Seems like a lot of posts here are regarding issues with RX300 transmissions.
Are these transmission problems common to RX300? If so, are all the years affected?

 

Well, "common" is a relative term. According to Consumer Reports, major transmission problems are "worse than average" for the 1999 and 2000 RX300. Based on their criteria, I'm guessing this is 5%-10% incidence. Looking at it another way, you have a 90% to 95% chance of it not happening.

 

It's probably also leaning toward AWD rather than FWD.

 

Look at it this way... not many people go into any forum just to say hello. They come on either to look for fixes, or are having problems. Knock on wood, thus far with 125K I have not had any issues with transmission. Coil packs, now that's another story for me...

Look at it another way, if enough people complain, then it's a problem of course. It definitely is not bulletproof like the LS has been for Lexus. Has it been a "lemon" vehicle, definitely not either.

 

Alexus, I would have to agree with you there. Most ppl do come on these forums to discuss issues about their own vehicles. So it looks like some ppl are having issues, but is not common issue for most RX owners

 

I just renewed my subscription to Consumer Reports. In checking the RX300 reliability records, the 99 has slipped beyond the 10 year scorecard. However, the oldest model listed, the 2000, transmission is now "Average" (as of November 2009). Anybody have the last listying for the 1999? Did it come back up to average or was it still worse than average before it passed into CR's reliability oblivion?

 

I own a 2000 awd RX...I started a drain and fill program at 50,000 miles using Toyota type IV...The first time my transmission fluid was brown in color and it took 2 drain and fills a week apart to get back to a normal red color...I followed that with drain and fills every 20,000 miles and filter change with cleaning at 100,000...I now have 115,000 with smooth shifting and bright red tranny fluid...I think to be proactive is the right way to go with these transmissions....I used the DIY to do all the work myself.....including plug change,struts all the way around,both fuel sensors,brake job all 4,oil changes using Mobil super syn, cleaning the maf/map sensor...The plug change was by far the most difficult.. I believe the tranny would have failed if not for this forum...it made me aware of possible trouble and has helped alot....thanks CLUBLEXUS

 

Hello.
AWD, no issues @ 151k.

 

2001 AWD 131K no issues. So far I have had two tranny services done. The latter was a full service at 100k. I like all fluids to be clean.

 

A little help. I'm new to the site and need some advice. I have a 99 RX300 w/71k. The transmision doesn't seem to want to shift into the upper most gear. The tac. reads 4k@ 60mi/hr. When I tac it up to 5.5K it wont shift to the higher gear. I'm doing 80mi/hr.

Yesterday I had the transmission flushed and fluid changed. Still the same issue.

Any advice or diagnosis would be of great help.

Thanks in advance.

 

My understanding, from reading this forum, is that this can be caused by a check engine light (CEL) fault or other condition (e.g., engine not up to operating temperature) that keeps the car from shifting to the highest gear. So, more likely (in my opinion) than a transmission failure is a condition or sensor failure that is telling the transmission to do what it is doing.

 

My transmission issues did seem to coincide with the CEL coming on. I will have the CEL code checked. Hopefully that is the problem. Will let you know.

 

No issue with my tranny at over 155K miles. I drain-n-fill my ATF every 15K miles with Toyota Type IV because of my mountain driving.

I do notice that my Lexus dealership no longer list ATF change for the major 30K-mile service. Should this holds true at other dealerships, it may attribute to higher tranny issue rate.

 

First, thank you, everyone for the advice.

I was having problems with my transmission not shifting into O/D.

I took the advice to disconnect the battery and pull the ECU fuse. I did this and waited for 1hr to reconnect everything. I drove the car and after about 2mi. the CEL came on again. Althought the CEL came on, the transmission shifted beautifully into overdrive. This was great. I was still a little concerned about the CEL and wondered what the code was. So I took somemore advice and went to Autozone today and had the code checked.

The code was P0125 (Insufficient coolant temperature for closed loop fuel control). A bad ECT (Electronic coolant temperature sensor). The part cost $24.00 @ Autozone. Looks like I have a little work to do this weekend.

Thanks everyone for the help.