1999 Lexus RX300 Owner Complaints

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 NHTSA Campaign Number: 99V012000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 249,000.

NHTSA ID

11457845

Incident

Mar 21, 2022

Mileage

249,000 mi

TENGO. UN. PROBLEMA. CON. LOS. SINTURONES.BOLSAS. DE. AIRE. Y. ELECTROCO

NHTSA ID

11142781

Incident

Mar 2, 2018

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.

NHTSA ID

11132130

Incident

Mar 1, 2018

Mileage

90,000 mi

1999 LEXUS RX 300. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BRAKE FAILURE AND ACCELERATION ISSUES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 60MPH. *LD *JS

NHTSA ID

11119048

Incident

Feb 14, 2018

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 *TR

NHTSA ID

11075008

Incident

Jan 16, 2018

Mileage

179,825 mi

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!

NHTSA ID

11043963

Incident

Nov 6, 2017

Mileage

177,512 mi

DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT

NHTSA ID

11032188

Incident

Feb 2, 2015

Mileage

60,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11001997

Incident

Jun 14, 2017

Mileage

178,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10874742

Incident

Jun 16, 2016

Mileage

111,000 mi

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 NHTSA 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.

NHTSA ID

10870291

Incident

Mar 1, 2016

Mileage

184,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET DOING ABOUT 40 OR SO AND ALL FOUR WHEELS LOCKED UP AT ONCE SUDDENLY. IT CAUSING THE CAR TO A COME PLEAT STOP IN THE ROAD. THE CAR BEHIND ME HAD TO LOCK UP ALL MOST CAUSING A ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

10864264

Incident

May 10, 2016

Mileage

14,200 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WITHOUT THE DIAGNOSTIC CODE READER. IF THE DIAGNOSTIC CODE READER WAS REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT SEVERAL DIFFERENT FAILURE CODES APPEARED FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES FOR SEVERAL CODES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE, BUT WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER A REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000.

NHTSA ID

10850076

Incident

Dec 1, 2015

Mileage

230,000 mi

ON JANUARY 17TH, 2016, I TOOK MY '99 LEXUS RX300 TO CHURCH, PARKED THE CAR, AND JOINED THE SUNDAY SERVICE. AN HOUR AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE (DURING WHICH TIME IT WAS NOT RUNNING OR IN USE), I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM IT AND WENT OUTSIDE. WITHIN MINUTES, THE FRONT END WAS BURSTING IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE ENTIRE FRONT PORTION OF THE CAR, INCLUDING THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, TIRES, AND DASHBOARD. I DON'T KNOW WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE; IT WAS SEEMINGLY RANDOM.

NHTSA ID

10821349

Incident

Jan 17, 2016

Mileage

144,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300,000.

NHTSA ID

10671427

Incident

Jan 8, 2015

Mileage

300,000 mi

AT APPROX 195,000 THE TRANSMISSION HAS COMPLETELY FAILED. I RECOGNIZE MILEAGE MIGHT BE HIGH BUT I BELIEVE THAT AS ENGINE IS GOOD FOR 250,000 TO 300,000 THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD ALSO BE RATED THAT HIGH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10660710

Incident

Sep 1, 2014

Mileage

195,000 mi

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT DOWNSHIFT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10611413

Incident

Jul 17, 2014

THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE 2013- THE CAR GOES UP TO 35 MPHS AND THEN LOSES POWER AND THEN SHUTS OFF. I HAVE TO FORCEFULLY PULL IT OVER TO THE SIDE. FIRST TIME IT WAS WORKED ON REPLACED BATTERY AND THOUGHT IT WAS THE COMPUTER. A YEAR LATER AT 136,000 MILES THE CAR MAKES ELECTRICAL NOISES AND HAS DIFFICULTY ACCELERATING AND SHIFTING ABOVE 3000 RPMS. WHEN BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION AND SOLENOID. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT AND NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10569371

