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 the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 99V012000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 249,000.
The worst 1999 Lexus RX300 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Transmission129
- Engine28
- Airbags14
- Acceleration11
- Brakes11
- Seat belts10
- Electrical8
- Tires7
- Lights6
- Suspension6
- Visibility5
- Body4
- Driver assistance3
- Fuel system3
- Steering3
- Locks2
- Wheels2
- Seats1
Specific symptoms reported on the 1999 Lexus RX300
Transmission failure 61Check engine light 14Jerking 14Fire or smoke 9Stalling 8Won't shift 8No deployment 7Engine failure 7Slipping 7Shudder 6Loss of power 5Seat belt 5
Recalls 2
Exterior lighting: headlights: switch
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 99V011000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: differential proportional valve
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- This condition can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install modified brake tubes.
Recall number 99V012000 · Recall details
See all 2 recalls for the 1999 Lexus RX300
Defect investigations
Engine seizure
DP02004
Technical service bulletins for the 1999 Lexus RX300 120
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Lexus Safety Recall and Service Campaign
- POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground...
- Safety Recall and Service Campaign
- Supersession notice
- Obsolete notice
- Replacement Certification Labels
- The Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset is a feature that allows the registration of new keys when all master...
- LSB: The procedure in this bulletin is a general guideline on how to properly diagnose the air...
- LSB: When servicing interior electrical switches and components, please note the precautions in this...
- The purpose of this bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic...
1999 Lexus RX300 fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6‑cyl | FWD | 17 | 22 | 19 |
What 1999 Lexus RX300 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Tengo. Un. Problema. Con. Los. Sinturones.bolsas. De. Aire. Y. Electroco
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 lexus rx300. While driving 35 MPH, the headlights dimmed and made visibility very difficult for the contact. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
1999 lexus rx 300. Consumer writes in regards to brake failure and acceleration issues while driving vehicle at 60mph. *ld
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 lexus rx300. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the rpms suddenly increased and the vehicle accelerated to speeds above 85 MPH. During the incident, flames were seen coming from the exhaust. The contact sustained a neck injury, which required medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who indicated that the flames created a hole in the catalytic converter and the oxygen sensor was faulty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer (o'brien lexus in bellevue wa) were notified. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 179,825. *tt
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!
Driver side seat belt does not retract
Tl* the contact owned a 1999 lexus rx300. While driving 45 MPH in inclement weather, the contact crashed into the rear of a stopped vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained head and left knee injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and then towed to her residence. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 178,000. The vehicle was destroyed.
On 06/16/16 I pulled into driveway engage emergency brakes place vehicle in park and got off. Immediately I realized vehicle was rolling forward I attempted to start to brake and got nothing. I noticed that vehicle was in reverse I attempted to place in park and got nothing lever was free sliding not engaging any gears. I immediately got online to attempt to troubleshoot issue and ran into a handful of blogs relating to an issue in gear shifter cable with a plastic retaining clip which lexus uses on cable. I had no indication or any sort of warning of this issue before it occurred it just happen out of the blue and it could have been worse if I was actually on the road when this happened. I have read that lexus is not standing behind this mistake and feel that it is horrible to allow a company that sells such expensive vehicles to employ this practice and endanger consumers, specifically for such an inexpensive piece. I had to get under vehicle to manually engage trasmission into neutral to be able to start vehicle and properly park by again getting under vehicle and placing in reverse and the drive, I was unable to get back into park for some reason will lift vehicle in the morning and attempt to see why will also be attempting to repair and will then have more of an idea of the issue and pictures relating to this matter
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 lexus rx300. The brake light failed to illuminate when the brake pedal was depressed. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who informed the contact of the federal safety agency campaign number: 99v011000 (exterior lighting), which was related to the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 184,000.
Compare the 1999 Lexus RX300
Other model years
Questions about the 1999 Lexus RX300
Is the 1999 Lexus RX300 reliable?
Owners have filed 221 complaints about the 1999 Lexus RX300, 2.5 times a typical RX300 model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Lexus RX300?
Transmission and drivetrain, with 129 complaints, typically around 106,857 miles. Next is engine (28).
How many recalls does the 1999 Lexus RX300 have?
2 recalls, covering exterior lighting and service brakes, hydraulic.
What year does the Lexus RX300 have bad transmission?
The Lexus RX300 model years with the most transmission complaints are 2000 (138 complaints), 1999 (129 complaints) and 2001 (123 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1999 Lexus RX300 get?
Official estimates for the 1999 Lexus RX300 range from 19 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.0L 6-cyl, FWD) gets 17 city and 22 highway.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 1999 Lexus RX300?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history