2001 Lexus RX300

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/31/2002· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER HIT A PIECE OF RUBBER TIRE THAT HAD FLEW OFF A TRUCK, MINUTES LATER THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY ANOTHER MOTORIST THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING GAS, CONSUMER THEN PULLED OVER AND DISCOVERED A HOLE APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER ON THE SIDE OF THE GAS TANK, CONSUMER STATED THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURED JUST FROM HITTING A PIECE OF RUBBER.*JB

• 12/30/2011· POWER TRAIN

  THE TRANSMISSION OF MY 2001 LEXUS RX300 WITH ONLY 83,000 MILES, JUST FAILED. THIS CAR WAS FULLY AND TIMELY SERVICED BY LEXUS AND IS OTHERWISE IN PRISTINE DRIVING CONDITION. WE NOTICED THE PROBLEM MONTHS AGO WHEN WE EXPERIENCED ENGINE HESITATION AND TRANSMISSION RELATED SYMPTOMS, BUT OUR LEXUS DEALER CHECKED THE CAR AND ASSURED US IT WAS FINE. MY WIFE AND SON CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR AND WERE EXPOSED TO DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATIONS DUE TO ENGINE HESITATION AND FAILURE TO ACCELERATE. DESPITE TRANSMISSION RELATED SYMPTOMS AND FULL KNOWLEDGE OF WIDESPREAD TRANSMISSION FAILURES THE LEXUS DEALER DID NOT RAISE ANY WARNINGS WITH US AND ASSURED US THE CAR WAS FINE AND SAFE TO DRIVE. WHEN LEXUS FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGED IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION ALL ALONG, I WAS SHOCKED TO LEARN HOW WIDESPREAD, PERVASIVE AND WELL DOCUMENTED THIS PROBLEM IS AND HOW UNSAFE THIS CAR IS TO DRIVE GIVEN THE DANGEROUS EFFECTS OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. AS AN ATTORNEY I WILL NOT LET THIS REST AND WANT TO KNOW WHY NHTSA IS NOT TAKING ACTION ON THIS, AND WHY LEXUS IS NOT RECALLING THIS VEHICLE. *KB

• 12/30/2008· POWER TRAIN

  OUR TRANSMISSION FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY CAUSING OUR WHEELS TO LOCK. I SPENT NEARLY $4000 TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED LIKE THE MANY LEXUS RX300 OWNERS HAVE HAD TO DO. THIS HAS NOT ONLY SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED OUR WALLETS BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY COULD HAVE KILLED MY WIFE AND I. *TR

• 12/27/2011· POWER TRAIN

  I STARTED HEARING A NOISE WHEN THE CAR WAS COLD AND STARTED IT. THE NOISE WENT AWAY AFTER I STARTED DRIVING IT. AFTER A WHILE, I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC, WHO TOLD ME THAT THE NOISE WAS THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING AND IT WILL COST OVER $5,000 TO REPLACE. IN SEARCHING ABOUT IT, I WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPANY KNEW THAT THE TRANSMISSION ON THE 1999, 2000 AND 2001'S RX 300'S WERE A PROBLEM, BUT THEY DECIDED NOT TO DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THE TROUBLES WOULD START AFTER THE WARRANTY IS OVER... WHEN I PURCHASED MY CAR, I WAS PLANNING ON HAVING THIS CAR FOR A LONG, LONG TIME. I FEEL THAT THE RX-300 WAS MISREPRESENTED TO ME, THE COMPANY KNEW THAT THE LIFE OF THIS CAR WAS GOING TO BE CUT SHORT AND DECIDED TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

• 12/27/2001· POWER TRAINCrash

  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. *AK

• 12/26/2013· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE THE DRIVER WAS NOT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. DESPITE THE DRIVER'S EFFORTS TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE JUMPED OVER A CURB AND HEADED TOWARD A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH TRAFFIC. IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID A POSSIBLY FATAL COLLISION, THE DRIVER SWERVED HARD TO THE LEFT INTENDING TO HIT A POLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE MISSED THE POLE AND HIT A STARBUCKS WITH THE VEHICLE ENDING UP COMPLETELY INSIDE THE STARBUCKS. SIX PEOPLE WHO WERE INSIDE THE STARBUCKS WERE INJURED. THE DRIVER NEVER PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR DURING THE ENTIRE INCIDENT. *TR

