2000 LEXUS RX300 Power Trainautomatic Transmission Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 47 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE AND THEN FELT A JOLT IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $4,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED IN MY 2000 LEXUS RS-300. *TR

I HAVE A 2000 RX300 THAT BROKE DOWN AS I WAS ACCELERATING TO ENTER THE FREEWAY COMING BACK FROM A TRIP 2 HOURS NORTH OF HOME. WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO GO ABOUT 25MPH BACK TO FAMILY'S HOUSE. AAA TOWED IT THEN TO A MECHANIC. HE TOOK THE PAN OFF AND SAID THERE WAS A LOT OF METAL. IN RESEARCHING THIS THERE ARE SEVERAL FORUMS WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE RX300. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE AT THIS POINT. WE'RE NOT SURE IF WE CAN SPEND $5000 TO REPAIR THIS CAR THAT WE THOUGHT HAD SUCH GREAT RELIABILITY. *TR

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WITH MY SON IN THE SEAT. THE CAR STOPPED GOING. ALMOST GOT SMASHED BY AN 18 WHEELER. GOT IT TOWED HOME AND FOUND OUT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION! *TR

THE TRANSSMISION ON MY LUXUS RX 300 FAILED WITH 120,000 MILES. LUXUS WANTED TO PAY 25 % OF THE BILL.($4300). I TOLD THEM THA T A LUXUS CAR SHOULD NOT FAIL WITH THAT LOW MILEAGE. *TR

I HAVE A 2000 LEXUS RX300 WITH 124,000 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED IN THE CAR AFTER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE MAINTENANCE MANUAL DOES NOT INDICATE TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION OIL IN THE CAR, ONLY TO CHECK IT. I HAVE BEEN ON NUMEROUS LEXUS INTERNET SITES WHICH HAVE STATED THE SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED TO THEM WITH THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR LEXUS. *TR

I HAVE A WELL KEPT 2000 RX300 - TRANSMISSION WENT COMPLETELY OUT. IT WAS ON THE INTERSTATE HEADING OUT OF TOWN FOR CHRISTMAS. IT IS A ONE OWNER CAR. WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE. I PAID $4000+ TO GET IT REPLACED. NOT INCLUDING TOWING 150 MILES AND RENTAL CAR. *TR

WELL TAKEN CARE OF LEXUS RX 300 TRANSMISSION FAILURE TWICE. USED TRANSMISSION INSTALLED IN 2004 AFTER FIRST FAILURE. SPECIAL ATTENTION WAS GIVEN SUCH AS NEVER SHIFTING GEARS QUICKLY WHEN BACKING UP AND TO PUT INTO DRIVE. TRANSMISSION WILL BE REPLACED... AGAIN. THE USED TRANSMISSION HELPS TO PROVE TRANSMISSION FAILURE IS INEVITABLE. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 110,000 MILES ON 2000 RX-200. RAN FINE UNTIL IT STARTED MAKING A GRINDING NOISE. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED (INCLUDING THE CASE). COST $4500.00. *TR

WELL TAKEN CARE OF 2000 LEXUS RX300 HAS FAILED TRANSMISSION. COULD HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENT AS WENT OUT ON BUSY ROAD WITH NO NOTICE. 100K PREDOMINANTLY HIGHWAY MILES. VERY WELL CARED FOR, ONE OWNER VEHICLE. NEW TRANSMISSION COST EQUALS $4000 PER DEALER CALL. A TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT GO OUT ON A WELL CARED FOR, HIGHWAY DRIVEN VEHICLE. WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SHARED A PICTURE OF MY GMC YUKON PULLING MY WIFE'S LEXUS TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THIS MORNING. AWFUL RELIABILITY FOR WHAT THE PRICE OF THIS CAR ORIGINALLY COST. THE LEXUS WAS PURCHASED FOR PERCEIVED RELIABILITY. I GUESS PERCEPTION IS NOT REALITY. BUYER BEWARE ON LEXUS HIGH PRICED GARBAGE! *TR

