NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
216 reports110,000 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
108,000 miles · Jun 6, 2008
Power Train
LOSS OF POWER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, RAN EXTREMELY ROUGH LEXUS RX300 2000. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10230153
106,000 miles · May 8, 2008
Power Train
LEXUS 2000 RX300 OIL GEL PROBLEM THAT IS REQUIRING A REBUILT ENGINE AND AT THE SAME TIME MY TRANSMISSION IS FAILING AND I AM BEING TOLD IT WILL COST $5,000. THIS VEHICLE HAS 106,000 MILES BUT TWO CATASTROPHIC FAILURES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10227077
110,000 miles · May 8, 2008
Power Train
LEXUS RX 300 TRANSMISSION FAILING. MAKING NOISE. HAVE HAD TWO MECHANICS LOOK AT IT. APPEARS TO BE A FAULTY DESIGN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10227004
67,000 miles · Apr 29, 2008
Power Train
TRANSMISSION CONSTANTLY SLIPS OUT OF GEAR OR FAILS TO ENGAGE REVERSE GEAR FROM PARK. CAR SLOWS SUDDENLY OR FAILS TO ACCELERATE BECAUSE OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10226053
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