NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
221 reports110,000 miles · Mar 4, 2009
Power Train
MY 1999 LEXUS RX300 TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY BROKE WHILE DRIVING. THE RPMS WENT UP THEN THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS FULL. THE CAR SERVICE RECORD IS AS RECOMMENDED BY LEXUS. MILEAGE AROUND 110,000M. I FOUND ON THE WEB HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR REPORTED PROBLEMS BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS IS AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. PLEA…
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MY 1999 LEXUS RX300 TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY BROKE WHILE DRIVING. THE RPMS WENT UP THEN THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS FULL. THE CAR SERVICE RECORD IS AS RECOMMENDED BY LEXUS. MILEAGE AROUND 110,000M. I FOUND ON THE WEB HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR REPORTED PROBLEMS BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS IS AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. PLEASE CHECK IT OUT AND TAKE ACTION TO HAVE LEXUS STAND BEHIND THE CAR. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10260692
100,108 miles · Feb 25, 2009
Power Train
I HAVE HAD CONTINUED PROBLEMS, THAT AT TIMES LEFT ME STRANDED. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BROKE ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS. AT THIS TIME IT LEFT ME WITHOUT THE 3RD AND THE OVERDRIVE GEAR (4TH) WHILE DRIVING ON A MAIN INTERSTATE CAUSING A HAZARD DUE TO THE SPEED IN WHICH I WAS TRAVELING. THE POSTED SPEED WAS 65, BUT I COULD ONLY TRAVEL A…
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I HAVE HAD CONTINUED PROBLEMS, THAT AT TIMES LEFT ME STRANDED. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BROKE ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS. AT THIS TIME IT LEFT ME WITHOUT THE 3RD AND THE OVERDRIVE GEAR (4TH) WHILE DRIVING ON A MAIN INTERSTATE CAUSING A HAZARD DUE TO THE SPEED IN WHICH I WAS TRAVELING. THE POSTED SPEED WAS 65, BUT I COULD ONLY TRAVEL AT 35MPH. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10259970
100,000 miles · Feb 25, 2009
EquipmentPower Train
I OWN A 1999 LEXUS RX300 FWD. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. WHEN I BOUGHT IT JAN 2008 IGNITION COIL 1 AND 3 FAILED. TWO MONTHS LATER 3, , AND 6 FAILED. BOTH TIMES WHEN VEHICLE FAILED I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 85 VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO OVER 45 AND WOULD NOT GO INTO OVERDRIVE!!! NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS ACTIN…
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I OWN A 1999 LEXUS RX300 FWD. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. WHEN I BOUGHT IT JAN 2008 IGNITION COIL 1 AND 3 FAILED. TWO MONTHS LATER 3, , AND 6 FAILED. BOTH TIMES WHEN VEHICLE FAILED I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 85 VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO OVER 45 AND WOULD NOT GO INTO OVERDRIVE!!! NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS ACTING UP. IT IS SLIPPING AND ALSO DECIDES TO GEAR DOWN WHEN DOING 70MPH DOWN THE INTERSTATE. WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AND THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T MOVE, FINALLY CAUGHT GEAR AND JERKED. WAS ALMOST HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS SO CALLED "LUXURY VEHICLE". IT IS STILL UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, AND IS GOING TO LEXUS DEALERSHIP TOMM. I CANT WAIT TO HEAR WHAT THEY SAY THE OUT COME IS. CAR HAS BEEN FULLY SERVICED AND UP TO DATE. JUST CAME OUT OF LEXUS DEALERSHIP 2 WEEKS AGO HAVING PROBLEMS!!??? NOW ITS GOING BACK. LEXUS NEEDS TO RECALL THE TRANSMISSIONS THEY ARE FAULTY!! I HAVE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS AND NOT ONE ACTION FROM THE MANUFACTURER YET?? THEY HAVE ALREADY REPLACE REAR MAIN SEALS, CAM SEALS, AND SOMETHING ELSE AT 2000.00 DOLLARS...UGH WHEN ITS COLD, IT TAKES THE CAR ABOUT 12 MINS TO GO INTO OVERDRIVE. I KEEP HEARING A WHINING SOUND, AND SHUDDER SOUNDS. I ONLY HAVE LIKE 16,000 MILES LEFT ON WARRANTY. SO SOME ONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT TO DO OR WHERE TO GO!!! THIS IS SUCH A HEADACHE!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10259919
115,000 miles · Feb 17, 2009
Power Train
SIMPLY DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP, VERY QUICKLY (20-30 MILES) THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING SO BADLY THE CAR HAD TO BE PUT INTO 2ND GEAR TO GET IT TO THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP. THE CAR WILL NOT DRIVE IN DRIVE AND CAN ONLY MOVE FORWARD IN THE LOWER AUTOMATIC GEARS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10258921
