1999 Lexus RX300 transmission problems

POWER TRAIN

ON 06/16/16 I PULLED INTO DRIVEWAY ENGAGE EMERGENCY BRAKES PLACE VEHICLE IN PARK AND GOT OFF. IMMEDIATELY I REALIZED VEHICLE WAS ROLLING FORWARD I ATTEMPTED TO START TO BRAKE AND GOT NOTHING. I NOTICED THAT VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE I ATTEMPTED TO PLACE IN PARK AND GOT NOTHING LEVER WAS FREE SLIDING NOT ENGAGING ANY GEARS. I IMMEDIATELY GOT ONLINE TO ATTEMPT TO TROUBLESHOOT ISSUE AND RAN INTO A HANDFUL OF BLOGS RELATING TO AN ISSUE IN GEAR SHIFTER CABLE WITH A PLASTIC RETAINING CLIP WHICH LEXUS USES ON CABLE. I HAD NO INDICATION OR ANY SORT OF WARNING OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE IT OCCURRED IT JUST HAPPEN OUT OF THE BLUE AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE IF I WAS ACTUALLY ON THE ROAD WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I HAVE READ THAT LEXUS IS NOT STANDING BEHIND THIS MISTAKE AND FEEL THAT IT IS HORRIBLE TO ALLOW A COMPANY THAT SELLS SUCH EXPENSIVE VEHICLES TO EMPLOY THIS PRACTICE AND ENDANGER CONSUMERS, SPECIFICALLY FOR SUCH AN INEXPENSIVE PIECE. I HAD TO GET UNDER VEHICLE TO MANUALLY ENGAGE TRASMISSION INTO NEUTRAL TO BE ABLE TO START VEHICLE AND PROPERLY PARK BY AGAIN GETTING UNDER VEHICLE AND PLACING IN REVERSE AND THE DRIVE, I WAS UNABLE TO GET BACK INTO PARK FOR SOME REASON WILL LIFT VEHICLE IN THE MORNING AND ATTEMPT TO SEE WHY WILL ALSO BE ATTEMPTING TO REPAIR AND WILL THEN HAVE MORE OF AN IDEA OF THE ISSUE AND PICTURES RELATING TO THIS MATTER

NHTSA complaint #10874742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET DOING ABOUT 40 OR SO AND ALL FOUR WHEELS LOCKED UP AT ONCE SUDDENLY. IT CAUSING THE CAR TO A COME PLEAT STOP IN THE ROAD. THE CAR BEHIND ME HAD TO LOCK UP ALL MOST CAUSING A ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10864264 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300,000.

NHTSA complaint #10671427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

AT APPROX 195,000 THE TRANSMISSION HAS COMPLETELY FAILED. I RECOGNIZE MILEAGE MIGHT BE HIGH BUT I BELIEVE THAT AS ENGINE IS GOOD FOR 250,000 TO 300,000 THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD ALSO BE RATED THAT HIGH.

NHTSA complaint #10660710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT DOWNSHIFT.

NHTSA complaint #10611413 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE 2013- THE CAR GOES UP TO 35 MPHS AND THEN LOSES POWER AND THEN SHUTS OFF. I HAVE TO FORCEFULLY PULL IT OVER TO THE SIDE. FIRST TIME IT WAS WORKED ON REPLACED BATTERY AND THOUGHT IT WAS THE COMPUTER. A YEAR LATER AT 136,000 MILES THE CAR MAKES ELECTRICAL NOISES AND HAS DIFFICULTY ACCELERATING AND SHIFTING ABOVE 3000 RPMS. WHEN BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION AND SOLENOID. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT AND NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED.

