2002 Lexus RX300 Powertrain (other) Problems

SUDDENLY MY GEARS BEGAN SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL, PARK, REVERSE AND INTO !ST AND 2ND GEAR WITHOUT LOCKING INTO ANY OF THEM. NO MATTER WHAT THE SHIFTER MOVES FREELY. MY CAR ONLY MOVES FORWARD NO MATTER WHICH GEAR IT'S IN, INCLUDING REVERSE. I PUT IT INTO PARK AND IT STILL KEEPS MOVING FORWARD. IN ORDER TO PARK AND STOP, I HAVE TO USE MY EMERGENCY BRAKE AND TURN THE CAR OFF. I DO NOT KNOW THE CAUSE (UNKNOWN) IT JUST SUDDENLY HAPPENED ON A TOLL ROAD AT THE PAY STATION. ALSO, MY INTERNAL LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON WHEN I OPEN ANY DOOR, INCLUDING THE TRUNK LIGHTS. MY RADIO DOES NOT CHANGE STATIONS AND KNOB DOES NOTHING, RECEPTION IS POOR & COMES AND GOES. I CANNOT GET ANY AM STATIONS.

NHTSA ID

11144280

Incident

Oct 30, 2018

Mileage

142,128 mi

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK TILL I HEARD GRINDING NOISE THEN I REALIZED CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE ANY MORE THEN IT TOWED AWAY TO MECHANIC SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME IT IS THE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ID

11076721

Incident

Mar 1, 2018

Mileage

165,000 mi

ENGINE KNOCKS ON ACCELERATION, BURNS OIL BAD, HARD TO START, TRANSMMISION WILL NOT AUTO SHIFT INTO HIGH RANGE ON FREEWAY, CAR LURCHES WHEN GETTING UP TO FREEWAY SPEED

NHTSA ID

11010984

Incident

Jul 3, 2011

Mileage

65,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL, LEXUS TRANSMISSION IS MESSING UP NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. THERE IS A BUNCH OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION MESSING UP AND NO ONE IS DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE IT COULD FAIL AT ANY GIVEN TIME. SO PLEASE I ASK YOU TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM AND AT LEAST TRY TO HELP THANK YOU

NHTSA ID

11010694

Incident

Jan 17, 2017

DRIVING TO SCHOOL DIE SHIFT ....SHOP SAYS AUTO TRANSMISSION DEAD ...COST $3500....GOOD MAINTAINED SERVICES.....ALSO CRAZY ELECTRICAL PROBLEM....MUST RECALL AUTO TRANSMISSIONS

NHTSA ID

10838102

Incident

Feb 24, 2016

Mileage

27 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILURE, THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO WORK AND LAGS AT FIRST AND SECOND GEAR.

NHTSA ID

10837607

Incident

Feb 22, 2016

Mileage

111,400 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE AS THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL AND TRACTION CONTROL OFF WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY AND E- SOLENOID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 198,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10677025

Incident

Jan 1, 2015

Mileage

198,000 mi

CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 48,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10477211

Incident

Sep 14, 2012

Mileage

48,000 mi

I'M WRITING TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE. IT STARTED AWHILE AGO, I HEARD A WHINING NOISE & HESITATION,HAD LEXUS CHECK IT OUT. THEY SAID & DOCUMENTED IN MY PROFILE IT WAS MY TIRE TREADS. I GOT THE BEST GOODYEAR TIRES FOR THAT VEHICLE AT THE TIME FORTERA'S. NOISE RATING I BELIEVE IS 8 OUT OF 10 (10 BEING QUIETEST). I LET IT GO & HAD MANY MORE OIL CHANGES SINCE THEN & NO MENTION OF ANY FLUIDS NEEDING TO BE CHANGED. MY CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN DEALER SERVICED WHEREVER I LIVED. PAST 4YRS BEEN @ THOMPSON LEXUS,50 SWAMP ROAD,DOYLESTOWN, PA 18902. VIN:[XXX]. I CHANGE MY OIL RELIGIOUSLY EVERY 8WKS OR SO (MY OIL IS EXCEPTIONALLY CLEAN LIKE A NEW ENGINE) NOTHING WAS EVER SAID ABOUT MY FLUIDS. NONE OF MY PAPERWORK SHOWS RECOMMENDATIONS OF ANY FLUIDS NOR WERE THERE ANY VERBAL RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT FLUID CHANGES.THEY DID RECOMMEND A TIMING BELT WHICH I DID BUT THEY ALSO STATED THAT I SHOULD HAVE MY WATER PUMP DONE AS WELL EVEN THOUGH NOTHING IS/WAS WRONG WITH IT. SO, I DID WHAT THEY SAID. BUT THINGS GOT WORSE. USUALLY WHEN I AM AT A STOP LIGHT/SIGN &/OR MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM A STOPPED POSITION & IM PULLING OUT INTO INTERSECTION, THE RPMS TEND TO GO UP BUT MY VEHICLE DOESN'T ACCELERATE/RESPOND WITH THE PRESSING OF THE GAS PEDAL. WITH THIS ONGOING INTERMITTENT ACCELERATION RESPONSE, IM SCARED BUT I NEED THE CAR TO GET FAMILY AROUND. I HAD ANOTHER OIL CHANGE & I TOLD THEM TO CHANGE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THEY ADVISED ME THE WHINING WAS THE TRANSMISSION & LEXUS DEALERSHIP DID NOT RECOMMEND THAT THE TRANS OIL TO BE CHANGED & IT IS A WASTE OF MY $100. I GOT IT VERBALLY & IN WRITING ON MY SERVICE RECEIPT. I BELIEVE THE ISSUE AT HAND (BASED ON RESEARCH) IS THE TRANSMISSION & DIRECTLY RELATED TO WORKMANSHIP (POOR DESIGN) & ALSO THE LACK OF KNOWLEDGE, OF TECHNICIANS, TO CHECK FLUIDS & RECOMMEND CHANGING CERTAIN FLUIDS AT CERTAIN TIMES. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10450857