• 12/23/2008· POWER TRAIN

  AT ONLY 98K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ON MY 2001 LEXUS RX300. MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND WERE NEARLY HOME WHEN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING. WE HAD SOME MINOR PROBLEMS WITH IT FOR THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, BUT THEY SEEMED TO GO AWAY ONCE THE ENGINE WARMED UP. THIS TIME, HOWEVER, IT WENT FROM DRIVING TO JUST REVVING, AS IF IN NEUTRAL, IN ABOUT A MINUTE OR LESS. WE HAD TO COAST DOWN AN OFF-RAMP AND PUSH TO A PARKING SPOT BEFORE HAVING IT TOWED. OUR MECHANIC SAYS IT WILL BE BETWEEN $2-3K TO FIX IT. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE FOR A LUXURY VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 100K MILES ON IT. *TR

• 12/16/2004· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING A SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM. CONSUMER WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE ACCELERATION BEGAN. VEHICLE HIT A BRICK PILLAR. *AK

• 12/14/2009· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  I OWN A 2001 LEXUS RX300 AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT BUT LEXUS REFUSED TO COVER IT WITH MY 100.000 WARRANTY.THEY WERE VERY RACIST AND WRONG. THEY ALSO REFUSED TO TAKE CARE OF THE ENGINE REPAIRS. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER ONE IN MY LIFE FROM SUCH RACIST PIGS!! *TR

• 12/14/2009· POWER TRAIN

  2001 LEXUS RX-300 TRANSMISSION FAILURE (AFTER 142,000 MILES) 2ND FAILURE (1ST AFTER 142,000 MILES) CONSUMER PAID FOR BOTH FAILURES. *TR

• 12/14/2009· POWER TRAIN

  2001 LEXUS RX-300 1ST TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 142,000 MILES. *TR

• 12/07/2008· POWER TRAIN

  MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT .. IT WILL NOT SHIFT RIGHT OR DRIVE CORRECTLY AND LEXUS WILL NOT FIX IT. *TR

• 12/05/2009· POWER TRAIN

  MY TRANSMISSION DIED ON MY 2001 LEXUS RX300 AT 110K MILES. THE CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A ROAD DURING MORNING RUSH HOURS. *TR

• 12/03/2008· POWER TRAIN

  I HAVE A 2001 RX300, AS I AM READING I HAVE NOT BEEN THE ONLY ONE TO EXPERIENCE A TRANSMISSION ISSUE! I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 3 YEARS AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE OVERHAULED, AS I WAS DRIVING MY CHILDREN TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY THE CAR GOT TO ABOUT 30 MPH AND STARTED REVVING UP REALLY HARD AND THEN JERKED, IN A 65MPH ZONE, WHERE I WAS NEARLY REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRYING TO GET OFF THE INTERSTATE! THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD, I CANNOT LEXUS TO HELP AND WILL BE PAYING $3500 TO REPLACE! I WORK IN TRANSPORTATION SAFETY AND I MUST SAY THIS IS A HUGE HAZARD AND THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING SOMEONE CAN DO TO MAKE LEXUS FIX THIS PROBLEM BEING THEY ARE NOT GOING TO CARE ABOUT FIXING IT ON THEIR OWN! *TR

• 11/30/2012· POWER TRAIN

  CAR CAN ONLY BE DRIVEN AT <5MILE FOR 10 SECOND. LOSS POWER AT HIGHER GEAR. *TR

• 11/29/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CONSUMER COMPLAINT REFERENCING 2001 LEXUS RX 300. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HAD DEVELOPED SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER SHE WILL HAVE TO PAY $13000 TO HAVE A NEW ENGINE INSTALLED. THE CONSUMER HAS FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON VARIOUS WEBSITE IN REFERENCE TO THIS PROBLEM. *NM

• 11/27/2001· TIRES

  BOTH RIGHT SIDE TIRES DEVELOPED 2-3 IN. "BLISTERS" IN THE OUTSIDE SIDEWALL, APPARENTLY AFTER HITTING EITHER A CURB OR POTHOLE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY NEAREST LEXUS DEALER (ALBUQUERQUE), BUT LEXUS WOULD NOT REPLACE THE TIRES EVEN AFTER I INFORMED THEM OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH AUDI TIRES. I EVENTUALLY REPLACED THE TIRES MYSELF AT A COST OF $400. *AK (TIRESIZE: 215145ZR17)

• 11/25/2008· POWER TRAIN

  FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION IN 2001 LEXUS RX 300. THERE IS A KNOWN, WELL-DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND TRANSAXLES IN THIS VEHICLE. LEXUS HAS NOT RECALLED THE VEHICLE AND FIXED THE PROBLEM. *TR

