lenore

RX in NC, to my knowledge, no AWD RX300 member of the LOC or Club Lexus forums has ever stated they have inspected / changed the transmission / differential fluid every 15,000 miles since the day the vehicle was new. And to my knowledge, no forum member / transmission shop / Lexus mechanic has ever told us about a particular part in the tranmssion that is prone to wear rapdily / fail even if the transmission is always fed clean, undeteriorated fluid. Thus, unless new information is forthcoming, I believe it is reasonable to assume the AWD RX300 transmission is capable of lasting over 250,000 miles just like all other Toyota / Lexus automatics if always fed clean, undeteriorated fluid and if not driven in a abusive, frequent lead foot type manner. ← Well I have no doubt about the weak design in the AWD transmission on the RX300. I am on my third transmission, and since I have joined this discusion last Fall the complaints and failures keep climbing. 250K on this transmission, you are living a pipe dream... no way. Transmission oil should not be black, burnt, and smell bad after 10k. And my system is new and has been power flushed on the third tranny. I changed the fluid at 10k and guess what, It is black and burnt. My wife drives on level ground, and admittly in rush hour traffic, but Any good car would not have burnt fluid after 10k miles. The Lexus RX300 AWD has a major problem, and the bums in Lexus land are not willing to step up to the plate and admit it. The RX300 is a dead product and they hope you all will buy their RX330 or RX400 to solve their miserable problem. I will never give a inch on this and the sooner everybody realizes the expensive failure and the stupid 15k oil change on the transmission is rediculous, the better. I only hope any potential buyers beware. the car is very nice when it runs, but if you have a 4600 dollar failure on a luxuary car at 50-120K you tend to feel real burned ( pardon the pun) I told Lexus of America that I would stop any potential buyers of their product, and I am proud to say many have listened to me, One bad burn, can loose ten potential customers. Thank goodness I have no investments in Lexus. Signed Lenore from Sacramento CA.

I have the 1999 RX300 with AWD. I am on my third transmission, have had front shock support issues, and electrical problems in the door locks. The rest of the car has been great. However high end vehicles should not have transmission failures with fluid changed at 30k miles. I am extremely dissappointed and would never recommend this vehicle. Lexus of America as well as the dealer (Roseville, CA) have been absolutely the worst experience in my forty years of driving. I do believe the Toyota product is good however. but something went wrong with the support that Lexus provides. I would have at least expected some kick back on the $4600 that I had to spend on the transmission. So I would never buy this product again. Parts are too expensive, Service is terrible, and I could better service this vehicle than Lexus could.

P S Get it in immediately, I could still be covered by warranty. Otherwise you will regret the 4600 dollars plus repair. And do not let Lexus off. Hope you have better luck than I did.

Hate to tell you this, but that was one of the things that happened before my transmission bit the dust. Drop the Transmission pan and filter and look for excessive metal debris.

Sorry, I use the term shade tree mechanic which generally meant not high quality. I too have wrenched most of my time at home. However my quality of work has far surpassed that of my local Lexus dealership. At least I put all the parts back, and in the proper installation. I suppose if I had taken that trade years ago I would probably have been considered a master mechanic, because I was always taught if you are not going to do it right don't do it at all. As for my addition of a filter, I purchased a Puralotor spin on filter setup. I have located a spot for it near the left side under the body, and with the addition of a bracket which I will weld up will be very serviceable with the shortest splice into the main lines of the Transmission cooling. I enjoy your input, and again apoligize, but do not infur that you are a substandard mechanic.

What you say is true, The PTO uses different fluid. I have spent a great deal of time giving my plight in the transmission failure business. I am on my third transmission which I have changed the fluid at 10k miles. My warranty is due sometime in August or September, dependent on the 2nd or 3rd tranny change. At that time I am going to add a Filter (external) and possibly relocate the tow package transmission. Lexus is the most unresponsive, and lowest customer care organization I have ever dealt with. The Japanese should come in and fire all of the American corporate leaders. They are no better than a bunch of self centered theives. From overchargeing on plastic keys, to transmissions that should have not failed they back nothing. I too have worked on cars most my life, and would never have believed the failure of a transmission at 60 to 100k on a automatic. Chrysler, yes, but a luxuary car come on. I filled out my consummers report survey to support this rediculous support. And by the way I did something I never dreamed I would do bought my first American vehicle, instead of a Tundra a Ford. I figured at least a do it your self person like me would at least get the parts cheaper. I feel sorry for anybody that buys a RX300 and drives it in normal commute traffic. I do not tow, and the %$^#@ thing failed not once, but twice, and the dealer has done work more appropriate to a shade tree mechanic. My storey is long, but follow the trail of the number of hits and failures by others like myself. $4600 later and I am scared to go anywhere that AAA is not available. I hope that most of you do not experience the arrogant attitude that I received from Lexus of America. Thank you.

