IllustrationTHE DISPLAYS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ARE TOO DIM . THE DRIVER HAS TO TAKE EYES OFF THE ROAD FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME TO READ. THIS COULD CAUSE A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURHTER INFORMATION. *AK
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 reportsWIND DEFLECTOR BECAME DISCONNECTED FROM VEHICLE DUE TO THE WEAK NYLON NUT INSERT,SCREWS AND CRUDE WORKMANSHIP. NLM
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AND LANDED ON THE ROOF. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO THE ENGINE WOULD NOT CUT OFF. PLEASE GIVE ANY 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
CONSUMER WAS HIT BY A VEHICLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE THAT WAS GOING AT APPROXIMATELY 40-50 MPH, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER , FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO WARNING OF DEFECT.MANIFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED . *AK
CAR WAS BROADSIDED AND FLIPPED, YET NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED *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
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THROUGH A PARK AND HER LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT ON THE SIDEWALL. TIRES ARE MADE FOR HIGHWAY DRIVING ONLY, AND VEHICLE'S MANUAL DOES NOT IDENTIFY THE TIRES THAT ARE ON THE CAR. DEALERSHIP SAY THE TIRES ARE FACTORY INSTALLED. *AK
DURING HARD ACCELERATION FROM A STANDING START, ON DRY PAVEMENT, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE LOSES TRACTION AND SPINS FREE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO TO THE LEFT. AFTER TURNING STEERING WHEEL, VEHICLE GOES TO THE RIGHT AND BACK OFF THE ACCELERATOR, THE TIRE GRABS AND VEHICLE VIOLENTLY GOES TO THE RIGHT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK
UPON BACKING UP THE FRONT BRAKES MAKE A HORRIBLE SQUEALING NOISE. DEALER STATED CANNOT FIX PROBLEM.
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.