2002 Lexus RX300 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.

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.

EARLY TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON EARLY MODEL LEXUS RX300 FROM 1997 TO 2003. I OWN A 2002 RX300 AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT ABOUT 100,000 MILES. IT HAPPENED WITH NO NOTICE CAUSING MY ENGINE TO SLOW ON THE ROAD AND THEN WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. I SEEM TO BE A LUCKY ONE AS I READ THOUSANDS OF LEXUS RX300 OWNERS TRANSMISSIONS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BETWEEN 70,000 AND 90,000 MILES. LEXUS/TOYOTA HAS DONE NOTHING TO ADMIT THEIR IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS CAR AND IN FACT DENIED ANY PROBLEMS TO MYSELF. IT IS COSTING OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES TO OUTLAY BETWEEN $3,000 TO $6,000 FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO BE REPLACED. ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS GO ON THE CLUB LEXUS FORUM FOR LEXUS OWNERS AND TYPE IN TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FOR RX300 AND YOU WILL SEE THOUSANDS OF OWNERS COMPLAINING. PLEASE DO EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO MAKE LEXUS/TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND ISSUE A RECALL AND REIMBURSEMENT TO THOSE OWNERS OF THESE CARS. THANK YOU. *TR

2002 LEXUS RX300 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ISSUE. HAVE BEEN READING ON THE INTERNET AS WELL AS THIS SITE (16 TOTAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT TRANSMISSION/POWER TRAIN FOR THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE). JUST THIS MORNING, MY WIFE (PRINCIPAL DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE) TRIED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE (LOCATED INSIDE OUR HOME GARAGE). THE VEHICLE WILL NOT REVERSE. FROM READING OTHER COMPLAINTS, IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS NOW A MORE COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL OF LEXUS THAN EVER BEFORE? THE DANGER INVOLVED IN HAVING TO PLAY WITH A GEAR SHIFT; SHIFTING BACK AND FORTH FROM PARK TO REVERSE, OR REVERSE TO DRIVE, JUST TO MOVE INTO GEAR IS A HAZARD AND DANGER FOR A VEHICLE PARTICULARLY HOUSED IN A GARAGE. I'M ALSO LEARNING THAT OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS MODEL OF LEXUS SUV JUMPING OUT OF GEAR AND LOCKING UP THE AXLES WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. LEXUS IS NOT AN INEXPENSIVE VEHICLE, AND OWNERS SHOULD EXPECT MORE FROM A VEHICLE OF THIS PRICE RANGE AND OVERALL QUALITY OTHERWISE. *TR

I HAVE FOR YEARS EXPERIENCED A CHALLENGE WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING. I HAVE TRIED FOR YEARS TO GET THESE LIGHTS TO REMAIN OFF, BUT WITH EVERY REPAIR, IT COMES BACK ON. I BASICALLY RIDE WITH THESE LIGHTS ON ALMOST ALWAYS FOR YEARS. I HAVE PAID TO HAVE IT REPAIRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. I FOUND A WEEK OR TWO AGO, A LETTER FROM LEXUS CONCERNING THIS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND I WONDER CAN I STILL HAVE MY VEHICLE CHECKED OUT FOR THIS ABNORMALITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

I ENTERED PARKING LOT AND PULLED INTO PARKING SPOT WITH MY FOOT ON BRAKE BARELY GOING. I WAS ALMOST ALL THE WAY INTO SPOT WHEN MY CAR LUNGED UP WITH EXTREMELY HIGH RPMS. I WENT INTO SMALL TREE, DROVE OVER ANOTHER CAR, CAR FLIPPED ON SIDE, THEN FLIPPED OVER ON ROOF AND INTO ANOTHER PARKED CAR. ENGINE OVERTOOK THE BRAKES. I AM ORIGINAL OWNER WITH CAR EXTREMELY WELL MAINTAINED BY LEXUS. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OR FELT THIS CAR LIKE THIS BEFORE.