On the other hand, look at all the 4 cylinder automatic transmission Toyota motorhomes on the road. No American car / truck maker builds a 4 cylinder automatic that can hold up hauling around a 6,500 lb motorhome. So I believe Lenore is right - Toyota probably did not engineer enough cooling capacity (for urban driving) in the RX300 transmission. ← The fluid in the Lexus fails because of heat failure. I will be adding a cooling fan to the cooler in the wheel well this summer. I am also going to add a transmission filter to eliminate particle failure in the valve body assembly, which when I dropped mine was contaminated with metal debris. This after three transmission fluid changes in 100 k with the filter being changed on each dropping of the oil pan. I am still under warranty from the third transmission installed last August. Lexus has a design problem and is not willing to back their product or make retrofits to help aleviate the failures. I agree that until you sell the vehicle replace the fluid every 15k miles otherwise face a 4600 dollars replacement and pray that the dealership puts it back together properly. My war saga is well documented. Good luck and keep changing that fluid

Have changed my oil for 113k miles. It takes exactly five quarts to the full mark after you start the engine and saturate the oil filter. Has been dead on every oil change I have performed. hope this helps.

I am 55 and was 49 when I bought my RX300. I was into sports cars for years and repaired, raced, and restored british sports cars. MG, Triumph, and Jaguar. moving into Honda's and finally the Lexus. Hope you have the two wheel version for your transmission sake. Good Luck

Well on my third transmission and the fluid is still black and burnt and may you note I just changed the fluid and it only had 6 k miles on it. I will probably change the position of the cooler and add a filter when the warranty is up in September. I purchased a filter assembly and am waiting for either the warranty or another failure which ever comes first. Lexus just lost any further business withme and instead of purchasing a Tundra I purchased a Ford, my second only American vehicle in my life of driving. I am 55 and thoroughly disgusted with The Lame Lexus customer care. At least Accura recalled their poor transmission design and stood behind their product. By the way price was not a factor on the ford as the Toyota Tundra was the exact same price.

That's a good suggestion; i've heard a lot about how you can take a lexus to the toyota dealers to do the same thing as toyota...The engine's are the same, why should it make a difference fixing it? GOOD SUGGESTION!! :D ← I had the water pump $75.00 and timing belt changed at Toyota for $489. They did a great job and gave me the old parts as requested. They were 1/3 the price of Lexus. Good luck.

MingF. You have just described my EXACT problem. Unfortunately, I took it to a dealer and although I had mentioned that it may be the iacv (the only part in my RX that has a warranty on it) the dealership proceeded to take 3.5 hours to "isolate the problem." Upon inquiry at two hours, I was told that it was if fact not the iacv and that it is likely to be an air compression issue. In the end, the problem was not solved, and no error codes were detected and my RX idles at an irritatingly high volume and I'm down about $400 for labor. After all these issues, with the dealers and useless technicians in the last 7 months, I've finally decided to get rid of my RX 01 within another month. Good luck, and let me know if you find a cost effective solution to the problem. I agree with you, sorry for your poor service. I have to say Toyota the parent company treats my Lexus better. and much cheaper. Complain to Lexus in Torrance Ca. They deserve the poor feedback. Also if you are a consumers Report customer give them feedback on the annual questionare. Good luck. MT ← ← I agree please note your displeasure with consumers reports in the annual survey. Maybe then the idiots in Torrance will wake up and smell the bad feelings.

Whoa, dont do that, you could wife the regulator on the alternator. Check your plug connection on the alternator itself. It may have corrosion. Also their is probably a fuseable link in the 12v from the battery, but I do not know where. Voltage while the engine is running should be 12.5 to 14 volts across the battery terminal. Good luck. The other thing is a bad ground connection from the engine block to chassis.

