Transmission complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
My wife drove the vehicle to work. She parked, turned the engine off, and removed the key while the shifter was in the neutral position. Thinking that it was in "park", she exited the vehicle and began to walk away. The vehicle rolled backward and pinned her right let in between its rear bumper and the bumper of another vehicle.
The transmissions in Lexus RX300 models are unsafe. The transmission in my RX300 had to be replaced at 70,000 miles and again at 120,000 miles. Lexus is not standing behind their product. There have been numerous complaints about the transmission in the RX300 model. Lexus will not acknowledge this defect. Also, I was misled at the dealership the first time they replaced the transmission. I was assured that the transmission was not "refurbished", when, indeed, it is not a new transmission. The definition of the word "refurbished" was in question. The transmission going out repeatedly and so early in the RX300 model is a safety hazard. Lexus' failure to acknowledge the problem and their decision to wait until someone has a problem with the transmission is a safety issue in itself.
Early transmission failure on early model Lexus RX300 from 1997 to 2003. I own a 2002 RX300 and the transmission failed at about 100,000 miles. It happened with no notice causing my engine to slow on the road and then was rear ended by another vehicle. I seem to be a lucky one as I read thousands of Lexus RX300 owners transmissions needed to be replaced between 70,000 and 90,000 miles. Lexus/Toyota has done nothing to admit their is a problem with the transmission in this car and in fact denied any problems to myself. It is costing owners of these vehicles to outlay between $3,000 to $6,000 for the transmission to be replaced. All you need to do is go on the club Lexus forum for Lexus owners and type in transmission problems for RX300 and you will see thousands of owners complaining. …
Suddenly my gears began shifting into neutral, park, reverse and into !st and 2nd gear without locking into any of them. No matter what the shifter moves freely. My car only moves forward no matter which gear it's in, including reverse. I put it into park and it still keeps moving forward. In order to park and stop, I have to use my emergency brake and turn the car off. I do not know the cause (unknown) it just suddenly happened on a toll road at the pay station. Also, my internal lights do not come on when I open any door, including the trunk lights. My radio does not change stations and knob does nothing, reception is poor & comes and goes. I cannot get any am stations.
While driving the car on city streets I attempted a u turn with the vehicle as I was completing the u turn the transmission made a weird noise and then there was nothing. No forward or reverse and when I put the vehicle in park it acted like it was in neutral. I had to put the emergency brake on to keep the car from rolling. Had to have the vehicle towed to my house 115 miles away. He car only has 145,000 miles on it. Car starts up and runs great but will not engage the transmission. The vehicle is still financed so I need to get it fixed however the cheapest rebuild I can find is $5,000.00. I called Toyota and asked if I could trade it in on a new car and they said not with the transmission fixed because they would lose money on it. I feel Toyota should fix this due to the fact there are numerous complaints about this issue with other Lexus owners. …
Vehicle has 133,890 miles on it, vehicle has been serviced every 5000 miles, according to the vehicle history and owners manual. We had transmission failure 100 miles from home. Pulled over to the side of the I-90 , had to wait 2 hours for a flatbed on the side of the highway. Mass state police were not happy having to wait that long nor safety of being on the side of the road for 2 hours. We tried moving vehicle after it was off for an hour, moved gear selector had only park and natural , was at " full hot " mark on the dip stick, fluid is clean, doesn't smell burnt at all.towed to service department and needs a new transmission. Vehicle was on the highway at 70mph , and then had no forward movement at 70mph. Google " RX300 transmission problems" and you'll find thousands of links to people having same issue. …
My transmission failed 5 yrs ago was not told why. They replaced it but I had to pay for labor. They put in new parts except for remanufactured casing. Now December 2015 with only 24,000 miles on it since I am retired, failed to go in reverse or go into second gear. Have noticed online alot of people are having problems with transmissions of Lexus vehicles. Now I am told by Lexus speacialist [phone]) they only want to pay for half of parts and was told it just failed we don't know why and they refuse to investigate again unless I want to pay for labor. It seems from online complaints that they are making owners pay for diagnostics and or replacements & labor. I have never felt more unsafe in a car when my vehicle wouldn't shift into gear while driving on a road with 55mph speed limit while I could only drive 10 miles an hour. …
At approximately 150,000 my Lexus rx 300 seized after pulling into a parking lot. I tried to restart the car and it would not move/turnover. Obviously, had to have it towed and the entire transmission needed to be replaced. I purchased a rebuilt transmission to the tune of about $4,000. There are numerous reports of this model of Lexus repeatedly having the transmission fail. I'm wondering why the NHTSA does not issue a recall at this point - at least investigate this issue., so those who own these vehicles can recoup some of the cost for the failures of this transmission.
Frequently asked questions
Which Lexus RX300 years have transmission problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2000 (138), 1999 (129), 2001 (123), 2002 (38) and 2003 (7) model years. Transmission complaints make up 64% of all complaints for the 2000.
Is there a recall for Lexus RX300 transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for any Lexus RX300 model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Lexus RX300 transmission problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 109,000 miles; 3% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the automatic transmission (332 mentions), followed by the axle assembly (4).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.