My mom has a 2002 Lexus RX300 with 107,000 miles on it and we just found out the transmission is on its way out and that it will be $4,400 to replace it. We've had this car since the odometer showed 12 miles and have been meticulous on maintenance.

My mom doesn't seem to believe that 107K is a premature transmission failure but I believe it is. Add to the fact that Club Lexus's First-Gen RX section is PACKED with trans failures, many of them under 100,000 miles. Also, my '04 Hyundai Santa Fe is running strong at 130,000 miles on its original transmission.

We haven't decided what to do just yet but I wanted to see if y'all thought 107K is too early for the transmission to be biting the big one.

 

I think the fact that this appears to be a chronic issue with that generation of RXs that to call it anything but "premature" is intellectually dishonest.

Strap in for a Acura-esque battle to prove the transmissions are flawed

 

True...and I know I'm going to get a deluge of hate from the 2G TL peeps who are on their 4th transmission.

Flame suit on.

 

Good luck.

 

I'd say so considering how much transmissions cost.... IMO a $3000-4500 piece shouldn't be a wear and tear item that goes out so quickly.

but either way, have you ever had any luck in trying to get a dealer (assuming that's where you'd take it) to replace a trans like that out of goodwill? I mean since it's out of warranty and all..

 

Premature, especially with specified maintenance being performed.

Not sure how you fight that battle though. My mom fought the same thing with her 2000 Accord V6 and got Honda to plump for the part, she paid for the labor to install.

 

That is too soon, especially for what is supposed to be a superior quality vehicle, being a Lexus and all. I would expect much more out of it.

 

too little mileage.

 

Too soon!


This is coming from an ex 00 Accord V6 owner..


Any major mechanical system (engine, transmission, etc) should have a service life of atleast 200k miles if properly maintained. Sometimes you come across poorly designed systems though (the 98-02 accord, oddessy, tl, etc transmissions) though and it comes down to the point where one needs to decide.. Am I planning on keeping this car for much longer? If so, repairs are in order... otherwise its best to just get rid of the vehicle and move on.

 

Id be happy if my car made it to 100k, but only because my brother and I beat it to sh!t.

We already changed an axle once (leaking CV boot), changed the transmission oil at 30k and just last week at 60k. I hear clicking so new axles are going on again soon

Under strict maintenance, and normal driving, I believe any car should reach 200k on the original transmission

 

I would expect the transmission to be fine for at least 150K miles, unless the vehicle's annual mileage is mostly freeway/expressway (then I'd expect the transmission to last longer than the engine's piston rings and valves).

 

I can name many brands that have had failed auto transmissions in them after 100k miles.

Seems to be common these days. Sure arent built like they used to.

 

Way too soon for what is considered a luxury vehicle made by a manufacturer praised for quality. I'd contact a rep at Lexus Corp and voice your dissatisfaction with the premature failure of a well-maintained car and that you are considering going to another brand because of it.

Can't hurt to try.

Trade it in for an MDX?

 

my mom's 92 camry has 224k on original drivetrain with auto tranny. You still see a lot of 3G camrys all over the road.

 

The transmissions in the early RXs were quite prone to failure. When they fail, it's usually catastrophic-- the entire gearset gets trashed.

I've heard of a number of cases where Lexus goodwilled the repair. Lexus is pretty good with customer service, so I would definitely contact the dealer and corporate, especially if you've been a regular customer. Of course, in the current economic times, they may not be so generous with goodwill.

As for transmission life, my friend at GM told me that they usually test out to 150,000 miles for their validation program. It's difficult to give an exact number on how long the unit will last, but generally, they should last at least 150,000 miles.

 

my es300 has 151k on it. the trans fluid seems to turn black too soon. I am sure some peices of the clutch pack are coming off. I hope to get 250k out of the car......

 

That's too soon, IMO.

Which reminds me, I really need to do a fluid exchange on the CR-V (about the same miles).

 

I'm sure your mom did not change the ATF fluid in her trans even once when it calls for it every 30K miles.. My mom has a 1999 RX 300 FWD with 120K miles and original trans is still fine.. (I changed the fluid 2x for her) And my 2001 Acura CL lost 3 transmissions before it hit 100K..

 

110K is too early.

 

Those RX's are prone to Trans problems...

I think that still 107K is way to soon. I don't think you should expect anything from Lexus about goodwill warranty, it's been on the road for 57K out of warranty, if it happened at 57K that would be a different story.

