IllustrationVEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT. YH
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
What owners actually said
221 reportsVEHICLE'S AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING ACCIDENT. YH
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
GAS GAUGE FAILED TO REGISTER THE CORRECT FUEL LEFT IN TANK. TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & THE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE FAULTY GAS GAUGE. *AK
SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT PROPERLY & HAS COME LOOSE FROM THE CAR FRAME.
CAR ACCELERATED SUDDENLY FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE POSITION. CAR WAS STOPPED ONLY BY FORCING LEVER INTO PARK POSITION. *AK
WITH THE SUN ROOF OPENING WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 35 MPH, WIND THROBBING OCCURS WITHIN CAR, CAUSING PAIN IN EARS. *AK
FAILURE BEGAN AS A THUMPING IN RIGHT FRONT. PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE ALTHOUGH DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. CONTINUED UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT MANUFACTURER REP GOT INVOLVED AT WHICH TIME PARTS WERE FINALLY REPLACED. MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM IN OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES BUT APPARENTLY DID NOT NOTIFY OWNER…
Read full complaint
FAILURE BEGAN AS A THUMPING IN RIGHT FRONT. PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE ALTHOUGH DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. CONTINUED UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT MANUFACTURER REP GOT INVOLVED AT WHICH TIME PARTS WERE FINALLY REPLACED. MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM IN OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES BUT APPARENTLY DID NOT NOTIFY OWNERS.
TIRES ARE NOT ALIGNED PROPERLY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO MEET SPECIFICATIONS. VEHICLE MAY HAVE HAD PRIOR DAMAGE. *AK
WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS PARKED, RODENTS CAN FIND THEIR WAY INSIDE THE VEHICLE. HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 4 TIMES. A POOR STRUCTURE DESIGN FOR VEHICLE. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER. COULD NOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *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.