My 2001 lexus rx300 died on the freeway. I am told my transmission is ruined and needs to be replaced. I regularly serviced my car and there is no way it should have a blown transmission with only 84,000 miles. After seeing all the similar complaints on the internet, I think there should be a class action suit against lexus.
2001 Lexus RX300 transmission complaints
Page 5 of 5: complaints 101 to 123 of 123, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Transmission failure.
Power train- automatic transmission failure at 87000 mi. Lexus refused to acknowledge as a problem with this model (2001 rx300) problem even though it has been well documented by consumers. Lexus refused any compensation for complete overhaul of transmission.
My 2001 lexus rx300 has recently had transmission failure at only 87,000 miles. It has to be replaced. The cost will be almost $4,000. I have been on several websites that have many, many complaints of transmission failure on lexus rx300 models from 1999 to 2003.
Failure of transmission in 2001 lexus rx300. Vehicle made a whining sound and later that day would struggle to change gears, and would not go into reverse. Transmission failure diagnosis. I can drive for now but am risking the vehicle failing and transmission locking completely any day now. Cant afford the $5,500 price tag to repair it. Lexus will not help even although this faulty transmission is documented all over the internet on various lexus owner sites and car survey sites.
Complete failure of 2001 lexus rx300 automatic transmission at only 62,000 miles. We purchased this cpo rx300 (approx 20k miles on it) in early 2004 and serviced it regularly, per the lexus manual, at a local lexus dealership. At 60k miles on two occasions (a few days apart) it would not shift into reverse. We had the transmission flushed and the fluid replaced by a 3rd party shop. At 62,000 miles, while my wife was driving home on a local highway the transmission failed completely. Luckily she was able to maneuver it off the road safely. We towed it to a local transmission shop who even before opening it up told us they had seen many rx300's of this year for premature transmission failures. I am currently dealing with lexus cooperation to seek some form of reimbursement (it cost us $4,300 to replace the transmission) but as expected am being stonewalled with endless requests for service receipts, paperwork, etc. Marketing studies show it costs 5 times more to find a new customer than it does to keep an existing one. But I guess lexus does not care.
Tl*the contact owns a 2001 lexus rx300. The contact pulled into her driveway and attempted to place the vehicle into reverse, but was unsuccessful. Prior to this failure, while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle began to jerk and the gears would not switch properly. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic and they replaced the front passenger side cv joint in 2007. After being towed to his facility, the mechanic diagnosed the driver side cv joint, but found that was not the cause of the failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. When she called lexus, they stated that the vehicle had to be towed to them in order to be diagnosed. The lexus dealer was 35 miles away. The failure mileage was 109,000. Updated 09/16/08 *bf updated 09/22/08.
Transmission went out on my 2001 rx300 at 100,000 miles. Normally I would just consider this bad luck but the 3rd party transmission guy says that he replaces tons of these and that he is convinced there is a problem. This presents a dangerous condition as the transmission went out virtually immediately, leaving the vehicle essentially disabled and almost as if in neutral. Other internet posters have claimed that this transmission locked up causing unstable vehicle performance while moving. When I go to the internet and search this issue there are countless websites with owners with the same problem. You see countless posts on lexus forums, edmunds, etc., about 1999, 2000 and 2001 rx 300 suvs with transmission issues. Many as early as 50,000 miles (which are covered by lexus) and many more over 70,000 to 100,000 like me.
I experienced a complete transmission failure on my 2001 lexus rx300 at 115000 miles. This vehicle was well-serviced, and had transmission fluid service per the lexus maintenance schedule. After reviewing experiences of other rx300 owners (especially at clublexus.com), this comes across as a defect that the manufacturer should be responsible for. I had to pay over $3300 for repairs for a problem that should not have happened.
Over the course of a few months the following occurred several times: I would shift the car in reverse to back out. At first the car didn't respond, then it would make a clunking noise and a jolt and then shift. Shortly after, it made a high pitched whinnying sound from the engine, but only when it was cold. The dealer could not duplicate the problem when the car was warm. The dealer informed me that it needed a re-manufactured transmission and the cost was almost $5,000. Car has just over 100,000 miles. All service was done, including the 90,000 mile service.