MY 2000 LEXUS RX300 TRANSMISSION FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR HAS ONLY 93,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED YESTERDAY. THIS IS THE 2ND TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT ON THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST TRANSMISSION FAILED AT APPROX. 55,000 MILES AND WAS REPLACED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THIS TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT I PAID $1,700 FOR THE LABOR AND DEALER GAVE ME THE PART. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ON MY 2000 LEXUS RX 300 AFTER LESS THAN 9 YEARS AND 106,000 MILES. LOOKING ONLINE I SEE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL YEAR. LEXUS IS REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $4000. *TR

BOUGHT THIS 2000 RX 300 5 MONTHS AGO TRANSMISSION IS BURNED OUT APPROXIMATE COST IS $5,000.00. *TR

LUXURY 2000 LEXUS RX300 TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 100K MILES, COST $4K-$5K FOR THE REPAIRS. *TR

BAD LEXUS RX300 TRANSMISSION. *TR

BOUGHT THE CAR USED AT 145,000 MI. NOTICED THE CAR WAS NOT SHIFTING INTO OVERDRIVE AT ABOUT 160,000 MIS. TOOK CAR THE TOYOTA DEALER FOR REPAIR. AFTER $200 OF DIAGNOSTICS AND 3 DAYS THEY DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD. THE CAR WILL SOMETIMES GO INTO OVERDRIVE AND SOMETIME IT WILL NOT CAUSING THE ENGINE TO REV TO 4000 TO 5000 RPM AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE PERFORMANCE. I HAVE READ HOW TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON THESE CARS CAN CAUSE UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS AND NOW I DON'T KNOW WHETHER I CAN TRUST THE SAFETY OF DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS IN THIS CAR ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

2000 LEXUS RX300 TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 104,000 MILES. COST TO REPLACE, INCLUDING LABOR IS $3,976.00. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2000 LEXUS RX300 WENT OUT AROUND 135,000 MILES; THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT IN APRIL 2006 AND RECENTLY WENT OUT AGAIN AROUND FEBRUARY OF 2008. I WAS RECENTLY INFORMED THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THIS TRANSMISSION AGAIN. THIS IS A REAL SAD SITUATION THAT A LUXURY CAR DOES NOT LAST LONGER THAN 10 YEARS. I WRITING BECAUSE I NEED SOME HELP AND OR DIRECTION IN GETTING THIS PROBLEM SOLVED. I CANNOT CONTINUE TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION EVERY YEAR. THANKS IN ADVANCE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE TO WORK AND SUDDENLY THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT MOVE THE VEHICLE. I TRIED SHIFTING TO OTHER GEAR POSITIONS BUT THE VEHICLE STILL WON'T MOVE. FIRST TIME THAT THIS HAPPENED ON ME, I DON NOT KNOW IF IT OCCURRED BEFORE TO THE PREVIOUS OWNER. BOUGHT THE 2000 LEXUS RX 300 IN 2004 AND HAS 85K MILES WHEN TRANSMISSION PROBLEM HAPPENED. HAS TO PAY THE DEALER $4,000 TO REPAIR. SOME OWNERS OF THE SAME MODEL VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

TRANSMISSION ON 2000 LEXUS RX300 IS RUINED AT 110,000 MILES AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT, ACCORDING TO THE LEXUS DEALER. THE OWNER'S MANUAL SAID NO TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGES ARE NECESSARY, YET WITH THE FAILURE THE DEALER WROTE ON THE RECEIPT THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD NOT BEEN CHANGED IN A TIMELY MANNER. CLEARLY THEY ARE AT FAULT. *TR

THERE IS A FORUM ON EDMUNDS.COM WITH POSTINGS OF A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THEIR LEXUS RX300'S. I ASKED FOR HELP BACK IN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER OF 2007 AND HAVE SINCE HAD MY PROBLEM FIXED FOR N/C BY LEXUS. APPARENTLY OTHERS ARE NOT AS LUCKY.

