1.5
hardly worth mentioning- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 110,610 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
Transmission failed due to bad design. Many others have same failures. Need recall.
- Coronado, CA, USA
Transmission began not shifting smoothly and mechanic put in transmission fluid but could not locate any issues with it. Tranmission soon went completely out at 88,000 miles while driving on highway. Only owned SUV for a year and a half. Had inspected before purchase and no problems noted. Very disappointed and will not pay several grand to buy another transmission which is more than the value of the car. Lexus should be ashamed. Just found out how to report this here.
- Birmingham, AL, USA
At approximately 150,000 my Lexus rx 300 seized after pulling into a parking lot. I tried to restart the car and it would not move/turnover. Obviously, had to have it towed and the entire transmission needed to be replaced. I purchased a rebuilt transmission to the tune of about $4,000. There are numerous reports of this model of Lexus repeatedly having the transmission fail. I'm wondering why the NHTSA does not issue a recall at this point - at least investigate this issue., so those who own these vehicles can recoup some of the cost for the failures of this transmission.
- Hackettstown, NJ, USA
My 2000 Lexus RX300 had an unexplained sudden unintended acceleration where the vehicle almost killed me and my son. I was driving residential backroads by my house, accelerated slightly to get up a hill and that's when it took off. The brake pedal was unresponsive, the emergency break was unresponsive, I pulled the floor mat out for good measure, nothing worked, it kept accelerating at a high rate until I finally slammed it through gears to "park" to get it to a stop. I had it towed to the Lexus dealership, where the tow truck driver even told me when it started the car to get it up on the truck, after being turned off for over 12 hours, it was still red lining the engine, and even lurched forward but because the car was in park, it didn't crash into the back of the tow truck. Lexus investigated the car and did absolutely nothing. They wouldn't tell me why it happened. I demand an explanation and a replacement vehicle - one that doesn't have a history of having sua problems. I fear for my life everytime I have to drive this vehicle.
- Port Orchard, WA, USA
Bad transmission
- Manassas, VA, USA
The transmission on my RX300 just gave out. It was regularly maintained - the fluid levels were checked and had a major overhaul on it before I gave it to my daughter who goes to school in houston, where the incident happened. She only uses it for local commute - not long distance driving. The intent was to give her a dependable vehicle! it I have about 149000 miles on it. The replacement cost is enormous - more than the vehicle is worth. I demand better quality for a luxury vehicle. Obviously it is a defective product that should have been recalled. I now see numerous transmission problems reported on this vehicle. Why are we allowing such lemons on our streets!
- Huntsville, AL, USA
Was driving home from work on the highway it started slipping it was getting out gear now it moves on low gear no drive reverse or 2nd only low gear
- Bronx, NY, USA
Told before purchasing that transmission was rebuilt. Not shifting properly. I was told it was an electrical issue power train. I also am not visible to most drivers in the we morning dusk dark hours of the days due to lighting. Pulled over by law enforcement a few times in regards to the lights. One owner before me and did not get any recalls done. I called Lexus @ grapevine tx and they told me there were no recalls on my truck. There H E been and they need to be done asap. I have a disabled child and can not jeopardize the safety of my child. I need help getting this matter taken care of asap. Thank you!
- Arlington, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2000 Lexus RX300. While parking the vehicle, the gear shift failed to reverse the vehicle without warning. The failure was persistent. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000. The VIN was not available.
- Winchester, MA, USA
My transmission failed 5 yrs ago was not told why. They replaced it but I had to pay for labor. They put in new parts except for remanufactured casing. Now December 2015 with only 24,000 miles on it since I am retired, failed to go in reverse or go into second gear. Have noticed online alot of people are having problems with transmissions of Lexus vehicles. Now I am told by Lexus speacialist (800-255-3987) they only want to pay for half of parts and was told it just failed we don't know why and they refuse to investigate again unless I want to pay for labor. It seems from online complaints that they are making owners pay for diagnostics and or replacements & labor. I have never felt more unsafe in a car when my vehicle wouldn't shift into gear while driving on a road with 55mph speed limit while I could only drive 10 miles an hour. I had to pay $128 to have it towed to dealership on 01/04/2016 because they would not accept any diagnostics from any one else nor pay for tow. I was delayed in efforts because of holiday. Please make them accountable.