2001 lexus rx300 w/80k miles. Driving on freeway, pressed gas an nothing happened. Car kept revving but wouldn't drive. Very dangerous. Found out the transmission went. Researched this and discovered this was due to a manufacture defect that lexus will not admit to (although their service staff will admit to this). Lexus paid for the new transmission, but forced me to pay $1500 labor when they are at fault. These cars should be recalled! Please research this online. I researched online and spoke to several owners of this model who all had the same experience between 70-80k miles.
Tl*the contact owns a 2001 lexus rx300. While driving 55 MPH, the contact heard a high pitched noise coming from the front of the vehicle. In addition, the gears would not shift properly. The dealer stated that there was a complete transmission failure. As of february 28, 2008, the dealer had not repaired the vehicle. The current and failure mileages were 84,000.
Vehicle started shifting hard & making a whinnying sound. When engine warm could not duplicate problem. Left car at dealer for cold start they found the problem. Replaced w/ rebuilt transmission at a cost of $1199.00.
Made a complete stop at a stop sign and when I tried to accelerate, the car lost power and would rev less than 2000rpm. Pulled over to the side and shut engine off. Restarted the car and tried to accelerate, but car still wouldn't rev above 2000rpm. Since I didn't want to block a driveway, I attempted to put the car in reverse, but it didn't move. Had to tow my 2001 rx300 with only 56k miles to the dealership and replace my transmission.
1) while driving on 101 freeway in los angeles on a 90 degree day the transmission would not engage. 2) the transmission failed and I was able to avoid a crash by exiting the freeway. 3) the auto dealer made a good will repair even though it was just out of warranty.
Tl*the contact owns a 2001 lexus rx300. While driving 40 MPH the vehicle would not accelerate when he depressed the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and they stated that the transmission needed to be rebuilt. The failure mileage was 101,000 and the current mileage was 138,000. Updated 08/14/07.
2001 lexus rx300. Multiple incidences of transmission fluid leaking until the transmission failed, requiring a full rebuild.
After 101,000 miles the transmission on the 2001 lexus rx300 simply went out. I could not go in reverse or drive. I parked in a stall at my son's preschool and after dropping him off, I put the car in reverse to back out. At first the card didn't move, then a quick jolt and a clanking noise and that was it. I have regularly serviced the car, and just cleaned the transmission not more that 2 months ago. That was the third transmission flush I had done since 2001. My father owns a repair shop so maintenance has always been kept up.
My 2001 lexus rx300's transmission failed. It has 80,000 miles and is dealer serviced. There were no problems with this car until the car suddenly wouldn't reverse. In drive the car would shift and stop abruptly. I was scared that I was going to get hit in the back by another car. Dealer wants $4800 to fix transmission and they claim it is a common problem for the car. My question was why it wasn't recalled then and I got no response.
Transmission failure.
Transmission went out on a busy interstate at night with myself, my husband and our 8 month old daughter. Had to get the highway patrol to follow us to an exit. This car had 98000 miles on it at the time and according to all my internet research this is a common, known defect with the lexus rx300 that they refuse to address. Its a safety hazard. Lexus of course refused to do anything since it was out of warranty. Cost 3600.00 in repairs. Never had a transmission go out this early, actually never had one go out period on cars with many more miles.
The vehicle lurched forward after the engine was turned off, and the keys were removed from the ignition, which caused an accident.
Vehicle was at a full stop and put into park. Pavement was level. Parking brake was not engaged. Both driver side doors were open and rear door lifted. I was loading vehicle for full 5 minutes. As I turned, saw vehicle begin to move in reverse at a very fast pace. Rolled into exterior stucco wall of garage. Damaged bumper and lift gate. No injuries. When the vehicle is put into park while running, when auto is put in reverse and foot is taken off brake the vehicle moves backward very quickly with no gas applied. When put in forward, it creeps at a slower speed than reverse. There is absolutely no possibility that the vehicle was left in reverse when the accident occured. The car would have knocked me over before I could have cleared it because it moves so fast in reverse.
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