2001 Lexus RX300: stuck in gear or won't shift

Filed May 21, 2010 · Transmission · 98,000 miles · TX

1. May18th, 2010 on my way to work the lexus rx 300, 2001, 98k stalled and the gear did not shift either in d or in r. The transmission died. 2. No sign of failure or symptom before that 3. I called a local shop specialized in transmission to tow it to the shop. The cost to rebuild the transmission is 2800$. I went to lexus dealer and ask for a replacement (lexus does not rebuild transmission). It costs 5000$ or more. I believe that the transmission is a defective design. I'd like to complain and request lexus to provide supports for this defect.

Filed May 15, 2009 · Transmission · 125,000 miles · GA

I was driving home from vacation and the car would not go into gear as I was driving on the highway. I pulled over on the shoulder to try to get it to go. It stalled for a while then kicked back into gear. I got off at the next exit and then the atf light came on. I put some transmission fluid in the car and slowly drove home. The car died in my driveway. I had to get the transmission replaced ($4,000).

Filed Apr 8, 2009 · Transmission · 125,000 miles · NC

Actually, there was little or no warning. On saturday, while driving, the car seemed to get stuck in neutral, and then lurch forward. This happened a couple of more times, and each time was somewhat more exaggerated, so much so, that I attempted to keep my foot on the accelerator, trying to circumvent a stall. By the third time, the car sounded as if I was dragging something underneath. I returned home safely, but when my husband went to check the car, it would not even shift into neutral! Aaa came to tow the car and the rear wheels seemed to lock, so much so that the car was dragged onto the towing bed, leaving some rubber on the driveway. The dealership has reported to me that I need a brand new transmission on my 2001 rx300 lexus, with 125,000 miles, to the tune of $5000.

Filed Jan 22, 2009 · Transmission · 115,000 miles · PA

Rx300 car either won't go into gear or jumps out of gear. It has occurred several times and many many reports on owner sites re: transmission failure. The latest incident left myself and my 4 year old son stranded in a parking lot in low teens weather. It also jumped out of gear once while driving. I'm afraid to drive the car.

Filed Dec 7, 2008 · Transmission · 95,000 miles · CA

My transmission went out .. It will not shift right or drive correctly and lexus will not fix it.

Filed Jul 30, 2008 · Transmission · 97,500 miles · CA

First, the car would not shift into reverse. Then, after attempting several times, the car violently jerked me into reverse and I almost crashed. After backing up, I shifted into drive, but locked up on me again. After revving the accelerator and trying different gears, finally jerked me and children forward into drive. Initially, lexus "supposedly" fixed the problem by replacing o2 sensor, but problem recurred in june again. Since the problem could not be duplicated at lexus shop, they gave me my car without any repair. Then, a more serious occurrence happened in mid july when the gear got stuck while driving. I was driving about 30 MPH when gear got stuck, shifted to neutral, then violently jerked me and kids forward and into drive again. Children and I were very frightened. This is a safety issue because not only are you dropped out of gear into neutral while car is in motion, but then you are suddenly jerked forward into drive. To make it worse, its frequency is erratic so you just hope this doesn't happen on the freeway. According to many online blogs (especially edmunds.com), it is a common problem that 1999-2001 lexus has but will not acknowledge. Mostly happens at about 65,000 miles. Don't understand why there hasn't been a recall already. Are we waiting for there to be a fatality or serious injury for this to receive attention?

Filed May 7, 2008 · Transmission · 116,000 miles · TN

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.

Filed Apr 29, 2008 · Transmission · 62,000 miles · CO

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.

Filed Feb 28, 2008 · Transmission · 84,000 miles · WI

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.