All I can say is look around and see if a trans shop will do it cheaper, $4K is pretty steep.

I'm at 246K on my original trans

 

Given that they are prone to it i would say that there is "no" to early on that model. Should it fail if it were a vehicle with out issues, no. Trans life is something that is hard to determine. There are a lot of factors involved into how long it lasts (type of driving, city/hwy, how much stop and go, types of acceleration, weight in vehicle (often loaded up with passengers and luggage) ect
etc...

 

I would expect 150-200k out of an auto tranny myself. I just changed out the tranny and coolant on my TL before it hit 60k. Will change those fluids again once the timing belt/wp, plugs, etc are due at around 105k.

 

Without me having concrete evidence of your mothers maintenence schedule and driving habits, it's hard to say.

Assuming those are all up to par I'd say it seems too early to me...

 

This is actually a very big reason why I'm going to go with a MDX over the RX300/330. 2003+ of course after the MDX tranny's got better.

 

Starting to act up...when I put it drive. Have 108k at the moment

 

Within reason, all cars are engineered to be replaced at some point.

 

I don't really get these assertions that Lexus somehow owes anybody a new transmission. The car is only GUARANTEED to perform for the duration of its original manufacturer's warranty. Anything that happens to the car after that period is on you (whether you feel its premature or not).

Honestly, I would be mad as hell if my tranny packed it up at 107k miles, but I wouldn't expect anybody to pay for it but myself. It would certainly affect my decision to buy another product of theirs in the future though....

 

My friend has a 2000 RX300 and the tranny went at 90k.

 

On an RX?

 

We followed the maintenance schedule to a T and even the service advisor told the technician it has a "solid service history".

Regardless, we are having it fixed but my parents agreed that the next big thing that goes wrong, the car goes.

 

Define "meticulous maintenance", as it applies specifically to the transmission. What is the maintenance history of the transmission itself?

 

Well...each service performed was at the recommended mileage per the handbook. I believe that qualifies as meticulous as many people never even crack their maintenance books. We also have kept all of the service records in a folder downstairs.

It seems to be working for our other two cars.

 

Honestly, with that mileage and the propensity for it to happen again, I'd just get rid of the vehicle.

 

Yes, But stealerships avoid flushing the vehicles transmission regularly, and will tell you all sorts of bull about it not being a big deal. When it comes to the transmission fluid, its on you, to go get it flushed regularly, so that it can last! Otherwise, they are perfectly fine with letting it fail, so that they can put in a "remanufactured" one in for you. So if you didn't change your trans fluid every 30K, then, no its failure at 100K isn't premature.

 

wow ur trans lasted to 107K? my first trans went at 71K and that was with changing the fliuid at 8K intervils becaues it was getting toasted. my second trans is toast at 89K and Acura is telling me that it's normal for the fluid to get dark like that even though this replacement trans has 18K on it. WTF?

as for meticulous maintainace, my oil is changed every 5K tires rotated every 10K, parts replaced when the first show signs of damage, etc.....

1982 chrysler 5th avenue trans lasted 386k
1979 dodge omni trans lasted 160K (car totaled)
1989 mercury sable trans lasted 196K (engine blew up)
1992 mercury sable trans lasted 143K (car totaled)
1994 honda accord trans currently has 190K on original trans
1998 accord LX -V6 trans toast at 87K
2002 acura cl-s trans replaced at 71K replacement toast at 89K

 

Sorry to her about your acura tranny woes! ditch that car asap! those transmissions had build quality issues, as well as needing oil coolers. This gentleman with the lexus, needs to show that he serviced the trans regularly, meaning fluid changes, for us to conclude that it is a build quality, or material quality issue.

 

I'm going to push her to drop it before it passes 150k because I have a feeling if the new transmission doesn't drop out first, the engine will sludge up and seize (another charming RX300 characteristic I've just learned of).

Quite frankly, I think my family is done with Toyota and I know I won't be buying one. They just aren't making a quality car with good value like they did 15 years ago.

 

For the bajillionth time, oil temp is not the problem, it's the LACK OF FLUID reaching the clutch packs. You could send it in ice cold and it wouldn't help because it wouldn't be enough fluid.

 

So would you like me to scan and post nearly eight years of service records?

 

^ Or you can tell him at what intervals the transmission fluid was flushed/replaced.