The contact owns a 2000 Lexus RX300. The contact stated that the only gear that would engage was drive. Although the contact could shift into any gear, the gears would not engage. The contact also mentioned that approximately four pistons misfired and the 02 sensor was defective. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician stated that the transmission needed to be rebuild and the O2 sensor needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not repaired. The failure mileage was 127,000 and the current mileage was 128,700.

- Alameda , CA, USA

Transmission failure.

- La Puente, CA, USA

Transmission started making a whining sound at certain speeds about a year and a half earlier. Toyota dealer confirmed odd noise from transmission, but said there was nothing they could do apart from removing transmission. I was in a nearby state when the tranny finally went out - 1st gear still works and sometimes 2nd gear, but 3rd, 4th and reverse all went out when I was accelerating onto the highway - a loud bang and then it revved up like it was in neutral even though it was in drive. I'm concerned this was a design flaw, but Lexus does not agree and has offered no compensation up to this point. They said if I want to take it further I need the Toyota dealer to confirm the tranny is out. I said that would not be difficult and am in the process of doing that now. I am curious how some people have gotten Lexus to pay a portion of their bill. I ended up renting a uhaul and trailer to get it home.

- Bismarck, ND, USA

While driving car lost power would not go forward. Never gave me any warning no check engine light nothing! made it home at 5 mph. Transmission went out with no warning! $3600 to fix at aamco, seems like they see this problem often in the RX300 models 1999-2003 mine is a 2000. Called Lexus but offered no help! very unhappy Lexus owner.

- National City, CA, USA

Transmission will not shift into the last gear.

- Brunswick, GA, USA

I serviced my Lexus throughout it's life. Now the transmission suddenly locked up. After checking to see if this was a design flaw and if anyone else had the same problem, I found out it is a common problem with this year and model. When I took it to the transmission repair facility they too told me that the transmission was flawed in its engineering design and that no oil was able to reach the vital components and that over time they dried out and became brittle. I think the NHTSA should look into this and make Lexus Corp. Compensate people who "got had" by Lexus....this $45K car shouldn't have this happen with this low mileage.

- Silver Spring, MD, USA

Premature transmission failure. Purchased used with 85,000 miles. Transmission fluid changed at suggested intervals. Car will not move in any transmission selector position. After research, found that this is a common problem with this year and model Lexus.

- Ewing, NJ, USA

We bought this vehicle (Lexus RX300 4WD) on 11/29/2002 with 27,080 miles on it from local Lexus dealer. It is my wife's primary vehicle and she drives it to work daily (about 20 miles per day). At 111,000 miles the check engine light came on and the transmission was shifting erratically ie. Down shifting suddenly when it shouldn't and slipping gears. It also makes a strange constant noise. It had been more and more shifting this way off and on for 2 or 3 months. I took it to Lexus dealer on 8/24/2011 because of check engine light and the service consultant stated it needs new transmission (this was said in the same tone of "you need a new air filter") and they would replace it for $5,208.80. When I asked service consultant if this was a very common problem he stated that it was not. He said my transmission could totally fail at any time even while driving. This is a definite safety issue. The operators manual states "it is necessary to change transmission fluid only if your vehicle is driven under special operating conditions" which we don't. I checked edmunds and blogs on line and there are hundreds of complaints over this issue and I think it needs to be investigated because I don't want my wife to get in an accident on the interstate and so it just sets in my garage.

- Lenexa, KS, USA

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.

- Lucas, TX, USA

We bought this vehicle (Lexus RX300 4WD) on 11/29/2002 with 27,080 miles on it from local Lexus dealer. It is my wife's primary vehicle and she drives it to work daily (about 20 miles per day). At 111,000 miles the check engine light came on and the transmission was shifting erratically ie. Down shifting suddenly when it shouldn't and slipping gears. It also makes a strange constant noise. It had been more and more shifting this way off and on for 2 or 3 months. I took it to Lexus dealer on 8/24/2011 because of check engine light and the service consultant stated it needs new transmission (this was said in the same tone of "you need a new air filter") and they would replace it for $5,208.80. When I asked service consultant if this was a very common problem he stated that it was not. He said my transmission could totally fail ant any time even while driving. This is a definite safety issue. The operators manual states "it is necessary to change transmission fluid only if your vehicle is driven under special operating conditions" which we don't. I checked edmunds and blogs on line and there are hundreds of complaints over this issue and I think it needs to be investigated because I don't want my wife to get in an accident on the interstate and so it just sets in my garage.

- Lenexa, KS, USA

With no warning signs at all the transmission on my Lexus RX300 has failed. The car never previously failed to engage in any gear, however, while driving the car decreased in speed and would not switch gears to accelerate. We stopped at a red light, and the car would no longer move. Luckily we had made the rare choice of not driving on the freeway that particular night. The transmission fluid had been checked 3 weeks earlier, and the car has had regular maintenance and oil changes. After further research I am finding hundreds of complaints of the same problem with this model of Lexus, and evidence that there is a design flaw in this transmission set up. For the price of these cars I cannot understand why there has been no recall. There is no reason why a transmisson should fail at 126,000 miles on this car. We have been told that the repair cost could be between $3500-$5000. This is not the quality that I expected with the purchase of this car. We have had to replace the oxygen sensors, the mass air flow sensors the vvt valves and oil pan, and now we are faced with the great expense of replacing a very expensive transmission that should still work. I am very disappointed, and while I have promoted the purchase of Lexus cars to my friends and family members, and vowed to purchase again, I am not certain that I want to spend very hard earned money on the dream of quality that doesn't exist.

- Columbus, OH, USA

I purchased a vehicle at bond auto sales on 12/24/2010. After a few days, I called the dealership to let them know that truck was not running correctly. It was running in 3rd gear idling high. I was told that there was nothing they could do, I called back a few days later, the car would turn off, it was also eating up oil, I was told to bring in the truck so that their mechanic could look at it, and he test drove the truck and said there was nothing wrong. The salesman said that he would speak to his manager and not to take it to another mechanic. They took my phone number and my husbands phone number, we never got a call back. My husband and I took the truck to the dealership and spoke to the manager directly. I asked if they could look at the truck because I felt the problem was getting worst and it may be the transmission, they decided to take a look at the car. The manager called me to tell me that the transmission was bad, it would cost $1500 to repair. He wanted me to bring in $500 that same day, and I had not even had the car for 30 days. I asked if they could put me into another car because I really did not have the money. I gave them $4000 cash, when I initiated this deal, I did not have $500. They refused to work with me at all, I had my first car payment due January 29, 2011, and had no guarantees that the truck would be alright. The only choice that I had was to voluntarily give the car back, which I did, the same day January 20, 2011. I asked for something with the company letter head stating that I had returned the truck, and they refused. All I got was a small receipt with their logo, my info, date and it does say voluntary return 01/20/2011. I keep getting bills saying that my car pyt. Is late, even though they have the truck. Now they are going to report to the credit as a repo, and that is not fair to me. I gave the car back 1/20/11

- Tampa, FL, USA