2000 Lexus RX 300 transmission

JCALB

MEMBER
2000 LEXUS RX 300
V8
4WD
AUTOMATIC
175,000 MILES

I have been going to my repair shop for seven years -- every oil change, tire rotation, etc. I ask them to tell me exactly what my car needs and when they tell me, I take care of it. A week ago I had the timing belt and various related things replaced for 1300 and today I brought it in because it was bucking a little on the highway and they said the transmission was shot and would be $7000 to fix. So they thought I would be better off not fixing and buying a different car. Some guy in the shop asked if he could buy my lexus for $500 so he could work on it himself. Does this transmission problem just happen or should they have watched for it or known that it was going bad? They had told me that my car would last another 60k or more miles since I was taking good care of it. They see my car at least 6 or 7 times a year for oil changes, funny noises, etc.

2 Replies

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,938 POSTS

HI there,

Transmissions are strange beast at the best of times, often there can be no warning of a major failure, they can just basically lay down and die. But you can have signs and symptoms of impending problems, much like what you have now, personally I would go get a second opinion on this problem from a transmission specialist, from what you have mentioned I would be very surprised if the transmission was terminal, go get a re test to be sure first.

Mark (mhpautos)