IllustrationLEXUS RX300 1999 MODEL COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT JUST OVER 100K MILES. BASED ON INTERNET COMMENTS THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE A RECALL. COST TO REPLACE IS FROM $3500-4500. ON AN EXPENSIVE CAR LIKE THIS, IT IS CRAZY. *TR
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 JUST DRIVING ALONG AND AS I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE THE RPMS WENT REAL HIGH AND THE SPEED WOULD NOT INCREASE. AFTER STOPPING AND STARTING AGAIN IT BEGAN JERKING AND WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS. IT TURNED OUT THAT MY TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. I BOUGHT A 2000 RECONDITIONED ONE TO SAVE MONEY. NOW I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT! *TR
MY 1999 LEXUS RX300 TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY BROKE WHILE DRIVING. THE RPMS WENT UP THEN THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS FULL. THE CAR SERVICE RECORD IS AS RECOMMENDED BY LEXUS. MILEAGE AROUND 110,000M. I FOUND ON THE WEB HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR REPORTED PROBLEMS BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS IS AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. PLEA…
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MY 1999 LEXUS RX300 TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY BROKE WHILE DRIVING. THE RPMS WENT UP THEN THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS FULL. THE CAR SERVICE RECORD IS AS RECOMMENDED BY LEXUS. MILEAGE AROUND 110,000M. I FOUND ON THE WEB HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR REPORTED PROBLEMS BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS IS AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. PLEASE CHECK IT OUT AND TAKE ACTION TO HAVE LEXUS STAND BEHIND THE CAR. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED. *TR
I HAVE HAD CONTINUED PROBLEMS, THAT AT TIMES LEFT ME STRANDED. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BROKE ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS. AT THIS TIME IT LEFT ME WITHOUT THE 3RD AND THE OVERDRIVE GEAR (4TH) WHILE DRIVING ON A MAIN INTERSTATE CAUSING A HAZARD DUE TO THE SPEED IN WHICH I WAS TRAVELING. THE POSTED SPEED WAS 65, BUT I COULD ONLY TRAVEL A…
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I HAVE HAD CONTINUED PROBLEMS, THAT AT TIMES LEFT ME STRANDED. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BROKE ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS. AT THIS TIME IT LEFT ME WITHOUT THE 3RD AND THE OVERDRIVE GEAR (4TH) WHILE DRIVING ON A MAIN INTERSTATE CAUSING A HAZARD DUE TO THE SPEED IN WHICH I WAS TRAVELING. THE POSTED SPEED WAS 65, BUT I COULD ONLY TRAVEL AT 35MPH. *TR
I OWN A 1999 LEXUS RX300 FWD. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. WHEN I BOUGHT IT JAN 2008 IGNITION COIL 1 AND 3 FAILED. TWO MONTHS LATER 3, , AND 6 FAILED. BOTH TIMES WHEN VEHICLE FAILED I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 85 VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO OVER 45 AND WOULD NOT GO INTO OVERDRIVE!!! NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS ACTIN…
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I OWN A 1999 LEXUS RX300 FWD. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. WHEN I BOUGHT IT JAN 2008 IGNITION COIL 1 AND 3 FAILED. TWO MONTHS LATER 3, , AND 6 FAILED. BOTH TIMES WHEN VEHICLE FAILED I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 85 VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO OVER 45 AND WOULD NOT GO INTO OVERDRIVE!!! NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS ACTING UP. IT IS SLIPPING AND ALSO DECIDES TO GEAR DOWN WHEN DOING 70MPH DOWN THE INTERSTATE. WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AND THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T MOVE, FINALLY CAUGHT GEAR AND JERKED. WAS ALMOST HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS SO CALLED "LUXURY VEHICLE". IT IS STILL UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, AND IS GOING TO LEXUS DEALERSHIP TOMM. I CANT WAIT TO HEAR WHAT THEY SAY THE OUT COME IS. CAR HAS BEEN FULLY SERVICED AND UP TO DATE. JUST CAME OUT OF LEXUS DEALERSHIP 2 WEEKS AGO HAVING PROBLEMS!!??? NOW ITS GOING BACK. LEXUS NEEDS TO RECALL THE TRANSMISSIONS THEY ARE FAULTY!! I HAVE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS AND NOT ONE ACTION FROM THE MANUFACTURER YET?? THEY HAVE ALREADY REPLACE REAR MAIN SEALS, CAM SEALS, AND SOMETHING ELSE AT 2000.00 DOLLARS...UGH WHEN ITS COLD, IT TAKES THE CAR ABOUT 12 MINS TO GO INTO OVERDRIVE. I KEEP HEARING A WHINING SOUND, AND SHUDDER SOUNDS. I ONLY HAVE LIKE 16,000 MILES LEFT ON WARRANTY. SO SOME ONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT TO DO OR WHERE TO GO!!! THIS IS SUCH A HEADACHE!! *TR
SIMPLY DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP, VERY QUICKLY (20-30 MILES) THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING SO BADLY THE CAR HAD TO BE PUT INTO 2ND GEAR TO GET IT TO THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP. THE CAR WILL NOT DRIVE IN DRIVE AND CAN ONLY MOVE FORWARD IN THE LOWER AUTOMATIC GEARS. *TR
I AM THE OWNER A 1999 LEXUS RX 300 THAT HAD A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. DEPENDING ON WHO I TALK TO IT WILL COST ANYWHERE FROM $4000 TO $6500 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. I FOUND OUT SINCE THIS FAILURE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. MY SOURCE FOR THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN THE INTERNET, TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOPS AND THE DE…
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I AM THE OWNER A 1999 LEXUS RX 300 THAT HAD A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. DEPENDING ON WHO I TALK TO IT WILL COST ANYWHERE FROM $4000 TO $6500 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. I FOUND OUT SINCE THIS FAILURE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. MY SOURCE FOR THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN THE INTERNET, TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOPS AND THE DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEES THEMSELVES. THIS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR A WHILE. LEXUS SHOULD DO THE RIGHT THING AND RECALL THESE VEHICLES TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A TRANSMISSION THAT HAS A DESIGN FLAW. THANK YOU *TR
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 1999 LEXUS RX300 FAILED. THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO INDICATION OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE FULL FAILURE OCCURRED. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT STALLED AND WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS LOOKS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT WILL COST ME $5000 TO REPAIR. *TR
THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS CAR WENT COMPLETELY DEAD LAST WEEK. THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE AND THEN IT SUDDENLY WOULD NOT GO ANYWHERE. YOU CAN PUT THE CAR IN GEAR AND PUSH GAS BUT IT WON'T BUDGE. I GOT IT TOWED TO A LEXUS DEALERSHIP AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS GONE. *TR
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK @ MIDNIGHT IN HER 1999 LEXUS RX300 WITH 98,000 MILES AND TRANSMISSION GOES OUT WITH NO PREVIOUS SIGNS OF MALFUNCTION. NOW A NEW TRANSMISSION IS NEEDED AT THE PRICE OF $4000. MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THE LEXUS RX300 HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AND FEEL LEXUS SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR POOR PRODUCT. *TR
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.