1999 Lexus RX300

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON MY 1999 LEXUS RX300 FAILED AT 165,000 MILES. IT CONSTANTLY TRIED TO DOWNSHIFT, AND AS A RESULT IT RAN HOT AND BURNED TRANSMISSION FLUID. PRIOR TO FAILING, IT CEASED SHIFTING INTO OVERDRIVE WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY, FORCING ME TO DRIVE IN A LOW GEAR AT 4,500 RPMS AND WASTE GAS WHILE I DROVE AS FAR AS I COULD TOWARD THE MECHANIC. *TR

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER 1999 LEXUS RX300 TO WORK WHEN, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY DISENGAGED ALMOST CAUSING HER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. SEVERAL CARS ALMOST HIT HER WHILE SHE TRIED TO NAVIGATE THE CAR OFF THE ROADWAY TO A SAFE PLACE. CARRIED THE CAR TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER (THERE IS NO LOCAL LEXUS DEALER HERE) AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AND THE COST WOULD BE $3,700. THERE WERE NO ADVANCED INDICATIONS THE TRANSMISSION WAS HAVING PROBLEMS IT JUST SUDDENLY QUIT WORKING. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SCENARIO AND WE ARE BLESSED THAT OUR DAUGHTER WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON A 2 LANE MOUNTAIN ROAD THE ENGINE ON MY 1999 LEXUS RX 300 STARTED KNOCKING LOUDLY AND FAILED. I WAS ABLE TO SWING INTO A PULL OUT AND DID NOT GET HIT. THIS FAILURE IS DUE TO SLEDGE BUILD UP. I AM A SECOND OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND DID NOT RECEIVE NOTICE FROM TOYOTA ABOUT REPLACING A DEFECTIVE ENGINE . I PURCHASED VEHICLE IN 03 HAD IT IN FOR REPAIRS IN 07 THE DEALERSHIP FAILED TO INFORM ME OF THE LAWSUIT AND CORRECT THE ENGINE AT THAT TIME. NOW THIS INCIDENT IN 2010. I COULD HAVE LOST MY LIFE IF I WERE TO HAVE BEEN HIT ON THIS MOUNTAIN ROAD THAT SITS ON THE CLIFF AT 5,500 FEET. *TR

I BOUGHT A '99 LEXUS RX300 FOR MY WIFE AT 62K MILES. I DID ALL OF THE SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE INCLUDING THE EXPENSIVE STUFF (LIKE THE TIMING BELT CHANGE). UNBEKNOWNST TO ME, THE ENGINE REAR MAIN SEAL WAS LEAKING AT THE TIME THAT I PURCHASED IT. I FIGURED IT WAS SIMPLE AND "ITS A LEXUS, RIGHT?". I FOUND OUT THAT IT WOULD COST $1700 TO FIX AND THAT IT WAS COMMON ON THIS MODEL. I IGNORED THE LEAK BECAUSE MY WIFE LOVED THE TRUCK OTHERWISE. UNRELATED TO THE OIL LEAK, AT 183,000 MILES I'M DRIVING ON A FAMILY VACATION WITH THE CAR ON CRUISE CONTROL AND THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY STARTS TO SLIP. I MANAGE TO MAKE IT MY DESTINATION, BUT AFTER RESEARCH AND GETTING DIAGNOSTICS FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND TRANS SHOPS, I FOUND IT WOULD COST $3000-$4000 TO FIX. I DECIDED TO FIX IT AND PAID $3700 FOR IT. NO SOONER THAN I TOOK OFF DRIVING, THE CAR STARTED SMOKING HORRIBLY AND WAS NOW SLIPPING IN 1,2, AND 3RD GEAR. THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE A NIGHTMARE TO REPAIR, AND I WOULD RECOMMEND ANYONE THAT BUYS ONE TO COUNT YOUR LOSSES WHEN IT FAILS AND TRASH THE CAR. *TR