NHTSA complaint #10569371 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

ON APRIL 25, 2012, MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING TO MY BROTHERS HOME, A DISTANCE OF 50 MILES. ABOUT TWO MILES FROM OUR DESTINATION, WE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I ACCELERATED AND THE CAR WENT FORWARD ABOUT TEN FEET AND LURCHED TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. WE WERE THROWN FORWARD, AND THE DRIVER BEHIND US HAD TO JAM HIS BRAKES. WE WERE ABLE TO LEAVE THE INTERSECTION ONLY BY PUTTING THE CAR IN LOW GEAR AND SLOWLY MOVING THROUGH THE TRAFFIC TO THE FAR RIGHT LANE AND INTO A BANK PARKING LOT. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A NEARBY MECHANIC. THE FOLLOWING DAY I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE MECHANIC WHO QUOTED $3,766 FOR TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. I AUTHORIZED THE WORK TO BE DONE. ON APRIL 27, I TOLD A FRIEND WHO WAS VISITING OUR AREA FROM CANADA OF THE INCIDENT. THAT DAY, HE SPOKE WITH AN ACQUAINTANCE WHO IS A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE FOR A CANADIAN LEXUS DEALER. HE SAID THAT FAILURE AT AROUND 100,000 MILES IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 1999 LEXUS RX300 AND THAT LEXUS HAD BEEN WORKING WITH CUSTOMERS ON THIS ISSUE .I WENT TO THE INTERNET TO SEE WHAT I COULD LEARN. THERE WAS NO RECALL, BUT THERE WERE SITES REFERENCING THE PERVASIVENESS OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN THE RX300. FROM WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED , WE BELIEVE THAT TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON THE 1999 LEXUS RX300 OCCURS FREQUENTLY AT AROUND 100,000 MILES AND IS CAUSED BY A DESIGN FLAW IN THAT MODEL YEAR. THAT BEING THE CASE, IT SEEMS TO US THAT LEXUS OUGHT TO HAVE TAKEN PREEMPTIVE ACTION SO THAT OWNERS SUCH AS MY WIFE AND I WOULD NOT HAVE TO SUFFER A NEAR COLLISION, NOT TO MENTION UNNECESSARY COSTS AND INCONVENIENCE. LEXUS OFFERED A TOKEN SERVICE CREDIT BUT WAS UNWILLING TO ADMIT TO ANY INHERENT PROBLEM IN THE RX300 TRANSMISSIONS AND OFFERED NO COMMENT REGARDING OUR SUGGESTION THAT THE OWNERS SHOULD BE FOREWARNED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT AROUND 100,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10462643 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON THIS CAR ON THE FREEWAY LEAVING ME IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH MY 8 MONTH OLD CHILD. THIS TRANSMISSION WAS JUST REBUILT A YEAR AGO. YOU ARE PROBABLY AWARE THAT THIS ISSUE IS BEYOND PREVALENT. STORIES AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT EARLY TRANSMISSION FAILURE ARE ALL OVER THE INTERNET. YOU ARE PROBABLY ALREADY AWARE. SO IS LEXUS AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WILL SOMEONE HAVE TO GET KILLED BEFORE YOU DEMAND A RECALL? ME AND MY BABY COULD HAVE VERY EASILY HAVE BEEN KILLED YESTERDAY.

NHTSA complaint #10446923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

1. ON 08/17/11 AROUND 9PM, OUR 1999 LEXUS RX300 WAS SUDDENLY FAILED IN HIGHWAY OF THE YOSEMITE MOUNTAIN. 2. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO LEXUS DEALER SAN JOSE, CA. THE TECHNICIAN IDENTIFIED THAT IT CAUSED BY TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WE NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WHICH IS CAUSED US $5000. I TOLD THE CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON TO KEEP THE REPLACED PART TILL NEXT TUESDAY WHICH IS 08/23/11. WE GOGGLED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS THE KNOWN ISSUE OF RX300 BETWEEN 1999 THROUGH 2002 MODEL YEARS. THE TRANSAXLE (LEXUS TRANSMISSION) WOULD FAIL AFTER 80,000 MILES OF DRIVING ACCORDING TO OWNERS WHO REPORTED THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. OUR CAR IS JUST OVER 80,000 MILES. WE DON'T DRIVE THAT MUCH ALTHOUGH IT IS 1999 MODEL. ACCORDING TO THE ARTICLE ON THE EHOW WEBSITE, THERE IS NO FACTORY RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED TO ADDRESS THE TRANSMISSION PREMATURE FAILURE ISSUE. THERE ARE MANY MOMS INCLUDING MYSELF WHO DRIVE THIS CAR EVERYDAY WITH YOUNG KID ON BOARD. MY SON IS 7 YEARS OLD. I PERSONAL KNOW AT LEAST 3 MOMS WITH 4 KIDS (5-7 YEARS OLD) WHO DRIVE SAME MODEL YEAR CAR. PLEASE WORK ON THIS CASE ASAP. AT LEASE PLEASE RELEASE THE WARNING TO THE CUSTOMER TO CHECK THEIR TRANSMISSION. WE HOPE THAT WE ARE THE LAST PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE THIS TRAGEDY INCIDENT. THANKS GOD WE WERE SAFE. THIS YOSEMITE TRIP WE PLANNED TO GO DURING THE WINTER TIME. THANKS GOD WE DIDN'T MAKE IT AT THAT TIME. THE CAR FAILED AREA, OUR ATT CELL EVEN COULDN'T DIAL OUT 911. THANKS GOD THERE IS NICE PERSON STOPPED HIS CAR AND SAVED US. THANKS GOD THE CAR DIDN'T FAILED AT MOUNTAIN FIRE AREA, MY SON HAD ASTHMA REACTION TO THE SMOCK. THANKS GOD THAT THERE WAS NO CAR BEHIND US AND THERE IS A HIGHWAY TURN OVER RIGHT AHEAD OF US. THANK GOD WE ARE SAFE ALTHOUGH WE WERE SCARED TO DEATH AND COULDN'T SLEEP WELL AT NIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #10420123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

