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Comments
Toyota also had a Tacoma frame rust problem that did not result in a recall. If your "heard" about the problem Toyota would inspect and buy back your vehicle. Otherwise, you were at risk of the frame rusting through.
Add me as support for a class action suit. Thanks for your post about the Lexus RX problem.
Bob
Our family had two one transmission went out at 103,000 the other at 107,000.
These cars were driven like cream puffs with no teenage drivers.
Lexus lies when they say "The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection".
Then, regardless of what Lexus has in their maintenece by the book (pretty much replace trans rather than service), I wouldn't go more than 15,000 miles or every two years without transmission service specifically with type IV fluid. Some folks on ClubLexus, etc. suggest every year. Actually, that's pretty standard with people who like to keep their cars a long time, especially cars with transverse powertrains.
Fluid condition can be used to guage wear. You can check the fluid condition a few times per year (very easy); pull the dipstick (the one on the right side of the engine is marked trans) looking for a change in it's appearance and/or smell on a white paper towel. It should remain pink with it's industrial type smell, rather than burned smell. If the rebuilt unit no longer burns the fluid (appearance & smell) or gets dark (indicating wear) during those intervals, it will likely last you a long time. Then, that transmission will probably take you a long way without problems.
At that point you can decide: It depends on how well you like the car otherwise... You are likely to lose a lot at trade-in.
Reports of failures on third-party rebuilds (an exchange of a transmission rebuilt elsewhere) seem to suggest some of those might be less reliable than if rebuilt by Lexus.
After 10 years and 90,000 miles it actually sounds like you might be getting a pretty decent deal if your cost for rebuilding the transmission at the Lexus dealer is about $3500-4000 or less, you are probably fairing much better than a law suit, and your dealer keeps you as a (semi-happy) customer. Please share with us how it all goes. Best luck to you.
I replaced tranny at 315,000 with dealer factory rebuilt for $4,200 that included replacing motor mounts. Flushed every 50,000 and no service issues until replacement. Shifts great except now no overdrive due to bad knock sensor
Replaced one engine O2 sensor at about 200k and now needs bank 2 knock sensor at 370k. I will replace both and the old wire harness. Can anyone provide good, reliable online OEM source for the 2 K sensors and wire harness? THANKS
My friend has a 2000 AWD with nearly 300,000 Southern California stop-&-go fast commute miles, his has been trouble-free on the original transmission.
Go figure... How many thousands of these did Lexus sell? Yeah, the original transmissions were of sloppy design, but that doesn't mean they are all bad or junk. Check out the other cars this competed with when designed in 1998, and the durability of those transmissions on those. I've been happy with my RX except the bland. tippy handling (I think their benchmark was to be better than Jeep Grand Cherokee, a rather low bar to hurdle). This car has been comfortable, reliable, and provides excellent utility for it's size.
If your RX is only worth $2000 to you, you'd be better off trading it in for a car that you would be happy with.
The transmission in my 2001 Lexus RX300 failed with a little over 108K miles. No warning lights came on. I had trouble getting it in reverse 2 days before - thought it was a fluke. Then I had trouble starting it for 2 days. On 8/16 it started fine, so I drove it to the dealer. Twice on the way there, it jerked & hesitated when accelerating from a stop - I almost got rear ended.
I am the 2nd owner - I bought it in 2003 with 41,462 miles on it. It was Lexus Certified Pre-Owned. The Car Fax report noted the original owner registered it as private/personal use & no issues were noted. I have had all service done by the dealer, except the last oil change. I've only driven about 9K miles per year, drive it responsibly & have never towed with it. Very frightening that I had few symptoms, and no warning light to alert me there was a problem.
Lexus dealer wants $4,300 to replace it with a Lexus remanufactured transmission. I have not decided what to do. I'm seeing lots of information online about how bad these transmissions are, and they often need replaced multiple times. Scares me to know I could replace it, have it fail & perhaps be in an accident. I am a Realtor & frightening that I could have been in an accident with clients in my vehicle. My expectations of Lexus quality & safety have not been met.
Now the transmission does not have a park setting.
What is best course of action?
RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE not!
I was thrilled to get it back - but that faded quickly - the next day the Check Engine light came on, because of an O2 sensor - cost $492. This is the 2nd O2 sensor I've had to replace - I understand there are 4 O2 sensors - anybody else having to replace O2 sensors?
Also - please let me know how trustworthy a Lexus reman tranny is? I have a 1 yr parts & labor warranty.
