Total Complaints
6 filings
LEXUS RX300 · model year
1998 LEXUS RX300
6 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998LEXUSRX300 carries 6 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 1998 RX300 is visibility:sun/moon roof assembly with 1 filings, followed by electrical system (1) and visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system (1). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.
NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 1998 RX300. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
6
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20100206CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1998 LEXUS RX 300 SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND ROLLED OVER. THIS WAS IN 2002 AUGUST AND I HAD CALLED LEXUS TO CHECK IF THERE IS A SUDDEN ACCELERATION OR A ROLL OVER PROBLEM. THEY SAID NONE. I DECIDED NOT TO ENGAGE A FORENSIC ENGINEER TO INVESTIGATE BECAUSE THAT WOULD DELAY THE INSURANCE PAY BACK. MY WIFE WALKED AWAY WITH MINIMAL INJURIES BUT NEVERTHELESS, WE STILL DISCUSS WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM. *CN
Mileage: 30,000
19990908TIRES
TIRE BLEW OUT ON HIGHWAY. DOT ELA6CBC447 BRIDGESTONE TURANZAP225/60R16.
19990205VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
SUNROOF EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS.
19990205ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES ON TWO OCCASIONS.
19990205VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
VENTING SYSTEM OPERATES POORLY DUE TO DESIGN, NO CONTROL FOR CENTRAL VENTS.
19990205STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
TRIM AND STRIPPING COMING OFF.
Compare 1998LEXUSRX300 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1998 LEXUS RX300 have?▼
The 1998 LEXUS RX300 has 6 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 LEXUS RX300?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 LEXUS RX300 is VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM.
Is the 1998 LEXUS RX300 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 1998 LEXUS RX300; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.