Owners filed 40 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the structure. It has been recalled 1 time.
When it fails
06800068,000 milesMedian miles at failure
26 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 50,000–60,000 miles.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Unknown or Other
5
0
0
0
Structure
5
0
0
0
Air Bags
5
0
0
0
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
3
0
0
0
Exterior Lighting
3
0
0
0
Wheels
2
0
0
0
Structure › Body
2
0
0
0
Service Brakes
2
1
0
1
Engine
2
0
0
0
Visibility/Wiper
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.
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
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.