The past two weeks prior to taking the car to my local Toyota dealership because there is no Lexus dealership in ocala, fl..... I would smell something burning like rubber against a hot exhaust or engine. Every now and then I would stop the car and check and I might see a whiff of light smoke but then nothing. No engine lights, no spotting on the garage floor. So I took the car in for an oil change early and asked that they check the car over. 3 hours later I was taken into the garage bay and shown oil dripping from the underside of the engine and told my seals were blown and the whole engine would need to be torn down to get to them. While repairing it turned out the water pump was leaking but the timing belt changed at 60,000 miles was okay. The following evening I was presented with a $1500 bill most for labor. I guess I consider myself lucky they found all this before I took this 12 year old car on a long trip.

- Ocala, FL, USA

Vehicle started losing power while going 35-45 mph and eventually stalled. Was able to start vehicle but won't go pass 25 mph. When stopped, and shifted on drive, vehicle won't move forward. Won't go into reverse either when engaged in reverse. I believe this was a transmission failure.

- South San Francisco, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2000 Lexus RX300. The timing belt and engine were replaced December of 2010 but the repair did not correct the failure. While driving approximately 30 mph, the timing belt failed. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic who inspected the vehicle. The local mechanic stated that the timing chain and the engine had to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN information was not available. The failure and the current miles were 175,000.

- Jonesburg , GA, USA

Purchased used rx-300 (yr 2000) in 2003 and the transmission died suddenly as I was coming back home at 87,000 miles. The dealer fixed it for free, a week later the car would not start and had to be towed back to the Lexus dealer in silver spring and another transmission was put in the car. Today the same thing happened, engine light went on and the transmission has to be replaced and it will cost thousands of dollars. The mileage is 127,000, not sure if it's worth getting it fixed.

- Olney, MD, USA

9/2009 - engine failed. Vehicle initially performed normally, but engine seized during interstate driving. Professional inspection determined cause of failure was sludge build up. Vehicle out of initial warranty. Extension based upon consumer complaints expired 4/2009. New engine installed at my expense. 12/2009 - transmission failed. Vehicle initially performed normally, but suddenly began to lurch when placed into gear after gasoline fill up. Professional inspection determined transmission failure. New transmission installed at my expense.

- Birmingham, AL, USA

The contact owns a 2000 Lexus RX300. The contact stated that the transmission was replaced in 2008. He recently heard a noise coming from the engine and the rpms displayed inaccurate readings. While idling at a traffic light, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact was able to shift into a low gear and moved the vehicle to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The current and failure mileages were 75,360.

- Bend, OR, USA

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.

- Columbia, SC, USA

After $3000+ in repairs for the main seals leaking, the rear seals leaking, timing belt replacement, and all other belts replaced, my check engine light appeared, and I brought it to the dealership. They later informed me that my engine is being replaced. They made no mention of the class action lawsuit, due to engine sludge build-up, that prompted the replacement, but I soon received a letter regarding it, and all the Lexus and Toyota models affected. I complained about the $3000 charge, but got no satisfaction from the dealership, but only the explanation, "we had no way of knowing that the engine was going to develop 'sludge'." now, with less than 1000 miles on the new engine my check engine light comes on again, the car is making awful noises under the dash like a speaker is blown, and the transmission seems to not ever get into first gear. I took the car back to the dealership in austin, tx., and they inform me that I need a $5000 transmission and fuse box. A fuse box. Excellent. I am hoping for a recall or another class action lawsuit after researching the problem on-line, and seeing the multitudes of people complaining of RX300 transmissions failing at relatively low mileage.

- Austin, TX, USA

We purchased a 2000 Lexus RX300 with a V-6 in April 2003 with 36,000 miles. We have recently found out that the engine had been rebuilt due to sludge problems at 31,000. We changed the oil every 5,000 - 7,500 miles. I have never had an oil related engine problem in 28 years of driving and have never worried about keeping oil change receipts. I only have receipts from 44,000 and 60,000 miles. The place that changed it does not have record of the two other changes at about 39,000 and 51,000. I have copies of the special adjustment letter that you refer to in your tsb's. Lexus however, is telling me since we are not the original owner that this letter and offer do not apply to us. They have offered to pay half of the repair which we have worked down to our portion $4,200. They have not pulled the heads or the oil pan and yet they know that the whole engine needs to be replaced. This tells me that they have had experience with this issue before. Our vehicle has needed an engine every 30,000 miles. I have kept engines up to over 120,000 miles without failure. If we have them fix the engine I am told that they will machine the heads at the Lexus dealer, not replace them, yet the block needs to be replaced. My investigating on the internet leads me to believe that the problem is in the heads. Just machining them and putting them back on will only ensure that I will be dealing with them in another 30,000 miles for the same problem. It seems that they have a problem with this engine that they don't want to stand behind because we are not the original owners or at least that seems to be their easiest route to take. My vehicle has been unuseable for a month now and there is no end in site.

- Sarasota, FL, USA

Resolving oil sludge repair problem on used rx 300 with third party Lexus dealer--car broke down on 1200 mile road trip. Lexus paid for rental car for return trip. Repair is under warranty. My problem is the dealer we purchased the car from must have known this problem existed with these vehicles and had ample evidence of lack of oil changes in the repair history, yet did not pull the valve cover off this vehicle to determine if oil sludge problem existed. Isn't that standard practice for all used car inspections? am told by third party Lexus dealer therer is a maintenance procedure that requires this sludge inspection on all V-6 Toyota engines, yet dealer we purchased car from says this is not required.

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

Engine failed due to sludging. I was unaware of the spa and had a used engine installed. Lexus refuses to pay for the repair because I perform my own maintenance

- Owens Crossroads, AL, USA