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SUVs Lexus RX 300/330/350 Lexus RX 300 Transmission Problems
306 messages, Last post on Nov 28, 2009 at 8:40 AM
You are in the Lexus RX 300/330/350 Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester
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Did I just prevent Lexus from using an otherwise viable solution..?? Recently you submitted a question to the Lexus Customer Satisfaction Department. Subject Fw: Idea Discussion Thread Response (DCha) 07/15/2009 07:45 AM Dear Mr. West: Thank you for contacting the Lexus Customer Satisfaction Department advising us of your product idea. We appreciate the fact that you have taken the time to share your thoughts and comments with us. Lexus is a division of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. (TMS). It is against the policy of TMS to accept unsolicited ideas from persons outside of the Toyota organization. The possibility of a conflict between developments from within the Toyota organizations and ideas submitted by interested persons, such as yourself, make this policy necessary. In accordance with this long-standing policy, we apologize that we are unable to accept your idea.May I take this opportunity to thank you once again for writing and best wishes to you. If you require further assistance, please respond to this e-mail, or contact Lexus Customer Satisfaction at 1-800-255-3987, Monday through Friday, 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., or Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Pacific Time. Sincerely, Danielle Curtis Lexus Customer Satisfaction Customer (willard west) 07/13/2009 10:43 AM ----- Original Message ----- From: Vera & Willard West To: customer-satisfaction-inquiry  lexus.com Sent: Monday, July 13, 2009 10:24 AM Subject: Idea Beginning with the RX330 Lexus used DBW to prevent the engine from rising in RPM until a previously engine/transaxle control ECU "commanded" transaxle downshift ran to completion. Since the earlier RX300 used a mechanical coupling between the gas pedal and throttle plate the same technique could not be used. On the other hand my '01's TC, Traction Control, dethrottles the engine via EFI fuel starvation control. Why couldn't Lexus use this same technique to "hold off" rising engine RPM/Torque for downshift delays...?? The throttle plate would still open, just as it does/is with TC activation, but the only harm in that is the engine ROARING to life once the downshift is completed. On the other hand there are circumstances with my RX300 wherein VSC activates and I am forced to completely release and the re-apply pressure to the gas pedal before the engine will respond at all.
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Replying to: wwest (Jul 15, 2009 2:28 pm) Now you can race them to the patent office. 
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I have a 2003 RX300 SUV 70,000 miles - transmission died, like most, I have had all services done as scheduled at the Lexus dealer. I have spent 1 1/2 weeks calling customer service trying to get help paying for the estimated $5300 "new" transmission. No one returns calls, I am so frustrated (and yet very happy to be driving the Chrysler PT cruiser convertible they loaned me). Has anyone had trouble with 2003 or this low mileage issue? Warranty was 6 years (which was up end of Dec) or 70,000 miles. This just disgusts me. I welcome all suggestions.
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Replying to: biking (Jul 19, 2009 5:20 pm) Read more about other experiences in this forum. Please report back. Good luck. It sounds like your car is worth a new transmission, if that's any consolation to you at all. |
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Replying to: biking (Jul 19, 2009 5:20 pm)
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Replying to: avery1 (Jul 20, 2009 7:33 am) It also seems that if you catch the problem in time while it's still driveable and they know you can take it to another shop, they are more likely to better their price. There does seem to be some competition even between Lexus dealers, especially if it's not so far gone that you can't drive it out of their shop. But in your case, since you were just barely out of warrantee, I'd keep the pressure on for even more discount... but you have to be willing to be patient. Please let everyone know what happens. |
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| Well, as it turns out, the transmission seems to be fine and the whole mess appears to stem from a bad celenoid. The service people apparently didn't pay attention when I explained the problem (which was that the car refused to move out of park into any other gear). However, until this new diagnosis, the Lexus company was offering to cover the cost of parts and my Lexus dealer was going to pay 20% of the labor cost. My portion was going to be about $1800 out of the original quote of $5300. All in all, I am pleased with how it turned out (as of right now). If anything new comes up I will post again. | |
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Replying to: 2000rx300owner (Jan 30, 2007 3:29 pm) For the past 2 months, wife has been complaining about a high pitched whine coming from beneath the engine, nearby the transaxle. Sure enough, the hum got louder with time and yesterday the tach showed over-reving while at cruise, at a steady cruise of 40 mph, the engine would rev to 4,000 rpm, remain there while the vehicle under its own momentum, and then eventually pull back to 2,300 rpm or lower. Driving down the parkway here in Bend at 50 mph, the clutch seemed to disengage, over-rev to 4,000 rpm and then re-engage the drive train with a distinct clunk. Pulled up to Cooley Road on 97 and waited in the turn lane 2 minutes while the traffic signals changed. Hit the throttle and the RX would not move forward, only showing 4,000+ rpm. Shifted to L on the gear shifter and limped out into traffic...such a dangerous situation! Pulled to the roadside and shut down the engine for 2 minutes and was then able to limp over to Lowe's parking lot where Consolidated Towing eventually brought a flatbed for the journey to Eugene. We have yet to see if Lexus will honor the one-year warranty on the 2008 tranny job and IF they will also reimburse for the $130 of overmiles beyond my GE road club 100 mile limit. Obviously, we are distraught but have a loaner RX350 for free from the helpful, fantastically helpful, dealer in Eugene. Stay tuned for an update to this post and hope for the best outcome possible...no $$. I cannot stress enough how dangerous this transmission issue was yesterday, to be caught in traffic and unable to control the driving process. There is no cell phone coverage for roughly 65% of the 126 miles to the dealer/repair shop, hence the other reason for taking the road club option on the car transport. |
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I purchased a used 2003 RX300 with 40,000 miles on it. The transmission started giving me problems a few months after I purchased it (I am sure that it why it was traded in). I took it to a local transmission shop and they assured me that the transmission was going out. I took it to Lexus and they said it was not. I called the corporate office of Lexus and filed a complaint. After the warranty ran out (around 71,000 miles), the transmission got worse. I had already filed several complaints during that time, so Lexus replaced the transmission as if it were still under warranty. Now, 50,000 miles later, I need a new transmission???????? Lexus has offered to pay half of the cost of the transmission, as it has been over a year since they put the transmission in, but it has only been 50,000 miles since they replaced the transmission. I have 120,000 miles on my RX and I am on transmission #3. The dealership says they have never seen anything like this (after finding this website I now know they are lying). I am again in contact with the corporate office. The dealership has offered to pay half of the cost, leaving me with $2000 as my part. After only 50,000 miles and 2 transmissions, I don't think that I should be responsible for any of it. Why hasn't there been a recall on this? Why wasn't the issue with my transmission fixed the first time they replaced it? I don't know anything about cars, but this seems ridiculous to me.
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Replying to: joy23 (Aug 20, 2009 9:03 am) Good luck. |
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