2000 Lexus RX Owner Complaints

Vehicle stalls when giving it gas then lunges forward all at once ….brake light is on

NHTSA ID

11477556

Incident

Aug 3, 2022

ON 7/26/2022 APPROX 8:00 AM I WAS DRIVING ON BRIGHTON CLOPTON RD WHEN THIS FLAT BED WRECKER WAS BACKING OUT ON HIGHWAY AND I WAS LOOKING DOWN TO MAKE SURE MY SPEEDOMETER WAS AT 30 MPH ALL OF A SUDDEN I CRASHED INTO THIS BED OF THE WRECKER, (NOT ONE) AIRBAG DEPLOYED MY KNEES, SHINS, CHEST BONES , HURT LIKE CRAZY , HEAD, I WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL FOR EVALUATION, I ATTACH SOME PICTURES FROM MY CRASH , THE OFFICER HAD ME TO MOVE OUT OF DRIVERS SEAT JUST IN CASE THE AIRBAGS DID FINALLY GO OFF. WHY NOT THEY DIDN'T IMPLOYED ? AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF .... WHY ????????????

NHTSA ID

11476188

Incident

Jul 26, 2022

2000 RX300 DO NOT SHIFT INTO THE 3 GEAR WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FROM 1 &2 BUT NOT 3. THE ENGINE SPEED IS HIGH AND DOESN'T SHIFT. WE HAVEN'T DRIVEN IT SINCE, TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT TO DO NEXT WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE A FRIEND THAT HAVE THE SAME MAKE & MODEL AND HE'S HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS ALSO! *TR

NHTSA ID

11323985

Incident

Aug 20, 2018

Mileage

180,000 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 98,000 MILES. SEEMS TO HAPPEN TO EVERYONE WITH THIS CAR. *TT

NHTSA ID

10582908

Incident

Mar 3, 2014

Mileage

97,000 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10495076

Incident

Jan 18, 2013

Mileage

116,237 mi

TRANSMISSION STARTED MAKING A WHINING SOUND AT CERTAIN SPEEDS ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF EARLIER. TOYOTA DEALER CONFIRMED ODD NOISE FROM TRANSMISSION, BUT SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO APART FROM REMOVING TRANSMISSION. I WAS IN A NEARBY STATE WHEN THE TRANNY FINALLY WENT OUT - 1ST GEAR STILL WORKS AND SOMETIMES 2ND GEAR, BUT 3RD, 4TH AND REVERSE ALL WENT OUT WHEN I WAS ACCELERATING ONTO THE HIGHWAY - A LOUD BANG AND THEN IT REVVED UP LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL EVEN THOUGH IT WAS IN DRIVE. I'M CONCERNED THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW, BUT LEXUS DOES NOT AGREE AND HAS OFFERED NO COMPENSATION UP TO THIS POINT. THEY SAID IF I WANT TO TAKE IT FURTHER I NEED THE TOYOTA DEALER TO CONFIRM THE TRANNY IS OUT. I SAID THAT WOULD NOT BE DIFFICULT AND AM IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT NOW. I AM CURIOUS HOW SOME PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN LEXUS TO PAY A PORTION OF THEIR BILL. I ENDED UP RENTING A UHAUL AND TRAILER TO GET IT HOME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10473656

Incident

Sep 22, 2011

Mileage

143,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING CAR LOST POWER WOULD NOT GO FORWARD. NEVER GAVE ME ANY WARNING NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NOTHING! MADE IT HOME AT 5 MPH. TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING! $3600 TO FIX AT AAMCO, SEEMS LIKE THEY SEE THIS PROBLEM OFTEN IN THE RX300 MODELS 1999-2003 MINE IS A 2000. CALLED LEXUS BUT OFFERED NO HELP! VERY UNHAPPY LEXUS OWNER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10471664

Incident

Aug 6, 2012

Mileage

140,000 mi

AT 90,000 MILES MY DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS HAVE STOPPED WORKING . THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN DEC 2000 . *TR

NHTSA ID

10435726

Incident

Nov 15, 2011

Mileage

90,000 mi

COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. AFTER DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY PARKED CAR IN DRIVEWAY AT HOME. 20 MIN. LATER TRIED TO PUT CAR IN GARAGE AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE. HAD IT TOWED TO SHOP ON CAR CARRIER AND FOUND BROKEN GEARS IN TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10210950