LEXUS RX300, TRANSMISSION SHIFT PROBLEMS AT GEAR 3 AND 4. RPM GOES OVER 4000, IRRESPECTIVE OF WARM OR COLD ENGINE. I HAVE AN ENGINE LIGHT CODE 0765 (SOLENOID SHIFT D MALFUNCTION).

NHTSA complaint #10413644 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

138,000 USED VEHICLE. UPON PURCHASE DID TIMING BELT, WATER PUMP AND ALL BELTS. THEN HAD A TRANSMISSION FLUSH. WENT ON A 500 MILE ROUND TRIP AND UPON RETURNING LOST OVERDRIVE. MADE IT HOME THEN NEXT DAY A SEVERE LOSE OF POWER AND TRANS WOULD NOT SHIFT. AFTER RESTARTING WOULD SHIFT BUT NO OVERDRIVE. AFTER INVESTIGATING FOUND HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS WHEN YOU QUERY LEXUS TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I CAN UNDERSTAND LOSING A TRANSMISSION BUT READING ALL THESE COMPLAINANTS IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS PRODUCT IS DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA complaint #10413649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I PURCHASED USED 1999 LEXUS RX300 IN 2008 AND SO FAR I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION DUE TO UNEXPECTED CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, BOTH AIR RATIO SENSORS, BOTH KNOCK SENSORS, OXYGEN SENSOR, FRONT STRUT MOUNTS, AND NOW POSSIBLY HAVE TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN (NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY). I WAS NOT AWARE THAT THE 1999 TO 2001 RX300S WERE SO PROBLEMATIC. SINCE THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE AND I AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON IT, I AM STUCK FOOTING THE BILL FOR ALL THESE REPAIRS. WHICH FROM WHAT I HAVE RESEARCHED ARE ATTRIBUTED TO BAD ENGINEERING. I AM CONSTANTLY HAVING TO REPAIR A VEHICLE WHICH IS SUPPOSEDLY KNOWN FOR QUALITY. THE PROBLEMS THAT I'VE MENTIONED ARE JUST THE MAJOR REPAIRS. I HAVE OTHER MINOR ISSUES SUCH AS REAR POWER WINDOW MUST REMAIN LOCKED OR IT OPENS ON IT'S OWN, DASHBOARD LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE,AND POWER ROOF GETS STUCK OPEN INTERMITTENTLY.

