2000 Lexus RX300: check engine light

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 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 Oct 12, 2011 · Transmission · 111,000 miles · KS

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.

Filed Sep 2, 2011 · Transmission · 111,012 miles · KS

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.

Filed Dec 10, 2010 · Transmission · 129,631 miles · MI

Erratic shifting, transmission slippage, jerking vehicle, just missed a vehicle crash. This occurred one time without any notice or check engine light indication. Complete transmission failure, unable to move the vehicle. Transmission is being rebuilt by an independent transmission specialist. Planetary gears, solenoid, clutches, and other numerous parts.

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.

Filed Feb 24, 2010 · Acceleration · 82,000 miles · TX

My parents own a 2000 lexus rx300. On the way back from a wedding, the car started to accelerate and my dad could not stop the car. He had to go over through a gas station parking lot to avoid cars stopped at a light. He said the engine kept revving high and the car kept accelerating. He was able to stop the car by running the wheels along the curb. After my dad and my mom were safe, he called me. I rushed over to the car and checked it out. No check engine lights and no other known issues. I called aaa for a tow. I started the car and everything seemed to be okay so I moved it into the parking lot away from the street. I let the car sit for awhile and made sure there was nothing wrong with it. I also checked the floor mats just in case something was stuck but nothing was. They ended up driving home that night. We had to service the brakes because they were all worn from the ordeal.

Filed Jun 24, 2009 · Transmission · 120,000 miles · NC

2000 awd lexus rx 300.....I love my car , bought it used at 44,000k, 2002 and it has been good except for the transmission, now at 120,000 and everyone ,dealer and local independents want $4200-$4500, says it is the 'planetary gears' it wasn't throwing a checking engine light,nor a code just ever so often it wouldn't go in reverse. One day going down the road it just quits going. I had taken it in to a local toyota/lexus repair shop many times saying it was changing gears right, and dealer, and they had put the tester on it several times, replaced 02sensors , but all along said it wasn't the transmission, it was! This car has been driven but it has been taken care of as well. I feel if it is a "lexus' a toyota gets 300-500,000 on a transmission shouldn't a lexus do even better?

Filed Jun 6, 2008 · Transmission · 108,000 miles · OH

Loss of power, check engine light, ran extremely rough lexus rx300 2000.

Filed Dec 9, 2006 · Transmission · 138,000 miles · OH

Purchased 2000 lexus rx300. Serviced by dealer at all recommended times. One previous owner prior to me. At approximately 125,000 miles. Engine light came on, diagnostic done. Need new transmission. Apparently this is a well known problem with this model. How can they be allowed to sell defective product to consumers? Isn't that fraud?

Filed Jun 13, 2005 · Transmission · 120,215 miles · TX

While traveling on central expressway in dallas us75 going about 65 my lexus rx300 lost forward acceleration as cars zoomed past me, the engine was still on as I managed to safely exit onto the access road and into a parking lot. I turned the vehicle off and checked for leaks or a broken belt, but found no problem. I restarted the vehicle and kept going. I talked to the lexus dealer in plano but service dept. Was closed and they reffered me to take it into my austin dealer. I was told that without a check engine light nothing would be found. I continued to drive my vehicle and while on another trip it lost forward acceleration again, only to find out it was the transmission. I had to replace it , rent a car and then fly back to a toyota dealer to pick it up.

Filed Jan 26, 2005 · Engine · 40 miles · NY

After approximately 62,000 engine light illuminated. The oxygen sensor was replaced by my local repair shop. After the engine light came back on, and I reattempted to use my local shop 3 times I brought it to the dealer. The problem is the mass airflow sensor/meter. This seems very premature for this type of part to fail. For a auto comapny that professes quality I was disappointed for this problem to arise. I am past warranty and am petitioning lexus to pay for some of the repair.