3 days ago it hesitated in reverse, and would jerk when shifting between gears, mostly at city speeds. Went to Lexus of Tacoma at Fife, WA, and told them my transmission is acting up, please check. Next day I pick it up, and the clerk says "Nothing wrong with the transmission, you need timing belt service and your water pump is leaking and you are almost out of ATF. We'll do a tran. flush as well" I told them that if indeed my transmission is problematic, it will die after a flush, do drain-refill, but the clerk insisted on a flush. So for all that I paid 1600 in one payment, and the next day the car is tripping again. In less than 48 hrs I was standing on the shoulder by my work :sick: waiting to be towed to Lexus dealership. That time they did take their time with the transmission and did tell me that I would need a new transmission! DUH! I came to the dealer asking them to check the transmission in the first place! Did I fall into a typical dealer trap? I called them back, and the manager is willing to refund me for the transmission flush, around 300 dollars and offers a 10% off on new transmission service. I'm not going to accept. Most likely will file a claim as soon as I decide the negotiations are not going anywhere tomorrow. I have the original papers where the clerk wrote up the issues I had , and the recommendations which had nothing to do with those issues. I also have a witness which was present with me at the time I explained myself to the clerk. Will see tomorrow, how to proceed with this.
At the meantime, I hear a lot of noise about a class action lawsuit. This is REAL, people, if you don't have time - MAKE TIME!! I also have a full-time job, but I'm willing to contribute my time to this. Is there a centralized site? A primary contact? If we do proceed we need to be organized and RELENTLESS! It is possible that in case of win, there will be no recalls for 99-03 vehicles with defect tranny, but they will stop selling those vehicles on the market, and anyone who is owning one and experiences problems which pertain to transmission, will have a right to appear at any Lexus dealership and request free transmission repairs/replacement. If this is a known and acknowledged flaw, it calls for class action lawsuit. Count me in!
be gone.
These transmissions on the 2000 and 2001 RX 300 were designed
poorly and should have been recalled.
We had two in the family and both transmissions went out at the
same mileage 108,000. Never towed anything, no teenage
drivers. Driven like a cupcake.
You may want to check the RX330 forum http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/WebX/.ef22a65/1650
'04 and '05 RX330's both saw significant changes and different (5 speed) transmission than earlier RX300's. I'd go with the '04 over the '05 because '04 was the first year for the redesign and '05 had lots of little improvements over the first model year.
Good luck!
1999 - 2002 the transmissions on the AWD were junk!
Still, my friend still has a 2000 RX300 AWD, a So. Cal. commuter with way over 200,000 miles (he drives it hard, too) and it's held up great, only he knows to ask for the tranny to be serviced. Many people only buy the packaged "suggested" service the dealer offers, and they don't do tranny service.
In return you get a 1-2 second re-acceleration downshift delay/hesitation due to the engine being kept at idle what a second shift is required shortly after a previous one.
Due to the adoption of TC across the board, FWD and F/awd '01 and after models, the VC was pretty much non-functional, so much so that it was eliminated entirely for the entire RX330 model, and quite possibly even the RX350 prior to 2010.
The first time it was brought in for transmission problems, they said the transmission fluid was low (hmm--its a sealed system) and that the software needed to be reset. I picked it up the next day and drove it home. Took the car out to go to work and 12 miles into my trip the master warning light, along with several other warning lights and a VSC message. The transmission started up with the jerky acceleration and stumbling deceleration. This time they agreed it was faulty and would replace it.
Will keep you posted on the new transmission.
no towing or teenage drivers.
Lexus quality has gone way down hill.
I will never buy another Lexus and I have owned seven and bought the first LS 400
in 1990.
Let's do this.
By 2001 the reactive F/awd system using a VC had been abandoned in favor of TC use, "last minute" TC use, to reapportioning engine torque to the rear.
The base problem, beginning with the introduction of the RX series, was the result of a design change to the transaxle's internal operation, abolition of the earlier ATF pressure sustainment system in favor of a "real-time", "reactive", ATF pressure control system.
That resulted in the inability of RX transaxles of that period to provide a quick re-acceleration downshift. So the downshift sequence was done with ATF line pressure being inadequate in firmly/fully engaging the clutches used in the downshift gear ratio.
Other than the castrating of the F/awd system with the 2001 and on, until the RX330 arrived, I really don't know what was done to help alleviate the premature transaxle
failures. As a result of the burned condition of my F/awd '01 RX300's ATF at only 40,000 miles I suspect there was a firmware control change that kept the "real-time" ATF line pressure at an elevated level ALL THE TIME in order to reduce the wear rate of those downshift clutches.
I also suspect that my '01's extra ATF cooling radiator was actually a factory requirment for the F/awd system, not really a "tow hitch" option. Sustaining the "real-time" ATF line pressure at a even a slightly higher level than the initial design called for would undoubted result in localized, right at the ATF gear type pump, overheating of the ATF.
