5th Jan 2009, 09:38

Another one (RX300-99) bites the dust!!! 102,000 miles, no warning; quote of over $5000.00 from dealership that has performed all required/scheduled maintenance since I purchased it new in June 1999. Did I get my $42K worth???... No!!! Especially when I think about the high cost of the required maintenance. Should I bite the bullet and get what I can for it as is or should I have it repaired?

12th Jan 2009, 21:44

Remember me (read above)!!! Lexus (180025LEXUS) and my dealership have agreed to fix my vehicle at no cost to me. I mean no cost!!! "GOD IS GOOD"...

3rd Mar 2009, 15:04

Have a 2001 RX300 with 145900 miles and never had any issues until last month. While making a turn it felt like the brakes were grabbing. Then while trying to press on the gas it seemed like the car went into neutral. Looking down at the gears, it was still in drive. I gave it a little more gas and it made it to my driveway where it died completely. Wouldn't go in reverse after that. I had to have it towed, and then was told that so many parts broke that there were metal shavings in the transmission pan. Their cost to rebuild is about $4000.

I called Lexus and they offer no recall, good faith or any other incentive. The Lexus estimate is $5000.00. I love my car and have never had any issue, but I am concerned that it won't be so reliable after this fix. Comments??

4th Mar 2009, 12:42

My 1999 RX300 transmission died this week at 110000 miles. No warning. The car was serviced as recommended by Lexus.

The dealership quoted me $4950 for fixing it with a rebuilt one. What really upsets me is that the dealership denied any problem with the transmission and I believed them until I found this site.

Shame on Lexus. After I dispose of my 430SL in April, I am not buying a Lexus.

31st Mar 2009, 00:15

Another one. RX300, 90,000 mile check up in October 2008 ended up with a close to 4,000 dollar bill. 92,000 miles at that time. Now in March 2009 with 94,000 miles I almost had to push it home, and had it towed to the dealer. Googled "transmission problem" and "RX300" and got 180,000 hits. Talked to the service manager "I have no idea what you mean - transmission flaw?" Talked to Lexus Customer Service national hotline "I have no idea what you mean - transmission flaw?" I'm now on hold to see what happens next. They may not get their rental car back! How disgusting to sit there and act perplexed when they had undoubtedly seen RX300 after RX300 towed into this service center.

27th Apr 2009, 10:42

And another one! 1999 Lexus RX300, 134,000 miles, the car stalled after a 30 miles long drive. I don't like to take my vehicle to the dealership, however, I have followed the maintenance schedule.

28th Apr 2009, 13:30

Your car had has 134,000 miles on it, and now it "stalled"?

Wow! That is terrible!

Seriously though, what do you want a LIFETIME Warranty?

Cars are machines - they do break now & then. You can either accept that or walk.

5th May 2009, 17:41

May 2, 2009.

I have a 1999 Lexus RX 300 with 200,005 miles. I was driving to work and suddenly my car lost power and would not go forward or reverse. Had the car towed to a reliable mechanic that has worked on my car before and is probably 25% the cost that Lexus dealers charge. I never take my car to the dealer because they are so expensive.

13th May 2009, 18:03

I have a 1999 Lexus, transmission just went out at 218, 000 miles, not too bad, I would say. It has been an amazing car, no problems. I am going to put in a Lexus certified transmission for $2750 which includes labor, because it still looks and runs like new. so, there are some good ones out there.

6th Jul 2009, 10:19

My Lexus RX300 trans died while driving. I have 160k miles, but kept up with all the maintenance by Lexus (guess that really doesn't matter). Shopping for a transmission, and will have a local mechanic repair it and will then sell...

17th Nov 2009, 21:44

For sale 1999 Lexus RX 300 - Just paid for it and am waiting for the title. Has 105000 miles and I paid $8000. I am going to trade it in - too guilty to sell myself after knowing how junky these cars are. I will go back to a US built car. Yuk.

