1999 Lexus RX300: complaints, problems and recalls

I OWN 1999 LEXUS RX300, SINCE FEBRUARY OF THE LAST YEAR, I HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR'S ENGINE (IT HAS SLUDGE), TRANSMISSION, EMISSION SYSTEM, AND OVER USE OF GAS PER MILE. FIRST PROBLEM STARTED DURING THE FIRST MONTH OF MY OWNERSHIP AND SINCE THAT TIME THE VEHICLE HAS SPENT WEEKS IN AUTO REPAIR SHOPS. LEXUS DEALER AND OTHERS CHARGED ME LAVISH FEES BUT NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEMS AND LEXUS DEALERS EVEN NEVER ADMITTED THAT SERIOUS PROBLEMS EXISTED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014038 at NHTSA ↗

I OWN A 1999 LEXUS RX300 AND HAVE HAD AN ENGINE SLUDGE PROBLEM WHICH WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER WITH THE VALVE SEAL REPLACEMENT BEING PERFORMED. ALSO HAD FRONT EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND FRONT DOWN PIPE FAILURE(CRACK) OCCURRING AT ABOUT 71,000 MILES. UNSURE AS TO ANY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014196 at NHTSA ↗

INJURIES TO CHEST, ABDOMEN, KNEES, WRIST DUE TO AIR BAGS NON DEPLOYMENT IN COLLISION. OBVIOUS FRONT IMPACT DAMAGE TO VEHICLE IMPACT ESTIMATED @ 40 MPH. NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. OTHER VEHICLE INVOLVED PULLED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WITH NO CHANCE OF AVOIDANCE. MY SEAT BELT LOCKED AND CAUSED SEVERE BRUISING TO MY STERNUM, ABDOMEN, KNEES. I BOUGHT THIS PREMIUM PRICED VEHICLE BASED IN PART ON THE SAFETY FEATURES THAT DID NOT PERFORM. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. VEHICLE I WAS DRIVING AS OWNER IS 1999 LEXUS RX 300 EQUIPPED WITH FRONT AND SIDE SRS. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 39,473 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018440 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING, THE GEAR SHIFT WILL GO INTO NEUTRAL, IF BUMPED. ALSO I'VE NOTICED THE CAR JERKING WHILE DRIVING. I'VE TAKEN IT TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY NEVER OBSERVED THE PROBLEM AND THUS WAS NEVER ABLE TO FIX IT.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10025785 at NHTSA ↗

THERE IS A SHUDDER OF THE TRANSMISSION WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR AT APPROXIMATELY 2000 RPM'S. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE. I BOUGHT IT WITH 65,570 MI. THE DEALER REPLACED DRIVE SHAFT TO REAR WHEELS AND FRONT AXLE(S). THE PROBLEM REMAINS AND IS A NUISANCE REGARDLESS OF VEHICLE TEMPERATURE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030889 at NHTSA ↗

THE RIGHT REAR TIRE FAILED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032476 at NHTSA ↗

THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS HIT IN THE SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH, YET NONE OF THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10042295 at NHTSA ↗

BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT RETRACT PROPERLY AFTER THEY'VE BEEN TAKEN OFF, OR DURING SUDDEN BRAKING. DEALER REPLACED BOTH UNITS, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053229 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 1999-01-20 (January 20, 1999)

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.

Consequence: VEHICLES FOLLOWING BEHIND MAY NOT SEE THE VEHICLE SINCE NO HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS WOULD BE ILLUMINATED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A MODIFIED BODY ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT.

Reported: 1999-01-20 (January 20, 1999)

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.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL MODIFIED BRAKE TUBES.