1999 Lexus RX300 from North America - Comments

No, a monthly trip to the "service garage" isn't acceptable. I haven't had that happening with any of my domestic or foreign cars.

I personally have a 1999 Lexus RX 300, and purchased it with only 60k in summer of 2005. At around 70k I noticed I had knocking front suspension, to my guess it was strut support mounts, which I was right about and it took the Lexus Dealership to realize that almost 8months!

Hello, I used to own a 15 year old Nissan maxima which was a totaled TWICE and I had that happened only when the car hit 150k miles and my cheap mechanic figured that out with in 10 minutes.

About 15k miles ago I noticed that my transmission could not up shift into 4th or Over Drive if it was at least at 20% engine temperature. Again, I had exact same problem with a 15 year old car not 7yrs old with 150k miles not 90k.

Now my biggest problem is that my car stalls if it’s at it normal temperature after starting it up, it will die, unless ii keep the pedal depressed for fuel to flow into the engine after the starter disables.

I love Lexus service, it’s by far the best, and I owned 5 BMW's, 4 of which were 328i and one 740i. The customer service at the dealerships was horrible with rude people, Honda/Acura was not at its best, and Nissan on the other hand just wanted your money, Ford? Well we all know about Ford and their reputation.

I'd definitely buy another Lexus, only and only if the dealer ship would sit down and go through this forum and hopefully realize, that if people are not happy with their First or Second Lexus, that they would never come back to get another one ever again, unless it rained gold in California.

Everyone,

Recently I found the bad reviews on yrs 99-200x Lexus RX300 and read the entire string of complaints on this page, including someone suggesting to file a report on NHTSA web site.

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/

To my surpise I did not see one single post regarding the transmission failures.

People, get on it, otherwise there will be no dealer refunds to anyone who had to pay over $4k in repair costs for their transmission or people like me who is currently having this problem right now and trying to get the dealer to pay for the repair costs.

So please do file the complaint unless you want to get suckered in by the motor corporation.

Curious, crowing about Lexus, BMW, Acura, Honda, and Nissan even though they say the dealers were rude and terrible, and yet they bash Ford when apparently they don't even have experience with Ford, probably because they wouldn't "lower" themselves to drive an American car. That's fine, have fun with your snooty foreign dealerships that rip you off, apparently you enjoy it.

As to answer the last comment: (that was my last comment regarding BMW, Ford, etc...)

People choose to drive what they wish to drive; it has nothing to do with lowering themselves by driving an American vehicle.

I talk about American Manufacturers from personal experience. I've owned an '87 Dodge, ‘91 Mercury Sable, ‘68 Camaro, 67 Mustang and a '94 Ford Explorer.

I have always had something go ridiculously wrong with all the cars, with exception of American Classics, which don't deserve anyone’s put downs as they are “American Classics”.

Every single American Dealership I was on, I had to always come back to get something fixed, way too often and that’s something that does not suit me.

I enjoy driving my cars to work, fun, etc… and I don’t enjoy weekly trips to the dealership where I have to spend money for never ending problems.

Example: 87 dodge tranny went out at 80k, 91 sable had problems with a head gasket, break system, 94 Explorer had a leaking master cylinder, power steering rack and pinion, rear axle seals, corroded fuel lines and all engine mounts began cracking, and all this before the car hit 90k.

In the end conclusion, you be the judge.

I went from Mercedes SL in the past then to Acuras also with transmissions woes to 2 new GM's. The snob appeal/ego is all well and good, but when you shell out the big repairs the enthusiasm wanes. I loved the Mercedes until the day I had to buy new exhaust manifolds. I am off the imports,I bought a new loaded black Trailblazer and a white Silverado with Onstar and 100,000 standard warranties.

2000 RX300 Tranny busted. 76K miles... I bought it used. Lexus has refused to help. I spent over $4K to repair. I'm pissed!!

If you want to rally the troops in protest you can find me at andykwcs-news@yahoo.com.

My RX-300, which I bought used 3 years ago, has just died at 84,000 miles. The transmission went out with no warning at all on a dark road in the middle of nowhere in Mississippi. I couldn't even tell Triple AAA where I was because I pulled off the highway trying to find a gas station.

Anyway, I had the car towed at a cost of $300.00 because there is only one Lexus dealership in the state. It's going to cost $4,000 plus I had to rent a car and drive back to Houston while I wait for them to order the transmission and fix the car.

This ruined my Christmas, and I'm really really mad. I believed all the hype about Lexus being so reliable, but this car is a lemon. I had just spent $2,000 fixing the oil leak problem and they said nothing else was wrong with the car. I have had it serviced at the dealership in Houston exclusively and followed all the rules of car maintenance. I have not abused this car, but taken very good care of it. Is there any recourse with the dealership or am I stuck with the bill? I won't buy another Lexus unless they pay at least part of it.

That is hard to believe!!!

I brought a used 1999 rx300 less than a year ago at 74k miles. Now at 800228 mile the transmission went dead on me while I was driving home at 11:40pm.

I'm unhappy as hell. This will be the last time I'll consider buying a Lexus...

After $3000+ in repairs for the main seals leaking, the rear seals leaking, timing belt replacement, and all other belts replaced, my Check Engine light appeared, mockingly, and I brought it to the dealership. They inform me that my engine is being replaced. They made no mention of the class action lawsuit that prompted the replacement, but I soon received a letter regarding it and all the models affected. I complained about the $3000 charge, but got no satisfaction from the dealership, but only the explanation, "We had no way of knowing that the engine was going to develop 'sludge'." Yeah, right.

Now, with less than 1000 miles on the new engine, and almost $800 in new tires and alignments, my check engine light comes on again, the car is making awful noises under the dash like a speaker is blown, and the transmission seems to not ever get into first gear. I am now the proud owner of a car needing a $5000 transmission and fuse box. A fuse box. Excellent. I am hoping for a recall or another class action lawsuit. I may even start the lawsuit. I am positive that I will never buy another Lexus.

Wow! I guess it wasn't my brakes that locked up on me. I was going to work then I feel this jerk to the car. I try to pull onto the side of the road, but I can't move! I can't even coast on neutral. Man this really sucks after reading all these stories. I guess I need a new transmission or a new car! I am ready to complain to Lexus or a lawsuit! -Jimmy jmounivong@comcast.net.

I just followed this advice found earlier in the comments here:

Please file your complaints here about your transmission problems with Lexus. If enough of us complain, they may force Lexus to recall or at least address the problem of their transmissions.

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/

I think it deserves another post here. Please file your complaints with the Office of Defects Investigation.

Just bought a 2003 awd Rx300, anyone have problems with this year or just 99-00.?

Think the kinks were worked out by 2003 but I am not sure.