• 11/19/2009· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. SHE ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF; HOWEVER, AFTER ENGAGING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND ACCELERATED UP TO 100 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO EXIT AT AN OFF RAMP, DOWN SHIFT INTO PARK IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS STUCK AND FRAYED; HOWEVER, HE ALSO STATED THAT THE CABLE EXHIBITED NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

• 11/18/2009· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION FAILED AND HAS TO BE REBUILT/REPLACED. *TR

• 11/08/2014· POWER TRAIN

  WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING FORWARD AND SEEMED TO NOT BE IN GEAR. AS I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL THE ENGINE REVVED UP, BUT WOULD NOT GO FORWARD. CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED EVEN THOUGH THE CAR ONLY HAS 123K , YOU NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSAXLE. I CONFIRMED THAT THEIR WAS NO MAINTENANCE REQUIRED. *TR

• 11/04/2003· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  FRONT BRAKE DISC ROTORS ARE WARPED AT ONLY 28000 MILES. *AK

• 10/30/2013· AIR BAGSCrash

  2001 LEXUS RX300. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIR BAG MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS TRAVELING WEST AT 30 MPH. A VEHICLE TRAVELING SOUTH RAN A STOP SIGN AND ATTEMPTED A LEFT TURN. HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP AND COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE THAT RAN THE STOP SIGN. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE ENCOUNTERED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT END AND HOOD. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. HE WAS ABLE TO BRACE HIMSELF FROM THE IMPACT. HOWEVER, HE DID SUFFER UPPER BACK AND NECK DISCOMFORT. BOTH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND THE DRIVER THAT RAN THE STOP SIGN ADMITTED HER FAULT.

• 10/29/2003· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. DUE TO SEVERE DAMAGE FROM THE FIRE VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS.*AK

• 10/28/2007· POWER TRAIN

  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. *TR

• 10/18/2001· EQUIPMENT

  WHILE CHANGING A FLAT TIRE: AS THE VEHICLE WAS BEING RAISED, THE SREW ROD (PUSHES THE VEHICLE UP AND DOWN), ON THE JACK BEGAN TO BEND. THE OPERATOR OF THE JACK QUICKLY LOWERED THE VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS UNDER THE VEHICLE AND NO ONE WAS INJURED AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT CRASH DOWN.*AK

• 10/10/2010· POWER TRAIN

  I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND MY CAR WENT INTO NEUTRAL. I WAS MOVING ABOUT 40 MPH AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. *TR

• 10/05/2015· POWER TRAIN

  THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN DAMAGE NO POWER , NO GEARS ARE ENGAGE TOTAL FAILURE, THE VEHICLE HAS IN MOTION AT HIGHWAY SPEED.

• 10/05/2011· POWER TRAIN

  OWN A 2001 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE EVEN WHEN I DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000. WILL COST ME $4500 TO REPAIR(REFURBISHED PART). *TR

• 10/05/2010· POWER TRAIN

  FAULTY LEXUS TRANSMISSION FAILURE BY MANUFACTURER'S DESIGN HAS CAUSED AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR TO THE CAR AND I CANNOT GET ANY HELP FROM LEXUS. WHY HASN'T NHTSA INVESTIGATED LEXUS FOR PUTTING A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS TRANSMISSION IN THE CAR....DO PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE FIRST? *TR

• 10/01/2014· POWER TRAIN

  LEFT HOME TO GO TO GROCERY STORE. AS I ENTERED A MAJOR ROAD NEAR MY HOME THE CAR LOST POWER ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I WAS ABLE TO LIMP HOME. THE REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSED A FAULTY TRANSMISSION AND COMMENTED THAT THEY SEE MANY RX300'S WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT AT A COST OF $3214.00. THIS CAR HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF, INCLUDING RECOMMENDED TRANSMISSION FLUID REPLACEMENT. I FEEL THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS VERY PREMATURE. JUDGING BY THE NUMBER OF SIMILAR REPORTS AT OR AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE, I FEEL THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT ENGINEERED PROPERLY AND LEXUS DID NOTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR

• 09/29/2009· POWER TRAIN

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LEXUS DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE SINCE THERE WAS NO VALID WARRANTY. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 116,000.