2000 RX 300 FAILING TRANSMISSION. STARTED HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING IN LOW GEARS WHEN COLD, NOW SHIFTS INCONSISTENTLY AND SPUTTERS WHILE IDLING. MECHANIC SAYS WE NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION, BUT I'M AFRAID FIXING THE TRANSMISSION IS JUST TREATING THE SYMPTOMS OF A DESIGN FLAW. *TR

2000 LEXUS RX300 WITH AWD TRANSMISSION HAD VERY HARD SHIFTS,AND WOULDN'T EVEN SHIFT INTO REVERSE. TOOK IT TO AAMCO AND THEY OPENED IT UP AND TOLD ME I NEED COMPLETE PLANETARY SET GEARS,AND CHARGED ME $1300 TO PUT IT BACK TOGETHER. STILL PROBLEM CONTINUED,TOOK IT TO WORLD WIDE TRANSMISSION AND THEY REBUILT FOR $3,400. NOW IT SHIFTS BETTER,BUT OFTEN WITH A KICK ON THE DOWNSHIFTS BETWEEN 2ND TO 1ST. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN LOSING POWER AND SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR. EVENTUALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

TRANSMISSION FAILURE LEXUS RX300 2000 WITH ONLY 73K MILES ON CAR. ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE COMPLETED BY DEALER UP TO THIS POINT. REBUILT TRANSMISSION CURRENTLY BEING INSTALLED AT A COST OF 3,800 TO 4,000 DOLLARS BY VALLEY TRANSMISSION. PLANETARY GEARS COMPLETELY BROKEN IN TRANSMISSION. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THESE COMPLAINTS ON LEXUSCLUB FORUM, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY NAME TO THE LIST. *TR

LOSS OF POWER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, RAN EXTREMELY ROUGH LEXUS RX300 2000. *TR

LEXUS RX 300 TRANSMISSION FAILING. MAKING NOISE. HAVE HAD TWO MECHANICS LOOK AT IT. APPEARS TO BE A FAULTY DESIGN. *TR

LEXUS 2000 RX300 OIL GEL PROBLEM THAT IS REQUIRING A REBUILT ENGINE AND AT THE SAME TIME MY TRANSMISSION IS FAILING AND I AM BEING TOLD IT WILL COST $5,000. THIS VEHICLE HAS 106,000 MILES BUT TWO CATASTROPHIC FAILURES. *TR

THERE WERE NO INCIDENTS THAT LEAD UP TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE IT JUST HAPPENED OUT OF THE BLUE. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ONE DAY AND IT WOULD NOT GO IN TO OVER DRIVE. *TR

TRANSMISSION CONSTANTLY SLIPS OUT OF GEAR OR FAILS TO ENGAGE REVERSE GEAR FROM PARK. CAR SLOWS SUDDENLY OR FAILS TO ACCELERATE BECAUSE OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 148K, TRANSMISSION JUMPED FROM GEARS AND FAILED TO MOVE. NO WARNING SIGNS. I HAVE KEPT UP WITH MAINTENANCE ON THIS VEHICLE AND STILL OWE AND HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR MODEL AND IT APPEAR AS THOUGH THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT IN PROCESS. *TR

