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1999 Lexus RX300

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most RX300 years

Owner complaints for the 1999 Lexus RX300 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 88.

About this comparison →
221Owner complaints

Model-year median: 88

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
0
19973
1998221
1999216
2000169
200188
2002
Compare all RX300 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
129Engine And Engine Cooling
24Air Bags
14Vehicle Speed Control
11Seat Belts
10
All reported categories
Electrical System
8Tires
7Exterior Lighting
6Service Brakes, Hydraulic
6Suspension
6Visibility
5Engine
4Service Brakes
4Structure
4Equipment
3Steering
3Fuel System, Gasoline
2Latches/locks/linkages
2Traction Control System
2Unknown Or Other
2Wheels
2Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1Fuel System, Other
1Seats
1Service Brakes, Electric
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

149 reports with mileage · 72 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 129 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

18 crash reports10 fire reports11 injury reports

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

2 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 19, 2007
Latches/locks/linkages

1999 LEXUS RX 300 WITH REAR/HATCH DOOR LOCK PROBLEMS CUSTOMER STATES THAT HE HAS NOTIFIED LEXUS AND LEARNED FROM FRIENDS THAT SIMILAR MODELS WITH IDENTICAL PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN REPORTED**CC THE CONSUMER STATED THE DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK OR OPEN EITHER MANUALLY OR BY USING THE REMOTE CONTROL. THE CONSUMER LEARNED THERE WAS NO MECHA…

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1999 LEXUS RX 300 WITH REAR/HATCH DOOR LOCK PROBLEMS CUSTOMER STATES THAT HE HAS NOTIFIED LEXUS AND LEARNED FROM FRIENDS THAT SIMILAR MODELS WITH IDENTICAL PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN REPORTED**CC THE CONSUMER STATED THE DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK OR OPEN EITHER MANUALLY OR BY USING THE REMOTE CONTROL. THE CONSUMER LEARNED THERE WAS NO MECHANISM TO OPEN THE DOOR MANUALLY FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10197000

Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 2005
Latches/locks/linkages

1999 LEXUS RX 300 DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WITH THE TAILGATE DOOR LATCH.*MR THE REAR HATCH HANDLE SEIZED AND IT DIDN'T OPERATE WITH THE REMOTE KEY ENTRY OR POWER LOCKS. THE CONSUMER HAD TO MANUALLY CLOSE THE HATCH TO PREVENT IT FROM ACCIDENTALLY OPENING WHILE DRIVING, WHICH DID HAPPEN TWICE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10129133

Official recalls

2

99V011000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch

Jan 20, 1999

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: VEHICLES FOLLOWING BEHIND MAY NOT SEE THE VEHICLE SINCE NO HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS WOULD BE ILLUMINATED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A MODIFIED BODY ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT.

99V012000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:differential Proportional Valve

Jan 20, 1999

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL MODIFIED BRAKE TUBES.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

DP02004 · Engine Seizure

Opened Apr 30, 2002 · Closed Jun 20, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

No summary supplied.