IllustrationTHERE IS A SHUDDER OF THE TRANSMISSION WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR AT APPROXIMATELY 2000 RPM'S. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE. I BOUGHT IT WITH 65,570 MI. THE DEALER REPLACED DRIVE SHAFT TO REAR WHEELS AND FRONT AXLE(S). THE PROBLEM REMAINS AND IS A NUISANCE REGARDLESS OF VEHICLE TEMPERATURE.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RX300 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
70–25K
225–50K
2050–75K
3775–100K
60100–150K
23150K+
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
Power Train complaints
129 reportsWHILE DRIVING, THE GEAR SHIFT WILL GO INTO NEUTRAL, IF BUMPED. ALSO I'VE NOTICED THE CAR JERKING WHILE DRIVING. I'VE TAKEN IT TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY NEVER OBSERVED THE PROBLEM AND THUS WAS NEVER ABLE TO FIX IT.*AK
I OWN 1999 LEXUS RX300, SINCE FEBRUARY OF THE LAST YEAR, I HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR'S ENGINE (IT HAS SLUDGE), TRANSMISSION, EMISSION SYSTEM, AND OVER USE OF GAS PER MILE. FIRST PROBLEM STARTED DURING THE FIRST MONTH OF MY OWNERSHIP AND SINCE THAT TIME THE VEHICLE HAS SPENT WEEKS IN AUTO REPAIR SHOPS. LEXUS DEALER AND …
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I OWN 1999 LEXUS RX300, SINCE FEBRUARY OF THE LAST YEAR, I HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR'S ENGINE (IT HAS SLUDGE), TRANSMISSION, EMISSION SYSTEM, AND OVER USE OF GAS PER MILE. FIRST PROBLEM STARTED DURING THE FIRST MONTH OF MY OWNERSHIP AND SINCE THAT TIME THE VEHICLE HAS SPENT WEEKS IN AUTO REPAIR SHOPS. LEXUS DEALER AND OTHERS CHARGED ME LAVISH FEES BUT NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEMS AND LEXUS DEALERS EVEN NEVER ADMITTED THAT SERIOUS PROBLEMS EXISTED. *JB
THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL AXLE SHEARED IN TWO, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO FALL OFF. THE VEHICLE BECAME VIOLENT, THEN COMPLETELY ROLLED OVER. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. WE WOULD LIKE A COMPLETE INVESTIGATION.
CONTACT PERSON: KEVIN EZRATTY SERVICE MANGER, BOB BAKER LEXUS EL CAJON,CA 92020 (619) 440 5398 CAR OVERHEATS AND STALLS WHEN TOWING A 2500 LB R/V TRAILER RX300 SPECS 3500LB. WHEN TOWING IN MOUNTAIN TERRAIN WITH AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AROUND 100 DEGREES AND GOING UP HILL, THE CAR TEMP INDICATOR WILL APPROACH THE RED ZONE AND WILL L…
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CONTACT PERSON: KEVIN EZRATTY SERVICE MANGER, BOB BAKER LEXUS EL CAJON,CA 92020 (619) 440 5398 CAR OVERHEATS AND STALLS WHEN TOWING A 2500 LB R/V TRAILER RX300 SPECS 3500LB. WHEN TOWING IN MOUNTAIN TERRAIN WITH AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AROUND 100 DEGREES AND GOING UP HILL, THE CAR TEMP INDICATOR WILL APPROACH THE RED ZONE AND WILL LOSE ALL POWER AND STALL. THERE IS NO WARNING OR TIME TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, TRAFFIC MOSTLY TRUCKS MAKES IT VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AND THE CAR DRIVEN 1000 MILES AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN, WITH NO PLACE TO PULL OFF. I RETURNED THE CAR TO DEALER, THEY HAVE NO IDEA IF THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, THER IS NO HISTORY OF ANY LEXUS RX300 WITH THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. THEIR SUGGESTIONS ARE DON'T DRIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS, DON'T DRIVE IN THE DESERT, DON'T USE THE AIR CONDITIONER, DON'T TOW THE R/V TRAILER, DON'T DRIVE WITH ANY WIND. THEY ALSO REQUESTED THAT THEY BE ALLOWED TO TAKE MY PERSONAL PROPERTY, THE R/V TRAILER AND TOW IT AROUND THE MOUNTAINS AND DESERT AND SEE IF THEY CAN MAKE IT FAIL AGAIN. I ASKED IF ANYONE IN THE FACILITY HAD EVER PULLED A TRAILER, THE ANSWER WAS NO ONE, SO I DECLINED. (I HAVE $55,000 INVESTED) I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF TOWING THIS TRAILER , NOW THEY TELL ME THAT JUST BECAUSE THE CAR IS CERTIFIED TO TOW 3500 LBS DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT CAN. AT THIS TIME WE ARE AT A STAND STILL, THEY CAN'T REPAIR THE CAR AND I TRAVEL A LOT AND DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT. WITHOUT THE TRAILER IT SEEMS TO BE FINE, IT IS EQUIPPED WITH THE TRAILER TOWING PACKAGE. THE TRANSMISSION OIL TEMP INDICATOR DOES NOT LIGHT UP, SO I THINK THE ENGINE IS BECOMING HOT AND SHUTTING THE CAR DOWN, SEE PAGE 208 OWNERS MANUAL. YOUR HELP AND SUGGESTIONS ARE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU.
THIS CAR IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD. HEADLIGHTS DIM TO DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS AT NIGHT, TRANSMISSION LURCHES BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR AND SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONS. *AK
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ERRATIC JERKING. ALSO, FRONT WHEEL WOULD COMMENCE TO SPIN, AND TRACKING LIGHT WOULD COME ON. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
THERE WAS A POWER DISTRIBUTION PROBLEM IN THE TRANSFER CASE WHICH CAUSED THE WHEELS TO LOCK UP AT 60MPH. DLR IS REPLACING TRANSFER CASE. *AK
WHEN THE TEMPERTURE IS 50 DEGREES OR LOWER OUTSIDE VEHICLE DOES NOT PERFORM PROPERLY. OWNERS GUIDE SAYS AFTER 2 MINUTES VEHICLE SHOULD BE READY TO OPERATE, BUT WHILE DRIVING IT TAKES VEHICLE 3 MINUTES TO SHIFT UP TO 3RD GEAR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO TRAVEL AT 30 MPH OR LESS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
Official recalls
299V011000 · 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
1DP02004 · Engine Seizure
Opened Apr 30, 2002 · Closed Jun 20, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
No summary supplied.