NHTSA Complaint #10175977 — 1999 LEXUS RX

IN AUGUST 2005 I PURCHASED A 1999 LEXUS AWD RX-300 WITH 60,000 MILES FROM NORTHSIDE LEXUS IN HOUSTON. ON 12/4/06 THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 73,882 MILES '' THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR. LEXUS DEALERS HAD REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AT 31,385 MILES AND 59,134 MILES. AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION FOR $3896 WITH THE FOLLOWING PARTS: TORQUE CONVERTER, OVERHAUL KIT, ALL STEELS, FRONT PLANETARY, SUN GEAR, RING GEAR, REAR PLANETARY, BUSHING KIT, AND BEARING KIT. ACCORDING TO THE SHOP, THIS FAILURE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IMPROPER MAINTENANCE OR DRIVING, BUT IS RELATED TO A POOR TRANSMISSION DESIGN. HE REPORTED COMMON TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH LEXUS RX-300 VEHICLES. LEXUS HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL OR SERVICE NOTICE FOR THESE TRANSMISSIONS, NOR WOULD NORTHSIDE LEXUS AGREE TO REIMBURSE ANY PART OF MY REPAIR. THERE ARE CURRENTLY 19 PAGES OF TRANSMISSION ISSUES REPORTED AT HTTP://US.LEXUSOWNERSCLUB.COM/FORUMS. MANY REPORTS LINK THE PROBLEM TO LOW CAPACITY ON THE ATF OIL PRESSURE PUMP. THESE TRANSMISSIONS MUST BE RECALLED AND LEXUS MUST REIMBURSE CONSUMERS FOR THESE VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. *NM