NHTSA vehicle safety data

1999 Lexus RX Recalls & Complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1999 Lexus RX right now, so this page doesn't state a recall count — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for current campaigns. 35 owner complaints are on file.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1999 Lexus RX.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

1999 Lexus RX owner complaints

Owners have filed 35 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Lexus RX, describing incidents dated July 6, 2004 to October 30, 2020.

Most-cited components

Power Train 29 complaints
Engine 3 complaints
Seat Belts 3 complaints
Equipment 2 complaints
Air Bags 1 complaint
Suspension 1 complaint

Of the 35 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash; across all 35 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11372444 · Filed October 30, 2020
THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR MODEL THEY ARE BUILT WITH A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION... I HAVE NOT HAD ANYTHING HAPPEN TO ME PERSONALLY BUT I AM TERRIFIED IT WILL. THERE ARE PLENTY OF VERIFIED SITUATIONS REPORTED ONLINE WHERE THE TRANSMISSIONS ON THIS PARTICULAR YEAR MODEL HAVE BEEN DRIVING…
ODI #11241770 · Filed 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…
ODI #10668844 · Filed December 29, 2014
TRANSMISSION FAILED. *TR

Read all 35 complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1999 Lexus RX right now — this is not a confirmed "no recalls". Check the VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls for the official status.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1999 Lexus RX. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

35 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1999 Lexus RX.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11372444

Incident: October 30, 2020 · Filed: October 30, 2020

THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR MODEL THEY ARE BUILT WITH A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION... I HAVE NOT HAD ANYTHING HAPPEN TO ME PERSONALLY BUT I AM TERRIFIED IT WILL. THERE ARE PLENTY OF VERIFIED SITUATIONS REPORTED ONLINE WHERE THE TRANSMISSIONS ON THIS PARTICULAR YEAR MODEL HAVE BEEN DRIVING AND SERIOUS EVENTS HAVE OCCURRED HAVING TO DO WITH THIS DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. THAT LEXUS IS AWARE OF. THIS SHOULD NOT BE CONSUMERS PROBLEN IT IS LEXUS'FAULTBAND THEY SHOULD REPAIR IT.!

Air Bags; Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #11241770

Crash 1 injury

Incident: July 28, 2019 · Filed: 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 STATED SHE SUSTAINED BACK, KNEE AND SHOULDER INJURIES AND WAS CURRENTLY ATTENDING PHYSICAL THERAPY. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND A VOICEMAIL WAS LEFT. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Power Train

ODI #10668844

Incident: December 29, 2014 · Filed: December 29, 2014

TRANSMISSION FAILED. *TR

Power Train

ODI #10667794

Incident: August 13, 2011 · Filed: December 22, 2014

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE RETURNING FROM A FAMILY TRIP FROM MISSISSIPPI AT APPROXIMATELY 150 MILES FROM MY HOME THE RX300 STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY AND WOULD NOT PULL FORWARD IN ANY DRIVE POSITION. IT WAS ABOUT 10PM AND MOST BUSINESSES WERE CLOSED. AFTER PULLING OFF THE ROAD, I TRIED PUTTING THE CAR IN VARIOUS DRIVE POSITIONS AND IT WOULD NEVER GAIN ANY MOMENTUM. I SLOWLY PULLED BACK ONTO THE HIGHWAY USING MY EMERGENCY BLINKERS WHILE THE CAR WOULD PULL SLOWLY AT TIMES AND NOT AT ALL AT OTHERS. FINALLY I WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF THE HIGHWAY TO A GAS STATION AT THE EXIT. I ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO COOL DOWN FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND TRIED TO MOVE IT AGAIN AND IT MOVED ABOUT TWENTY FEET AND STOPPED AGAIN. FORTUNATELY I HAD NOT GOTTEN ON THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO COAST BACK TO A PARKING AREA. I THEN HAD TO HAVE A TOW TRUCK PICK UP MY CAR AND TOW IT THE 150 MILES BACK TO MY CITY TO MY MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY GONE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR HAD BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND PREVIOUSLY HAD NO PROBLEMS. THE CAR WAS THOROUGHLY CHECKED OUT BY A MECHANIC ONLY THREE MONTHS BEFORE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Power Train; Engine

ODI #10592406

Incident: February 1, 2014 · Filed: 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 4-5,000 DOLLARS AND I MEAN IS A 15 YEAR OLD CAR WORTH PUTTING 5 GRAND INTO IT? I EXPECTED THIS CAR TO LAST ME A LITTLE BIT LONGER I MEAN FROM WHAT I WAS TOLD THIS CAR SHOULD GO TO ALMOST 300,000 BUT ITS OBVIOUSLY NOT. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT A LEXUS WOULD HAVE THIS COMMON PROBLEM FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN AND READ. *JS

Power Train

ODI #10214381

Incident: August 9, 2007 · Filed: January 10, 2008

TRANSMISSION. *TR

Power Train

ODI #10213978

Incident: December 31, 2007 · Filed: January 6, 2008

1999 LEXUS RX300 TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

Power Train

ODI #10212066

Incident: December 5, 2007 · Filed: December 17, 2007

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT APPROXIMATELY 110,000 MILES ON 1999 LEXUS RX300. TRAVELING AT LOW SPEED (25 MPH) TRANSMISSION "LURCHED" LOST POWER AND WE DRIFTED TO A STOP ON A NARROW TWO LANE ROAD - ON A BLIND CURVE OF COURSE - AT NIGHT. *TR

Power Train

ODI #10210458

Incident: November 26, 2007 · Filed: December 1, 2007

AT 80,000 OUR 1999 LEXUS RX 300 TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR $3,500. NOW AT 144,000 THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN FOR $4,000. *TR

Power Train

ODI #10210448

Incident: November 28, 2007 · Filed: December 1, 2007

TRANSMISSION IN MY 1999 LEXUS RX300 FAILED PREMATURELY AT 110,000. I HAVE READ THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH THIS MODEL'S TRANSMISSION AND FEEL THAT LEXUS SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR THE $4000+ REPAIR CHARGES. *TR

Other Lexus RX model years

Check your 1999 Lexus RX VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Lexus RX at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Lexus VIN