26 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 50,000–60,000 miles.
Most common 2004 Lexus RX problems
7 of the 40 complaints (18%) are about the body and frame.
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Unknown or Other
5
0
0
0
Structure · body and frame
5
0
0
0
Air Bags · airbags
5
0
0
0
Power Train › Automatic Transmission · transmission
3
0
0
0
Exterior Lighting · headlights
3
0
0
0
Wheels
2
0
0
0
Structure › Body · body and frame
2
0
0
0
Service Brakes · brakes
2
1
0
1
Engine
2
0
0
0
Visibility/Wiper · wipers
1
0
0
0
1 safety recall
Part 573 reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder10V499000
Filed Oct 21, 2010728,544 vehiclesToyota Motor North America, Inc.
Defect. TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 AVALON, MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 HIGHLANDER, MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 LEXUS RX, AND MODEL YEAR 2006 LEXUS GS AND IS VEHICLES. BRAKE FLUID CONTAINING POLYMERS IS USED THAT ACTS AS LUBRICANTS FOR CERTAIN BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENTS. IF REPLACEMENT BRAKE FLUID IS USED THAT DOES NOT CONTAIN SUCH POLYMERS, OR THAT CONTAINS ONLY SMALL AMOUNTS, A PART OF THE RUBBER SEAL LOCATED AT THE REAR OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER MAY BECOME DRY, AND THE SEAL MAY CURL DURING MOVEMENT OF THE PISTON. IF THIS OCCURS, A SMALL AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID COULD SLOWLY LEAK FROM THE SEAL INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER.
Risk. A LEAK OF BRAKE FLUID COULD LEAD TO A CHANGE IN BRAKE PEDAL FEEL AND OVERTIME A DEGRADATION IN BRAKING PERFORMANCE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAL WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 AND LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
All 1 campaign on file, newest first.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 28, 2026CO
Odometer reading in vehicle doesn't match information on carfax, zilocar, or title reading. Also sellers may have titled jumped vehicle. Recieved call from owner on title I recieved and she said that she had sold vehicle on 2/4/2026 to couple. I purchased vehicle on 2/13/2026 with her name on title. Odometer was correct mileage to carfax when she sold to buyers, yet changed when I purchased vehicle with about 150,000 mile differebce.
Air Bags
Filed Dec 2, 2025CA
Dashboard crack in 2024, that started on passenger side near air vent, expanded recently causing the "passenger air bag off" alert to light up and stay on continually. If I were to have a passenger at the time of an accident, the air bag might not deploy, which would be a safety issue. This could possibly lead to a liability issue, so I have not had any passengers but that isn't sustainable, so I contacted the dealer. I was told that the previous recall for cracked dashboards ended in 2017 and that it was cosmetic only, not safety related, but that the part was available for $964.50, not including labor, tax, etc. I feel that a safety related recall should be issued, the previously known dash cracking problem didn't end when their recall did, the fact that my vehicle is primarily garaged preserved the interior integrity, I don't believe I should be penalized for my dash not cracking 8 years earlier. Thank you for your consideration.
Steering
Filed Dec 18, 2023CA
Power steering very stiff and difficult to steer vsc light on and air bags light goes on and off and unknown cause.