LEXUS RX300 TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 68,000 MILES AND 7.5 YEARS OLD. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN 2000 LEXUS RX-300 AWD WITH 110,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON A VERY BUSY 3-LANE HIGHWAY, I STOPPED TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN WITH A NUMBER OF CARS BEHIND ME. AFTER COMING TO A STOP AT THE INTERSECTION, WAITING FOR CARS TO CLEAR, WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE THROUGH, THE CAR WENT INTO NEUTRAL ALTHOUGH IT WAS STILL IN DRIVE. I TRIED REVERSE (RISKING HITTING THE CAR BEHIND ME) AND IT STAYED IN NEUTRAL. AFTER TURNING THE CAR ON AND OFF A COUPLE OF TIMES, IT FINALLY WENT INTO DRIVE AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TWO BLOCKS TO THE TOYOTA DEALER. THEIR SERVICE SHOP CHECKED IT OUT AND SIMPLY SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO REPLACED AT A COST OF $5200. THE LEXUS "OWNER'S MANUAL SUPPLEMENT" WITH MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES SAYS ONLY TO "INSPECT" TRANSMISSION FLUID AT 30K, 60K, 90K, 120K, AND 150K MILES. SEE PAGES...

RX300 FAILED TO GO INTO REVERSE FROM PARK IN OCTOBER 2007. TOOK TO TOYOTA DEALER INSOFAR AS NO LOCAL LEXUS DEALER IN BEND, OREGON. FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. PROBLEM RETURNED 4 MONTHS LATER AT 2,000 MILES INTO THE NEW ATF, WITH OCCASIONAL FAILURE IN DRIVE GEAR. 4/9/08 VEHICLE WAS MOVING IN DRIVE FROM HOME GARAGE WHEN TRANSMISSION WENT BUMP/THUMP TWICE. 50 YARDS FURTHER FORWARD, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN A GRINDING NOISE. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE, BUT DRIVE FORWARD WAS OKAY. RETURNED TO VEHICLE IN 2 HRS AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. NO REVERSE GEAR WHEN SHIFTER WAS IN REVERSE. NEUTRAL WOULD ALLOW FREEWHEEL. TRIED TO TURN 180 AND RETURN TO HOME GARAGE. VEHICLE WAS NOW PERPENDICULAR TO BOTH LANES OF TRAFFIC. TRIED TO ENGAGE NEUTRAL TO FREEWHEEL IN REVERSE. VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE IN GEAR OR PARK WHEN IN NEUTRAL ON THE SHIFTER. DROVE...

THE TRANSMISSION IN THE 2000 LEXUS RX 300 HAS FAILED COMPLETELY AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT. *TR

PREMATURE FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION ON LEXUS RX 300. DEALERS REFUSAL TO STEP UP TO PAY FOR AN ORIGINALLY DEFECTIVE PRODUCT, AND REQUEST TO PAY $4500 FOR A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. LEXUS' REFUSAL TO ADDRESS MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF A WIDESPREAD ISSUE ON AN OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. LEXUS DENIAL OF A CLEARLY MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. *TR

DROVE MY LEXUS RX300 TO LAKE TAHOE. IT WAS 28 DEGREES AS I ENTERED THE TAHOE AREA. THE TRANSMISSION BEGAIN TO SLIP, NOT MAINTAINING ENGAGEMENT. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE HOTEL BUT ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER REGISTERING I TRIED TO DRIVE AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE. IT WAS NOW 24 DEGREES. I TRIED AGAIN IN THE MORNING BUT IT STILL WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND NOW THERE WAS A WHIRLING SOUND. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP ONE HUNDRED MILES AWAY. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO THE FRONT-SIDE TRANSMISSION PUMP. LEXUS/TOYOTA WILL NOT REPLACE THE PART. SINCE IT IS AN INTERNAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THEY WILL ONLY REPLACE THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION. LEXUS POLICY. IT IS A 15 HOUR REPAIR. EVEN IF IT WERE POSSIBLE TO REPLACE THE PUMP IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN MORE HOURS TO REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER PRIOR TO PURCHASING IT...