• 09/27/2004· AIR BAGSCrash

  I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I COLLIDED WITH A PICKUP TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. WE WERE TRAVELING ABOUT 40 MPH, WHEN WE BOTH BRAKED WHEN A THIRD CAR IN FRONT SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES TO MAKE A SUDDEN LEFT TURN WITHOUT SIGNALING. I'M CONCERNED MY AIRBAGS ARE DEFECTIVE BECAUSE THEY DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DONE TO THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. IT'S A GOOD THING THE SEAT BELT WORKED AS IT SHOULD, OR I WOULD HAVE SUSTAINED INJURIES.*AK

• 09/26/2012· POWER TRAIN

  DRIVING ALONG NORMALLY, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN MOVING IN AND OUT OF GEAR SPONTANEOUSLY. DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR RESULTED SOMETIMES IN REVVING THE ENGINE, OTHER TIMES IN ACCELERATION, AND OTHER TIMES SWITCHING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE TWO CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK. THANKFULLY, I WAS NOT FAR FROM HOME AND WAS ABLE TO GET BACK SAFELY. *TR

• 09/24/2012· POWER TRAIN,ENGINE

  WHILE ENTERING A FREEWAY ONRAMP THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. I TRIED TO ACCELERATE BUT THERE WAS NO POWER THE ENGINE JUST REVVED. THE TRANSMISSION REINGAGED AS I WAS PULLING TO THE SHOULDER SO I CONTINUED MY TRIP HOME. LATER ON THE SAME DRIVE HOME, AT AN INTERCHANGE BETWEEN FREEWAYS IT HAPPENED AGAIN BUT THIS TIME THE TRANSMISSION DIDN'T RE-ENGAGE AND THERE WAS ALMOST A DEADLY MULTIPLE CAR ACCIDENT. IT WAS TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WHO HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. SOON AFTER REPLACEMENT I WAS ON ANOTHER TRIP AND I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE TO PASS A CAR, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND I BARELY AVOIDED BEING IN A DEADLY AUTO ACCIDENT ON THE FREEWAY WITH A BIG RIG. ON THIS SAME TRIP I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE THREE TIMES DUE TO THIS IDENTICAL OCCURRENCE. IT IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE AND UNFORGIVABLE THAT TOYOTA HASN'T TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS MANUFACTURING ERROR AND ANNOUNCED A COMPLETE RECALL AND REPLACEMENT OF ALL TRANSMISSIONS FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE. IF, I KEEP THIS CAR AND I HAVE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THEIR MANUFACTURING NEGLIGENCE ACTION MAY BE TAKEN. *TR

• 09/16/2018· POWER TRAIN

  MY TRANSMISSION IS NOT SHIFTING SMOOTHLY BETWEEN GEARS. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 7 YEARS AGO AND I HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. NOW IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN.

• 09/04/2015· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION FAILURE: STARTED TO MAKE NOISE COUPLE OF DAYS AGO AND FINALLY FAILED WHILE ON THE ROAD. ENGINE IS RUNNING GOOD, BUT NO GEAR ENGAGEMENT. ALL DRIVE TRAIN POSITION SEEMS LIKE THE CAR IS IN NATURAL. EXCESSIVE TRANSMISSION FAILURES WAS REPORTED BY OTHER RX300 OWNERS. COST TO SERVICE RE-BUILD TRANSMISSION IS $3,551.00

• 08/29/2011· AIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED FRONT END DAMAGE AND THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES AS HER BREAST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOT NOTIFIED. NEITHER THE DEALER, NOR THE MANUFACTURER, WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

• 08/29/2008· POWER TRAIN

  2001 LEXUS RX300. TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 120,000 MILES. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 30-40 MPH ON HIGHWAY THE WOULD COME TO COMPLETE STOP. WILL HAVE TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION OR REBUILD OLD ONE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH 99-02 LEXUS 300. WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RECALL. *TR

• 08/21/2007· POWER TRAIN

  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. *TR

• 08/19/2008· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP AND NEARLY CAUSED SEVERE CRASH ON A LUXURY SUV WITH LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. *TR