With the introduction of the RX330 the VC was dropped entirely(***) and DBW was adopted and used to delay, 1-2 second delay, the onset of rising engine torque subsequent to a downshift resulting from a re-acceleration sequence.
*** In 2001 the F/awd system became a "one-wheel drive system" absent the belated, "last-minute", REACTIVE ONLY, activation of TC. So there was no reason to include the cost of the VC beyond that point.
Some time later, '08(?), firmware was added that watches the driver's actions on the brake and accelerator pedals in order to more accurately predict when/if a reacceleration activity is upcoming. If the system predicts a reacceleration event is likely then the transaxle will remain in the lower gear ratio. On a normal accelerator pedal "lift" the transaxle would quickly upshift. If the accelerator lift is "fast" that would often indicate a desire to slow using engine compression braking and thus remaining in the current lower gear ratio would be more appropreate.
Also, it seems to me that if the majority of miles in this car ('99-'00) are highway miles than theoretically you are at less risk?
Still, nearly 120,000 miles and towing too, that's pretty good (but not great) longevity for a "SUV" these days.
I tow (very rare) but I added an additional cooler and thermostatic fan in addition to the factory's "tow package" cooler in the passenger fender well after my trans was replaced. I also cut larger ventilation holes the plastic fender liner behind the cooler to allow better air flow. When I do tow, (very light motorcycle trailer) I always upshift manually (well into the RPM range) and lock-out 4th gear (OD). I never leave it in "D" when I'm stopped in traffic - use neutral until it's time to go. I notice that the only time the extra fan thermostat needs to come on is during low-speed maneuvers, traffic, and when I stop. The rest of the time the fluid stays cool from air flow (at speed). I'm always thoughtful of the RX's tendency to burn fluid. But these are things I do when I'm driving my Ford trucks, too.
My RX is not on the original trans, either. It was replaced with a brand-new when I reported burning fluid and shift problems under warrantee (and before I ever towed anything). I was told my new one is a more modern design and it does not burn fluid or have shift issues like my original and others have complained about.
I recommend to any RX owner to check the fluid yourself (often) for contamination from wear and/or burning whether you tow or not. Do not rely on the dealer to do this. It's easy; just pull the dipstick and wipe it on a clean white paper towel. Inspect for color (bright pink) and smell. Also, make sure you take it to a (trustworthy) transmission shop for transmission (specific) service, and they will show you any wear from the pan magnet and filter.
It's a good car, but the transmission can be a weak spot if left unchecked. I hope you enjoy it for another 120,000 or more.
all don't call them on it. Lexus abandoned the reactive system in favor of
TC use to reapportion engine torgue to rear wheels.
ATF line pressure was inadequate to firmly engage the clutches. The result
the clutches simply worn out. The transmission fluid after just one years will
show a very high concentration of metal particles.
Toyota madde a [non-permissible content removed] product and refuses to take responsibility!
But it is a bummer whenever you have to deal with an expensive repair on any car, and I don't mean to down play it. I'm just lucky I'm suspicious by nature, and had been on top of it while the car was under warrantee (which for 1999 models was 7/70 standard) and Lexus responded. But that was a long time ago.
Lesson learned: Personally take responsibility to check the trans fluid often, and have the transmission serviced often. Don't rely on dealers and especially quick-lube shops. I'd do this on any car in my garage.
IT.
Go to small claims court as I did . This transmission is junk. WE had two cars
both failed and not once did we tow anything, or have a teenage driver.
LEXUS SHOULD BE ASHAMED.
Just as I should have expected, just as it was at 40,000 miles, my RX's ATF was dark brown and smelled burned. I have checked it at every oil and filter change, on the average twice a year, and up until now it appeared to be okay.
Drained 4.5 qts inclusive of the diff'l drain, and re-filled with 4.5 qts of factory specified ATF. As I did before at 40,000 miles I will repeat the drain and refill in a week or so.
Observations....
As I drained the ATF it was not so hot dripping on my hands and fingers as to be really discomforting. I had just driven it about 25 miles and then directly into the garage to drain. I have the practice of draining engine oil this quickly so that any particulates will remain in suspension and be drained along with the oil.
The engine oil is always HOT and quite discomforting so given that the ATF is clearly showing signs of being over-heated, burned, I find this somewhat surprising.
My conclusion is now more firm in that I believe the heating, OVER-heating, of the ATF is localized, most likely ATF pump, and so the extra external cooler, tow package, my RX came with is probably useless since I don't tow.
I remain fully expectant that my transaxle will fail before reaching 120,000 miles at which point I will repair and the RX will become a R/awd vehicle. SOLID drive coupling to the rear and an early VC, '99-'00, for coupling in the front drive.