The fix is dont buy a Lexus RX, Buy a Toyota 4 Runner or something with normal rear drive based engine and transmission.

there is a flex joint in the exhaust just under the engine. I took it to a muffler shop and they installed the flex joint designed more like Hondas and did it for $100. Works great, last a long time and wont rot your teeth.

Well my company uses Nextel which has the worst reception anywhere.. The group talk is great when it works, but reception is bad in the craziest places like the main freeway in the Sacramento, and Rancho Cordova area. Go figure. It cuts out in most buildings and is very frustrating as I have to use it to tether to my laptop and download service calls. My Verizon is exceptional. However watch your first bills on acquiring a new phone and make sure the service is as promised. There customer service lines are great at fixing these problems. As for the roam coming on in areas that were supposed to be covered. they reversed all charges and said they were acquiring other cell networks and roam may appear but you would not be charged for it. And so far they are right. I switched to a family plan that covers California and Nevada and am very pleased. The LG4100 camera phone is great so far and I am having a blast with its features.

Dont you just love a quality job. I get the same thing but worse at my dealership in Roseville Ca. Good luck

I was wondering where and how much an external filter described in the threads could be obtained? I am on my third transmission and am sick of Lexus !Removed! my car up each time they touch it.

Where did you say you obtain the tranny filter?

Dont buy it if it is AWD. You would be better off with a Toyota 4Runner Limited. probably just as nice and a lot more realiable.

MingF. You have just described my EXACT problem. Unfortunately, I took it to a dealer and although I had mentioned that it may be the iacv (the only part in my RX that has a warranty on it) the dealership proceeded to take 3.5 hours to "isolate the problem." Upon inquiry at two hours, I was told that it was if fact not the iacv and that it is likely to be an air compression issue. In the end, the problem was not solved, and no error codes were detected and my RX idles at an irritatingly high volume and I'm down about $400 for labor. After all these issues, with the dealers and useless technicians in the last 7 months, I've finally decided to get rid of my RX 01 within another month. Good luck, and let me know if you find a cost effective solution to the problem. I agree with you, sorry for your poor service. I have to say Toyota the parent company treats my Lexus better. and much cheaper. Complain to Lexus in Torrance Ca. They deserve the poor feedback. Also if you are a consumers Report customer give them feedback on the annual questionare. Good luck. MT ←

Your poll is great but does not allow you to give but one answer. I had burnt fluid and did changes at 30k miles, and had complete failure at 100k. I had second failure at 1.5kmiles and am on my third transmission. cost $4350 and no help from Lexus. The lack of product back up is astounding. I remember when I took my Mercedes in (And I was the 5th owner) and ten years old the dealership took a history and fixed all tsb recalls. Lexus isn't even doing that. I just spent $700 on the front shock strut mounts. which could have been done by them, according to the tsb. They even acknowledged the noise and said I should get it fixed, on my dime. I have had it with Lexus. I love the car but hate the company.

HI, I have same problem as yours and my RX300's transmission broke down while on the freeway and it's very dangerous because it just didn't move but slow down. I called Lexus and it seems like they don't want to do anything because it's out of the warranty. My RX300 has 100 k but that's not the point. Lexus will call me within 2 days to advise what they are going to do but I doubt that they will do anything. I will have the shop to replace the transmission first and try to get reimburse. Please let me know what's your outcome and what are you going to do. Thanks. ← Well joiin the club of dissatisfied Lexus RX300 tranny failures. Yes Lexus of Torrance will do nothing for you. They are worthless and don't care about the customers opinion. Punch in RX300 Transmission and see the real problem.

by the way I talked a toyota dealer into changing mine at considerable savings and would also recommend changing the water pump which is driven by the timing belt. My water pump had a hint of bearing noise at 98k miles so I was happy with my decision. By the way Toyota charged me $495 for both and using a Lexus timing belt. good luck

← find a good used toyota 4runner limited with four wheel drive and enjoy the benefits of a reliable track record on transmissions. If your wife does any cross town cumutes in the summer your chances of failure are to be expected. If you choose a RX300 do not get a 1999. It has issues. It just has not been reported to consumers reports. The 4runner limited is just a luxurious and will give about the same fuel economy.