2002 Lexus RX300 Transmission Problems

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

NHTSA ID

10422828

Incident

Jun 15, 2011

Mileage

100,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10421016

Incident

Aug 22, 2011

Mileage

104,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONSUMED OIL EXCESSIVELY. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN AND BEGAN TO SPUTTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO BECAME STUCK AND TOOK AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT BOTH THE TRANSMISSION AND MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10399310

Incident

May 11, 2010

Mileage

120,000 mi

STARTED TO NOTICE OIL ON THE FLOOR OF MY GARAGE. UPON INSPECTION FOUND TO BE TRANSMISSION OIL. TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES GOING TO TRANSMISSION COOLER HAD RUSTED THROUGH WITH PIN HOLES. SEEMS THEY ARE LOW ENOUGH TO RECEIVE ROAD SPRAY. HAD TO REPLACE STEEL COOLER LINES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10382611

Incident

Sep 15, 2010

Mileage

85,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND WOULD NOT MOVE IN REVERSE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO POOR MAINTENANCE ALTHOUGH THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE FOLLOWED THE GUIDELINES ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT; THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SOMEONE WOULD GET BACK WITH HIM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 83,360.

NHTSA ID

10373277

Incident

Dec 23, 2010

Mileage

83,360 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10329005

Incident

May 2, 2010

Mileage

89,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40-50 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR EXPENSES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 100,500.

NHTSA ID

10323932

Incident

Feb 15, 2010

Mileage

100,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED HIS TRANSMISSION FAILS WHENEVER HE DRIVES, THE TRANSMISSION MAKES NOISE. THE GEAR IS SLIPPING AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED FOR $4800. THERE IS A POWER TRAIN WARRANTY BUT THEY WILL NOT HONOR IT AND WANT THE CONTACT TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE TOYOTA/LEXUS MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND THEY STATED THEY WILL NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,465. UPDATED 04/15/10. *LJ UPDATED 05/13/10. *JB UPDATED 05/25/10.*JB

NHTSA ID

10317626

Incident

Jan 8, 2010

Mileage

57,465 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 98,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10296806

Incident

Dec 10, 2009

Mileage

98,000 mi

2002 LEXUS RX 300 STOPPED DEAD WHILE OWNER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. WE LEARNED THAT THE TRANSMISSION ON THE VEHICLE COMPLETE FAILED. VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 65,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10295363

Incident

Dec 7, 2009

Mileage

65,500 mi

2002 LEXUS RX 300 TRANSMISSION FAILED,STUCK ON NJ TURNPIKE,TOWED TO PRESTIGE LEXUS IN RAMSEY NJ. DEALER SAID TRANSMISSION BAD. HAVE READ HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN 1999-2002 LEXUS RX 300 VEHICLES. SO FAR LEXUS HAS NOT ADMITTED ANY PROBLEMS AND WILL LOOK INTO IT. COST OF REPAIR 4000.00. STILL IN SHOP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10276947

Incident

Jul 12, 2009

Mileage

85,000 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN LEXUS 2002 RX 300. *TR

NHTSA ID

10276352

Incident

Jul 5, 2009

Mileage

130,000 mi

ON FEBRUARY 20, 2009, I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 LEXUS RX300 WITH APPROXIMATELY 79K MILES WHEN IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE. I BROUGHT VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE KNOCK SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD THEM REPLACED AND VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE WORKING FINE. ON MAY 5, 2009, MY TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO 3RD. WHEN VEHICLE BROUGHT TO REPAIR FACILITY AND I WAS INFORMED THAT TRANSMISSION IS NO GOOD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. AT THIS TIME I LOOKED ON INTERNET AND FOUND THAT MANY LEXUS RX300 ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE COST OF REPAIRS IS APPROXIMATELY $4,500. I PAID $1,500 FOR KNOCK SENSORS TO BE REPLACED ALREADY. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10274219

Incident

Feb 20, 2009

Mileage

79,550 mi

FWD VEHICLE. GEAR SLIPPAGE BEGAN WITHOUT WARNING AND IN MINUTES THE TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETELY. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE MECHANIC SAYS THE CLUTCH IS BURNED OUT, REQUIRING A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CAR HAS 94K MILES ON IT AND THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE COST FOR REPLACEMENT WITH A RE-MANNED OEM TRANSMISSION IS $3,900. IT IS BEING REPLACED BY THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10263844

Incident

Mar 27, 2009

Mileage

94,000 mi

I OWN A 2002 RX300 BY LEXUS. THIS HAS IN GENERAL BEEN A GOOD VEHICLE, UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHEN I WAS 350 MILES FROM HOME. THE INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP THAT I TOOK THE CAR TO SHOWED ME INFORMATION THAT INDICATED THE LEXUS VEHICLES FROM 1998 - 2002 HAVE A HISTORY OF SIGNIFICANT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THESE PROBLEMS INCLUDE THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION AND THE INABILITY IN SOME CASES OF GETTING A NEW "REBUILT" TRANSMISSION TO SYNC WITH THE VEHICLE COMPUTER. THE INFORMATION I READ INDICATED THAT UP TO 25% OF VEHICLES IN THESE MODEL YEARS HAVE FAILURE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. CAN YOU PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10259528

Incident

Feb 19, 2009

Mileage

125,500 mi

2002 LEXUS RX300 COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 102K MILES. NO WARNING, NO PROBLEMS NOTED BEFORE FAILURE. A NEW TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE INSTALLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10259363

Incident

Feb 11, 2009

Mileage

102,000 mi

A TOTAL FAILURE OF MY TRANSMISSION LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY, NO WARNING, NO SIGNALS, JUST QUIT. I'VE DRIVEN TOYOTA PRODUCTS FOR 30 YEARS AND SEVERAL OVER 200K MILES AND I'VE NEVER HAD SUCH A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE COST TO REPAIR IS $4000 FROM THE DEALER. THE SAD THING IS THAT I JUST PAID THIS VEHICLE OFF LESS THAN A WEEK AGO. AFTER SEARCHING MANY FORUMS OF LEXUS OWNERS I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THE EARLY RX300S WERE ALL SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS FAILURE., WHY HASN'T AND DOESN'T LEXUS ADMIT THIS FAILURE. LEXUS HAS JUST LOST LOYAL CUSTOMER FOR THEM AND TOYOTA PRODUCTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10254804

Incident

Jan 10, 2009

Mileage

130,000 mi

FAILURE OF TORQUE CONVERTER IN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, RESULTING IN TOTAL FAILURE OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE DISABLED ON BUSY FREEWAY. NO PRIOR WARNING, NO ENGINE CHECK LIGHT, NO TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE ALARM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10202584

Incident

Sep 1, 2007

Mileage

121,326 mi

VEHICLE WOULD ROLL BACKWARD WHEN STOPPING ON A HILL . DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8002682

Incident

Dec 28, 2001