SeatsFire
Filed Feb 15, 2022OR
I was driving with the driver’s seat heater turned on. While I were traveling, I noticed that the seat heater was very hot, so I turned it off. I arrived at my destination and parked the vehicle for about two hours. I did not turn the seat heater back on when you returned to the vehicle. I was removing snow from the vehicle with the driver’s door open and some of the snow landed on the driver’s seat. When I brushed the snow off the seat, I noticed a burn mark in the seat cushion. I called Lexus USA to report this 2 days later and showed my local dealer (Lexus of Portland) and they had never seen this before. Here is the response from Lexus today: "In response to your concerns, a vehicle inspection was conducted by a Lexus Field Technical Specialist (FTS) on January 19, 2022 at Bud Clary Toyota of Yakima. A visual inspection confirmed there was a small 6mm x 7mm burn hole in the driver’s seat leather cover on the bottom cushion. The hole was in the outer bolster portion of the bottom cushion. Resistance was checked through the seat warmer grid. The seat back was recorded at .7 ohms and the seat bottom had an open circuit. The seat cover was removed to examine the seat heater grid. Two wires were found near each other at the burn area. One wire was broken at the location. Our FTS disconnected the seat heater switch after the inspection was completed." They left me with now 2 non functioning seat heaters by disconnecting it during a cold winter. They did not offer any sort of as
Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 10, 2021AR
I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 17TH OF JUNE 2021. I NOTICED THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKED REALLY BAD. I DID RESEARCH ON THE LEXUS DASHBOARDS AND FOUND PREVIOUS RECALLS ON THE LEXUS DASHBAORDS INCLUDING THE 2004 RX330 MODELS. HOW CAN I GET THIS FIXED IF THE RECALL IS NOT LISTED FOR THE VIN NUMBER ON MY VEGICLE?
Unknown or Other
Filed May 5, 2021103,000 milesMD
DASHBOARD CRACKING EVEN THOUGH WINDSHIELD SCREEN USED WHEN NOT IN GARAGE. VEHICLE KEPT IN HOME GARAGE AS WELL AS GARAGE AT HOSPITAL WHILE I WORKED.
Visibility/Wiper
Filed Oct 20, 2020113,210 milesTX
WAS ON FREEWAY, HEARD A LOUD POP , LOOKED AROUND AND EVERYTHING LOOKED OK, SAW SOMETHING FLY OFF VEHICLE IN REARVIEW MIRROR. NOW THERE IS A SOUND OF WIND RUSHING, CHECK WINDOWS ALL CLOSED, DECIDED TO PULL OF FREEWAY TO SEE IF THERE WAS DAMAGED TO VEHICLE . STOPPED GOT OUT DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING UP TILL WE LOOKED AT THE ROOF AN SAW A HOLE. LOOKED LIKE IT BLOW OUT NOT IN , DID NOT NOTICE IN THE CAR BECAUSE SUNROOF COVER WAS CLOSED.
Service BrakesCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 5, 2020140,000 milesIL
DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING, CONDITIONS WERE DRY, SUNNY FALL WEATHER. AVG SPEED 45 MPH, LIGHT TURNED YELLOW, VEHICLE IN FRONT STARTED TO SLOW DOWN, DAUGHTER APPLIED BRAKES, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, NO SLOWING DOWN, REPEATEDLY PUSHED BRAKE AND APPLIED FULL FORCE, CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN, HIT OTHER VEHICLE, TOTALING THE LEXUS. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER MY DAUGHTER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. WITNESS REPORTED SEEING MY DAUGHTER TRYING TO BRAKE BUT THE CAR NOT RESPONDING. NO EVIDENCE OF TIRE MARKS ON THE ROAD
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed May 27, 2020NV
DEALERSHIP INSPECTION. DISCLOSURE-SATISFACTORY THROUGHOUT THE LIST ACTUAL INSPECTOR-VISIBLE LEAKS TO THE NAKED EYE WHEN LOOKING UNDER THE CAR. I WAS MISLED IN THIS PURCHASE AS THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT WERE NOT DISCLOSED TO ME BEFORE PURCHASE. *TR
Structure › Body
Filed Feb 4, 2020140,000 milesGA
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS RX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRUMBLING AND MELTING. THE FAILURE WAS PRESENT NEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG HOUSING OF THE DASHBOARD. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER (BUTLER LEXUS LOCATED AT 4025 JONESBORO RD, UNION CITY GA) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Air Bags
Filed Aug 21, 2019140,000 milesTX
MELTING/CRACKED DASHBOARD PASSENGER SIDE - SMELLS OF CHEMICALS - DOES THIS AFFECT PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT? I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 4 YEARS AND WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF ANY PROGRAMS - DASH FIRST STARTED MELTING/CRACKING ABOUT 6-8 MONTHS AGO LONG AFTER THEIR CONSUMER ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM WENT AWAY.
Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 31, 2019204,000 milesCO
SUNROOF GLASS SPONTANEOUSLY BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, IN A STRAIGHT LINE, ON SMOOTH PAVEMENT.
Wheels
Filed Jun 28, 2019125,500 milesFL
WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, THE CABLE HOLDING THE SPARE TIRE (SPARE TIRE CARRIER PART #51900-0E012) UNDER THE CAR, BROKE AND SPARE TIRE AND ACCESSORIES FOR IT FELL INTO STREET INTO TRAFFIC CREATING A HAZZARD
Exterior Lighting
Filed Jun 9, 2017VA
DURING NIGHT DRIVING, THE HEADLIGHTS RANDOMLY GO OFF. I HAVE TO SWITCH THEM OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. IN A FEW MINUTES I HAVE TO REPEAT. THE BULBS ARE NOT BLOWN BECAUSE WHEN I SWITCH THEM ON, BOTH LAMPS COME ON. HAVING TO CONSTANTLY TURN THEM OFF AND ON DURING DRIVING. IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. I WORK NIGHTS AND THIS IS GETTING TO BE A BURDEN. OF COURSE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSES THIS TO HAPPEN SO I TOOK IT TO GET IT REPAIRED AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE HEAD LIGHTS. UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T HAVE THE RECALL NUMBER. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY RISK BECAUSE THEY GO OFF RANDOMLY WHILE I'M DRIVING.
Service Brakes
Filed Sep 7, 201664,000 milesFL
THE LEXUS RX 330 IS ON RECALL BY LEXUS BECAUSE THE DASH HAS DEVELOPED CRACKS,I HAVE BEEN WAITING 2 YEARS FOR A REPLACEMENT AND WAS TOLD BY LEXUS OF ORLANDO I AM NUMBER 1024 ON THEIR LIST FRO REPLACEMENT. BY THE TIME THEY GET TO ME ACCORDING TO MY CALCULATIONS THE YEAR WILL BE 2095 AT THE PACE THAT THEY ARE REPLACING THE DASHES. ALSO LEXUS HAS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCHES,ALL OF THEM SEEM TO DEVELOP A PROBLEM WHERE THE VSC,BRAKES AND ABS LIGHTS ALL COME ON AT THE SAME TIME. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO ALL THREE LEXUS' THAT I HAVE OWNED. THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE RIGHT NEXT TO THE SHIFTER IS A SMALL COVER TO BYPASS THE HARD SHIFTER.
Structure
Filed Jul 26, 2016FL
I HAVE A SEVERELY CRACKED DASHBOARD AND A LOT OF THE VERY DEEP CRACKS ARE OVER WHERE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS LOCATED. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR A FEW YEARS NOW BUT LATELY IT HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE IN THE AREA OF THE AIRBAG. LEXUS ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM BUT THEY SAY IT COULD BE SEVERAL MORE MONTHS OR EVEN YEARS BEFORE THEY HAVE ENOUGH REPLACEMENT DASHBOARDS. I BELIEVE MY DASHBOARD IS MORE OF A SAFETY ISSUE THAN JUST COSMETIC. UNABLE TO ATTACH PHOTOS BUT COULD EMAIL THEM TO YOU IF AN EMAIL ADDRESS IS PROVIDED. *TR
Structure › Body
Filed Feb 21, 2015108,000 milesSC
THE DASHBOARD IS DISINTEGRATING. THE CAR HAS BEEN PREDOMINANTLY KEPT COVERED AND WELL MAINTAINED. INITIALLY A LARGE PIECE (CREDIT CARD SIZE) BROKE OFF DASH. WE REPAIRED WITH VINYL RESTORATION COMPANY, AND ANOTHER AREA ABOUT A YEAR LATER. SINCE THEN, NUMEROUS CRACKS ARE PRESENT - TOO MANY TO REPAIR. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR! *TR
Structure
Filed Jan 18, 201555,617 milesTN
MELTING DASHBOARD. *TR
Wheels
Filed Dec 7, 201474,520 milesMA