Incident

Dec 3, 2007

Mileage

85,000 mi

MY 2000 LEXUS RX300 TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT TO HIGHER GEAR. I PURCHASED AND USED THE CAR IN USA UNTIL 09/2004 AND THEN SHIPPED IT TO BAHRAIN. IT IS STILL IN BAHRAIN. HOW TO GET IT FIXED WITH NO COST? SINCE IT IS MANUFACTURER FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10210637

Incident

Nov 13, 2007

Mileage

163,400 mi

DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MY CAR CEASED FORWARD ENGAGEMENT. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED HOWEVER, I WAS SUCCESSFUL IN MANEUVERING OFF THE FREEWAY. I WAS STRANDED OUT OF TOWN FOR SEVERAL HOURS. AFTER HAVING TOWED TO A LEXUS DEALERSHIP IN SACRAMENTO FOR AN ASSESSMENT IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED AND ADVISED THE COST WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $4,400. I CONTACTED THE LEXUS CORPORATION BECAUSE NO TRANSMISSION SHOULD FAIL ONLY HAVING 89,000 MILES AND 7 YEARS OF AGE WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THE LEXUS 1999 & 2000 RX300 MODELS HAVE A KNOWN TRANSMISSION DEFECT BUT NO RECALL, WHY? *TR

NHTSA ID

10207697

Incident

Oct 26, 2007

Mileage

89,587 mi

LEXUS RX300 TRANSMISSION FAILED ON MAJOR HIGHWAY AT 86000 MILES. INTERNET SEARCH AND PHONE CALLS TO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS REVEAL MANY SIMILAR INCIDENTS AND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM LEXUS IS AWARE OF. CAR WAS 8 DAYS PASSED A 3 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY PROVIDED AT PURCHASE, CURRENTLY LEXUS WILL REPLACE AT ABOUT THE COST THAT AN INDEPENDENT WILL REBUILD

NHTSA ID

10206297

Incident

Oct 11, 2007

Mileage

86,000 mi

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON 2000 LEXUS RX300. *JB

NHTSA ID

10201159

Incident

Aug 11, 2007

Mileage

73,200 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING UNDER 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT LOSE POWER, BUT IT FAILED TO MOVE. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACED THE GEAR IN DRIVE OR REVERSE, THE ENGINE WOULD REV BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS UNCOMMON AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE REMAINS AT THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 76,000.

NHTSA ID

10201036

Incident

Aug 21, 2007

Mileage

76,000 mi

I HAVE A 2000 LEXUS RX 300 WITH 103,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING IT SUDDENLY LURCHED, WOULD NOT GO AND LURCHED AGAIN. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED SUDDENLY. IT "FROZE" MEANING WOULD NOT SHIFT, THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE ETC. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE OWNED IT FOR MORE THAN 3 YEARS. WHEN I BOUGHT IT, IT HAD 33,000 MILES. IT HAS BEEN FULLY AND REGULARLY SERVICED ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL. THE CAR NOW IS IN THE TRANSMISSION SHOP HAVING THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10200783

Incident

Aug 17, 2007

Mileage

103,000 mi

2000 LEXUS RX300. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT UNEXPECTEDLY AT 126,000 MILES. I HAVE SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES (MAXIMA 292,000+ MILES, SILVERADO 1500 P/U 120,000+ MILES AND HONDA ACCORD 240,000+ MILES ) AND NONE OF THE WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE INFERIOR CARS HAVE HAD ANY SORT OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. BUT A LEXUS , WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO MEAN QUALITY, GOES OUT AT ONLY 126,000. ACCORDING TO RECENT RESEARCH ON THE LEXUSCLUBOWNERS.COM FORUM IT APPEARS THAT THE RX300'S AND THE 330'S ARE PLAGUED WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE LEXUS CORPORATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10199297

Incident

Jul 21, 2007

Mileage

126,000 mi

I HAVE A TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN A 2000 LEXUS RX 300. THE TOTAL COST OF THE REPAIR IS ESTIMATED TO BE IN EXCESS OF $3K. THE SPECIALIST THAT ESTIMATED THE REPAIR COST TOLD ME IT IS A NATION WIDE "EPIC" PROBLEM, (HIS WORDS), AND THAT HE COULD NOT EVEN GUARANTEE THE REPAIR BECAUSE OF THE HIGH RATE OF REPEAT FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10188823

Incident

Apr 25, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND COULD NOT DRIVE IN REVERSE. WHEN DRIVING FORWARD AT 32 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. THE MOTOR WAS RUNNING BUT THE VEHICLE WAS IMMOBILE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE MECHANIC , WHO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS THE TRANSMISSION. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 76,500 ,AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,500.*AK

