1999 Lexus RX300 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other RX300 years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 221 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Lexus RX300. That is the most of any RX300 model year in the database (7 years). The most reported problem area is power train (129 complaints, 58%), typically at around 108,429 miles. Complaints mention 18 crashes, 10 fires, 16 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 221owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 18complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1999 Lexus RX300 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train problems | 129 | 58% | 108,429 | “transmission failed” (16%) | $6,700 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 24 | 11% | 88,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 14 | 6% | 108,737 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 | 5% | 103,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 10 | 5% | 57,500 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 8 | 4% | 144,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 7 | 3% | 20,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 | 3% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 6 | 3% | 85,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 6 | 3% | 62,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 5 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Engine | 4 | 2% | 203,913 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 2% | 228,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 4 | 2% | 144,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 3 | 1% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 3 | 1% | 120,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 1% | 88,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Traction Control System | 2 | 1% | 102,500 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 0% | 228,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 0% | 76,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 0% | 100,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1999 Lexus RX300 recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Exterior lighting:headlights:switch
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The headlights and taillights may not automatically illuminate in low ambient light when the headlight switch is placed in the "auto" position.
Risk: Vehicles following behind may not see the vehicle since no headlights and taillights would be illuminated, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install a modified body electronic control unit.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:differential proportional valve
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with the optional traction control system. Due to improper design of the rear brake tube distribution, if one of the dual brake lines fails when the driver applies the brake, the vehicle will feel unstable compared to vehicles with proper rear brake tube distribution.
Risk: This condition can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install modified brake tubes.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Engine seizure (DP02004) — opened Apr 30, 2002, closed Jun 20, 2002.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 1999 Lexus RX300. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the brakes failed and could not be depressed to stop the vehicle. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the side of the road and stopped by shifting into neutral. The contact stated that the check…
Tengo. Un. Problema. Con. Los. Sinturones.bolsas. De. Aire. Y. Electroco
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 lexus rx300. While driving 35 mph, the headlights dimmed and made visibility very difficult for the contact. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vin was not available. The failure…
1999 lexus rx 300. Consumer writes in regards to brake failure and acceleration issues while driving vehicle at 60mph. *ld *js
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 lexus rx300. While driving approximately 30 mph, the rpms suddenly increased and the vehicle accelerated to speeds above 85 mph. During the incident, flames were seen coming from the exhaust. The contact sustained a neck injury, which required medical attention. A police…
Other Lexus RX300 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 RX300 | 25 | 0 |
| 2002 RX300 | 88 | 0 |
| 2001 RX300 | 169 | 0 |
| 2000 RX300 | 216 | 0 |
| 1999 | 221 | 2 |
| 1998 RX300 | 3 | 0 |
| 1997 RX300 | 0 | 0 |
See all Lexus RX300 problems by year, every Lexus model, or the Lexus VIN decoder.
Similar Lexus models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Lexus RX300?
Owners most often report power train, engine and engine cooling, air bags problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 129 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1999 Lexus RX300?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1999 Lexus RX300 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other RX300 model years, the 1999 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.