Incident

Mar 14, 2013

Mileage

120,000 mi

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD THE OIL CHANGED FOR THE SECOND TIME WITHIN 30 DAYS BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS AN OIL PROBLEM. THE LIGHT WENT OFF AS I WAS LEAVING THE PLACE. A COUPLE DAYS LATER THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHEN I MADE TURNS, BLINK, THEN GO BACK OFF. A FEW DAYS LATER, IT CAME BACK ON STEADY, AND THE CAR STARTED TO JERK WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. IT WOULD JERK, THEN SLOWLY INCREASE SPEED. LAST SATURDAY, I APPLIED BRAKES, AND THE CAR ROLLED ANOTHER FEW FEET. HAD TO SWERVE LEFT TO KEEP FROM REAR ENDING A VEHICLE. TODAY, UPON SLOWING DOWN TO ENTER MY DRIVEWAY, IT DID IT AGAIN, AND I NEARLY HIT A BRICK COLUMN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DRIVEWAY. IT DOESN'T JERK FREQUENTLY, BUT IT SEEMS TO DO IT MORE OFTEN WHEN I AM ON CRUISE CONTROL. I LOVE MY SUV AND AM ALWAYS BRAGGING ABOUT WHAT A RELIABLE CAR IT IS. I CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE IT, RETIRED AND ON DISABILITY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10501468

Incident

Feb 28, 2013

Mileage

228,000 mi

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER LEXUS 300 RX TO A GROCERY STORE WHEN CAR STOPPED TO REACT ON THE ACCELATOR PEDAL, THEN SUDDENLY, THE LEXUS VERY STRONGLY ACCELERATED - THIS ALSO HAPPEND BEFORE - AND ITS VERY SCARY. CASE # [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10476708

Incident

Sep 21, 2012

Mileage

120,000 mi

ON APRIL 25, 2012, MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING TO MY BROTHERS HOME, A DISTANCE OF 50 MILES. ABOUT TWO MILES FROM OUR DESTINATION, WE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I ACCELERATED AND THE CAR WENT FORWARD ABOUT TEN FEET AND LURCHED TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. WE WERE THROWN FORWARD, AND THE DRIVER BEHIND US HAD TO JAM HIS BRAKES. WE WERE ABLE TO LEAVE THE INTERSECTION ONLY BY PUTTING THE CAR IN LOW GEAR AND SLOWLY MOVING THROUGH THE TRAFFIC TO THE FAR RIGHT LANE AND INTO A BANK PARKING LOT. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A NEARBY MECHANIC. THE FOLLOWING DAY I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE MECHANIC WHO QUOTED $3,766 FOR TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. I AUTHORIZED THE WORK TO BE DONE. ON APRIL 27, I TOLD A FRIEND WHO WAS VISITING OUR AREA FROM CANADA OF THE INCIDENT. THAT DAY, HE SPOKE WITH AN ACQUAINTANCE WHO IS A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE FOR A CANADIAN LEXUS DEALER. HE SAID THAT FAILURE AT AROUND 100,000 MILES IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 1999 LEXUS RX300 AND THAT LEXUS HAD BEEN WORKING WITH CUSTOMERS ON THIS ISSUE .I WENT TO THE INTERNET TO SEE WHAT I COULD LEARN. THERE WAS NO RECALL, BUT THERE WERE SITES REFERENCING THE PERVASIVENESS OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN THE RX300. FROM WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED , WE BELIEVE THAT TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON THE 1999 LEXUS RX300 OCCURS FREQUENTLY AT AROUND 100,000 MILES AND IS CAUSED BY A DESIGN FLAW IN THAT MODEL YEAR. THAT BEING THE CASE, IT SEEMS TO US THAT LEXUS OUGHT TO HAVE TAKEN PREEMPTIVE ACTION SO THAT OWNERS SUCH AS MY WIFE AND I WOULD NOT HAVE TO SUFFER A NEAR COLLISION, NOT TO MENTION UNNECESSARY COSTS AND INCONVENIENCE. LEXUS OFFERED A TOKEN SERVICE CREDIT BUT WAS UNWILLING TO ADMIT TO ANY INHERENT PROBLEM IN THE RX300 TRANSMISSIONS AND OFFERED NO COMMENT REGARDING OUR SUGGESTION THAT THE OWNERS SHOULD BE FOREWARNED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT AROUND 100,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID

10462643

Incident

Apr 25, 2012

Mileage

106,857 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED SLIGHTLY TOPREPARE FOR A TURN WHEN THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REDUCE SPEED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED FORCEFULLY. THE VEHICLE THEN TRAVELED OVER THE CURB AND CRASHED INTO A CEMENT BARRIER. THE REAR PASSENGER SUFFERED MINOR INJURY TO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

