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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.

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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

Service Brakes complaints

4 reports
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249,000 miles · Mar 22, 2022
Service Brakes

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 engine warning light illuminated i…

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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 engine warning light illuminated intermittently. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic, where it was neither diagnosed nor repaired. The contact became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 99V012000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 249,000.

NHTSA ODI #11457845

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2018
Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

1999 LEXUS RX 300. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BRAKE FAILURE AND ACCELERATION ISSUES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 60MPH. *LD *JS

NHTSA ODI #11119048

177,512 miles · Nov 6, 2017
Service Brakes

THIS WEEK I GOT A FLAT TIRE, A SCREW IN TIRE. ONE TIRE SHOP WOULDN'T REPAIR IT, SO I PARKED THE CAR A FEW DAYS AFTER THEY PUT THE FULL-SIZE SPARE ON IT. THEN I DROVE IT 20 MILES WITH THE SPARE, AND IT STARTED ACTIVATING THE ABS WHEN I BRAKE AT GENTLE/NORMAL SPEEDS. SO I HAD THE FLAT TIRE REPAIRED AND THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WOULD GO…

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THIS WEEK I GOT A FLAT TIRE, A SCREW IN TIRE. ONE TIRE SHOP WOULDN'T REPAIR IT, SO I PARKED THE CAR A FEW DAYS AFTER THEY PUT THE FULL-SIZE SPARE ON IT. THEN I DROVE IT 20 MILES WITH THE SPARE, AND IT STARTED ACTIVATING THE ABS WHEN I BRAKE AT GENTLE/NORMAL SPEEDS. SO I HAD THE FLAT TIRE REPAIRED AND THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY. THERE IS NO CHANGE WITH THE FIXED TIRED PUT BACK ON/BALANCED. THE CAR ACTIVATES ABS EVERY TIME I BRAKE PRETTY MUCH NOW. I DO HAVE AWD, BUT THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. I JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE 3 MONTHS AGO USED & HAD IT THOROUGHLY INSPECTED PRIOR TO PURCHASING IT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE!

NHTSA ODI #11043963

228,000 miles · Mar 5, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineService Brakes

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD THE OIL CHANGED FOR THE SECOND TIME WITHIN 30 DAYS BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS AN OIL PROBLEM. THE LIGHT WENT OFF AS I WAS LEAVING THE PLACE. A COUPLE DAYS LATER THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHEN I MADE TURNS, BLINK, THEN GO BACK OFF. A FEW DAYS LATER, IT CAME BACK ON STEADY, AND THE CAR STARTED TO J…

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MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD THE OIL CHANGED FOR THE SECOND TIME WITHIN 30 DAYS BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS AN OIL PROBLEM. THE LIGHT WENT OFF AS I WAS LEAVING THE PLACE. A COUPLE DAYS LATER THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHEN I MADE TURNS, BLINK, THEN GO BACK OFF. A FEW DAYS LATER, IT CAME BACK ON STEADY, AND THE CAR STARTED TO JERK WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. IT WOULD JERK, THEN SLOWLY INCREASE SPEED. LAST SATURDAY, I APPLIED BRAKES, AND THE CAR ROLLED ANOTHER FEW FEET. HAD TO SWERVE LEFT TO KEEP FROM REAR ENDING A VEHICLE. TODAY, UPON SLOWING DOWN TO ENTER MY DRIVEWAY, IT DID IT AGAIN, AND I NEARLY HIT A BRICK COLUMN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DRIVEWAY. IT DOESN'T JERK FREQUENTLY, BUT IT SEEMS TO DO IT MORE OFTEN WHEN I AM ON CRUISE CONTROL. I LOVE MY SUV AND AM ALWAYS BRAGGING ABOUT WHAT A RELIABLE CAR IT IS. I CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE IT, RETIRED AND ON DISABILITY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10501468

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.