NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
138 reportsClear category filter165,000 miles · Sep 11, 2008
Power Train
BOUGHT THE CAR USED AT 145,000 MI. NOTICED THE CAR WAS NOT SHIFTING INTO OVERDRIVE AT ABOUT 160,000 MIS. TOOK CAR THE TOYOTA DEALER FOR REPAIR. AFTER $200 OF DIAGNOSTICS AND 3 DAYS THEY DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD. THE CAR WILL SOMETIMES GO INTO OVERDRIVE AND SOMETIME IT WILL NOT CAUSING THE ENGINE TO REV TO 4000 TO 5…
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BOUGHT THE CAR USED AT 145,000 MI. NOTICED THE CAR WAS NOT SHIFTING INTO OVERDRIVE AT ABOUT 160,000 MIS. TOOK CAR THE TOYOTA DEALER FOR REPAIR. AFTER $200 OF DIAGNOSTICS AND 3 DAYS THEY DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD. THE CAR WILL SOMETIMES GO INTO OVERDRIVE AND SOMETIME IT WILL NOT CAUSING THE ENGINE TO REV TO 4000 TO 5000 RPM AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE PERFORMANCE. I HAVE READ HOW TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON THESE CARS CAN CAUSE UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS AND NOW I DON'T KNOW WHETHER I CAN TRUST THE SAFETY OF DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS IN THIS CAR ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10241873
104,000 miles · Aug 20, 2008
Power Train
2000 LEXUS RX300 TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 104,000 MILES. COST TO REPLACE, INCLUDING LABOR IS $3,976.00. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10239053
135,000 miles · Aug 12, 2008
Power Train
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2000 LEXUS RX300 WENT OUT AROUND 135,000 MILES; THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT IN APRIL 2006 AND RECENTLY WENT OUT AGAIN AROUND FEBRUARY OF 2008. I WAS RECENTLY INFORMED THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THIS TRANSMISSION AGAIN. THIS IS A REAL SAD SITUATION THAT A LUXURY CAR DOES NOT LAST LONGER THAN 10 YEARS. I WRIT…
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THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2000 LEXUS RX300 WENT OUT AROUND 135,000 MILES; THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT IN APRIL 2006 AND RECENTLY WENT OUT AGAIN AROUND FEBRUARY OF 2008. I WAS RECENTLY INFORMED THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THIS TRANSMISSION AGAIN. THIS IS A REAL SAD SITUATION THAT A LUXURY CAR DOES NOT LAST LONGER THAN 10 YEARS. I WRITING BECAUSE I NEED SOME HELP AND OR DIRECTION IN GETTING THIS PROBLEM SOLVED. I CANNOT CONTINUE TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION EVERY YEAR. THANKS IN ADVANCE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10237903
85,600 miles · Jul 28, 2008
Power Train
I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE TO WORK AND SUDDENLY THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT MOVE THE VEHICLE. I TRIED SHIFTING TO OTHER GEAR POSITIONS BUT THE VEHICLE STILL WON'T MOVE. FIRST TIME THAT THIS HAPPENED ON ME, I DON NOT KNOW IF IT OCCURRED BEFORE TO THE PREVIOUS OWNER. BOUGHT THE 2000 LEXUS RX 300 IN 2004 AND HAS 85K MILES WHEN TRANSMIS…
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I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE TO WORK AND SUDDENLY THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT MOVE THE VEHICLE. I TRIED SHIFTING TO OTHER GEAR POSITIONS BUT THE VEHICLE STILL WON'T MOVE. FIRST TIME THAT THIS HAPPENED ON ME, I DON NOT KNOW IF IT OCCURRED BEFORE TO THE PREVIOUS OWNER. BOUGHT THE 2000 LEXUS RX 300 IN 2004 AND HAS 85K MILES WHEN TRANSMISSION PROBLEM HAPPENED. HAS TO PAY THE DEALER $4,000 TO REPAIR. SOME OWNERS OF THE SAME MODEL VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10236021
110,000 miles · Jul 10, 2008
Power Train
TRANSMISSION ON 2000 LEXUS RX300 IS RUINED AT 110,000 MILES AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT, ACCORDING TO THE LEXUS DEALER. THE OWNER'S MANUAL SAID NO TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGES ARE NECESSARY, YET WITH THE FAILURE THE DEALER WROTE ON THE RECEIPT THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD NOT BEEN CHANGED IN A TIMELY MANNER. CLEARLY THEY ARE AT FAU…
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TRANSMISSION ON 2000 LEXUS RX300 IS RUINED AT 110,000 MILES AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT, ACCORDING TO THE LEXUS DEALER. THE OWNER'S MANUAL SAID NO TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGES ARE NECESSARY, YET WITH THE FAILURE THE DEALER WROTE ON THE RECEIPT THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD NOT BEEN CHANGED IN A TIMELY MANNER. CLEARLY THEY ARE AT FAULT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10233820
100,000 miles · Jul 8, 2008
Power Train
THERE IS A FORUM ON EDMUNDS.COM WITH POSTINGS OF A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THEIR LEXUS RX300'S. I ASKED FOR HELP BACK IN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER OF 2007 AND HAVE SINCE HAD MY PROBLEM FIXED FOR N/C BY LEXUS. APPARENTLY OTHERS ARE NOT AS LUCKY.
