Transmission Slip Out Of Gear problems of the 1999 Lexus RX300

1999 Lexus Rx300 which had transmission service on March 17th 2011 at henessey Lexus in dacula georgia, began to make a whirring sound and slip out of gear while driving on interstate 85 north on Saturday July 9th 2011. I immediatly pulled off onto the shoulder of the interstate to check the fluid and it showed full on the dip stick. On Monday July 11th 2011 the Rx300 in question was taken to the same dealership which performed the service of the transmission on March 17th 2011, and they informed me that I would need a new transmission costing upward of $4500. After further investigation I have found there are thousands of complaints regarding the Rx300 model years 1999-2001 describing the exact same drive train failure. It is apparent that Lexus is aware of this issue and has failed to issue any type of warning to its consumers of impending transaxle failure due to an inferior shifting apparatus. As stated earlier service was performed on my Rx300 and any mention of impending problems were absent. As a consumer I feel that it is the responsibility of Lexus to warn its customers of any problems which may arise due to inadequate equipment. Below are links to other websites which list complaints of the exact transaxle failure. A recall for repairs should be issued as this is a serious vehicle failure. If I had been informed of this impending issue costly repairs and damage certainly would have been avoided. Us. Lexusownersclub. Com/forums/index. . Read more...

First failure happened during a left turn at a busy multi-lane intersection. Transmission dropped out of gear instead of shifting leaving me powerless at a very vulnerable time. The vehicle had sufficient momentum that I managed to drift up and over an adjacent curb. I was at the mercy of alert drivers in the intersection at the time. A Lexus rebuilt transmission was installed by a Toyota mechanic. After 12 months and many attempts at getting the engine light to remain extinguished I was advised today by Lexus of calgary that the second transmission is now failing. The first transmission and now this one are failing to shift when required most, recently while attempting to accelerate during a lane change. It is dangerous to not have power when you need it most.

Lexus Rx300-have owned car since beginning 1999-never had a problem with car except normal tune ups and new brakes-however, that all changed September 2004. Yes, I've had the car 6 six years but with only 68,000 miles on the car which is considered low mileage use. While traveling to san diego to take my granddaughter back home from my current home at the time in aliso viejo, California my auto while on the I-5 just completely dropped out of gear-I had enough speed going that I was able to get off the freeway and came to a stop at the camp pendleton marine base front gates. The soldiers were able to push my car behind their station gate until aaa could send a truck to tow me and for my son to pick up my granddaughter there. My transmission was completely gone and cost me over $4,000. 00 to get it fixed. I was told by the repairman that the planetary gear is what broke but that Lexus has had to update the planetary gear for my model and year 4 (four) times. It sounds to me that Lexus knows that they had a problem with this main gear and I want to know why there was never a recall to have it fixed. Lexus is rated tops so why would my transmission go out at only 68,000 miles? I had no choice but to have it repaired immediately because I was moving to florida in two weeks and didn't have the time or wheels to take my complaint to the dealer. Is there any recourse since the planetary gear was clearly defective?.

After having my transmission replaced by Lexus of roseville, California the remanufactured transmission from Lexus dropped out of gear during moving traffic, endangering my family with the loss of drive in heavy traffic.