Total Complaints
6 filings
LEXUS RX300 · model year
1998 LEXUS RX300
6 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
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.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category 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). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 1998 RX300. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
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 as of 2025. 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.