1999 Lexus RX: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
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 10155875 · 2006-04-22 (April 22, 2006)
SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT WITHOUT MANUALLY FEEDING THEM BACK INTO THE RETRACTOR. IF SEAT BELTS ARE NOT MANUALLY FED BACK INTO THE RETRACTOR THE BUCKLE AND SLACK SEAT BELT ARE CAUGHT WHEN THE DOOR CLOSES. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155875 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10158627 · 2006-05-30 (May 30, 2006)
WHILE ON VACATION THIS PAST WEEKEND MY 7 1/2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS UNABLE TO FASTEN HER SEAT BEAT! I HAD TO MOVE HER BOOSTER SEAT TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE REAR OF THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO LEXUS TO HAVE THEM REPAIR THIS SAFETY FEATURE. I WAS INFORMED IT WOULD COST ME $250 TO REPAIR. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT STOPPED WORKING IN 2003 AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT AND LEXUS CLAIMED IS WAS FINE. IT STILL DOESN'T WORK. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 148,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10158627 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 10174497 · 2006-11-27 (November 27, 2006)
EVEN THOUGH HAVING ALL MAJOR SERVICE PERFORMED BY THE LEXUS DEALER, PLUS HAVING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FILTER CHANGED TWICE, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDS REPLACING AT A HIGH COST. I AM AWARE OF HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE RX300 THERE IS ONLY 69,930 MILES ON THIS LEXUS AND HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED THIS IS MY FIRST AND LAST LEXUS/TOYOTA AS LEXUS/TOYOTA DON'T TAKE CARE OF THERE CUSTOMERS THEY NO OF THIS VERY BIG PROBLEM AND THEY DO NOTHING I DON'T SEE WHY THERE IS NOT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT LIKE THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 69,928 miles reported. Look up ODI 10174497 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10175977 · 2006-12-12 (December 12, 2006)
IN AUGUST 2005 I PURCHASED A 1999 LEXUS AWD RX-300 WITH 60,000 MILES FROM NORTHSIDE LEXUS IN HOUSTON. ON 12/4/06 THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 73,882 MILES '' THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR. LEXUS DEALERS HAD REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AT 31,385 MILES AND 59,134 MILES. AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION FOR $3896 WITH THE FOLLOWING PARTS: TORQUE CONVERTER, OVERHAUL KIT, ALL STEELS, FRONT PLANETARY, SUN GEAR, RING GEAR, REAR PLANETARY, BUSHING KIT, AND BEARING KIT. ACCORDING TO THE SHOP, THIS FAILURE HAS NO…
Owner-reported narrative. 73,882 miles reported. Look up ODI 10175977 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10177085 · 2006-12-27 (December 27, 2006)
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 1999 LEXUS RX 300 NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH ONLY 70,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE STRUTS, THE RADIO ANTENNA MOTOR AND HAVE A MAJOR OIL LEAK REPAIRED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10177085 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10177401 · 2006-12-30 (December 30, 2006)
WHILE DRIVING MY 1999 RX300 ON THE HIGHWAY, THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON ME. I FELT I WAS LOSING POWER AND DECIDED TO PULL OVER ON THE SHOULDER. I THEN TRY TO TURN OFF MY ENGINE TO SEE IF RESTARTING IT BACK UP WILL RESOLVE THE ISSUE. WHEN I START THE CAR BACK UP AND PUT IT ON DRIVE, THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE. NEEDLESS TO SAY I HAD TO CALL A TOW TO TOW MY CAR BACK HOME. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 80,228 miles reported. Look up ODI 10177401 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.