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

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN MY OFFICE PARKING LOT, I HAD AN UNATTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR LUNGED OVER THE CURB, UP A SLIGHT INCLINE, HIT A SMALL TREE WHICH KNOCKED DOWN THE PERIMETER FENCE. I CALLED THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP AND THEY GAVE ME AN 800 NUMBER TO CALL. I REPORTED WHAT HAPPENED AND THEY SENT A TOW TRUCK TO BRING MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY INDICATED TO ME THAT I WAS NOT SUPPOSE TO BRING IT TO THEM SO I HAD THE MANAGER DRIVE IT TO THEIR COLLISION PLACE WHERE I HAD THE BUMPER REPAIRED. MY INSURANCE COMPANY DID NOT PAY FOR A RENTAL REPLACEMENT. THE REPAIR COST ME $250 (MY DEDUCTIBLE) + THE RENTAL CAR COST OF APPROX. $210.00. MY INSURANCE PAID FOR THE TREE AND FENCE REPAIR OF ABOUT $2,000+. MY CAR WAS SUBSEQUENTLY INSPECTED BY TOYOTA'S INSPECTION COMPANY. IT TOOK ABOUT 3-4 HOURS AND THE END RESULT WAS THAT THE CAR DID NOT HAVE ANY DEFECTS. I CONTINUE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND MAINTAIN A LARGE DISTANCE BETWEEN VEHICLES. IN 2007 MY CAR HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WHEN IT ACCELERATED TO A HIGH SPEED BECAUSE THE THROTTLE GOT STUCK DUE TO A MECHANIC'S SERVICE ERROR WHEN WORKED ON THE DAY BEFORE. SINCE TOYOTA SAID MY VEHICLE IS OKAY, I HAD TO PAY THE ALMOST $500 FOR THE REPAIR AND RENTAL CAR AND MY INSURANCE WILL PROBABLY GO UP DUE TO THE PAYMENT MADE TO MY COMPANY FOR THE TREE AND FENCE REPAIR. I THINK THE THROTTLE HAS A FAULTY DESIGN AND I TOLD TOYOTA THAT THIS WAS MY OPINION. *TR

LEXUS HAS NOT ASSEMBLED/SECURED THE AIRBAG WIRING PROPER UNDERNEATH OF SEAT AND PROMPTS THE B1140 RIGHT-HAND SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR ASSEMBLY B1141 LEFT-HAND SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR ASSEMBLY CODES IN 2002 RX300 MODELS. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE AND CAN BE DEADLY FOR THESE CARS CONSIDERING THE AIRBAGS WANT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE LOSE AND NOT PROPERLY SECURED WIRING. DEALER ASKS $1800 TO GET THIS CORRECTED WHERE AS THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. NEEDS A RECALL FOR BOTH (LEFT/RIGHT) SEATS AIRBAG WIRING/ECM CIRCUITS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX 300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE WAS NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. AS A RESULT, HE SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY AFTER HITTING THE DASHBOARD. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE SUFFERED A NECK INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 290,000.

WINDOWS AND SUNROOF OPENED ON THEIR OWN!!! THE DOORS WERE LOCKED AND NO ONE WAS IN THE CAR. CAR WAS PARKED AND LEFT OVERNIGHT LOCKED AND EMPTY.

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

WHILE INSTALLING WINTER TIRES WE NOTICED THE INNER BEAD ON THE RIMS SEPARATING. THE CHROME IS DELAMINATING TO THE POINT WHERE ONE TIRE WILL NO LONGER HOLD AIR, OTHER RIMS ARE ALSO DELAMINATING BUT AT THIS POINT THEY STILL HOLD AIR. THE DELAMINATION OCCURS ON THE INNER BEAD SO IT IS NOT VISIBLE UNTIL THE TIRE IS REMOVED. A TIRE SHOP TOLD US THE CHROME RIM IS NEXT TO THE BRAKE ROTOR AND THE HEAT CAUSES THE CHROME TO SEPARATE, HE WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REINSTALLING THE WHEEL SINCE THE TIRE BEAD COUD SEPARATE WHILE IT IS BEING DRIVEN AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF AIR COULD EQUAL A BLOWOUT. THE TIRES ARE MICHELLIN AND STILL IN GOOD SHAPE, WE INSTALLED WINTER TIRES ON STEEL RIMS BUT CANNOT PUT THE CHROME RIMS BACK ON. WE WERE TOLD BY TIRE SHOPS THAT LOOKED AT THE RIMS THAT THAT SEEMS RO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE RIMS. *TR

NUMEROUS INCIDENCES OF A DEAD BATTERY. *TR

AT 6:30 PM GOING 45 MPH TO MALL AND THE ROAD WAS WET APPLY BRAKE AND THEN CAR START SPINNING WHILE ABS MAKING LOTS OF SOUND.

DT: LEXUS, RX 300 SUV 2002, CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF A BRAKE PROBLEM. EVERY 9,000 MILES BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED. THE DRUMS WORE OUT, AND THE STEERING COLUM SHIMMIED LEFT TO RIGHT. DEALERSHIP ADMITTED THERE WAS A BRAKE PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP FIXED THE PROBLEM TWICE. CONSUMER WAS AFFRAID TO DRIVE VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY, CONSUMER HAD NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE BECAUSE OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

THE WINDSHIELD GLARE FROM MY 2002 LEXUS RX 300 IS SO GREAT THAT I CAN NOT DRIVE THE CAR DURING THE DAY AND SAFELY SEE OTHER VEHICLES TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. I SPOKE TO THE DEALER PARTS MANAGER WHO TOLD ME IT WAS VERY COMMON AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE. IS THAT TRUE? I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR. I HAVE TRIED COVERING THE DASH BUT IT DID NOT HELP. HAVE YOU CONSIDERED THIS GLARE ISSUE? THE DEALER SAID LEXUS WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAD MADE CHANGES IN DESIGN BECAUSE OF IT.*AK

