NHTSA Complaint #10344313 — 1999 LEXUS RX300

I BOUGHT A '99 LEXUS RX300 FOR MY WIFE AT 62K MILES. I DID ALL OF THE SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE INCLUDING THE EXPENSIVE STUFF (LIKE THE TIMING BELT CHANGE). UNBEKNOWNST TO ME, THE ENGINE REAR MAIN SEAL WAS LEAKING AT THE TIME THAT I PURCHASED IT. I FIGURED IT WAS SIMPLE AND "ITS A LEXUS, RIGHT?". I FOUND OUT THAT IT WOULD COST $1700 TO FIX AND THAT IT WAS COMMON ON THIS MODEL. I IGNORED THE LEAK BECAUSE MY WIFE LOVED THE TRUCK OTHERWISE. UNRELATED TO THE OIL LEAK, AT 183,000 MILES I'M DRIVING ON A FAMILY VACATION WITH THE CAR ON CRUISE CONTROL AND THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY STARTS TO SLIP. I MANAGE TO MAKE IT MY DESTINATION, BUT AFTER RESEARCH AND GETTING DIAGNOSTICS FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND TRANS SHOPS, I FOUND IT WOULD COST $3000-$4000 TO FIX. I DECIDED TO FIX IT AND PAID $3700 FOR IT. NO SOONER THAN I TOOK OFF DRIVING, THE CAR STARTED SMOKING HORRIBLY AND WAS NOW SLIPPING IN 1,2, AND 3RD GEAR. THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE A NIGHTMARE TO REPAIR, AND I WOULD RECOMMEND ANYONE THAT BUYS ONE TO COUNT YOUR LOSSES WHEN IT FAILS AND TRASH THE CAR. *TR