1999 LEXUS RX300 Complaints

THE 1999 LEXUS RX 300 TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH ONLY 125K MILES ON IT. BASED ON THE DISCUSSION BOARDS, I BELIEVE THAT LEXUS IS COVERED UP A DESIGN FLAW IN PARTICULAR MODELS. WE AS OWNERS DESERVE TO BE CONFRONTED AND LEXUS SHOULD REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT NO COST TO CUSTOMER. INFACT LEXUS SHOULD BE PENALIZED FOR NOT RECALLING THE TRANSMISSIONS. *CN

3 EPISODES OF SEVERE ACCELERATION TERMINATED BY SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL. IN EACH CASE THE RPM CYCLED FROM 3,000 TO 8,000 AND THEN SPONTANEOUSLY RETURNED TO NORMAL AFTER ABOUT A MINUTE. IN NEUTRAL GEAR. I WAS UNABLE TO OVERCOME ACCELERATION BY BRAKING. THE GAS PETAL FELL TO FLOOR EACH TIME BUT WAS NOT STUCK AND RETURNED TO NORMAL AFTER THE EPISODE WAS OVER. THESE 3 EVENTS OCCURRED IN A SINGLE WEEK. I FELT THERE WAS SOME MALFUNCTION OF THE CRUISE CONTROL--WHICH I NEVER USE. I HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL DISCONNECTED AT A LOCAL GARAGE AND NEVER HAD ANOTHER PROBLEM. WHEN I TOLD THE LEXUS DEALER ABOUT THIS AT THE NEXT ROUTINE SERVICE VISIT, THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD ANYTHING LIKE THIS AND DID NOT SUGGEST FURTHER ACTION. I NEVER RECONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL. I REPORT THIS NOW BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT CONCERNS. THIS WAS CLEARLY ELECTRONIC IN SOME FASHION AND I BELIEVE INVOLVED THE CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM. *TR

I PURCHASED A LEXUS RX300 IN OCTOBER 2009. THE CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AND PROPER FLUIDS CHECKED OR REPLACED. ON FEBRUARY OF 2010 THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. NO WARNING LIGHTS INDICATING THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION. NOW I AM TOLD THAT IT WILL COST APPROXIMATELY 4400K TO REPLACE. AS I RESEARCH I COME TO FIND OUT THAT I HAVE PURCHASED A TOP OF LINE VEHICLE WITH A MID CLASS TRANSMISSION (CAMRY). CAR IS SITTING IN DRIVEWAY STILL NO CHECK ENGINE OR WARNING LIGHTS. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE. *TR

ON OR ABOUT 12/5/09 MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON 55 WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN SHE SAID THE CAR SEEMED TO LOSE TRACTION AND SHE SAID BEFORE SHE KNEW IT SHE WAS INCHES AWAY FROM GOING INTO A DITCH AND JUST MISSED HITTING ANOTHER CAR,THANK GOD THE TRAFFIC BEHIND HER DID NOT CRASH INTO HER. A GUY SHE MISSED HITTING GOT OUT OF HIS CAR AND ASKED IF SHE WAS OK AND THAT SHE ALMOST HIT HIM. WE CONTACTED LEXUS THAT MORNING AND WAS TOLD TO BRING THE CAR IN SO WE HAD IT TOWED AND WAS GIVEN A LOANER FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND WAS FINALLY TOLD WHAT WAS WRONG,THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL WAS LOCKING UP &FLUID INSIDE WAS COMPLETELY BLACK FROM METAL SHAVINGS TO THE TUNE OF $5000.00 WE AT THAT TIME ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY RECALLS ON THE CAR BECAUSE EVERYBODY WE TALKED TO SAID THE CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE THAT,WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE GUY THERE WERE NO RECALLS,WE WENT LOOKING ON THE INTERNET ABOUT DIFFERENTIALS AND HAPPENED UPON LEXUS WEBSITE AND THERE WE FOUND RECALL ON MY CAR 1999 RX300 RECALL #72421 DESCRIBING EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO US.CONTACTED LEXUS WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT MY CAR,NOT MY VIN #,DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER. AFTER NUMEROUS CALLS TO TRY AND RESOLVE THIS GETTING THE RUNAROUND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER HE WOULD BE WILLING TO DO THE LABOR FOR FREE AND BUT DID NOT FEEL LIKE HE SHOULD ASSUME ALL RESPONSIBILITY AND TO CALL CORPORATE WAS TOLD BY THEM THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL THAT IT WAS A "TECHNICAL BULLETIN".AND FINALLY THEY WOULD ALLOW 25% OFF OF PARTS AND THAT WAS A FINAL OFFER,ALSO I RECEIVED A $500.00 GIFT CARD TOWARD PARTS,THERE IS A RECALL # .I TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF MY CAR,SPENT $2000.00 IN 11/08 FOR WORK ON THE CAR.BESIDES THE FACT NO ONE WAS HURT LEXUS IS GIVING ME THE RUNAROUND THEY FLATLY SAID NO RECALLS EVEN THOUGH THEIR WEBSITE HAS RECALL WITH RECALL #. I THINK THEY ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE BECAUSE WE ARE WOMEN AND SUPPOSEDLY WAS NOT GOING TO PURSUE THIS. IF THE SERVICE GUY SAID TO CONTACT CORPORATE WHICH WE DID AS WELL AS THE BBB,AND MR. FIX IT FROM THE SOMETIMES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED A NOISE ON THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED MOVING FORWARD. SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND TRIED TO RESTART IT; HOWEVER, AFTER 10 ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE SHE WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED HER A 50% DISCOUNT OFF OF THE TOTAL REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED TO-DATE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 86,192.