• 08/18/2010· POWER TRAIN

  THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2001 LEXUS RX300 FAILED WITH A LITTLE OVER 108K MILES. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I HAD TROUBLE GETTING IT IN REVERSE 2 DAYS BEFORE - THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE. THEN I HAD TROUBLE STARTING IT FOR 2 DAYS. ON 8/16 IT STARTED FINE, SO I DROVE IT TO THE DEALER. TWICE ON THE WAY THERE, IT JERKED & HESITATED WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP - I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED. I AM THE 2ND OWNER - I BOUGHT IT IN 2003 WITH 41,462 MILES ON IT. IT WAS LEXUS CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED. THE CAR FAX REPORT NOTED THE ORIGINAL OWNER REGISTERED IT AS PRIVATE/PERSONAL USE & NO ISSUES WERE NOTED. I HAVE HAD ALL SERVICE DONE BY THE DEALER, EXCEPT THE LAST OIL CHANGE. I'VE ONLY DRIVEN ABOUT 9K MILES PER YEAR, DRIVE IT RESPONSIBLY & HAVE NEVER TOWED WITH IT. VERY FRIGHTENING THAT I HAD FEW SYMPTOMS, AND NO WARNING LIGHT TO ALERT ME THERE WAS A PROBLEM. LEXUS DEALER WANTS $4,300 TO REPLACE IT WITH A LEXUS REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. I HAVE NOT DECIDED WHAT TO DO. I'M SEEING LOTS OF INFORMATION ONLINE ABOUT HOW BAD THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE, AND THEY OFTEN NEED REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES. SCARES ME TO KNOW I COULD REPLACE IT, HAVE IT FAIL & PERHAPS BE IN AN ACCIDENT. I AM A REALTOR & FRIGHTENING THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT WITH CLIENTS IN MY VEHICLE. MY EXPECTATIONS OF LEXUS QUALITY & SAFETY HAVE NOT BEEN MET. *TR

• 08/17/2004· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING VEHICLE ON AUGUST 3, 2004 AT 25 MPH UPHILL WHEN SUDDENLY THE ACCELERATOR STUCK. VEHICLE RED LINED UP THE HILL, AND WHEN IT REACHED THE TOP OF THE HILL, THE MOTOR WAS STILL RACING. CONSUMER'S SON MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND CUT THE VEHICLE OFF. IT WAS WITNESSED BY POLICE OFFICER,WHO WAS AT THE TOP OF THE HILL. THEN POLICE OFFICER ASKED CONSUMER'S SON TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, AND THE MOTOR IMMEDIATELY BEGUN TO RACE, RED LINING AGAIN. HE WAS THEN ASKED TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF, ALLOWING IT TO COOL DOWN. THEN, THE TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED BY THE POLICE OFFICER. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED ON THE SCENE CONSUMER'S SON WAS AGAIN ASKED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE REPEATED THE SAME THING, IT RED LINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, AND TOWED TO A LEXUS DEALER. *AK

• 08/16/2009· POWER TRAIN

  THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED IN MY 2001 LEXUS RX 300. I NEED TO HAVE IT REPLACED WITH A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. *TR

• 08/14/2004· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  THROTTLE STUCK WIDE OPEN FOLLOWING ROUTINE ACCELERATION GOING UP HILL. ENGINE CONTINUED AT HIGH REVS. CONTROL AND BRAKING WERE DIFFICULT AS ENGINE RACED UNCONTROLLABLY. VEHICLE STOPPED BY EXITING INTO PARKING LOT AND BEING PUT IN PARK.*AK AFTER 1 HOUR WHEN VEHICLE RESTARTED ENGINE IMMEDIATELY RED LINED. IT DID THE SAME THE FOLLOWING DAY AND AT DEALER AFTER BEING TOWED IN. DIAGNOSIS FROM DEALER- THROTTLE CONTROL BODY STUCK. FORTUNATELY DRIVER DEALT WITH POTENTIALLY FATAL SITUATION WITHOUT INJURY OR DAMAGE. MANUFACTURER UNWILLING TO DISCLOSE SIMILAR EPISODES.

• 08/14/2001· POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  DURING ACCELERATION, THE AUTO LOSES ALL POWER WHILE HOLDING IN SECOND GEAR - AS IF SOMEONE HAS PUT ON THE BREAKS - AND THEN GOES TO FULL POWER AFTER SHIFTING INTO THIRD GEAR CAUSING THE SEATBELTS TO LOCK. IF SEATBELTS WERE NOT WORN, RIDERS WOULD BE FORCED INTO THE WINDSHIELD.*AK

• 08/04/2008· POWER TRAIN

  COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

• 07/31/2010· POWER TRAIN

  2001 LEXUS RX 300 - TRANSMISSION FAILURE APPEARS TO BE COMMON. MINE WENT OUT ABOUT 1 YR AGO. CAR WOULDN'T MOVE AT ALL. HAD TO HAVE IT REBUILT WITH MORE DEPENDABLE PARTS. I DON'T HAVE THE OLD PARTS. THE SHOP I WENT TO SAID THEY FREQUENTLY HAVE THEM IN WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR

• 07/30/2008· POWER TRAIN

  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? *TR

• 07/30/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE OIL SLUDGE. *AK