SUN ROOF DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME PINCH PROTECTION AS SIDE WINDOWS. THE SUN ROOF CLOSED ON MY HAND AS I WAS DEMONSTRATING THIS FEATURE. THE BROCHURE FOR THE 2002 LEXUS RX 300 STATES ON PAGE 43 UNDER SAFETY AND SECURITY " PINCH PROTECTION FOR POWER WINDOWS AND AVAILABLE SUN NROOF" WHICH I HAVE ON MY CAR.*AK

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

WHILE DRIVING WITH CLIENT FRIENDS TO THE RITZ CARLTON IN RANCHO MIRAGE FOR THANKSGIVING DINNER, THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING BUT WHEN THE GAS WAS STEPPED ON THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. WE MANAGED TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AT WHICH TIME WE HEARD AN EXPLOSION AND THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. WE ALL IMMEDIATELY JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR FEARING THAT THE GAS TANK WOULD EXPLODE. WE CALLED 911 AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED IN TIME TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES BEFORE THE GAS TANK COULD EXPLODE. THE WINDSHIELD BLEW OUT...THE TIRES EXPLODED AND THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE POLICE IMPOUND LOT AND BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAY WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REACH LEXUS. IT SEEMS APPARENT TO US THAT THIS IS A GAS LEAK ISSUE AS THE UNDER-CARRIAGE OF THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. CONSIDERING THAT LEXUS HAS RECALLED 423,000 CARS FOR A GAS LEAK PROBLEM (OURS WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST) IT SEEMS OBVIOUS THAT THIS MAKE AND MODEL SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE DIES IN A FIRE. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING AND TRAUMATIC EVENT AND WE ALL FEEL VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SURVIVED IT WITH NO INJURIES....EXCEPT SHATTERED NERVES. *TR

LEXUS HAS NOT ASSEMBLED/SECURED THE AIRBAG WIRING PROPER UNDERNEATH OF SEAT AND PROMPTS THE B1140 RIGHT-HAND SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR ASSEMBLY B1141 LEFT-HAND SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR ASSEMBLY CODES IN 2002 RX300 MODELS. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE AND CAN BE DEADLY FOR THESE CARS CONSIDERING THE AIRBAGS WANT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE LOSE AND NOT PROPERLY SECURED WIRING. DEALER ASKS $1800 TO GET THIS CORRECTED WHERE AS THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. NEEDS A RECALL FOR BOTH (LEFT/RIGHT) SEATS AIRBAG WIRING/ECM CIRCUITS.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 RX300 LEXUS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON A HILL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND THE PEDAL WAS STUCK TO THE FLOOR. SHE WAS ONLY ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AFTER SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL GEAR. THE CONTACT SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN UNTIL SHE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE PRESENT IN THE ENGINE AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN MOVING IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER TEST INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FLOOR MATS COULD HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE; ALTHOUGH, THE HOOKS WERE SECURELY FASTENED ONTO THE FLOOR MATS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON ONE OCCASION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,433 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000. UPDATED 01/05/10 *BF UPDATED 01/07/10.*JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE RIGHT REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED TO REMAIN LATCHED. WHEN THE BELT WAS REBUCKLED, THE BUCKLE DISENGAGED AFTER 5 MINUTES. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT.

THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION OF 25 MPH, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE UPPER HARNESS OF THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO HOLD THE CONSUMER IN PLACE. THE CONSUMERS CHEST HIT UP AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONSUMER WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *JB *SC *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER DISCOVERER H/T, SIZE P225/70R16 TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES CRACKED AROUND THE RIM AND WERE GRADUALLY LOSING AIR. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE CRACKS. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 10,000. UPDATED 10/24/07.*JB

2/1/03 WFS 2002 LEXUS RX 300 WITH 1800 MILES TURNING INTO PARKING LOT HIT THE CURB TRAVELING SLOWLY AND THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. TIRE MAKE P225/70 R26 MADE BY INTEGRITY THIS EVENT HAS NEVER HAPPEN IN OUR EXPERIENCE OF COMBINED 70 YEARS OF DRIVING. TS

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.

THE TWO CUP HOLDERS ON TOP OF THE CENTER CONSOLE. THE HOLDERS ARE NOT DEEP ENOUGH T O HOLD A STANDARD ALUMINUM COFFEE MUG. ALSO, THE HOLE IS MUCH LARGER AND DOES NOT HOLD THE CUP SECURELY. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT APPROX. 20 MPH BOTH CUPS TIPPED, SPILLING COFFEE ON THE FLOOR AND PARTLY ON MY RIGHT LEG. IF THIS COFFEE HAS BEEN VERY HOT AT THE TIME IT COULD HAVE CAUSED ME TO JERK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND POSSIBLY CAUSING THE CAR BEHIND ME TO REAR END ME. WHETHER MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN THE MUGS WILL SPILL.*AK