WE OWNED A 1999 LEXUS RX 300 SUV. WE RECENTLY ENCOUNTERED A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON 11/26/2009 (THANKSGIVING DAY) AT ~134000 MILES WHILE DRIVING TO ATTEND A THANKSGIVING DINNER. THE CAR WAS WELL-MAINTAINED AND WELL-KEPT SINCE THE PURCHASE. THE ENTIRE MAINTENANCE HISTORY CAN BE VERIFIED & CONFIRMED BY LEXUS OF PORTLAND IN OREGON. WE WERE VERY SURPRISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT SO SOON FOR A LEXUS. THIS IS VERY DISAPPOINTING. NOT ONLY THE SITUATION WAS DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE FOR MY WIFE & I (WE WERE ON A HIGHWAY) BUT WE LATER FOUND OUT THAT LEXUS IS CHARGING US $4400 TO REPLACE A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. AS I INVESTIGATE FURTHER, SOUNDS LIKE LEXUS/TOYOTA IS WELL-AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND NOT OFFERING ANY COMPENSATION TO HELP WITH THE HEAVY BURDEN REPLACEMENT COST. WE WOULD LIKE TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT AS A WAY TO GET HIGHER AUTHORITY TO HELP THE AFFECTED LEXUS OWNER. HOPEFULLY YOU CAN REVIEW & INVESTIGATE INTO THE MATTER WITH LEXUS/TOYOTA FOR US. *TR

I HAD SOME DIAGNOSTICS RUN ON THE TRANSMISSION, AND THE VERDICT WAS THAT THE PLANETARY GEAR WOULD LIKELY NEED TO BE REPLACED IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. APPARENTLY THE ORIGINAL PLANETARY GEAR HAD FOUR GEARS MOUNTED IN AN ALUMINUM CARRIER... WHO KNOWS, HEAT, WEAR WHATEVER THE CARRIER FAILS AND ALLOWS THE GEARS TO TILT, AND THEN YOUR TRANNY IS TOAST.. THE NEW REPLACEMENT PLANETARY GEARS ARE MOUNTED IN A STEEL CARRIER, WITH 6 GEARS INSTEAD OF THE ORIGINAL 4....VERY INTERESTING.... AND MUCH STRONGER I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MY LOCAL LEXUS DEALER (WHO HIMSELF HAD AN RX300 AND HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, IRONICALLY), AND HE WENT TO LEXUS CORPORATE AND GOT THEM TO PAY FOR HALF OF THE REPLACEMENT COST. THIS BROUGHT THE ESTIMATED COST TO ABOUT $2200 INCLUDING TAX. THE ESTIMATED COSTS ON THE OVERHAUL WERE BETWEEN $1500-$2000. THE LEXUS SERVICE MANAGER HAD SAID THAT WHEN HIS OWN TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, HE'D GRILLED THE LEXUS ENGINEERS ON THE REMANUFACTURED PART. HE SAID THAT THE ENGINEERS ADMITTED THAT THERE WERE SOME "IMPROVEMENTS" MADE IN THAT TRANSMISSION POST-2001 AND THAT THEY'D RATHER HAVE A REMANUFACTURED 2001+ TRANNY THAN A BRAND NEW 2000 TRANSMISSION. THEY NEVER ADMITTED TO AN ISSUE, ONLY THAT THE 2001+ PART WAS DEFINITELY BETTER. I CONSIDER MYSELF TO BE PRETTY DARN GOOD AT KNOWING WHEN SOMEONE ISN'T TELLING THE FULL TRUTH, AND THIS GUY WAS, SO I BELIEVE HIM. *TR

