FIRE VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS.*AK

FRONT BRAKE DISC ROTORS ARE WARPED AT ONLY 28000 MILES. *AK

OIL SLUDGE IN 3.0L ENGINE CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE.

WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A BUILDING HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *JB

THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AFTER THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF, AND THE KEYS WERE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION, WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *JB

2001 LEXUS RX300, 30DEGREE OUTSIDE TEMP, VEHICLE WARMED UP UNTIL HEATED SEATS WORKED, DROVE VEHICLE ABOUT 80 YARDS FORWARD, VEHICLE PUT INTO REVERSE, SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURED AT FULL THROTTLE, BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION, UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE POSITION WITH VEHICLE IN MOTION, RPM NEEDLE AT REDLINE 8000RPM, VEHICLE FINALLY BROUGHT TO SCREECHING AND SHAKING STOP WHEN SHIFTED INTO PARK. ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF, WHEN STARTED AGAIN, RMP NEEDLE JUMPED UP TO REDLINE AGAIN AND STAYED THERE. THIS REPEATED ABOUT 5 TIMES. ACCELERATION WAS STUCK AT FULL THROTTLE. NO COLLISION. VEHICLE MALFUNCTION REPORTED TO DEALERSHIP, VEHICLE TOWED FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS. NOTICED TICKING SOUND COMING FROM DRIVERS SIDE.

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER HIT A PIECE OF RUBBER TIRE THAT HAD FLEW OFF A TRUCK, MINUTES LATER THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY ANOTHER MOTORIST THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING GAS, CONSUMER THEN PULLED OVER AND DISCOVERED A HOLE APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER ON THE SIDE OF THE GAS TANK, CONSUMER STATED THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURED JUST FROM HITTING A PIECE OF RUBBER.*JB

VEHICLE WAS AT A FULL STOP AND PUT INTO PARK. PAVEMENT WAS LEVEL. PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGED. BOTH DRIVER SIDE DOORS WERE OPEN AND REAR DOOR LIFTED. I WAS LOADING VEHICLE FOR FULL 5 MINUTES. AS I TURNED, SAW VEHICLE BEGIN TO MOVE IN REVERSE AT A VERY FAST PACE. ROLLED INTO EXTERIOR STUCCO WALL OF GARAGE. DAMAGED BUMPER AND LIFT GATE. NO INJURIES. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PUT INTO PARK WHILE RUNNING, WHEN AUTO IS PUT IN REVERSE AND FOOT IS TAKEN OFF BRAKE THE VEHICLE MOVES BACKWARD VERY QUICKLY WITH NO GAS APPLIED. WHEN PUT IN FORWARD, IT CREEPS AT A SLOWER SPEED THAN REVERSE. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO POSSIBILITY THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT IN REVERSE WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURED. THE CAR WOULD HAVE KNOCKED ME OVER BEFORE I COULD HAVE CLEARED IT BECAUSE IT MOVES SO FAST IN REVERSE. *AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AFTER VEHICLE HAS STOPPED AWHILE BRAKES SQUEAKED VERY LOUDLY. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 15MPH AFTER STARTING OUT FROM A STOP LIGHT, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BURST INTO FLAMES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR THE PAST 26 HOURS AND WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE DURING THAT TIME PERIOD. AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN OPERATION FOR ONLY ABOUT 10 MINUTES, AND WAS ABOUT 4-5 MILES FROM MY RESIDENCE. THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL ODOR JUST PRIOR TO OBSERVING THE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER BOTH SIDES OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE BUT DID NOT INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OR ORIGIN OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED FROM THE SCENE AND IS A TOTAL LOSS. MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THE DEALER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. AT THE TIME OF THIS REPORT I HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY THE DEALER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT ME BY EITHER PHONE OR E-MAIL.*AK

WHILE CHANGING A FLAT TIRE: AS THE VEHICLE WAS BEING RAISED, THE SREW ROD (PUSHES THE VEHICLE UP AND DOWN), ON THE JACK BEGAN TO BEND. THE OPERATOR OF THE JACK QUICKLY LOWERED THE VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS UNDER THE VEHICLE AND NO ONE WAS INJURED AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT CRASH DOWN.*AK

FOOT SOLELY ON BRAKE AS VEHICLE COMING TO A STOP IN PARKING SPOT SUDDENLY WITH NO REASON ACCELERATED OVER-RIDING THE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE--JUMPING THE CONCRETE STOP-KNOCKING OVER PARKING POST AND SIGN AND COMING TO A STOP JUST HITTING THE OPPOSING VEHICLE'S LEFT FRONT WHEEL WELL DOING DAMAGE TO IT AND TO MY CAR.

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