- Hartland, MI, USA
Shifter lever moves freely (and loosely) but doesn't shift the transmission into any gear. This happened in a publix parking lot after backing out of a parking space and attempting to put the vehicle into drive. Aaa was called and the RX300 had to be loaded onto a flat bed and brought to a service center.
- Fort Myers, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2000 Lexus RX300. While the vehicle was undergoing regular maintenance, the mechanic noticed metal shaving in the transmission pan. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000. The VIN was not provided.
- Marine Del Rey, CA, USA
Transmission stop working when I was driving at 40 miles for hour no drive or reverse, I turn off the engine and on again, work for few miles and had same problem. I call a tow truck. I try again at home and now transmission doesn't work and I see smoke from the transmission dipstick coming out. I check online and many people had the same problems with the Lexus rx 300.
- El Paso, TX, USA
Transmission is bad.
- Canton , NC, USA
The contact owns a 2000 Lexus RX300. While driving approximately 55 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle restarted, but failed to accelerate. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 140,369. Updated 10/22/2014 updated 05/19/2015
- San Diego, CA, USA
With little/no warning, automatic transmission (2wd) failed. All gears (P, R, N, D,2,1) worked like neutral gear. If this would've occurred a few minutes earlier, my children and I (located at a sharp turn over a steep hill) could've been seriously injured or killed. Apparently, this is a common problem in Lexus RX300's from year 1999-2002. How many early transmission failures does it take to have a recall?
- York, PA, USA
Transmission failed at 98,000 miles. Seems to happen to everyone with this car.
- Wayne, PA, USA
After first having to replace my transmission at 75,000 miles. It seems I will have to pay to do it again at 186,000. The problem started out with the vehicle having trouble climbing a hill. I changed the transmission oil and two weeks later the vehicle move about three feet from a parking stall made a loud noise jerked to a stop and would not move. I was able to put it into drive and repark the car. It will not reverse and had to be towed to a mechanic.
- San Carlos, CA, USA
On 11/03/12 I put the transmission shifter into reverse and backed out of a driveway into the street. I then moved the shifter from "R", past "N" into "D" to move forward, but there was no engagement into any gear. The shifter just moved forwards and backwards with no resistance. There was previous no indication of any problem. The engine was still running. I didn't want to be hit by another vehicle, so I got out of the Lexus and pushed it back into the driveway and turned off the engine. On 11/5/13 I disassembled the dash and shifting console and found that the shift cable was no longer attached to the shifting lever. There were pieces of some kind of plastic retainer broken around the cable termination "loop" and lying on the floor. I still have the broken parts. On 11/5/12 I called Lexus corporate office at 800-255-3987. I explained that I could have been seriously injured (or worse). I wanted this fixed, or at least the part that holds the cable onto the shifter. They said I needed to have a "repair order #" to proceed. I was able to drive to Lexus of palm beach by holding the cable on the shifter when I needed to shift. Their service manager inspected, took pictures, and provided #7200550. I then called corporate back with that #. I received a 11/20/2012 letter from Lexus corporate. They would not provide any parts/repairs based on warranty expiration. On 1/13 I finally had time to effect a D.I.Y repair. I made a nylon sleeve for inside the cable "loop" and used a common E-clip to retain the loop onto the shifter lever rod. Please see pictures at sdrv.ms/10O9rfn for damage and corrective action. Have accidents/deaths already occurred due to this" how many needless $6000 transmission rebuilds has Lexus got out of this" this repair can be done in under 30 minutes for about $2 in parts. Please keep others from avoidable harm.
- Royal Palm Beach, FL, USA
- Collierville, TN, USA