I AM TRYING TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO AT THIS ROCK AND HARD PLACE WITH MY 1999 LEXUS RX THAT I PURCHASED NEW. I LOVE THIS CAR, HOWEVER SINCE THE WARRANTY ENDED, I'VE HAD A SERIES OF PROBLEMS. SENSORS MOSTLY AND A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE LINKED TO CO2 ISSUES. IT HAS BEEN ON AND OFF FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS NOW. FINALLY, I HAD A CHECKUP DONE WHEN MY CAR STARTED TO INFREQUENTLY SHUDDER WHEN IT DOWNSHIFTS FROM 3RD TO 2ND GEAR OR DELAY REVERSE WHEN PUT IN GEAR. NOTHING SHOWED UP ENGINE/TRANSMISSION WISE...... THOUGHT IT WAS AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES SO HAD IT REALIGNED. PROBLEM STILL REMAINS AND APPEARS TO BE WORSENING AND I'M GETTING CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING IT. THE CAR HAS 86,000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE ALWAYS HAD THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP DO THE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE WHEN APPROPRIATE. THIS IS A VERY POOR QUALITY ISSUE FOR A COMPANY WHO CLAIMS TO HAVE QUALITY AS THEIR MAIN GOAL. I GUESS THEY JUST DON'T CLAIM TO HAVE "GOOD OR GREAT" QUALITY AS THEIR MOTTO. I WILL BE SHOUTING THIS LOUD AND CLEAR TO ALL OF MY FRIENDS. *TR

TRANSMISSION ON MY 1999 LEXUS RX300 STARTED SLIPPING. WE TOOK IT INTO A LEXUS DEALER AND WERE TOLD TO NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, THEN BRING IT IN. I ASKED IF WE SHOULD HAVE IT SERVICED OR SOME MAINTENANCE TO PREVENT A FAILURE AND THEY ADVISED THAT IT WAS NOT WORTH IT. IT FAILED, THEN THE DEALER WANTS $4,200 TO FIX IT. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS YEAR AND MODEL LEXUS HAS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS NATIONWIDE AND SUGGESTS IT IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AS GENERAL MECHANICAL FAILURE. *TR

I HAVE READ AS MANY OF THE OWNERS OF 1999 LEXUS RX300 SUV , I AM NOT SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT I AM NOW A PROUD OWNER OF A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION THAT FAILED ON MY WIFE WHILE RETURNING FROM GREENVILLE TO COLUMBIA SC. THE TRANSMISSION WAS INDICATING PROBLEMS BY SHIFTING SLOW AS MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED . WHEN THESE TRANSMISSIONS START TO FAIL YOU EXPERIENCE SLOW SHIFTING WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING , EVEN IF YOU LET THE CAR WARM UP FIRST BEFORE MOVING INTO ANY GEAR DRIVE OR REVERSE. WHEN YOU TRY TO BACK UP IN REVERSE THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR, THEN JUMPS INTO GEAR HARD. I HAVE BEEN IN THE MECHANICAL FIELD FOR 35 YEARS WORKING FOR BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE IAS A MANAGING PARTNER OF RETAIL LOCATIONS AND KNOW THIS IS THE SIGNS OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED ONLY BY LEXUS ONLY. ALSO ARE SEVERE OIL SLUDGING PROBLEMS, HAVE SERVICED HUNDREDS OF THESE MODELS AND EVERY HORROR STORY IS THE SAME . OIL SLUDGING CAUSES SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE RESTRICTING OIL FLOW THROUGH OUT THE ENGINE. WHEN IS OUR RIGHTS AS CONSUMERS GOING TO BE UPHELD BY OUR GOVERNMENT . I DON`T THINK I WANT TO BUY OTHER NEW TRANSMISSION FROM TOYOTA CORPORATION OR ANOTHER TOYOTA PRODUCT . THE COST TO REPAIR WAS $4075.00 AND THE ONLY TRANSMISSIONS AVAILABLE ARE THRU TOYOTA WITH APPARENTLY WITH THE NEW DESIGN . THESE PROBLEMS WERE CORRECTED IN 2002 WITH THE NEW DESIGN, WHAT ABOUT US THE OWNERS OF THE DEFECTIVE ONES!!!! CHAPIN S.C. *TR