So I own a 2015 RX350 FSport with 87k miles. It started shuddering on takeoff, but I didn't think it needed anything but a tuneup. I take it in for its regular service only to hear it needs an entirely new transmission for the low low price of $10k. I take it a local mechanic for a second opinion, and this does seem to be the case.

So the famously reliable Lexus needs a new transmission at 87k miles. Is this common? I'm getting a new car now, but am leery of any more Lexi. This was our second RX, the first was a fantastic 2006.

The twist: I can buy anything I want. A new LC, whatever. The SUV was spouse's car, and they're no longer driving.

TL;DR: Old Lexus crapped out at 87k. Tempted to go with more Lexus, but that car really shouldn't have died. What would you do?

 

You gotta change the ATF in these mediocre transmissions to have the best chance of keeping them alive for a reasonable period of time. Best to do it at least every 50,000 miles. Some would say every 40,000 miles. No such animal as "lifetime fluid" of ANY type on ANY vehicle regardless of what any owner's manual says. Sorry to hear that yours crapped out on you.

I would do the series of three successive drain-and-fills using Toyota WS ATF. Worth a try. Many of us do it ourselves because it is truly a very easy job if you follow the process correctly.

 

Do you really want to buy another car from an automaker that told you the transmission never needs to be serviced, then it died at less than 100,000 miles?

 

Wow -- this is surprising especially for the last MY of a gen as you'd think it would be the best of the best for that gen.

Please tell us you changed the ATF as mentioned by @RX in NC

If you no longer need an SUV or your spouse becomes a passenger now, I'd get something that would fit you both comfortably.

Go for the LC if that suits your fancy, but KNOW and understand what you're getting into.

I'd definitely go and test drive several different models/vehicles to see what suits your needs best in the coming years.

 

I am not a shade-tree mechanic. The car was taken into Lexus for service at every regular interval. I trusted them to do what needed to be done. For us, that was the point of buying Lexus.

 

I've never heard that about Lexus transmissions. It does sound ridiculous.

 

See my reply to another poster below. I don't change fluids. I take the car in and wait for someone knowledgeable to do it. The entire point of buying Lexus is to avoid this. The problem is all cars, Lexus included, seem to be crap now. The next logical step is Toyota, but that's just a budget Lexus, isn't it? Same engines, same transmissions, same issues. Any thoughts on the Supra's manual transmission?

 

Sorry to hear about the fail.

Transmission is a complex mechanism and a statement that "transmission failed" is a summary statement. It might be OK for a large percentage of owners as they are interested in what failed and how much money it would cost them to get it fixed.

From a technical perspective a little more investigation and root cause determination is needed. Hooking up to a diagnostic apparatus is needed along with fluid analysis [time and money will add]. Just because changing or not changing fluid is in control of owners, they attribute the fault to lack of fluid change/service. I am not stating that they are wrong, but they are following a gut call without investigation.

What would I do in your situation?
Although I may be tempted to simply drain and fill, but I would prefer a proper diagnosis [sunk cost]. If I dump out the old fluid, analysis cant be done. Metal in fluid would tell that some metal component is broken.
Go to a reputable transmission shop for proper diagnosis. Is the dealership the best place to start? I would say yes as the failure is shorter than expected life [very few will agree with me but when manufacturer says 60k base warranty -> I read that as 120k * expected life ... every thing above is bonus]
While the vehicle is with service plan out your next course of action ... Plan A, B & if needed C. [swap, repair, sell as is etc]
Insist that their diagnosis needs to be more than what you already know that the transmission is bad. [computer diagnosis, oil analysis [can be visual and not necessarily chemical]

Getting on the soap box warning:
Nothing is bullet proof. When you make a choice [excluding needs, looks ... I am talking technical choice] is where one needs to look at technology, brand, model with least failure rates. Again low failure rates does not mean "0". Warranty and extended warranties should give you a clue. Don't be swayed by one off, ... failed at 50miles or 300K miles. Spend some time on technical details and weigh pros and cons. [In my case I chose 450H with a major factor being the transmission vs 350]. Yes the choices do have their cons as well.

Based on your post, your criterion is wide ... sedan, coupe, UTE. The only thing you seem to be adverse to is the failure.

The solution to be mitigate failure aversion is to only keep vehicles while they are under warranty. There will be a cost for this choice but I don't know any other way to be risk free. You can self insure by stashing some amount in the bank every month and if you happen to have trouble free vehicle you win both ways.

Salim

PS * Trouble free. Beyond that expect repairs.

 

I believe the F-Sport has the 8-speed transmission (instead of the 6-speed) and was introduced in 2013 for the RX350. Some owners have said the 8-speed seems to hunt for gears on occasion. The 6-speed has a longer track record of being reliable.

Still...not a happy story.

The 2015 I purchased had the rear main seal replaced at 53k miles when I purchased it from a Lexus dealer. Probably the random quirks that all manufacturers seem to have...rather than the norm. The timing cover leak or "weep" is more documented.

 

I had an weird low speed shudder in my 2015 RX350 transmission(6 speed) at around 15mph when I first bought it. I missed the weird shifting during my test drive and thought that I bought a high mileage RX350 (172k miles)with a bad transmission. It shifted fine over 15 mph and only did the weird shifting ever so often at random times.

Well, my transmission just needed an fluid level adjustment as that it was over filled during it last service. After I drained out the excess transmission fluid the transmission shifted perfectly at all speeds for the last two years(now 190k miles). I am sure a repair shop would have told me the transmission was bad and need replacing. It was not.

I would try replacing the transmission fluid first and then see how the transmission operates after that. I would take it to a trusted mechanic that knows how to properly work on the Toyota 8 speed transmission to have the fluid replaced/level checked.

 

In my opinion a dead transmission at only 87k miles is not due to a missed fluid interval.

 

If anything someone probably performed an early transmission fluid change on the OP RX350 8 speed and did not do it correctly. Sometimes it is worst when a person who do not know what they are doing change the transmission fluid(wrong fluid, improper amount,etc) than not having the fluid changed at all.

 

Dont really know much about the 8 speed trans. I do know that BMW transmissions have seals that wear out over time, and the trans will run really rough. Often a seal replacement is all that is needed to get them running back like new. They are ZF Transmissions, used in many different cars. If the Lexus 8 speed is a ZF, then this may very well be what you need to do. Typically when a BMW trans fluid is changed, the trans seals are changed. There are roughly 6 seals, I forget exact number. Another thing that sometimes need done is replacing solenoids. I would not give up on your trans quite yet, look into these issues and see if anything pops up. The lexus dealership should have some diagnostic that indicate what the issue is. You may also be able to have it rebuilt for less than 10K

 

I did take the car to a reputable local mechanic and without knowing that I had first taken it to Lexus they confirmed everything Lexus told me about the transmission. Maybe I should take it to a transmission specialist?

 

I just checked the service records. The transmission fluid has never been changed.