IllustrationMY TRANSMISSION BROKE DOWN ON ME AND HAD TO BE REPLACED ON MY 1999 LEXUS RX 300, WITH LESS THAN 124,000 MILES. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOING BAD.
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
Power Train complaints
129 reportsI WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED SUDDENLY LEAVING ME STRANDED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO DECELERATE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND BEGAN HEARING A GRINDING SOUND. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND WAS TOWED T…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO DECELERATE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND BEGAN HEARING A GRINDING SOUND. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NO GOOD. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 105,000.
THE LEXUS RX300 HAD 123000 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHEN TRAFFIC WAS AT ITS PEAK. I HAVE LEARNT AFTER THE FACT THAT THE RX300 TRANSMISSION PRONE TO FAILURE AND LEXUS HAD NOT POSTED ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THIS.*AK
TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 169K WITH NO WARNING, CAR HAS BEEN FULLY SERVICED ACCORDING TO LEXUS GUIDELINES. DEALER WANTS $5K TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS RX300. AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WITH CLEAR ROAD CONDITIONS, THE TRANSMISSION UNEXPECTEDLY SHIFTED GEARS. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK FOLLOWED BY A LOSS IN POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS INTERNAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURREN…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS RX300. AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WITH CLEAR ROAD CONDITIONS, THE TRANSMISSION UNEXPECTEDLY SHIFTED GEARS. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK FOLLOWED BY A LOSS IN POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS INTERNAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE VEHICLE MILEAGE WERE 103000. *AK
AT 67,000, MY TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT. FORTUNATELY, THIS OCCURRED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND NOT ON THE ROAD. NO WARNING, JUST NO TRANSMISSION. AFTER REPLACING TRANSMISSION, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STUCK ON. REPLACED A BROKEN SENSOR. I AM OUT $4,000.00 FOR A DEFECT THAT I BELIEVE LEXUS IS VERY AWARE OF. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS RX 300. WHILE SHIFTING IN REVERSE OR SECOND GEAR THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE LOCAL MECHANIC ON 02/11/07 STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND THE PLANETARY ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000. *AK UPDATE 4/9 *TR
I HAVE A LEXUS RX300 AWD AND JUST FOUND OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT 120,000 MILES. I WAS VERY SHOCKED WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT AND IT WOULD BE $5720 TO REPAIR IT. I AM VERY DISGUSTED WITH THIS BECAUSE I STARTED RESEARCHING THE ISSU…
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I HAVE A LEXUS RX300 AWD AND JUST FOUND OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT 120,000 MILES. I WAS VERY SHOCKED WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT AND IT WOULD BE $5720 TO REPAIR IT. I AM VERY DISGUSTED WITH THIS BECAUSE I STARTED RESEARCHING THE ISSUE AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS "SO CALLED LUXURY VEHICLE" THAT IS SUPPOSE TO LAST YOU TO 250,000 MILES OR MORE. *NM
NO EVENTS LEADING TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE NEEDS REPLACING. *NM
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.