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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 →

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

Visibility complaints

5 reports
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Mileage unknown · May 14, 2010
Power TrainSteeringVisibility

I HAVE A POPPING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I HOPE THAT THE STEERING IS NOT LOST FROM THIS POPPING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10330520

Mileage unknown · Dec 14, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingSuspension

I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MY 1999 LEXUS RX300. I HAVE NOTICE VIA THE INTERNET THAT THESE ARE WIDE SPREAD PROBLEMS BUT NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN OCCURRING. THESE ARE THE INCIDENCES THAT I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH: * DEBRIS CAN GET INTO THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE THAT ALLOWS AIR INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO HAV…

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I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MY 1999 LEXUS RX300. I HAVE NOTICE VIA THE INTERNET THAT THESE ARE WIDE SPREAD PROBLEMS BUT NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN OCCURRING. THESE ARE THE INCIDENCES THAT I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH: * DEBRIS CAN GET INTO THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE THAT ALLOWS AIR INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO HAVE A LOW IDLE SPEED, OR STALL WHEN IT IS COLD. (THIS OCCURRED IN THE PAST, PERHAPS 2004. LEXUS EVENTUALLY REPLACED MY ENGINE IN 2005.) * SLUDGE CAN BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE. I ROUTINELY HAVE TO HAVE THE SLUDGE CLEANED OUT TO AVOID ENGINE PROBLEMS. * THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT COMES ON BECAUSE THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR SENDS INCORRECT INFORMATION TO THE ENGINE'S COMPUTER. THIS CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF POWER ON ACCELERATION. (THIS STARTED OCCURRING ON DECEMBER 11, 2008.) * THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT COMES ON BECAUSE A COMPONENT OF THE OXYGEN SENSOR STOPS WORKING, AND THE CAR IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROPER RATIO OF AIR TO FUEL FOR THE ENGINE. (THIS HAS OCCURRED IN THE PAST, PERHAPS 2005. WE HAD TO PAY FOR NEW AIR FLOW SENSORS.) * LIGHT BULBS FREQUENTLY BURN OUT IN THE TAILLIGHTS. * THE FRONT SUSPENSION MAKES VERY LOUD NOISES WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS OR ROUGH ROADS. THE SUPPORT BUSHING FOR THE SUSPENSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. (THIS BEGAN HAPPENING IN DECEMBER 2007. LEXUS TOLD US WE NEED NEW STRUTS.) * A THROBBING WIND NOISE FROM THE MOONROOF. ONE CANNOT HAVE THE MOONROOF OPEN AT THE SAME TIME AS THE WINDOWS OR ONES EAR DRUMS EXPERIENCE SEVERE PAIN. (THIS HAS EXISTED FROM PURCHASE.) I BELIEVE THE 1999 LEXUS RX 300 MIGHT VERY WELL BE A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR THE LEMON LAWS, YET WE'RE NOT SEEING PROBLEMS BEING ADDRESSED WITH RECALLS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10251716

Mileage unknown · Jun 14, 2001
VisibilityFire

WHILE DRIVING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM UNDER THE HOOD, HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND STOP. HAD NO PRIOR WARNING OF PROBLEM. VEHICLE DESTROYED. INSURANCE ADJUSTOR INDICATED PROBLEM WAS A FAN MOTOR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #890402

Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2000
Visibility

WHEN REAR WINDOWS ARE OPENED AND VEHICLE IS TRAVELING OVER 30MPH ROOF SHAKES AND VIBRATES. ALSO, THE PASSENGER'S EARS START TO POP. DEALER IS AWARE AND SAYS IT'S NORMAL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #857791

Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 1999
Visibility

WITH THE SUN ROOF OPENING WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 35 MPH, WIND THROBBING OCCURS WITHIN CAR, CAUSING PAIN IN EARS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #716067

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.