17th Feb 2010, 15:46

My girl has a 2001 Lexus RX300 that just went to sleep with 110k! Lexus doesn't want to know anything, and it will cost her 4300 for a new transmission! Wow, Toyota is making millions all over the world selling their cars, you would think they would fix this problem! Any suggestions? grubby13209@yahoo.com

23rd Feb 2010, 18:30

Indeed! I just bought a used Lexus RX 300, 2001 model. 71K miles and this morning, the transmission sputtered and died. I'm glad I purchased the extended warranty. The warranty guy will go the Lexus dealership tomorrow and look at it! I just want it fixed with no more transmission issues! Carfax says nothing on the vehicle. SO, I feel your pain people! If this is a chronic Toyota/Lexus problem, then they need to recall and fix them all!

23rd Mar 2010, 23:41

I'm considering buying another 2001 Lexus RX300, even after I bought a 2000 back in 2005 at 90k miles, and when it got to 136k miles, the tranny went dead, but my mom loves the Lexus RX300 so my question is did Lexus resolve 01's or not??? Anyone please respond, thanks.

13th Jun 2010, 00:40

1999 Lexus with about 150,000 miles on it when the transmission went out. All services were done on the car. Cost was $4700 to fix at the Lexus dealership. They initially wanted $5700. They did provide a loaner RX for a week.

Then a month later one of the ignition coils went out. The car sputtered and I could hardly make it home. Had it towed to the dealership for another $500 repair.

I hope someone takes them to court.

avery1317 at yahoo.com

9th Aug 2010, 18:30

I bought a 1999 RX300 and the transmission had to be replaced at 89,000 miles. I've got a friend that had to replace their 1999 RX300 at 70,000. They sold theirs.

Still got mine. Not so happy with it. It's sputtering. Not sure what the problem is, hope it's not... "Here we go again."

19th Aug 2010, 10:50

I have Lexus ES300. Last week transmission started acting up, and for the past two days I got stuck several times while stopped at a traffic light. The transmission would not shift to "D". On highways the gears kept breaking, with engine RPMs going wildly from 2,000 to 5,000 and back. Interestingly, when I stop the engine for a few seconds, then restart it, the transmission engages correctly. Why is that?

I've been told I could fix it for $3,000 in a transmission shop, with a 2-year warranty. I haven't ventured to the dealer yet, but I suspect the price quote may be much higher. I decided to pour in a transmission lubricant, clinging to the small hope I could delay the inevitable...

Does anyone have any advice? Can they potentially offer anything other than replacing transmission at the dealers?

27th Nov 2010, 02:13

My 1999 Lexus RX300 AWD transmission just went out while driving to the grocery store. When I started the car, it took about 30 seconds to go into reverse, but that's the only warning I had. It drove fine until all of the sudden it quit accelerating, and it wouldn't go into gear. I had to tow the vehicle home. Now I see thousands and thousands of people are having the same problem. What a shame, Lexus use to be a quality name.

29th Jan 2011, 15:07

My 1999 RX300 transmission just went out at 237000 miles. I've had other problems when the car was newer, but I can't complain about the transmission.

11th Mar 2011, 11:00

RX300 AWD 2001 transmission drum blew up at 100,000 miles with no warning. It will cost $5,000 to repair.

26th Mar 2011, 15:14

Yes, I too just had my 99 RX300 tranny done! $4500. Every place was about the same... outrageous, 1/2 the price I paid for the truck itself! I had the tranny flush a year before it blew. It started to slip, get stuck in gear and sound awful!

20th Jul 2011, 11:07

We bought a used 1999 RX 300 3 years ago. We lost the transmission this April with no warning, leaving myself, my mother-in-law and her neighbor stranded on a back country road. We are just getting it fixed with a $4000 bill. It sure would be nice if Lexus owned up to their defects.

17th Feb 2012, 16:28

Did Lexus or Toyota cover any of the costs?

21st Feb 2012, 14:08

How did you get Lexus to pay?

6th Sep 2015, 13:31

My trans was fixed by a Lexus dealership at no cost. Good then at 87k. Now at 225k, it is happening again. Any advice?