150,000 miles · Feb 5, 2009
Power Train
I AM THE OWNER A 1999 LEXUS RX 300 THAT HAD A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. DEPENDING ON WHO I TALK TO IT WILL COST ANYWHERE FROM $4000 TO $6500 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. I FOUND OUT SINCE THIS FAILURE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. MY SOURCE FOR THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN THE INTERNET, TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOPS AND THE DE…
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I AM THE OWNER A 1999 LEXUS RX 300 THAT HAD A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. DEPENDING ON WHO I TALK TO IT WILL COST ANYWHERE FROM $4000 TO $6500 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. I FOUND OUT SINCE THIS FAILURE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. MY SOURCE FOR THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN THE INTERNET, TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOPS AND THE DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEES THEMSELVES. THIS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR A WHILE. LEXUS SHOULD DO THE RIGHT THING AND RECALL THESE VEHICLES TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A TRANSMISSION THAT HAS A DESIGN FLAW. THANK YOU *TR
NHTSA ODI #10257578
136,000 miles · Feb 3, 2009
Power Train
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 1999 LEXUS RX300 FAILED. THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO INDICATION OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE FULL FAILURE OCCURRED. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT STALLED AND WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS LOOKS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT WILL COST ME $5000 TO REPAIR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10257333
101,000 miles · Jan 26, 2009
Power Train
THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS CAR WENT COMPLETELY DEAD LAST WEEK. THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE AND THEN IT SUDDENLY WOULD NOT GO ANYWHERE. YOU CAN PUT THE CAR IN GEAR AND PUSH GAS BUT IT WON'T BUDGE. I GOT IT TOWED TO A LEXUS DEALERSHIP AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS GONE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10256308
98,000 miles · Jan 10, 2009
Power Train
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK @ MIDNIGHT IN HER 1999 LEXUS RX300 WITH 98,000 MILES AND TRANSMISSION GOES OUT WITH NO PREVIOUS SIGNS OF MALFUNCTION. NOW A NEW TRANSMISSION IS NEEDED AT THE PRICE OF $4000. MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THE LEXUS RX300 HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AND FEEL LEXUS SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR POOR PRODUCT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10254464
132,000 miles · Jan 6, 2009
Power Train
ON DECEMBER 29, 2008 THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 1999 LEXUS RX 300 FAILED IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THIS IS AN EXISTING ISSUE WITH THE 1999-2000 LEXUS RX 300 AND HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED BY THE TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY, USA. I AM DISTURBED THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT TAKEN THE RESPONSIBILITY AND RECALLED THE VEHICLE. PLEASE C…
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ON DECEMBER 29, 2008 THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 1999 LEXUS RX 300 FAILED IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THIS IS AN EXISTING ISSUE WITH THE 1999-2000 LEXUS RX 300 AND HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED BY THE TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY, USA. I AM DISTURBED THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT TAKEN THE RESPONSIBILITY AND RECALLED THE VEHICLE. PLEASE CONTACT ME. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10254042
110,500 miles · Jan 4, 2009
Power Train
EVEN THOUGH HAVING ALL MAJOR SERVICE PERFORMED TO THE LEXUS OWNERS MANUAL SPECS, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 110K MILES, LEFT MY WIFE STRANDED IN A REMOTE LOCATION, AND NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. IT NEEDS REPLACING AT A COST OF $4000. I AM AWARE OF HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE RX300. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10253763
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