NHTSA complaint #10412327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

1999 LEXUS RX300 WHICH HAD TRANSMISSION SERVICE ON MARCH 17TH 2011 AT , BEGAN TO MAKE A WHIRRING SOUND AND SLIP OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 85 NORTH ON SATURDAY JULY 9TH 2011. I IMMEDIATLY PULLED OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE INTERSTATE TO CHECK THE FLUID AND IT SHOWED FULL ON THE DIP STICK. ON MONDAY JULY 11TH 2011 THE RX300 IN QUESTION WAS TAKEN TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP WHICH PERFORMED THE SERVICE OF THE TRANSMISSION ON MARCH 17TH 2011, AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION COSTING UPWARD OF $4500. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION I HAVE FOUND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE RX300 MODEL YEARS 1999-2001 DESCRIBING THE EXACT SAME DRIVE TRAIN FAILURE. IT IS APPARENT THAT LEXUS IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND HAS FAILED TO ISSUE ANY TYPE OF WARNING TO ITS CONSUMERS OF IMPENDING TRANSAXLE FAILURE DUE TO AN INFERIOR SHIFTING APPARATUS. AS STATED EARLIER SERVICE WAS PERFORMED ON MY RX300 AND ANY MENTION OF IMPENDING PROBLEMS WERE ABSENT. AS A CONSUMER I FEEL THAT IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LEXUS TO WARN ITS CUSTOMERS OF ANY PROBLEMS WHICH MAY ARISE DUE TO INADEQUATE EQUIPMENT. BELOW ARE LINKS TO OTHER WEBSITES WHICH LIST COMPLAINTS OF THE EXACT TRANSAXLE FAILURE. A RECALL FOR REPAIRS SHOULD BE ISSUED AS THIS IS A SERIOUS VEHICLE FAILURE. IF I HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THIS IMPENDING ISSUE COSTLY REPAIRS AND DAMAGE CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. US.LEXUSOWNERSCLUB.COM/FORUMS/INDEX.PHP?SHOWTOPIC=28020 - HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/WEBX/.F111D9C/1. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #10411924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON MY 1999 LEXUS RX300 FAILED AT 165,000 MILES. IT CONSTANTLY TRIED TO DOWNSHIFT, AND AS A RESULT IT RAN HOT AND BURNED TRANSMISSION FLUID. PRIOR TO FAILING, IT CEASED SHIFTING INTO OVERDRIVE WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY, FORCING ME TO DRIVE IN A LOW GEAR AT 4,500 RPMS AND WASTE GAS WHILE I DROVE AS FAR AS I COULD TOWARD THE MECHANIC.

NHTSA complaint #10410930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER 1999 LEXUS RX300 TO WORK WHEN, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY DISENGAGED ALMOST CAUSING HER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. SEVERAL CARS ALMOST HIT HER WHILE SHE TRIED TO NAVIGATE THE CAR OFF THE ROADWAY TO A SAFE PLACE. CARRIED THE CAR TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER (THERE IS NO LOCAL LEXUS DEALER HERE) AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AND THE COST WOULD BE $3,700. THERE WERE NO ADVANCED INDICATIONS THE TRANSMISSION WAS HAVING PROBLEMS IT JUST SUDDENLY QUIT WORKING. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SCENARIO AND WE ARE BLESSED THAT OUR DAUGHTER WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10405938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 145K NO WARNING 4K TO REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #10386078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 110K MILES; REQUIRED TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA complaint #10378066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

BEGAN WITH VERY ROUGH IDLE. TRANSMISSION THEN REFUSES TO SHIFT TO OVERDRIVE GEAR.

