1999 Lexus RX300 Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 129 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 1999 Lexus RX300, 58% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 108,429 miles. The words owners use most often: “transmission failed” (16% of reports).
- 129power train complaints
- 108,429median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $6,700typical repair cost reported by owners
- 45%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Transmission failed: mentioned in 21 of 129 complaints (16%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the 1999 Lexus RX300 at $6,700, and half of them between $5,450 and $7,600.
Based on 30 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2004–2012), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 110 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 129 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 2 an injury.
Lexus RX300 power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 RX300 | 7 | 28% | 97,963 |
| 2002 RX300 | 38 | 43% | 102,000 |
| 2001 RX300 | 123 | 73% | 113,000 |
| 2000 RX300 | 138 | 64% | 106,000 |
| 1999 RX300 | 129 | 58% | 108,429 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists power train for the 1999 Lexus RX300. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
On 06/16/16 i pulled into driveway engage emergency brakes place vehicle in park and got off. Immediately i realized vehicle was rolling forward i attempted to start to brake and got nothing. I noticed that vehicle was in reverse i attempted to place in park and got nothing lever was free sliding…
I was driving down the street doing about 40 or so and all four wheels locked up at once suddenly. It causing the car to a come pleat stop in the road. The car behind me had to lock up all most causing a accident.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 lexus rx300. The contact stated that the vehicle would not shift into drive or reverse. While attempting to make a turn, there was an abnormal noise coming from the hood of the vehicle. As a result, the vehicle seized. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1999 Lexus RX300s have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 129 owner complaints about power train for the 1999 Lexus RX300 (58% of the 221 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 1999 Lexus RX300 power train?
No recall currently lists power train for this vehicle.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 108,429 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the 1999 Lexus RX300?
Owners report a typical cost of $6,700 (half paid between $5,450 and $7,600), from 30 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 1999 Lexus RX300?
The most frequent phrase is “transmission failed”, in 21 of 129 complaints.
See all 1999 Lexus RX300 problems or power train problems across all RX300 years.