1999 Lexus RX Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1999 Lexus RX, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Transmission2460.0%
- Powertrain (other)410.0%
- Seat belts37.5%
- Engine37.5%
- Airbags12.5%
- Suspension12.5%
- Tires & wheels12.5%
- Electrical12.5%
- Driver assistance12.5%
- Other / unspecified12.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION. *TR
1999 LEXUS RX300 TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION FAILED. *TR
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE RETURNING FROM A FAMILY TRIP FROM MISSISSIPPI AT APPROXIMATELY 150 MILES FROM MY HOME THE RX300 STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY AND WOULD NOT PULL FORWARD IN ANY DRIVE POSITION. IT WAS ABOUT 10PM AND MOST BUSINESSES WERE CLOSED. AFTER PULLING OFF THE ROAD, I TRIED PUTTING THE CAR IN VARIOUS DRIVE POSITIONS AND IT WOULD NEVER GAIN ANY MOMENTUM. I SLOWLY PULLED BACK ONTO THE HIGHWAY USING MY EMERGENCY BLINKERS WHILE THE CAR WOULD PULL SLOWLY AT TIMES AND NOT AT ALL AT OTHERS. FINALLY I WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF THE HIGHWAY TO A GAS STATION AT THE EXIT. I ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO COOL DOWN FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND TRIED TO MOVE IT AGAIN AND IT MOVED ABOUT TWENTY FEET AND STOPPED AGAIN. FORTUNATELY I HAD NOT GOTTEN ON THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO COAST BACK TO A PARKING AREA. I THEN HAD TO HAVE A TOW TRUCK PICK UP MY CAR AND TOW IT THE 150 MILES BACK TO MY CITY TO MY MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY GONE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR HAD BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND PREVIOUSLY HAD NO PROBLEMS. THE CAR WAS THOROUGHLY CHECKED OUT BY A MECHANIC ONLY THREE MONTHS BEFORE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
REAR SEAT BELT PASSENGER SIDE IS LOCKED UP AND WILL NOT EXTEND. WE ARE UNABLE TO PROPERLY PLACE SEATBELT - A DEFINITE SAFETY CONCERN. AT THIS MOMENT, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING IT LOOKED AT BY A LEXUS DEALER. *JB
WHILE ON VACATION THIS PAST WEEKEND MY 7 1/2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS UNABLE TO FASTEN HER SEAT BEAT! I HAD TO MOVE HER BOOSTER SEAT TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE REAR OF THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO LEXUS TO HAVE THEM REPAIR THIS SAFETY FEATURE. I WAS INFORMED IT WOULD COST ME $250 TO REPAIR. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT STOPPED WORKING IN 2003 AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT AND LEXUS CLAIMED IS WAS FINE. IT STILL DOESN'T WORK. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN DRIVING MY LEXUS RX 300 1999 IT FEELS VERY FORCED AND WHEN ON THE EXPRESS WAY THE RPM GOES UP TO 5 WHEN IM DRIVING 60MPH AND WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND ITS TIME TO GO MY CAR STALLS AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL VERY SCARY WHEN I HAVE MY NEWBORN AND A 7 YEAR OLD IN THE CAR. I HAVE MAINTAINED MY CAR TO THE UPMOST STANDARDS FROM THE BEST GAS SYNTHETIC OIL CHANGES CONSTANTLY CHECKING EVERYTHING IS IN GOOD CONDITIONS . FOR A LEXUS I AM VERY UPSET BECAUSE MY MECHANIC HAS SAID ITS THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE IT WHICH COSTS 4-5,000 DOLLARS AND I MEAN IS A 15 YEAR OLD CAR WORTH PUTTING 5 GRAND INTO IT? I EXPECTED THIS CAR TO LAST ME A LITTLE BIT LONGER I MEAN FROM WHAT I WAS TOLD THIS CAR SHOULD GO TO ALMOST 300,000 BUT ITS OBVIOUSLY NOT. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT A LEXUS WOULD HAVE THIS COMMON PROBLEM FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN AND READ. *JS
LEXUS RX 300 ENGINE DIED AT 90K WITH NO WARNING. WAS STRANDED ON DARK HIGHWAY. PAID 4K TO REPLACE ENGINE. VERY DISAPPOINTING FOR SUCH EXPENSIVE CAR. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 LEXUS RX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS AT STAND STILL ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE GARAGE AND ALLOWED THE FRONT PASSENGER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN. THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED WITH BOTH FEET BUT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE WALL, A TABLE SAW, A LARGE WOODEN TWO LAYERED WORK BEN, A CONCRETE WALL, INTO A DEN DOWNSTAIRS OF THE HOME, A POOL TABLE, AND A BAR SECTION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT STATED SHE SUSTAINED BACK, KNEE AND SHOULDER INJURIES AND WAS CURRENTLY ATTENDING PHYSICAL THERAPY. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND A VOICEMAIL WAS LEFT. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 1999 LEXUS RX 300 NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH ONLY 70,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE STRUTS, THE RADIO ANTENNA MOTOR AND HAVE A MAJOR OIL LEAK REPAIRED. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
EVEN THOUGH HAVING ALL MAJOR SERVICE PERFORMED BY THE LEXUS DEALER, PLUS HAVING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FILTER CHANGED TWICE, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDS REPLACING AT A HIGH COST. I AM AWARE OF HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE RX300 THERE IS ONLY 69,930 MILES ON THIS LEXUS AND HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED THIS IS MY FIRST AND LAST LEXUS/TOYOTA AS LEXUS/TOYOTA DON'T TAKE CARE OF THERE CUSTOMERS THEY NO OF THIS VERY BIG PROBLEM AND THEY DO NOTHING I DON'T SEE WHY THERE IS NOT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT LIKE THE MOTOR SLUDGE / OIL GEL CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT I WILL STICK TO AMERICAN MADE CARS NOT ONLY DOES IT COST LESS TO REPAIR THEM THEY LAST LONGER THEN 69,000 MILES LIKE THIS LEXUS PIECE OF '!@#$% I NOW HAVE TO PAY $6200.00 TO FIX AND THE EXTENDED WARRANTY I BOUGHT AT THE TIME IF SALE OF THE LEXUS DON'T COVER CRAP. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 1999 LEXUS RX 300 NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH ONLY 70,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE STRUTS, THE RADIO ANTENNA MOTOR AND HAVE A MAJOR OIL LEAK REPAIRED. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 LEXUS RX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS AT STAND STILL ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE GARAGE AND ALLOWED THE FRONT PASSENGER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN. THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED WITH BOTH FEET BUT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE WALL, A TABLE SAW, A LARGE WOODEN TWO LAYERED WORK BEN, A CONCRETE WALL, INTO A DEN DOWNSTAIRS OF THE HOME, A POOL TABLE, AND A BAR SECTION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT STATED SHE SUSTAINED BACK, KNEE AND SHOULDER INJURIES AND WAS CURRENTLY ATTENDING PHYSICAL THERAPY. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND A VOICEMAIL WAS LEFT. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING MY 1999 RX300 ON THE HIGHWAY, THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON ME. I FELT I WAS LOSING POWER AND DECIDED TO PULL OVER ON THE SHOULDER. I THEN TRY TO TURN OFF MY ENGINE TO SEE IF RESTARTING IT BACK UP WILL RESOLVE THE ISSUE. WHEN I START THE CAR BACK UP AND PUT IT ON DRIVE, THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE. NEEDLESS TO SAY I HAD TO CALL A TOW TO TOW MY CAR BACK HOME. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .