2001 Lexus RX300

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A SLUDGE BUILDUP IN THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED A VALVE COVER AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. THE MECHANIC MADE THE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS LOOSING OIL EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 147,000.

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT A SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY 2001 LEXUS RX 300. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC WHEN ATTEMPTING TO GET ON INTERSTATE. THE VEHICLE HAS 120,000 MILES ON DRIVE TRAIN AND VEHICLE WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS LOOKED AT MONTHS EARLIER TO FIX POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION. THE TECHNICIAN DID NOT DISCOVER ANYTHING UNUSUAL AND SAID VEHICLE WAS OKAY TO DRIVE. THE TRANSMISSION JUST QUIT AND LEFT MY CHILDREN AND ME STRANDED IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. REAL DANGEROUS!!! I THINK VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR

NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS APPLIED. TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING AT TRAFFIC LIGHT WHILE GOING HOME FROM WORK. WAS FINALLY ABLE TO MOVE FROM LIGHT INTO NEARBY PARKING LOT. HAD TO CALL TOW TRUCK FROM THERE. TOLD BY DEALER THAT THIS WAS RARE OCCASION AND THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. HAVE LEARNED SINCE THAT IT HAS HAPPENED QUITE FREQUENTLY. THIS HAPPENED AROUND 97,800 MILES. A COST OF AROUND $3957 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON MY 2001 LEXUS RX300 FWD WENT OUT AT 142,000 MILES. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASE NEW FROM A LEXUS DEALER AND SERVICED, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SERVICE MANUAL, AT THE SAME DEALER. MOST RECENTLY THE TRANSMISSION WAS SERVICED AT 135,000 MILES AND ALL WAS FINE. ON JAN. 8 THE CAR WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND THE TRANSMISSION DROPPED INTO A LOWER GEAR FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND THE ENGINE REVVED CLOSE TO RED LINE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER JUST BEFORE ENTERING A TUNNEL. TRANSMISSION FLUID LOOKS FINE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND I'VE BEEN TOLD IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $5000+ FOR PARTS AND LABOR. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2001 LEXUS RX300 FAILED WITH A LITTLE OVER 108K MILES. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I HAD TROUBLE GETTING IT IN REVERSE 2 DAYS BEFORE - THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE. THEN I HAD TROUBLE STARTING IT FOR 2 DAYS. ON 8/16 IT STARTED FINE, SO I DROVE IT TO THE DEALER. TWICE ON THE WAY THERE, IT JERKED & HESITATED WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP - I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED. I AM THE 2ND OWNER - I BOUGHT IT IN 2003 WITH 41,462 MILES ON IT. IT WAS LEXUS CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED. THE CAR FAX REPORT NOTED THE ORIGINAL OWNER REGISTERED IT AS PRIVATE/PERSONAL USE & NO ISSUES WERE NOTED. I HAVE HAD ALL SERVICE DONE BY THE DEALER, EXCEPT THE LAST OIL CHANGE. I'VE ONLY DRIVEN ABOUT 9K MILES PER YEAR, DRIVE IT RESPONSIBLY & HAVE NEVER TOWED WITH IT. VERY FRIGHTENING THAT I HAD FEW SYMPTOMS, AND NO WARNING LIGHT TO ALERT ME THERE WAS A PROBLEM. LEXUS DEALER WANTS $4,300 TO REPLACE IT WITH A LEXUS REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. I HAVE NOT DECIDED WHAT TO DO. I'M SEEING LOTS OF INFORMATION ONLINE ABOUT HOW BAD THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE, AND THEY OFTEN NEED REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES. SCARES ME TO KNOW I COULD REPLACE IT, HAVE IT FAIL & PERHAPS BE IN AN ACCIDENT. I AM A REALTOR & FRIGHTENING THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT WITH CLIENTS IN MY VEHICLE. MY EXPECTATIONS OF LEXUS QUALITY & SAFETY HAVE NOT BEEN MET. *TR