These instructions apply to the Lexus RX Mk1 (XU10) 1998-2003.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
When the maintenance reminder shows on your Lexus RX 300 (1998–2003) — the original XU10 RX — you can clear it yourself after a service with the trip button. No dealer needed. On this first-generation RX the reminder is a straightforward mileage-based prompt that a scheduled service is due; it is not a fault, and resetting it once the work is finished takes only a few seconds at the instrument cluster.
What the Service Reminder Means
The first-generation RX predates the on-screen maintenance menus of later Lexus models, so its service reminder is a simple mileage-driven prompt tied to the odometer. When the car reaches the next scheduled-service point, a spanner symbol or maintenance light comes on to tell you a service is due. It does not read the actual state of your oil or any other component — it is a distance-based reminder, nothing more.
Because the prompt is triggered by mileage, it stays on after the service is carried out until the counter is reset by hand. Resetting it tells the car to start counting toward the next interval from the current odometer reading. If the light is on but you have no record of a recent service, take it as a cue to have the vehicle’s maintenance schedule checked rather than simply clearing it.
Getting Ready
Reset only after the service is done. Make sure the odometer shows the total mileage (not Trip A or B) before you begin. Resetting before the work is finished just hides a reminder that is still valid. You need no tools and no diagnostic equipment — the whole job is done at the dashboard.
- Park on level ground and apply the parking brake.
- Keep the engine off and work with the ignition key only.
- Use the trip / odometer reset button on the instrument cluster — the same button you press to switch between the trip and total readouts.
- Make sure the display is on total mileage, not Trip A or Trip B, or the reset will not take.
Resetting the Service Indicator
- Turn the ignition on (engine off) and check the odometer shows total mileage; then turn the ignition off.
- Press and hold the trip recorder button.
- While holding it, turn the ignition on.
- After a few seconds a confirmation message appears.
- Turn the ignition off and release the button — the service indicator is reset.
If the Reminder Won’t Clear
If the reminder is still showing, the sequence almost certainly failed for a simple reason rather than a fault with the car. Check these before assuming anything is wrong:
- Show total mileage (not Trip A/B) before starting. This is the single most common reason the reset does not take.
- Keep the trip button held through the ignition-on step until the confirmation shows — releasing it too early cancels the reset.
- Do not start the engine during the sequence; the ignition should be on with the engine off.
- Turn the ignition fully off, wait a few seconds, and repeat the whole sequence from the beginning if the first attempt does nothing.
- A separate warning light? A fault stores a code — look it up on autodtcs.com.
What Happens Next
Once the confirmation appears and you switch the ignition off, the spanner symbol or maintenance light clears and stays off the next time you start the car. The counter begins measuring toward the next service interval from the current mileage. There is nothing to drive off or ‘learn’ — the change is immediate. If the reminder returns at the next start-up, the sequence did not complete, so run through it again, taking care to hold the button until the confirmation shows.
How Often It Comes Up
Reset the reminder after every scheduled service, once the work has been carried out. On this generation the prompt is mileage-based, but the correct service interval depends on your exact market and how the car is used. Rather than rely on a single fixed figure, follow the service interval in your owner’s handbook, and reset only when that service is complete so the next reminder appears at the right point.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I reset the maintenance light on a Lexus RX 300 (1998–2003)?
With total mileage showing, switch off, hold the trip button, switch on, wait for the confirmation, then switch off.
Do I need a diagnostic tool?
No — the trip-button sequence is owner-doable at the dashboard, with no scan tool or dealer visit required.
It didn’t work — what went wrong?
Usually Trip A/B was showing instead of total mileage, or the button was released early.
When should I reset it?
Only after the service is completed, so the next interval is correct.
Is the service light the same as an engine or oil-pressure warning?
No. The maintenance reminder is only a scheduled-service prompt. A red oil-pressure light or an engine warning points to a possible fault and should be investigated, not cleared with this sequence.
Does resetting the reminder erase any fault codes?
No. The trip-button reset clears the maintenance reminder only; it does not affect any stored diagnostic trouble codes, which have to be read and cleared separately.
If another warning light appeared with the service message, our sister site autodtcs.com can help you decode it.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Lexus. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.