RECENTLY, WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, MY 2004 LEXUS RX 330 STARTED MAKING A "HOWLING" SOUND (FOR LACK OF A BETTER DESCRIPTION). UPON HEARING THIS DISTURBING NOISE, I IMMEDIATELY DROVE IT RIGHT TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP (IRA) IN PEABODY, MASSACHUSETTS. THEY DETERMINED IT WAS THE BEARING AND HUB ASSEMBLY IN MY LEFT REAR WHEEL. I WAS TOLD THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT MUST BE REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY. THIS ENDED UP COSTING ME $676.87 (11/14/14). THIS ISN?T THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH THIS CAR. IT HAPPENED MARCH 3, 2011 AND IT COST ME $704.35 THEN. I HAVE HAD AT LEAST 6 CARS DURING MY DRIVING HISTORY AND NONE OF THEM EVER HAD ANY BEARING AND/OR HUB PROBLEMS AND THIS HAPPENS TWICE WITH SAME CAR??? IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT MY PREVIOUS CARS WERE LESS EXPENSIVE CARS; BRANDS THAT MAY BE EXPECTED TO HAVE MORE ISSUES THAN LEXUS; HONDA'S, PONTIAC'S, NISSAN'S, AND CHEVY'S. *TR
Air Bags
Filed Nov 12, 2014202,000 milesTX
UNKNOWN DATE AND TIME. VEHICLE MADE ALARM NOISE, TURNED VEHICLE OFF. SAFETY BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND DASHBOARD CRACKED; RADIO STOPPED WORKING. *TR
Structure
Filed Sep 20, 201430,000 milesFL
OUR 2004 RDX, EXTREMELY LOW MILES, ALWAYS GARAGED, MINT CONDITION, HAS A DASH THAT HAS CRACKED ALL THE WAY AROUND AND IS BEGINNING TO EXTEND TOWARD THE MIDDLE. WHEN I WENT TO THE LOCAL LEXUS SERVICE DEPARTMENT SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THEY TOLD ME "LEATHER ALWAYS DOES THAT". STUPID ASS. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE THIS ISSUE. I THOUGHT LEXUS QUALITY WAS BETTER, BUT IT'S THE SERVICE THAT IS APPALLING! WE WERE OFFERED A 25% COURTESY ASSISTANCE. *TR
Structure
Filed Aug 24, 2014FL
I PURCHASED MY 2ND LEXUS IN 2011; BY 2012 THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKING, AND IN 2014 THE DASHBOARD MELTED. I REPORTED THE CRACKING PROBLEM TO LEXUS OF ORLANDO IN 2013, AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS DUE TO TYPE OF SPRAY I WAS USING TO CLEAN THE CAR. AFTER RESEARCHING THE CRACKING AND MELTING DASHBOARD SCENARIO, I READ THE CUSTOMARY RESPONSE FROM LEXUS TO THEIR CUSTOMERS IS, ??TYPE OF SPRAY YOU ARE USING TO CLEAN THE CAR??. I WENT BACK TO LEXUS IN JULY ON 2014, AND THIS TIME THEY TOOK PICTURES OF THE CRACKED AND MELTING DASHING. I DID NOT HEAR BACK FROM LEXUS THEREFORE I CALLED THEM FOR A STATUS, AND THEY FORGOT TO REPORT MY COMPLAINT TO THE CORPORATE OFFICE. WOW, REMEMBER THIS IS A LUXURY DEALERSHIP. AFTER WAITING ANOTHER 2 WEEKS, I CALLED LEXUS OF ORLANDO AGAIN, AND WAS TOLD THEY DID NOT HEAR BACK FROM THE CORPORATE OFFICE, AND WOULD CALL THEM FOR A RESPONSE. AFTER A FEW DAYS, SOMEONE CALLED BE BACK JUST TO REPORT THAT LEXUS WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO REPAIR MY MELTING AND CRACKING DASHBOARD, AND I NEED TO PROVE MY LOYALTY TO LEXUS. REALLY, WHAT ABOUT LEXUS LOYALTY TO THEIR CUSTOMERS TO PURCHASE A LUXURY CAR WHERE THE DASHBOARD DOES NOT CRACK OR MELT? I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN LEXUS WITH THEIR RESPONSE AND THE UNPROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR OF THEIR EMPLOYEES IN HANDLING THIS PROBLEM AT LEXUS OF ORLANDO. IT SHOULD NOT MATTER THE YEAR OF A CAR; A DASHBOARD OF A CAR SHOULD NOT MELT. I AM FRUSTRATED AND DISGUSTED WITH LEXUS. *TR
Air Bags
Filed Jul 21, 201468,000 milesNM
THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD HAS DEVELOPED SEVERAL LONG VERTICAL CRACKS. THE DASH SIMPLY CRACKED ON ITS OWN. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENT THE CRACKS ARE LARGE ENOUGH THAT WE ARE AFRAID THAT THE AIRBAGS MAY NOT PROPERLY DEPLOY IN AN EMERGENCY. THE DASHBOARD CRACKS ARE IDENTICAL TO MANY SIMILAR POSTINGS ON THE INTERNET. LEXUS CLAIMS THEY ARE "DEDICATED TO PROVIDING VEHICLES OF OUTSTANDING QUALITY AND VALUE." , IN THIS CASE THEY HAVE, ONCE AGAIN, STUCK THEIR HEAD IN THE SAND!! *TR
Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 7, 2014FL
THE DASHBOARD BEGAN TO MELT. LITERALLY. I TRIED TO WIPE IT OFF AND THE TOWEL MELTED INTO THE DASHBOARD THE DEALERSHIP BLAMED IT ON ARMOR-ALL. THE CAR WAS ABOUT 7 Y/O AT THE TIME. I AM THE SECOND OWNER. I DID NOT RESEARCH THIS UNTIL I SAW A PROGRAM THAT SUGGESTED THE AIRBAGS MAY BE AFFECTED. THANK YOU. *JS
Air Bags
Filed Jun 9, 2014118,000 milesNC
THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKING AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THE AIRBAG WAS DESIGNED WITH A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF RESISTANCE FROM THE DASHBOARD. MAJOR CONCERN WITH AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT SPEED WITH LESS RESISTANCE FROM DASHBOARD. ALSO CONCERN ABOUT FRAGMENTATION OF DASHBOARD DURING DEPLOYMENT. *TR
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
Filed May 30, 20149,200 milesFL
THE DASHBOARD CRACKED IN MULTIPLE PLACES.AND LOOKED AS IF IT WERE GOING TO FALL FROM THE CAR. I WENT TO LEXUS AFTER I READ ONLINE THAT SEVERAL CARS REPORTED THIS PROBLEM, BUT LEXUS WAS NOT GOING TO ISSUE A RECALL. I AGREED TO PAY HALF OF THE COST, BECAUSE THEY SAID IT WAS THE BEST THEY WOULD DO. I GAVE THEM $1604.00. IF THERE IS A RECALL, I WOULD LOVE TO GET THAT MONEY RETURNED TO ME. THEY DID A GOOD JOB FIXING IT, BUT IT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. MY CAR IS GARAGED. THEY CLAIMED THAT THE PROBLEM OCCURRED BECAUSE THE CAR WAS KEPT OUTSIDE IN THE FLORIDA HEAT. MINE WAS NOT. THANK YOU FOR WORKING ON THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Engine
Filed Jan 3, 2014115,000 milesRI
I HAVE HAD AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH MY '04 LEXUS RX330. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE THE ENGINE NEEDLE GOES INTO THE RED ZONE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY UPON DRIVING THE CAR. I HAVE HAD TO FILL UP THE COOLANT TANK EVERY 3 MONTHS. THE PROBLEM WAS JUST DIAGNOSED AS A CRACK IN THE RADIATOR. I FOUND A TSB FOR THIS ISSUE BUT AM THE 2ND OWNER AND WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. IT APPEARS THAT I AM OUT OF THE COVERAGE PERIOD. IS THERE CAUSE FOR CONCERN THAT THIS ISSUE COULD LEAD TO FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE CAR OR A SUDDEN DRIVING IMPAIRMENT? DOES A TSB = A RECALL? LEXUS HAS TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME. *TR
Structure
Filed Jun 2, 2013FL
AFTER PURCHASING USED VEHICLE NOTICED SMALL CRACKS IN DASH APPEAR ABOVE THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. WAS BROUGHT INTO DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AND TOLD COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS THE CRACKS HAVE BECOME MUCH WORSE AND THERE ARE NOW TWO HOLES IN DASH WHERE YOU SEE FOAM. BROUGHT BACK TO LEXUS DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE REGIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT WOULD ONLY GIVE 20% COMPENSATION ON A $2000 REPLACEMENT. FEEL THIS IS A INFERIOR PRODUCT AND A FACTORY DEFECT. HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS ON A LUXURY CAR THAT IS QUALITY MAINTAINED. *TR
