2000 Lexus RX300 engine problems

Filed Dec 2, 2016 · Acceleration, Engine · WA

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.

Filed Dec 2, 2016 · Engine, Transmission · VA

Bad transmission

Filed Apr 16, 2015 · Acceleration, Brakes · 165,000 miles · CA · crash

Incident because of sudden unintended acceleration when my foot on the brake.

Filed Jan 3, 2015 · Acceleration, Engine · 137,200 miles · IL

While driving, the car jerks and then cuts off. This has happened at least half a dozen times within the last 2 months. Engine light is constantly on, even after servicing the car at local lexus dealer. When car is parked, I noticed exhaust fume smells heavily with gas.

Filed Feb 11, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 186,000 miles · CA

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.

Filed Apr 1, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 127,000 miles · CA

Tl* 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.

Filed Jan 17, 2012 · Engine · 90,000 miles · FL

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 .

Filed Jun 1, 2011 · Engine · 115,346 miles · CA

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.

Filed May 6, 2011 · Engine · 175,000 miles · GA

Tl*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.

Filed Jun 29, 2010 · Engine · 129,450 miles · MD

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.