Incident

Aug 20, 2011

Mileage

14,200 mi

WHILE DRIVING OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE TRANSMISSION STARTED MAKING VERY LOUD NOISE AND THEN GOT TOTALLY STUCK AND VEHICLE COULD NOT MOVE. IT WAS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO LOAD AND ESPECIALLY UNLOAD THE CAR FROM THE FLATBED TRUCK. MY MECHANIC EVALUATED THE TRANSMISSION AND IT WAS BEYOND REPAIR AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS TOTALLY BLACK. OF NOTE, THE MANUFACTURER'S STICKER ON THE TRANSMISSION SPECIFICALLY INDICATED NOT TO CHANGE TRANSMISSION FLUID. *TR

NHTSA ID

10450158

Incident

Oct 4, 2011

Mileage

133,077 mi

COMPLETE FAILURE/BREAKDOWN OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION POWERTRAIN. TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT

NHTSA ID

10445897

Incident

Jan 27, 2012

Mileage

135,000 mi

THE TRANSMISSION TOTALLY FAILED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE IN ANY GEAR. RPMS PEGGED OUT AT 6K. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO NORTHTOWN LEXUS IN AMHERST, NY. THEY AGREED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS TOTALLY SHOT AND WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $5,500 TO REPLACE, JUST FOR THE PART. I SUBSEQUENTLY HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO CONTINENTAL TRANSMISSION IN BUFFALO, NY, WHERE IT WAS REBUILT FOR $3,100. I UNDERSTAND FROM POSTS AT THE LEXUS OWNERS CLUB OF USA THAT RX300 TRANSMISSIONS ARE PRONE TO FAILURE AS THEY WERE NOT DESIGNED FOR THE ADDED STRESSES IMPOSED BY AND SUV. *TR

NHTSA ID

10441160

Incident

Dec 16, 2011

Mileage

110,000 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH. FORTUNATELY, WAS CLOSE TO HOME AND ABLE TO MAKE IT BACK TO MY DRIVEWAY. HAD CAR TOWED INTO SHOP AND THEY ADVISED ME OF A TOTAL "TRANSMISSION FAILURE". ALL SERVICES PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, NO UNUSUAL OR HARSH DRIVING CONDITION ON VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10437370

Incident

Nov 10, 2011

Mileage

107,085 mi

WHEN I WAS DRIVING THREE LIGHT TURNED ON AT THE SAME TIME. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, VSC AND TRAC OFF LIGHT. I WENT TO A MECHANIC AND HE STATED THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SOLENOID. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC TO CHECK THE OIL PAN AND THE STOLENOIS IS GETTING CLOGGED BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10424181

Incident

Sep 7, 2011

Mileage

169,000 mi

TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. TRANSMISSION FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY WITH A MAX SPEED OF 70 MPH. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO INJURIES. I ENDED UP CALLING A TOW TRUCK TO TOW ME TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP WHERE IT SIT. I AM NOW READING ABOUT THE MANY WHO HAS SUFFERED AND IS SUFFERING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WHY ISN'T THE GOVERNMENT ACTING ON FORCING LEXUS TO RECALL AND FIX THIS ISSUE? THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. FIRST AND LAST LEXUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10423809

Incident

Sep 2, 2011

Mileage

133,000 mi

2002 LEXUS RX300 85000 MILES THE STEEL LINES RUNNING TO THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER STARTED TO LEAK. UPON INSPECTION THEY WERE FOUND TO BE RUSTED THROUGH. THE LINE MUST BE IN A BAD PLACE AND RECEIVE ROAD SPRAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10365683