Exterior Lighting
Filed Nov 17, 201257,600 milesWA
MY LEFT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AND I FOUND WATER AND CONDENSATION IN HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY COMPARTMENT. ENTIRE COMPARTMENT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT COST OF $1650.00. *TR IN RESEARCHING THIS MAKE AND MODEL HAS OTHER CONSUMERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. I BELIEVE THIS IS MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT HAS CAUSED SEALS TO MALFUNCTION ALLOWING EXCESSIVE WATER INTO THE LIGHT COMPARTMENT WHICH CAUSES ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO FAIL.
Engine
Filed Jul 16, 201260,000 milesNJ
ONLY 60K MILES FOR THE CAR, THE WATER PUMP LEAKS AND NEED TO COMPLETE REPLACEMENT. *TR
Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 9, 201052,345 milesCA
RAPID ACCELERATION AS I RELEASED THE GAS PEDAL AS I PARKED MY CAR - TOOK OUT A 6 FOOT BUSH. I WAS INTERVIEWED ON 10NEWS SAN DIEGO CONCERNING THIS INCIDENT I TOOK THE AUTO TO MY LEXUS DEALER/A DIAGNOSTIC AND A TEST DRIVE WERE DONE AND EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT NEGATIVE. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME SINCE THE DIAGNOSTICS WERE NEGATIVE. *TR
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Oct 11, 200817,000 milesCO
LEXUS HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE VIBRATION, THEY HAVE ISSUED A TSB BUT ALL THEY ARE DOING IS THROWING NEW ROTORS AND PADS. THIS IS NOT ADDRESSING THE REAL ISSUE AT HAND. BRAKE VIBRATION CAN CAUSE A CAR TO GO OFF THE ROAD WHEN THERE IS ICE OR SNOW ON THE GROUND AND ONCE THE CAR STARTS SLIPPING IN ICE OR SNOW YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. MY COMPLAINT IS REGARDING A 2004 RX 330 THAT ONLY HAS 34K ON AND I'M GOING ON MY THIRD SET OF BRAKE PADS. THE CALIPER IS HANGING UP CAUSING UNEVEN PAD WEAR, CAUSING BRAKE VIBRATION. THIS IS NOT ONLY COMPROMISING THE SAFETY OF THE PASSENGERS, BUT MY ENTIRE SUSPENSION WEAR AND TEAR, CAUSE PREMATURE WEAR. THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED MY TIRES TO FEATHER AT THE EDGE. I THINK IF LEXUS ISSUED A TSB FOR THIS ISSUE THEY NEED TO GO TO THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM RATHER THAN JUST THROWING NEW PARTS AND CALLING IT GOOD FOR ANOTHER 15 TO 20K. ALL MY SUSPENSION IS TIGHT AND I HAVE NO RUNOUT AT THE HUB, JUST ON BRAKE PADS. THE DEALER KEEPS SAYING THAT EVERYTHING IS OKAY AND THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE. MY CAR IS PROPERLY ALIGNED, BUT WE KEEP HAVING THIS PROBLEM. THIS ONGOING BRAKE VIBRATION PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT CAUSE I DON'T FEEL MY WIFE IS SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR ON BAD WEATHER. THIS VIBRATION CAN CAUSE CAR TO LOOSE CONTROL ON BAD WEATHER OR DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. PLZ LOOK AT ALL COMPLAINTS REGARDING BRAKE VIBRATION. I HAVE GOTTEN ON LEXUS WEB FORUMS AND THERE IS A GOOD NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH THIS COMPLAINT. I
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Aug 1, 200757,000 milesNY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD TWO DAYS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE SENSOR LIGHT SHINES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE SHOULD BE CHECKED. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND DEALER INFORMATION WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 57,000.
