1999 Lexus RX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
35 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
107,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 30 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 23 of 35 complaints (65.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 29 | 82.9% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 5.7% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 5.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 23 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Seat Belts:Rear/Other | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Equipment | 1 |
| Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. | 1 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 23; Power Train: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Seat Belts:Rear/Other: 2; Air Bags: 1; Engine: 1; Equipment: 1; Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 14 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 14; 150,000 and above: 3
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (14). 5 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 20 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2006: 8; 2007: 20; 2008: 2; 2014: 3; 2019: 1; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 29 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10154146 · 2006-03-30 (March 30, 2006)
EARLY FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION AFTER FOLLOWING MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE AND CHANGING FLUID EVERY 30K MILES. TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVE IN THE DESERT 75 MILES WEST OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH. TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT ROSEVILLE LEXUS, THE REPLACEMENT WOULD FAIL TO GO INTO DRIVE WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS PUSH AFTER STOPPING CAUSING MANY NEAR COLLISIONS FROM THE REAR DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC, SECOND TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED FINALLY, BUT THE STABILIZER BAR MOUNTS WERE LEFT DISCONNECTED AND RUBBING ON THE BRAKE LINES AND DRIVE SHAFT. INCIDENTALLY THE FIRST…
Owner-reported narrative. 101,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10154146 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10166759 · 2006-08-28 (August 28, 2006)
MY 1999 RX300 AWD (U140F) TRANSMISSION GAVE 2 SHUDDERS WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH AND THEN QUIT PULLING EXCEPT FOR 1 BLK OR SO AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE. TOOK IT TO TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST. HE SAID PLANETARY GEARS WIPED OUT. OBTAINED NEW ONES AND REPAIRED OK. 1 MONTH LATER I PARKED AND WHEN RESTARTED, IT WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE OR NEUTRAL. HAD TO DRAG OUT OF SPACE. FWD OK. DROVE 200 MILES BACK TO TRANSMISSION SHOP. PLANETARIES AGAIN. REPLACED. OK 1 WK. REPLACED WHOLE TRANSMISSION WITH ONE FROM HIGHLANDER. STILL SHIFTS OCCASIONALLY POOR AT 10-3…
Owner-reported narrative. 139,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10166759 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10182805 · 2007-02-16 (February 16, 2007)
TRANSMISSION IN 1999 LEXUS RX300 FAILED ON MAJOR HIGHWAY. MANAGED TO PULL OFF INTO A GAS STATION AND AWAIT A TOW TRUCK. CAR COMPLETELY STALLED. WOULD NOT GO BACK OR FORWARD. HAD TO PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $4,016.22. THE CAR HAD 87,387 MILES. IN SPEAKING WITH THE PERSON DOING THE REPAIR, THIS WAS THE 4TH TIME THAT MONTH THAT A TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED ON A '99 RX 300 LEXUS THAT HAD LOW MILEAGE. CAR HAD BEEN PROPERLY SERVICED. DIFFERENT WEBSITES STATE THAT THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE RX 300 MODEL. IN SPEAKING WITH…
Owner-reported narrative. 87,387 miles reported. Look up ODI 10182805 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10592406 · 2014-05-19 (May 19, 2014)
WHEN DRIVING MY LEXUS RX 300 1999 IT FEELS VERY FORCED AND WHEN ON THE EXPRESS WAY THE RPM GOES UP TO 5 WHEN IM DRIVING 60MPH AND WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND ITS TIME TO GO MY CAR STALLS AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL VERY SCARY WHEN I HAVE MY NEWBORN AND A 7 YEAR OLD IN THE CAR. I HAVE MAINTAINED MY CAR TO THE UPMOST STANDARDS FROM THE BEST GAS SYNTHETIC OIL CHANGES CONSTANTLY CHECKING EVERYTHING IS IN GOOD CONDITIONS . FOR A LEXUS I AM VERY UPSET BECAUSE MY MECHANIC HAS SAID ITS THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE IT WHICH COSTS …
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10592406 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11241770 · 2019-08-05 (August 5, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 LEXUS RX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS AT STAND STILL ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE GARAGE AND ALLOWED THE FRONT PASSENGER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN. THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED WITH BOTH FEET BUT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE WALL, A TABLE SAW, A LARGE WOODEN TWO LAYERED WORK BEN, A CONCRETE WALL, INTO A DEN DOWNSTAIRS OF THE HOME, A POOL TABLE, AND A BAR SECTION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT STA…
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11241770 at NHTSA ↗