NHTSA ODI #10233556
109,000 miles · Jul 7, 2008
Power Train
2000 RX 300 FAILING TRANSMISSION. STARTED HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING IN LOW GEARS WHEN COLD, NOW SHIFTS INCONSISTENTLY AND SPUTTERS WHILE IDLING. MECHANIC SAYS WE NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION, BUT I'M AFRAID FIXING THE TRANSMISSION IS JUST TREATING THE SYMPTOMS OF A DESIGN FLAW. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10233356
115,000 miles · Jun 23, 2008
Power Train
2000 LEXUS RX300 WITH AWD TRANSMISSION HAD VERY HARD SHIFTS,AND WOULDN'T EVEN SHIFT INTO REVERSE. TOOK IT TO AAMCO AND THEY OPENED IT UP AND TOLD ME I NEED COMPLETE PLANETARY SET GEARS,AND CHARGED ME $1300 TO PUT IT BACK TOGETHER. STILL PROBLEM CONTINUED,TOOK IT TO WORLD WIDE TRANSMISSION AND THEY REBUILT FOR $3,400. NOW IT SHI…
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2000 LEXUS RX300 WITH AWD TRANSMISSION HAD VERY HARD SHIFTS,AND WOULDN'T EVEN SHIFT INTO REVERSE. TOOK IT TO AAMCO AND THEY OPENED IT UP AND TOLD ME I NEED COMPLETE PLANETARY SET GEARS,AND CHARGED ME $1300 TO PUT IT BACK TOGETHER. STILL PROBLEM CONTINUED,TOOK IT TO WORLD WIDE TRANSMISSION AND THEY REBUILT FOR $3,400. NOW IT SHIFTS BETTER,BUT OFTEN WITH A KICK ON THE DOWNSHIFTS BETWEEN 2ND TO 1ST. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10232107
110,000 miles · Jun 20, 2008
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN LOSING POWER AND SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR. EVENTUALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
NHTSA ODI #10231704
73,000 miles · Jun 18, 2008
Power Train
TRANSMISSION FAILURE LEXUS RX300 2000 WITH ONLY 73K MILES ON CAR. ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE COMPLETED BY DEALER UP TO THIS POINT. REBUILT TRANSMISSION CURRENTLY BEING INSTALLED AT A COST OF 3,800 TO 4,000 DOLLARS BY VALLEY TRANSMISSION. PLANETARY GEARS COMPLETELY BROKEN IN TRANSMISSION. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THESE COMPLAINTS ON …
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TRANSMISSION FAILURE LEXUS RX300 2000 WITH ONLY 73K MILES ON CAR. ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE COMPLETED BY DEALER UP TO THIS POINT. REBUILT TRANSMISSION CURRENTLY BEING INSTALLED AT A COST OF 3,800 TO 4,000 DOLLARS BY VALLEY TRANSMISSION. PLANETARY GEARS COMPLETELY BROKEN IN TRANSMISSION. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THESE COMPLAINTS ON LEXUSCLUB FORUM, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY NAME TO THE LIST. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10231440
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