WHILE DRIVING MY RX300 THE VEHICLE RPM STARTED GOING HIGHER THAN NORMAL. I COULD ONLY DRY THE VEHICLE LOCALLY SINCE DOES NOT WANT TO SHIFT. WHEN I DRIVE IT A 40MPH THE RPMS ARE AT 3 RPM. I SEARCH TO SEE IF HAS BEEN A RECALL OR IF THE LEXUS CORPORATION IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE TRANNY IN THIS MODEL.. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

MY 2000 LEXUS RX 300 STARTED SHIFTING FUNNY ON DECEMBER 4TH. WE TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC ON DECEMBER 5TH AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A VERY, VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THESE VEHICLES AND AM NOW OUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR

THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING ON A 300 MILE TRIP TO SEE FAMILY, OUR LEXUS RX 300 LOST THE TRANSMISSION AT 86,000 MILES AND RUINED OUR ENTIRE HOLIDAY WEEKEND. AFTER GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH CORPORATE LEXUS THEY HAVE DECIDED EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE PUT OUR A TSB AND ARE WELL AWARE OF THE TRANSAXLE FAILURE IN THIS MODEL, THEY WILL NOT CONTRIBUTE ANY FINANCIAL MONIES TO HELP JUSTIFY OUR $6,000.00 BILL. I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER LEXUS NOR ANYONE WITHIN MY FAMILY. VERY DISSATISFIED CUSTOMER *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. NO PRIOR INDICATION OF A PROBLEM. CAR COULD NOT BE PLACED IN GEAR, HAD TO BE TOWED. LEXUS SAID THAT 120K MILES WAS THE LIFE SPAN OF THE TRANSMISSION AND WANTED TO CHARGE $5,400 FOR REPAIR. CAR HAD ONLY BEEN SERVICE BY LEXUS SINCE PURCHASE, LAST SERVICE WAS 6 MONTHS PRIOR AND NO INDICATION WAS GIVEN OF ANY EXPECTED TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *TR

FAILED TRANSMISSION. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

MY 2000 LEXUS RX300 WITH LESS THAN 72,000 ORIGINAL OWNER MILES ON IT HAD SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILURE. AFTER EXITING MY DRIVEWAY GATE AND STOPPING, I TRIED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE CAR ROLLED BACKWARDS TOWARDS THE GATE (THE END OF THE DRIVE IS SLOPED UPHILL) AS IF THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR WAS IN NEUTRAL. I APPLIED BRAKES, STOPPED, RESELECTED DRIVE AND WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO MY DESTINATION. THE AUTOMATIC SHIFTING BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND SEEMED TO BE DELAYED AND TO BE SLIPPING, SO I TOOK IT TO THE LEXUS DEALER. THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

2000 LEXUS RX300 TRANSMISSION FAILURE FAILED AT 79,780 MILES AND THE REPLACEMENT FAILED AFTER 140 MILES! THE CONSUMER STATED ENGINE REVS OKAY BUT NO POWER TO WHEELS. THE CONSUMER STATED HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED AT DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID FAILED.

LEXUS RX-300 YR2000 (TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS). *TR

CAR HAS 94,000 MILES AND HAS RECEIVED ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, INCLUDING COMPREHENSIVE 90K SERVICE TWO MONTHS AGO. NO IMPENDING PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED BY DEALER. CAR MADE CLINGING/HESITATION WHEN LEAVING STOP SIGN 2-3 TIMES. PARKED CAR AND STOPPED ENGINE. CAR WOULD NOT MOVE IN REVERSE. SHIFTED TO DRIVE - CAR MOVED FWD AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE (LIMITED SPACE). TRIED REV AGAIN - CAR MOVED 12-18 INCHES AND MADE VERY ABRUPT STOP. COULD NOT SHIFT TO NEUTRAL. TOOK CAR TO DEALER WHO RECOMMEND COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. DID SEARCH FOR "RX300 TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON INTERNET - FOUND DOZENS OF REPORTS OF SIMILAR PROBLEM - COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE, WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING, ON THIS MAKE/MODEL OF CAR WITH SIMILAR MILEAGE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.*JB

BOUGHT 2000 LEXUS RX300. 85,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION IS SHOT! *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *JB