NHTSA complaint #10358873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING MY LEXUS RX300 I HEARD A SLIGHT POP UNDER THE FRONT. AND THE CAR STOPPED. I WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WENT BAD. THE CAR HAS 128,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10350693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MY CAR HAS A SHUDDER FROM 2 TO 3 SHIFT OF THE TRANSMISSION. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A SERVICE CAMPAIGN ABOUT THIS ISSUE, BUT BEING MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR PARTS AND LABOR TO FIX THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10347384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I BOUGHT A '99 LEXUS RX300 FOR MY WIFE AT 62K MILES. I DID ALL OF THE SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE INCLUDING THE EXPENSIVE STUFF (LIKE THE TIMING BELT CHANGE). UNBEKNOWNST TO ME, THE ENGINE REAR MAIN SEAL WAS LEAKING AT THE TIME THAT I PURCHASED IT. I FIGURED IT WAS SIMPLE AND "ITS A LEXUS, RIGHT?". I FOUND OUT THAT IT WOULD COST $1700 TO FIX AND THAT IT WAS COMMON ON THIS MODEL. I IGNORED THE LEAK BECAUSE MY WIFE LOVED THE TRUCK OTHERWISE. UNRELATED TO THE OIL LEAK, AT 183,000 MILES I'M DRIVING ON A FAMILY VACATION WITH THE CAR ON CRUISE CONTROL AND THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY STARTS TO SLIP. I MANAGE TO MAKE IT MY DESTINATION, BUT AFTER RESEARCH AND GETTING DIAGNOSTICS FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND TRANS SHOPS, I FOUND IT WOULD COST $3000-$4000 TO FIX. I DECIDED TO FIX IT AND PAID $3700 FOR IT. NO SOONER THAN I TOOK OFF DRIVING, THE CAR STARTED SMOKING HORRIBLY AND WAS NOW SLIPPING IN 1,2, AND 3RD GEAR. THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE A NIGHTMARE TO REPAIR, AND I WOULD RECOMMEND ANYONE THAT BUYS ONE TO COUNT YOUR LOSSES WHEN IT FAILS AND TRASH THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10344313 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

1999 LEXUS RX 300 91K MILES, OWNED SINCE NEW, ALL SERVICE AT DEALER AS REQUIRED, TRANSMISSION JUST WENT OUT. FOUND A WEBSITE WITH MANY COMPLAINTS, SAME THING, LOW MILES. OBVIOUSLY A DEALER DEFECT, THIS IS NOT RIGHT! I BOUGHT A LEXUS SO IT WOULD BE RELIABLE. MY CHEVY SILVERADO 1993 IS GOING STRONGER THAN THIS CAR. SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR, IT DID NOT UPSHIFT RIGHT. LEXUS ALWAYS SAID THIS WAS NOT A PROBLEM. I NOTICE OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME SYMPTOM. THIS FAILURE WAS SUDDEN OTHER THAN THAT. JUST IN A PARKING LOT & SUDDENLY IT WOULD NOT SHIFT GOING FORWARD. 1 1/2 YEARS AGO MY MECHANIC HAPPENED TO CHECK MY TRANNY FLUID, IT WAS BLACK. HE DRAINED & REPLACED IT. I WAS LIVID, I HAD PAID FOR ALL DEALER MAINTENANCE. THAT WAS AT ROUGHLY 80K MILES. SUPPOSEDLY THIS WAS DONE AT 60K MILES BY LEXUS (I'M NOT SURE IF THEY DID THE WORK NOW, OR NOT) THERE WERE METAL SHAVINGS IN THE FLUID. SOMETHING APPEARS TO BE WRONG WITH THIS DESIGN, AND LOOKS LIKE THEY DID A BANDAID IN LATER MODELS. I AM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING GETTING A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THEM, I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY $5K FOR A NEW TRANNY NOW, THAT IS WHY I BOUGHT A LEXUS. MY CELICA WAS STILL GOING STRONG AT 175K MILES WHEN I SOLD IT. CHECK THIS WEBSITE: HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/REVIEWS/LEXUS/RX300/R54694/COMMENTS/PAGE-2/ [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10335160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I HAVE A POPPING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I HOPE THAT THE STEERING IS NOT LOST FROM THIS POPPING.

NHTSA complaint #10330520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I WAS DRIVING ON A INTERSTATE AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING UNTIL IT GAVE OUT.

NHTSA complaint #10330254 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

1999 LEXUS RX 300 VEHICLE 99,000 MILES IN VERY GOOD REPAIR SUDDENLY STALLS DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON THE FREEWAY. NO PREVIOUS WARNING. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO "COAST" OFF THE HIGHWAY INTO A SAFE AREA TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IT WOULD NO LONGER MOVE, TRANSMISSION WAS REPORTED TO BE DEAD BY TWO MECHANICS. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS MODEL THERE ARE MANY REPORTS ABOUT TRANSMISSION FAILURES SOME CAUSING ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES. NEITHER WAS THE CASE WITH MY INCIDENT BUT IT IS A DISTURBING TREND.