Incident

Jul 25, 2010

Mileage

85,000 mi

IN NOV OF 2009 I STARTED HEARING A CLICKING SOUND IN MY CAR AND IT FELT LIKE THE FRONT AND REAR TIRES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS RUBBING AGAINST SOMETHING. I TOOK MY CAR TO A LEXUS DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT MY DRIVESHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER THAT MY DRIVESHAFT FELL OFF. BEING AS THOUGH I DID NOT HAVE THE $1800 I WAS QUOTED TO HAVE IT REPLACED. I CALLED THE LEXUS CORP AND EXPLAINED MY SITUATION TO THEM. THEY OFFERED ME A GOOD FAITH DISCOUNT OF 10% OFF OF THE PRICE I WAS QUOTED BY THE LEXUS DEALER. I TURNED IT DOWN BECAUSE I FELT THAT IT WAS SOME TYPE OF DEFECT THAT CAUSED MY DRIVESHIFT TO FALL OFF. IN LIGHT OF THE RESENT TOYOTA RECALL FOR DRIVESHAFTS FALLING OFF ON THEIR TACOMA PICKUP TRUCKS AND (BEING AS THOUGH LEXUS IS AN ENTITY OF TOYOTA) I STARTED THINKING THAT THERE HAS TO BE A CONNECTION. I CONTACTED THE LEXUS CORP AGAIN AND ASKED THEM IF THEY COULD LOOK INTO THE ISSUE IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT TOYOTA JUST RECALLED THEIR TACOMA TRUCKS FOR THE DRIVESHAFT ISSUE. THAT WAS ON SAT 2/13/10 WHEN I CALLED. LEXUS CORP CALLED ME BACK TUES MORN ON 2/16/10 TO SAY THAT THEY ARE NOT HAVING ANY RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE AT THIS TIME AND THAT THEIR POSITION STILL STANDS TO OFFER ME THE 10% DISCOUNT. AGAIN I REFUSED BECAUSE I BELIEVE THERE IS A CONNECTION. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS ISSUE INVESTIGATED TO SEE IF THE ISSUE WITH THE DRIVESHAFT EXTENDS BEYOND THE TACOMA TRUCKS. MY CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR OVER 2 MONTHS NOW BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED. IT HAS BEEN VERY FRUSTRATING AND VERY INCONVENIENT TO NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR ESPECIALLY WHEN I AM CERTAIN IT IS DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE DRIVESHAFT WHICH SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY LEXUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10310774

Incident

Dec 9, 2009

Mileage

83,910 mi

2002 LEXUS RX300 TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE TRANNY FAILED AT ONLY 150,000 MILES. THE REPLACEMENT WAS $4200. NO TRANSMISSION SHOULD FAIL THAT SOON, AND NOTHING SHORT OF A BENTLEY SHOULD COST THAT MUCH FOR A REBUILT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10270198

Incident

May 18, 2009

Mileage

150,000 mi

I DRIVE A 2002 LEXUS RX300. I WAS SMELLING A BURNING ODOR FROM BELOW MY CAR AND CALLED UP TO HAVE IT CHECKED BY THE LEXUS SERVICE. THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T SEE ME FOR A WEEK AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE THE CAR IN FOR CHECK UP. I EXPRESSED MY CONCERN ABOUT DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHILE THIS SMELL WAS PRESENT AND WAS TOLD TO CHECK IF :THERE WAS ANY OBJECT SUCH AS A PLASTIC BAG STUCK UNDER MY CAR. *CHECKED THE OIL, SINCE HE SAID THAT THE ENGINE OIL LUBRICATES THE ENTIRE POWER TRAIN. AFTER TELLING HIM THAT THE DIPSTICK SHOWED THAT THERE WAS NO NEED FOR OIL HE SAID THAT THE VEHICLE "SHOULD BE OK UNTIL I BRING IT IN FOR CHECKUP. BY THIS TIME I HAD DEVELOPED A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY AND TOTALLY FORGOT ABOUT THE ODOR. UNTIL SATURDAY NIGHT AUGUST 30 WHEN I WAS HEADING WEST ON THE CROSS BRONX EXPRESSWAY.I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY I HEARD THIS LOUD BANG AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL ON THE HIGH WAY WITH 18 WHEELERS ON EITHER SIDE OF ME. GOD I WAS TERRIFIED. FORTUNATELY I REMEMBERED TO STEER THE CAR IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SKID AND WAS ABLE TO STABILIZE THE VEHICLE AND PREVENT A ROLLOVER. AFTER COMING OUT OF THE CAR AND INSPECTING IT I FOUND THAT THERE WAS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE BUT THE [XXX] CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. HERE I WAS CRIS-CROSSED 21/2 LANES OF TRAFFIC ON THE CROSS BRONX EXPRESSWAY WITH OTHER PEOPLE YELLING AT ME TO MOVE MY[XXX] VEHICLE OUT OF THE WAY AND I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO WAY OF MOVING IT BECAUSE THE REAR AXLE WAS JAMMED. AFTER NOT HAVING MY CAR FOR 1 MONTH TO BE EXACT, I WAS GIVEN BACK MY VEHICLE AND TOLD THAT THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL THAT CAUSED THE AXLE TO SEIZE UP. FORTUNATELY IT WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT KIND OF DAMAGE COULD HAVE OCCURRED ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS CAR ONLY HAD 17,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS DRIVEN ONLY ON PAVED SURFACES. I SERIOUSLY THINK THE THERE WAS A DEFECT AND THAT IT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *LA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10045133

Incident

Aug 30, 2003