Your vehicle report
1999 Lexus RX300
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 221
- Received Aug 1998 to Mar 2022
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Transmission fails or loses power while driving44 complaints · 20% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips17 complaints · 7.7% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Airbags fail to deploy in crashes13 complaints · 5.9% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #99V011000Vehicle 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.
- Recall #99V012000Vehicle 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.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 18 crashes, 10 fires, 16 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 15 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 4 |
| 1999 | 11 |
| 2000 | 17 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 22 |
| 2008 | 24 |
| 2009 | 28 |
| 2010 | 27 |
| 2011 | 13 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 221 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 44 | 20% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 17 | 7.7% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 13 | 5.9% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 11 | 5.0% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 8 | 3.6% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 8 | 3.6% | – | |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 6 | 2.7% | – | |
| Suspension clunking or rattling noise over bumps | 4 | 1.8% | – | |
| Exhaust manifold cracks and leaks fumes | 4 | 1.8% | – | |
| Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up | 4 | 1.8% | – | |
| Engine burns excessive oil between changes | 4 | 1.8% | – | |
| Head gasket leaks coolant into engine | 4 | 1.8% | – | |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 3 | 1.4% | – | NHTSA recall #99V011000 |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 3 | 1.4% | – | |
| Transmission will not engage reverse gear | 3 | 1.4% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #99V011000January 20, 199923,441 vehicles affected
exterior lighting: headlights: switch
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.
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.
NHTSA recall #99V012000January 20, 19996,503 vehicles affected
service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: differential proportional valve
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.
This condition Can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will install modified brake tubes.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 1999 Lexus RX300.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN