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Lexus RX300Model year report

1999 Lexus RX300 Problems

Complaints
221filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
103,836miles, 148 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
19 mpgcombined, 3.0L 6-cyl FWD · 17 city / 22 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1999 Lexus RX300 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 1999 RX300 report transmission problems far more than anything else, most often a sudden loss of drive or harsh, delayed shifting at a wide range of mileages. Secondary reports involve engines that overheat or develop oil sludging, airbags that did not deploy in a collision, seat belts that fail to retract, and intermittent cruise control or unexpected acceleration.

  1. Transmission and drivetrain

    Transmission failure or sudden loss of drive

    • 120 complaints (54%)
    • median 110,250 mi at 10.1 yrs old (106 state mileage)
    • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $4,225 (median of 34 quotes)
    • filed 1999–2016

    Complaints describe the automatic transmission dropping out of gear, refusing reverse, slipping, lurching on engagement, or failing completely with little or no warning while driving. Many owners say the vehicle was regularly serviced, and several report a dealer quoting a transmission replacement in the thousands of dollars; some describe dealer advice to keep driving until it failed or to change the fluid first. A recurring theme is harsh or delayed shifting between second and third gear, sometimes worse when cold. Reported across a wide range, from roughly 45,000 to over 200,000 miles, with many examples between 60,000 and 130,000 miles; some owners note cold-weather shift delays.

    3 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask for transmission service records and whether the fluid was ever changed, then test drive from cold and check for delayed or harsh engagement between second and third gear. A pre-purchase inspection by a shop familiar with this transmission is worth the cost.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “On december 29, 2008 the transmission in my 1999 Lexus rx 300 failed in rush hour traffic. I have since learned that this is an existing issue with the 1999-2000 Lexus rx 300 and has not been recalled by the toyota motor company, USA. I am disturbed that toyota has not taken the responsibility and recalled the vehicle. Please contact me.”

    NHTSA complaint #10254042, filed 2009-01, 132,000 miles

    “I have a 1999 Lexus RX300...transmission failed at 150k miles no warning just stranded me while out running errands. The cost to fix this was 3k and no car door over a week. This car also had an engine that Lexus replaced due to oil sludging. Really wanted to kept he car until 200k but now the check engine light is on.”

    NHTSA complaint #10237671, filed 2008-08, 150,000 miles
  2. Engine cooling

    Engine oil sludging and overheating

    • 30 complaints (14%)
    • median 102,183 mi at 8.7 yrs old (16 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $1,850 (median of 6 quotes)
    • filed 2000–2013

    Owners describe engine noise, knocking, coolant or oil problems, and in several cases an engine that had to be replaced because of oil sludging. Some mention sluggish performance and a burning smell or stalling, and others note overheating or a failed manifold assembly at relatively low mileage. Mostly reported between about 60,000 and 130,000 miles, with some failures at higher mileage.

    What to check: Check the oil level and condition on the dipstick for sludge or a burnt smell, look for staining or low coolant, and ask whether the engine was ever replaced or cleaned for sludging.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The manifold system on my 1999 Lexus RX300 had to be replaced at only 68,320 miles which cost well over $1,000. Usually the manifold system on a car is not replaced. Lexus should be repsonsible for this problem. Please look into this problem for us. I also had the jellying problems with the engine. Yes, I do all the required only changes and etc.”

    NHTSA complaint #10127321, filed 2005-07, 68,320 miles

    “Had my 60,000 mile service done on my 1999 RX300. The wife drove it when I got home and told me the car was running sluggish, didn't accelerate like it did before I brought it in. I took the car out to drive it and feel what she was telling me and noticed that when I would let off the gas and coast them give it gas there was a clunking noise. I took it to the dealer, the mechanic heard the noise and said he wasn't sure what it was. The service person said that I should just drive it normal and not try to make it clunk and it should be ok. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10082354, filed 2004-07, 62,000 miles

Buying note. The transmission is the main thing to verify on a 1999 RX300: demand service records and have the car inspected and driven from cold before buying, and budget for a possible replacement. Also check engine oil condition for sludging, seat belt retraction, and that the SRS and check engine lights behave normally.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 221 consumer complaints for the 1999 Lexus RX300. 148 of the complaints include a mileage, and 6% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 103,836 miles. Of all complaints, 18 involved a crash, 10 a fire, 16 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 33 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (5), Engine (4), Other or unknown (4), Body and structure (4), Equipment (3), Fuel system (3), Steering (3), Latches, locks and linkages (2), Wheels (2), Electronic stability control (1), Seats (1).

Example complaints

Transmission and drivetrain: “The automatic transmission on my 1999 Lexus RX300 failed at 165,000 miles. It constantly tried to downshift, and as a result it ran hot and burned transmission fluid. Prior to failing, it ceased shifting into overdrive while I was on the highway, forcing me to drive in a low gear at 4,500 rpms and waste gas while I drove as far as I could toward the mechanic.”

NHTSA complaint #10410930, filed 2011-07, 165,000 miles

Engine cooling: “My 1999 -- Lexus RX300 has about 140k miles on it. The car is now parked so I don't kill myself or my family while driving. A couple months ago, my car just started jerking as if it was going to cut off and my check engine light came on. I work off a major highway and I was really scared. My car speed would be 50-55mph but the rpms would be as high as 6. I have never experienced anything like that before. I went to the car repair shop - I had some mis-fires and they were fixed for $150, no problem. …”

NHTSA complaint #10331462, filed 2010-05, 145,000 miles

Air bags: “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 complaint #11001997, filed 2017-06, 178,000 miles

Brakes: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #11043963, filed 2017-11, 177,512 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

6% of the 148 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 81,000 and 136,000 miles.

2%0–103%10–251%25–5014%50–7525%75–10041%100–15015%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (148 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 103,836 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’98’01’04’0728’10’13’16’22
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1999 Lexus RX300 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
RX 300 FWD3.0L 6-cyl4-speed automatic172219$3,550
RX 300 4WD3.0L 6-cyl4-speed automatic172018$3,700

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 1999 Lexus RX300 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 33 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 33 bulletins →

Other model years of the Lexus RX300

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20032570,0000—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20028896,0000—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
2001169108,1000—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
2000216103,7500—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1999221103,8362—19Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Lexus RX300 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 1999 Lexus RX300?

Owners of the 1999 RX300 report transmission problems far more than anything else, most often a sudden loss of drive or harsh, delayed shifting at a wide range of mileages. The issues reported most often: Transmission failure or sudden loss of drive; Engine oil sludging and overheating.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1999 Lexus RX300 have?

NHTSA recorded 221 consumer complaints for the 1999 Lexus RX300 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1999 Lexus RX300 is reported most often?

Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 129 complaints (58% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 24.

Has the 1999 Lexus RX300 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1999 Lexus RX300 get?

The EPA rates the 1999 Lexus RX300 (RX 300, 3.0L 6-cyl) at 19 mpg combined, 17 city and 22 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1999 Lexus RX300 reported?

Among the 148 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 103,836 miles and the middle half falls between 81,000 and 136,000 miles; 6% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.