Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 09E012000 · 2009 · reported 04/07/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
1999 Lexus RX300 Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Power Train:automatic Transmission — runs 6.6× the fleet median for that category across the 2391 model-years tracked on this site.
221Complaints
7Recalls
18Crashes
10Fires
16Injured
0Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Power Train:automatic Transmission (49.8% of complaints) — has no NHTSA recall or open investigation on file.
Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints here are 6.6× the median for that category across the 2391 model-years tracked on this site.
None of the 6 most-reported categories on this page have a recall or open investigation on file — they rest on unverified owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train:automatic Transmission | 110 · 49.8% | No official action | — |
| Power Train | 13 · 5.9% | No official action | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 · 3.6% | No official action | — |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline | 7 · 3.2% | Investigation closed | DP02004 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine | 7 · 3.2% | Investigation closed | DP02004 |
| Tires | 6 · 2.7% | No official action | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 221 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 7 campaigns
Visibility:glass, Side/rear
NHTSA campaign 08E020000 · 2008 · reported 03/06/2008
THE PURPOSE OF THIS STANDARD IS TO REDUCE INJURIES RESULTING FROM IMPACT TO GLAZING SURFACES. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 06E049000 · 2006 · reported 05/24/2006
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting:headlights
NHTSA campaign 09E025000 · 2009 · reported 05/11/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 06E026000 · 2006 · reported 03/23/2006
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:differential Proportional Valve
NHTSA campaign 99V012000 · 1999 · reported 01/20/1999
THIS CONDITION CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
NHTSA campaign 99V011000 · 1999 · reported 01/20/1999
VEHICLES FOLLOWING BEHIND MAY NOT SEE THE VEHICLE SINCE NO HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS WOULD BE ILLUMINATED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“NOTICED INABILITY OF THE TRANSMISSION TO CONSISTENTLY UPSHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE IN FREEWAY CONDITIONS WITH MINIMUM LOAD, FLAT SURFACE.”NHTSA complaint 10234965 — filed 07/20/2008 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
“OWN A 1999 LEXUS RX 300. ENGINE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SLUGGISH SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2001. SINCE WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR WE…”NHTSA complaint 10233091 — filed 07/02/2008 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
“THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED. COULD NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE. OCCURRED ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH.”NHTSA complaint 10230923 — filed 06/13/2008 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Lexus RX300?
Power train:automatic transmission issues are the most-reported category, cited in 110 of 221 NHTSA complaints (49.8%), followed by power train (13), vehicle speed control (8), engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (7). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 1999 Lexus RX300 have?
221 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 18 involved a crash, 10 involved a fire, and 16 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Does the 1999 Lexus RX300 have any recalls?
Yes — 7 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 09E012000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 1999 Lexus RX300's reported problems?
0 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.