NHTSA complaint #10325730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ABOUT ONE WEEK AGO, I NOTICED A TINNY/HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM SOMEWHERE UNDER THE HOOD OF MY RX300. I TOOK IT TO SEVERAL MECHANICS TO HAVE THEM TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT, BUT BY THE TIME I GOT THERE THE ENGINE WAS OPERATING AT NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND THE NOISE WAS PRACTICALLY NON-EXISTENT. YESTERDAY MORNING, WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IT WOULD SUDDENLY LOSE POWER AND THE TACHOMETER WOULD SHOW THE RPMS RAISING SUDDENLY, AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. IT WOULD DO THIS FOR SEVERAL SECONDS OR MORE BEFORE DECIDING TO APPLY POWER TO THE WHEELS AGAIN WHEN IT WANTED TO. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO HAVE TO CREEP ALONG AT TIMES, UNSURE OF WHAT IT MIGHT DO NEXT. NOT BEING IN CONTROL OF WHEN (OR WHERE FOR THAT MATTER) MY VEHICLE WILL GO IS A SAFETY CONCERN. WILL IT POOP OUT ON ME WHEN I'M NEEDING TO PASS SOMEBODY OR TRYING TO TURN LEFT ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC? WILL IT LUNGE ME FORWARD ON ITS OWN AT AN UNPREDICTABLE MOMENT? YESTERDAY AFTERNOON MY "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON, MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THE CODE RANG UP AS "SHIFT SOLENOID." THIS CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF ACCORDING TO MANUAL SPECS. MY LAST TRANNY FLUID CHANGE WAS ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO. THE CAR ALSO APPEARS TO HAVE A REAR ENGINE LEAK AT THE GASKET BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND TRANNY. THIS "QUALITY" LEXUS CAR HAS LESS THAN 114K MILES ON IT! MY SISTER JUST HAD HER REAR ENGINE SEAL REPLACED AND HER TRANSMISSION REBUILT FOR $4400 AND HERS HAS JUST 125K MILES ON IT. WHAT A JOKE! I WILL NEVER BY A TOYOTA AGAIN. I'VE ALWAYS GOTTEN BETTER SAFETY AND LONGEVITY OUT OF FORDS. POO ON YOU LEXUS. I AM SCHEDULING A TIME TO HAVE MY MECHANIC REPAIR THIS; STILL WAITING ON A QUOTE THOUGH. I EXPECT A MIN OF $400, BUT ONCE HE OPENS THE TRANNY UP HE MAY ADVISE ME TO REBUILD THE THING (ANOTHER $4-$5K). LEXUS EITHER BELIEVES IN SAFETY, IN WHICH CASE THEY SHOULD FESS UP TO POOR ENGINEERING AND FIX THEIR MISTAKE, OR THEY DON'T! DEATHS/INJURIES:? = NOT YET.

NHTSA complaint #10324578 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10324129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I HAVE HAD IDLE PROBLEMS FOR OVER A YEAR. THEN ABRUPTLY WHILE DRIVING ON SURFACE STREETS MY TRANSMISSION QUIT SHIFTING. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TOTALLY FAILED. THIS LEXUS 1999 RX300 HAS HUNDREDS OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET 142,000 MILES BEFORE IT FAILED. I HAD PLANNED TO DRIVE THIS CAR FOR OVER 200,000 MILES KNOWING IT WAS A TOYOTA VEHICLE. IN THE PAST, TOYOTA'S WERE VALUED FOR THEIR DURABILITY AND RELIABILITY. I WAS VERY LUCKY THIS DID NOT HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEEDS.

NHTSA complaint #10319278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I HAVE OWNED A 1999 LEXUS RX 300 SINCE IT WAS NEW. NOW HAS 98,000 MILES AND TRANSMISSION WENT OUT YESTERDAY. I HAVE READ AND TALKED TO SERVICE PEOPLE THAT SAID THE 1999 AND 2000 MODELS HAVE TRANSMISSION DEFECTS BUT THE SERVICE PEOPLE TELL ME IT WILL COST BETWEEN $4 TO $5,000 TO REPAIR. THIS IS ON A CAR THAT IS WORTH ABOUT $7,000, DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO REPAIR. WITH ALL OF TOYOTA'S PROBLEMS THIS RX300 SHOULD BE ON RECALL!

NHTSA complaint #10316760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.