DmitriyK

I have a 2003 RX300 AWD with 125,000 miles on it. I have the original transmission, and so far no major failures or defects (knock on wood). I live in warm climate, the car is garaged, and I drive about 1000 miles per month. The car drives well, no visible or audible issues, and is maintained at a local auto shop (not Lexus).

I would like to get info from members with the same car who had transmission failures. How many miles were on your RX300 when failure occurred? What other potential $$$ failures could occur at this mileage?

I am wondering if I should try to sell my car now before any major component fails. It is paid off, and I would hate to get into a lease or financing right now, but it would also suck to shell out $5K on a new transmission.

Any advice?

bufferdan

2001 with 195k and original trans. Filter change and drain and fills every 20-30k should make it last a long time Also supposedly 01+ have the revised trans that is used in the highlanders. Notice they dont seem to have as many failures as 99-00 rx's.

Transforma

As long as you keep up with the maintenance of the tranny, you will be fine. Remember, you take care of the car and the car will take care of you.

salimshah

You can worry yourself to ....

There are lot more trouble free (without transmission problems) RX than the ones with a problem. I would suggest save the money that you would pay to purchase the next vehicle.

Folks have spent about 2-3.5k to fix transmission trouble.

Salim

hypervish

Welcome to Club Lexus!

There was just recently another thread here that was asking the same thing. I'll just copy and paste my response here.

If it hasn't failed by now, it likely won't. From what I've seen, if these transmissions do fail they do it at around 50-100k miles. After that, very few have failed. And, remember we here online are a minority, there are thousands of people who haven't had any problems such as myself and my uncle. My uncle has almost 400k miles on his original engine and transmission. I have 172k on the original engine and transmission as well.

If anything, you can drain and fill every 15k, or every year. Which is what I do.

I would keep on driving it, these SUV's are extremely reliable. This RX300 is the most reliable vehicle I've owned, the second most reliable was my 92' corolla, which was practically bulletproof drivetrain wise.

Skyhigh82

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Russ White

2001 FWD 118,000 miles - transmission failed. It had 15K drain and fill while I owned it, but it was purchased off lease and had Lexus maintenaince according to PO during that time. Otherwise, a great car. Russ

bufferdan

Yep so it never had a transmission fluid change until you got it, which was at what mileage? This is common with so many cars and their so called "lifetime fluid". Lifetime is 100k...and when you dont change the fluid in 100k miles the transmission goes kerplunk...

trips1

So it shows that even FWD are susceptible to transmission failure.
I thought most of the postings in this forum mentioned AWD more likely to run into trans failures.
BTW can someone help me what should be the rule of thumb -- drain and refill every 15K miles and drop the pan to change pan and filter every 40-50K. Does this sound reasonable?