NHTSA ID

10187447

Incident

Feb 12, 2007

Mileage

75,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LEXUS RX300. WHILE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT THE DRIVER SMELLED SMOKE. THE SMOKE WAS PRESENT IN THE TRANSMISSION , AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS NEEDING A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 101,000. *AK

NHTSA ID

10185192

Incident

Mar 9, 2007

Mileage

101,000 mi

I HAVE A LEXUS RX300. IT IS A 2000 WITH 58,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND LEXUS REFUSES TO FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY (CLAIMING ITS 6 YEAR OR 70,000 MILES). NOW THAT I AM DOING RESEARCH, IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE RX300. IT APPEARS THEY HAVE FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS. I AM HOPING YOU CAN HELP. THE FORUMS SEEM TO INDICATE THAT IF WE FILE REPORTS, HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE A RECALL OR SOME SORT OF LEGAL CLAIM. THE LEXUS OF SANTA MONICA WANT TO CHARGE ME $4,800, THEY OFFERED A 10% DISCOUNT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10183590

Incident

Feb 26, 2007

Mileage

58,000 mi

MY 2000 LEXUS RX300 TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 96,000 MILES. I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND WAS ABLE TO USE GRAVITY TO DRIFT OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAITED 2.5 HOURS FOR A TOW TRUCK. *JB

NHTSA ID

10183102

Incident

Feb 16, 2007

Mileage

96,000 mi

2000 MODEL LEXUS RX300 WITH 75000 MILES. TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AFTER SPENDING A WEEK IN A COLD (NEVER ABOVER FREEZING) PARKING LOT. LEXUS DEALER IS CLAIMING THAT THE FLUID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED EVERY 20K MILES, ALTHOUGH THE USER MANUAL CLEARLY STATES THAT UNDER NORMAL USAGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID DOES NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING, AND NO FORWARD OR REVERSE ENGAGMENT WAS POSSIBLE. LEXUS IS QUOTING 5200 FOR A COMPLETE REBUILT (NOT EVEN NEW) TRANSMISSION. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS AND THIS IS THE FIRST TRANSMISSION PROBLEM I HAVE EVER HAD, AND WITH MANY FEWER MILES THAN MY OTHER CARS.

NHTSA ID

10181280

Incident

Jan 30, 2007

Mileage

75,420 mi

2000 RX300 WITH 111000 MILES. OIL CHANGES WERE CONDUCTED AT EVERY 1500 MILES AND EVERY MAJOR SERVICE WAS DONE AS RECOMMENDED. TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY DIED ON THE HIGHWAY WITH NO WARNING SIGNS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10178800

Incident

Jan 10, 2007

FAILED TRANSMISSION 2000 RX300 LEXUS MILES 72000 I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND AT VICTORY TOYOTA SEASIDE CA AND THE MECHANICS HAD NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE I WAS PERUSING REGULAR MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES FOR THE RX300 AND FOUND ROUGHLY 20 SOME FAILED TRANSMISSIONS LISTED ON THE 1999 AND 2000 MODELS. TOYOTA IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS CRAPPY DESIGN BUT IT WAS MENTIONED THAT THE NEXT YEAR THE DESIGN WAS IMPROVED!! WE ALSO PAID 7000$ FOR THE JOB AND OTHER FOLKS PAID ON THE ORDER OF 4000.*JB

NHTSA ID

10178765

Incident

Sep 1, 2006

Mileage

72,000 mi

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, AND I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY LATER INFORMED ME THAT MY ENGINE IS BEING REPLACED. THEY MADE NO MENTION OF THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, DUE TO ENGINE SLUDGE BUILD-UP, THAT PROMPTED THE REPLACEMENT, BUT I SOON RECEIVED A LETTER REGARDING IT, AND ALL THE LEXUS AND TOYOTA 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'." NOW, WITH LESS THAN 1000 MILES ON THE NEW ENGINE 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 TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP IN AUSTIN, TX., AND THEY INFORM ME THAT I NEED A $5000 TRANSMISSION AND FUSE BOX. A FUSE BOX. EXCELLENT. I AM HOPING FOR A RECALL OR ANOTHER CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ON-LINE, AND SEEING THE MULTITUDES OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF RX300 TRANSMISSIONS FAILING AT RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10177916

Incident

Jan 2, 2007

Mileage

116,000 mi