Fuel System, Other
Filed Mar 16, 200730,000 milesTX
MY 2004 LEXUS RX330 HAS REPEATEDLY HAD ACCELERATION PROBLEMS WHEN I HAVE SLOWED AND NEED TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY DUE TO TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. TODAY ON THE WAY TO WORK I WAS TRYING TO MERGE ON TO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AND NEARLY GOT REAR-ENDED BECAUSE MY VEHICLE DIDN'T ACCELERATE WHEN I PRESSED THE PEDAL AS I WAS TRYING TO MERGE IN TO THE LANE. THERE HAVE BEEN COUNTLESS TIMES IN THE 2 YEARS I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED NEAR COLLISONS DUE TO THE SLUGGISH OR LACK OF ACCELERATION WHEN I DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. MY HUSBAND WON'T EVEN DRIVE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM AS HE FEELS UNSAFE ON THE ROAD IN IT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY INSTALLED A COMPUTER UPDATE OR PATCH TWICE WITH NO RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE '04 RX330 AND THAT LEXUS HAS SAID THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM ALTHOUGH THEY DID CORRECT IT IN THE 2005 MODEL. GIVEN THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF A POTENTIAL SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE RELATED TO THIS THEY ARE FOR SOME REASON NOT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE OR RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. CONSUMER PROTECTION FROM NEGLIGENT MANUFACTURERS IS THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY, ISN'T IT? WHAT CAN BE DONE TO REQUIRE LEXUS TO PROVIDE CONSUMERS WITH AN ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION TO THIS SIGNIFICANT VEHICLE SAFETY ISSUE?
Child Seat
Filed Jan 28, 2007OK
THE TOP LATCH STRAP PROVIDED ON THIS SEAT CANNOT BE TIGHTENED FIRMLY AGAINST THE VEHICLE SEAT. RATHER THAN PROVIDE A (NORMAL) TENSIONING DEVICE FOR THE TOP STRAP, THE MANUFACTURER ELECTED TO PROVIDE A DUAL LOOP STEEL PLATE. THE STRAP IS THREADED THROUGH THIS PLATE IN A RIDICULOUSLY COMPLEX MANNER, AND NO AMOUNT OF PULLING, TUGGING, OR TRYING TO FINAGLE ENOUGH SLACK THROUGH THE MULTIPLE LAYERS THE STRAP GOES THROUGH (TO ALLOW THE WHOLE STRAP TO BE PULLED TIGHTLY) ALLOW PROPER TENSIONING TO SECURE THE CHILD SEAT BACK TO THE VEHICLE SEAT. A FEW DOLLARS SAVED IN MANUFACTURING COST BY PROVIDING THIS PLATE RATHER THAN A TENSIONING DEVICE HAVE RESULTED IN A CHILD SEAT THAT CANNOT BE USED PROPERLY. THIS IS SIMPLY INCOMPETENT ENGINEERING. I RETURNED THE SEAT TO WAL-MART FOR A REFUND, BUT THERE MAY BE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE THE SAME OPTIONS FOR RETURN, AND END UP INSTALLING THE SEAT IN AN UNSAFE AND INSECURE MANNER. NOTE THAT THE CORRECT MODEL OF SEAT WAS NOT SHOWN IN YOUR DROP-DOWN MENU, SO I HAD TO SELECT ANOTHER MODEL IN ORDER TO PROCEED. THE SEAT I'M FILING A COMPLAINT ABOUT IS A SAFETY 1ST BOOSTER SEAT MANUFACTURED BY DOREL JUVENILE GROUP. MODEL # 22-561-WAL. MANUFACTURED: P102 B 220565 09/22/06. THANK YOU. *NM
Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery
Filed Dec 9, 200639,959 milesVA
2004 LEXUS RX 330 HAD A COMPLETE BREAKDOWN ON DECEMBER 6, 2006 WITH JUST OVER 43,000 MILES. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID THAT THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN IN THIS NEWER LUXURY VEHICLE. THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY WHICH WAS UNDER WARRANTY. *JB
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Nov 30, 20061,400 milesCA
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HESITATED WHEN MAKING THE SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR AND FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR AS WELL. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS INDICATING A FAILURE IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN SEVEN TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE SOFTWARE HAD BEEN RESET SEVERAL TIMES HOWEVER, THE DEFECT WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED. THE CONTACT WAS VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SATISFACTORY RESOLUTION.