NHTSA ID

10453909

Incident

Apr 1, 2012

Mileage

97,000 mi

MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON THIS CAR ON THE FREEWAY LEAVING ME IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH MY 8 MONTH OLD CHILD. THIS TRANSMISSION WAS JUST REBUILT A YEAR AGO. YOU ARE PROBABLY AWARE THAT THIS ISSUE IS BEYOND PREVALENT. STORIES AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT EARLY TRANSMISSION FAILURE ARE ALL OVER THE INTERNET. YOU ARE PROBABLY ALREADY AWARE. SO IS LEXUS AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WILL SOMEONE HAVE TO GET KILLED BEFORE YOU DEMAND A RECALL? ME AND MY BABY COULD HAVE VERY EASILY HAVE BEEN KILLED YESTERDAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10446923

Incident

Feb 5, 2012

Mileage

116,000 mi

THE PASSENGER SIDE, REAR SEATBELT IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. IT KEEPS GETTING STUCK IN THE TRACK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10437395

Incident

Sep 6, 2010

1. ON 08/17/11 AROUND 9PM, OUR 1999 LEXUS RX300 WAS SUDDENLY FAILED IN HIGHWAY OF THE YOSEMITE MOUNTAIN. 2. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO LEXUS DEALER SAN JOSE, CA. THE TECHNICIAN IDENTIFIED THAT IT CAUSED BY TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WE NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WHICH IS CAUSED US $5000. I TOLD THE CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON TO KEEP THE REPLACED PART TILL NEXT TUESDAY WHICH IS 08/23/11. WE GOGGLED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS THE KNOWN ISSUE OF RX300 BETWEEN 1999 THROUGH 2002 MODEL YEARS. THE TRANSAXLE (LEXUS TRANSMISSION) WOULD FAIL AFTER 80,000 MILES OF DRIVING ACCORDING TO OWNERS WHO REPORTED THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. OUR CAR IS JUST OVER 80,000 MILES. WE DON'T DRIVE THAT MUCH ALTHOUGH IT IS 1999 MODEL. ACCORDING TO THE ARTICLE ON THE EHOW WEBSITE, THERE IS NO FACTORY RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED TO ADDRESS THE TRANSMISSION PREMATURE FAILURE ISSUE. THERE ARE MANY MOMS INCLUDING MYSELF WHO DRIVE THIS CAR EVERYDAY WITH YOUNG KID ON BOARD. MY SON IS 7 YEARS OLD. I PERSONAL KNOW AT LEAST 3 MOMS WITH 4 KIDS (5-7 YEARS OLD) WHO DRIVE SAME MODEL YEAR CAR. PLEASE WORK ON THIS CASE ASAP. AT LEASE PLEASE RELEASE THE WARNING TO THE CUSTOMER TO CHECK THEIR TRANSMISSION. WE HOPE THAT WE ARE THE LAST PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE THIS TRAGEDY INCIDENT. THANKS GOD WE WERE SAFE. THIS YOSEMITE TRIP WE PLANNED TO GO DURING THE WINTER TIME. THANKS GOD WE DIDN'T MAKE IT AT THAT TIME. THE CAR FAILED AREA, OUR ATT CELL EVEN COULDN'T DIAL OUT 911. THANKS GOD THERE IS NICE PERSON STOPPED HIS CAR AND SAVED US. THANKS GOD THE CAR DIDN'T FAILED AT MOUNTAIN FIRE AREA, MY SON HAD ASTHMA REACTION TO THE SMOCK. THANKS GOD THAT THERE WAS NO CAR BEHIND US AND THERE IS A HIGHWAY TURN OVER RIGHT AHEAD OF US. THANK GOD WE ARE SAFE ALTHOUGH WE WERE SCARED TO DEATH AND COULDN'T SLEEP WELL AT NIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10420123

Incident

Aug 17, 2011

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS RX300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH UPHILL THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND THE REPAIR COST WOULD BE $5000. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT A REPRESENTATIVE WOULD RETURN THE CALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

NHTSA ID

10420105

Incident

Aug 17, 2011

Mileage

89,000 mi