1999 Lexus RX300 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 1999 Lexus RX300, and owners have filed 221 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 1999 Lexus RX300
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Switch (exterior lighting)
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.
Remedy: Dealers will install a modified body electronic control unit.
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Differential proportional valve (service brakes)
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.
Remedy: Dealers will install modified brake tubes.
221 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1999 Lexus RX300 have filed 221 complaints with NHTSA; 18 describe a crash and 10 describe a fire. Reports cite 16 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 110,453 miles. Complaints peaked in 2009 with 28 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 22, 2022 · Service brakes
“Tengo. Un. Problema. Con. Los. Sinturones.bolsas. De. Aire. Y. Electroco”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 26, 2018 · Air bags
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1999 Lexus RX (RX 300, RX 300 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 18–19 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 17 / 20–22 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Midsize Station Wagons |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd |
Compare Lexus RX300 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Lexus RX300 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 Lexus RX300 | 0 | 3 |
| 1999 Lexus RX300 | 2 | 221 |
| 2000 Lexus RX300 | 0 | 216 |
| 2001 Lexus RX300 | 0 | 169 |
| 2002 Lexus RX300 | 0 | 88 |
| 2003 Lexus RX300 | 0 | 25 |
Checking a specific 1999 Lexus RX300
How do I know if my 1999 Lexus RX300 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 1999 Lexus RX300; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Lexus dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 99V011000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Lexus models
- ES3501,365 complaints
- RX957 complaints
- RX350808 complaints
- IS 250719 complaints
- ES300681 complaints
- ES668 complaints
- IS596 complaints
- RX330526 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.