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Oct 4, 2006IN
I LEASED A 2004 RX330 IN JANUARY, 04. IMMEDIATELY I BEGAN HAVING DIFFICULTY PREDICTING WHAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOING TO DO NEXT. SHIFT POINTS ALL OVER THE PLACE. THE "UPGRADE" WAS PERFORMED, PROVIDED TEMPORARY ADJUSTMENT. MERGING IS DEADLY. I THOUGHT PERHAPS I WAS SLIPPING OFF THE PEDAL, BUT NOW KNOW IT WASN'T RESPONDING. THE DRIVELINE HAS ALWAYS HAD A "CLUNK" OR "THUMP" THAT OCCURS WHEN LIFTING FROM THE THROTTLE. WE HAVE REPORTED THIS TO OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP (TOM WOOD LEXUS, INDIANAPOLIS) ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE FIRST DIAGNOSIS WAS "ROCKS UNDER THE SEAT!!!!" EACH TIME, ANOTHER SERVICE WRITER WOULD EXPERIENCE THE THUMP/CLUNK, AGREE THAT THAT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THERE, AND CLAIM "I'LL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT." IN EVERY INSTANCE WE RECEIVED THE STANDARD RESPONSE, "IT'S A NORMAL NOISE. THEY ALL DO IT." IN MID SEPTEMBER, THE VEHICLE WAS IN SERVICE FOR ANOTHER ISSUE, AND A NEW, EAGER SERVICE WRITER DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, ABSOLUTELY AGREED THAT THE NOISE WAS CAUSING WEAR ON SOMETHING AND THAT HE WOULDN'T WANT TO BUY THIS VEHICLE WHEN IT COMES OFF LEASE, IF IT DOES THAT!" AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR 10 DAYS TO FIX THE OTHER PROBLEM, THE PREVIOUSLY EAGER SERVICE WRITER TOLD US HE HAD DRIVEN OTHER RX'S ON THEIR LOT, AND APPARENTLY THE PROBLEM IS A "NORMAL" ONE. OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE BEEN DRIVING A VERY UNSAFE VEHICLE AND LEXUS/DEALER DON'T CARE. UNTIL SOMEBODY DIES, POTENTIAL LEXUS CUSTOMERS BEWARE!! *NM
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Aug 2, 2006100 milesAZ
I'M ENCOUNTERING THE SAME TRANSMISSION HESITATION , JUMPING AND REVVING WHEN SHIFTING IN THE LOWER GEARS AS MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED. I HAVE HAD THE SOFTWARE UPDATE WITHOUT EFFECT. THE DEALER NOW IS INSULTING ME BY CLAIMING THE USE OF REGULAR GAS MAY BE THE CAUSE. *NM
Exterior Lighting
Filed Jul 14, 2006OK
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE FAR ENOUGH WHILE DRIVING IN THE EVENING AT A SPEED OF 70 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERS WHO ADJUSTED THE HEADLIGHTS BUT WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS.
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Oct 21, 2010. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.