1999 Lexus RX300 problems & reliability
221 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1999 Lexus RX300. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
11 complaints report injuries (16 injured).
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 129 | 58% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 24 | 11% |
| Air Bags | 14 | 6% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 | 5% |
| Seat Belts | 10 | 5% |
| Electrical System | 8 | 4% |
| Tires | 7 | 3% |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 | 3% |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 6 | 3% |
| Suspension | 6 | 3% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Mileage when problems occurred
Half of the failures with a reported odometer reading occurred by 104,500 miles (middle 50% between 83,388 and 139,000 miles), based on 146 complaints that included mileage.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“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…”
Service Brakes · filed Mar 22, 2022
“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…”
Exterior Lighting · filed Sep 28, 2018
“1999 lexus rx 300. Consumer writes in regards to brake failure and acceleration issues while driving vehicle at 60mph. *ld *js”
Service Brakes · filed Aug 22, 2018
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Federal defect investigations
- ENGINE SEIZURE
Defect Petition DP02004 · opened Apr 30, 2002 · closed Jun 20, 2002
Technical service bulletins
120 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 1999 Lexus RX300. The 10 most recent:
Lexus Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements 4.13.2022
Safety Recall 22 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 13, 2022
POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Lexus. This information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be…
Lexus PRO19-02 - · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 12, 2022
Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
Lexus Safety Re · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 1, 2020
TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 06, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see L-SB-0008-20. Replacement Certification Labels and VIN Plates
L-SB-0179-17 Obs · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 6, 2020
TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos. L-SB-0048-08, PG007-07, PG016-01, PG015-01, PG004-97, PG003-97, PG003-93, PG002-90, L-SB-0048-08, PG007-07, PG016-01…
L-SB-0008-20 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 6, 2020
TSB: Replacement Certification Labels. OBSOLETE NOTICE November 28, 2017: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see L-SB-0179-17.
L-SB-0048-08 Obs · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 5, 2017
TSB: The Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset is a feature that allows the registration of new keys when all master keys are lost. Once the system is reset, all previously registered keys will be erased.
L-SB-0025-14 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 7, 2015
LSB: The procedure in this bulletin is a general guideline on how to properly diagnose the air conditioning system after a component failure. Refer to the applicable Repair Manual for vehicle specific repair procedures…
L-SB-0010-15 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 13, 2015
LSB: The procedure in this bulletin is a general guideline on how to properly diagnose the air conditioning system after a component failure. Refer to the applicable Repair Manual for vehicle specific repair procedures…
L-SB-0010-15 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 13, 2015
LSB: When servicing interior electrical switches and components, please note the precautions in this bulletin to avoid damaging electrical components and switches. Many lubricants, cleaners, and automotive chemicals…
L-SB-0066-11 Rev · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 10, 2015
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
No NHTSA recall campaigns name the 1999 Lexus RX300 in our current data. Recalls may apply only to certain VIN ranges — always confirm with a VIN check.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 1999 Lexus RX300?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.
- · Owners most often reported problems around 104,500 miles — budget accordingly if the car is approaching that mileage.