Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Lexus RX owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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 10 pm 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. …
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 nothing to do with improper maintenance or driving, but is related to a poor transmission design. He reported common transmission problems with Lexus RX-300 vehicles. Lexus has not issued a recall or service notice for these transmissions, nor would northside Lexus agree to reimburse any part of my repair. …
Two days after purchasing a 2007 Lexus rx350, I gave my 1999 Lexus RX 300 which has 103,000 miles on it to my daughter. She drove the car 300 miles home to dallas only to have the transmission begin to balk at going into reverse the next day. The transmission place wants $4000 to rebuild the transmission, and there is also a bad rattle in the front end of the vehicle that I fear to find out what it May be. I bought this car partly for Lexus's reputation for reliability. I have had minor things go wrong with it, among those an oil gasket that cost $1500 to replace in the oil pan and multiple bouts of o2 sensors and air flow meters going out or needing to be cleaned. Still I expected to drive the car for 250,000 miles because of the reputation. Now I don't know what to do. My daughter loves the car, but can't afford these costly repairs. …
As I entered the interstate in the 1999 rx300, it wouldn't change gears. I barely avoided a traffic accident and was barely able to exit the interstate. As I tried to find somewhere to pull over the rpms climbed higher and higher , and I wasn't able to travel over 20 MPH. Once I pulled over and tried to park the car I discovered that the car wouldn't reverse. I took it to a mechanic, he said the transmission failed. I had to pay $3,000 for the repairs. The car had 157,000 miles. One should get more miles out of a Lexus, especially when paying as much as you did for the car. I was still not sure why this isn't a recall. I noticed there were numerous complaints concerning the transmission. Many of the transmission failures happened exactly the same way mine did. …
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 replacement transmission was missing three bolts which attached it to the engine. The quality of work by this dealership was very poor and unsafe to the owner. The second transmission replacement was poorly done and the drive shaft came out on the right side tearing the seal and leaving fluid everywhere. …
Tl*- while driving a 1999 Lexus rx300 at the speed of 70 MPH the engine light turned on, and the vehicle decelerated. The engine seemed as though it was in neutral. The contact stated that the vehicle lost power. She pulled to the side of the road and restarted the vehicle, but it would not go into drive or reverse gear. The vehicle was making a whining noise. She took the vehicle to the local mechanic, and was informed that there was a small crack in the exhaust manifold. She stated that when the weather was cold the vehicle seemed to stay in first gear a little longer than normal before it shifted. She informed the dealership of the failure on 01/2006. The dealership informed her that this was a normal reaction of the vehicle with this type of transmission. …
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.
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 motor sludge / oil gel class action settlement I will stick to American made cars not only does it cost less to repair them they last longer then 69,000 miles like this Lexus piece of '!@#$% I now have to pay $6200.00 to fix and the extended warranty I bought at the time if sale of the Lexus don't cover crap.
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 Lexus customer support, they claimed that there was nothing that could be done in the way of helping to cover the cost. Coincidentally, a member of my family had the same thing happened in 2005 to a RX 300 with mileage at 75,000 and Lexus covered the transmission part.
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 10-30 MPH 2-3 shift shudder. Seems it has a maf sensor error now that May have been causing the shudder / hard shifts/failure. Car has 140 k miles. I think Toyota is hiding this simple failure causing major ($8K) failures.
Transmission complaints in other RX years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 1999 Lexus RX?
NHTSA has 29 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 1999 Lexus RX, 83% of the model year's 35 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (23 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Lexus RX transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 1999 Lexus RX. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1999 Lexus RX transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 104,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.