2004 Lexus RX330 complaints

STARTED CAR IN PARKING LOT IN CLARENCE, NY ON OR ABOUT DEC 22 IN THE PM. WEATHER COLD AND ICY. DROVE OFF AND APPLIED BRAKES TO STOP AT STOP SIGN AND CAR WOULD NOT STOP. BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT PUSH DOWN. MADE A TURN BACK INTO PARKING LOT AND FINALLY GOT CAR TO STOP WITH HAND BRAKE. CALLED THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY AND SPOKE TO SERVICE PERSON WHO SAID HE COULD NOT THINK OF ANY REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. HE ASKED ME TO TURN OFF ENGINE AND START AGAIN. I DID THIS AND CAR AND BRAKES REACTED NORMALLY. I WAS VERY SHAKEN AND TOLD HIM SO BUT HE ASSURED ME THAT THIS WAS JUST A FLUKE AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. AFTER READING ARTICLE IN NEW YORK TIMES WITH REGARD TO SOME COMPLAINTS ABOUT FAILURE WITH THE POWER BRAKES IN THE LEXUS RX330 WHICH IS THE MODEL OF MY CAR (YEAR 2004) I FEEL THIS WAS NO FLUKE AND THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WHICH SHOULD BE ADDRESSED WITH LEXUS. I WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN IN A PARKING LOT AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED AND HAD THE SPACE TO MANEUVER. JB

RECENTLY IN THE SUMMER OF 2004, I PURCHASED A NEW 2004 LEXUS RX330 SUV. THIS PAST JANUARY, MY BRAKES FAILED AND I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP (LEXUS OF ENGLEWOOD). THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK IN STOPPING THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER WAS BROKEN, AND THEY PROCEEDED TO CHANGE MY ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM (?). NOW, THE BRAKES DO WORK, HOWEVER, THE "FEEL" IS JUST DIFFERENT. I READ IN THE NY TIMES THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO 10 OTHER DRIVERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE AND I WANTED TO REPORT THIS SIMILAR PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T LET ME KNOW IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION IN THIS MATTER.

I HAVE A 2004 RX330. THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES TERRIBLY, TO THE POINT THIS CAR IS UNSAFE. I HAVE HAD IT IN 3 TIMES, AND THEY TELL ME THAT'S THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSED TO OPERATE. THEY SAID, "I'TS TRYING TO LEARN HOW YOU DRIVE" GIVE IT TIME, THEY SAY, NOW I HAVE 10K MILES, STILL SAME PROBLEM. I WAITED MY WHOLE LIFE TO GET A LEXUS, AND NOT THEY ARE PROVING TO BE LEMONS, AND LEXUS OF ALL THE COMPANIES, SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING. IT'S GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED. WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO HELP ME AND THE OTHERS THAT ARE HAVING TROUBLE? IT SEEMS TO BE WHEN YOU START FROM A STOP, IN THE LOWER GEARS. LEXUS SAID THIS CAR DOESN'T NEED THE "UPDATE".*JB

ARTICLE IN NYTIMES RE RX330; PROBLEM WITH BRAKE BOOSTER KNOWN MONTHS AGO. WE HAD A # OF SCARY, ALMOST SERIOUS EPISODES WITH THIS ISSUE. NO ONE TOLD US, EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW! IT WAS VERY HARD TO STOP THE CAR AND PEDAL REQUIRED SIGNIFICANT EFFORT. PROBLEM ALWAYS HAPPENED JUST AFTER STARTING THE CAR AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DRIVE. OUR CAR WAS AT DEALER FOR ONE MONTH, WHILE WE AWAITED PARTS TO REPAIR. DEALER REPLACED VACUUM BRAKE BOOSTER AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS SINCE.*AK

HESITATION PROBLEMS WITH MY 2004 LEXUS RX330. AT LOW SPEEDS OF 10-15 MPH TO UP TO AROUND 40-50 MPH. LET OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN & PRESS THE GAS PEDAL THERE IS A HESITATION. THIS HAS HAPPEN CHANGING LANES ON A HIGHWAY OR TURNING AROUND A CORNER. THIS HESITATION HAS HAPPEN MANY TIMES SINCE THE I LEASED THIS LEXUS FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE TAKEN THIS RX330 BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP HAS CALLED IT A SITUATION NOT A PROBLEM. BUT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. I HAVE VOICED MY COMPLAINT AT THE LEXUS CUSTOMER RELATIONS IN CALIFORNIA. I HAVE REPEATEDLY CALLED. THEY TELL ME HOW SORRY THEY ARE WHEN I TELL THEM SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE OR BE SERIOUSLY INJURED IN THIS VECHICLE I HAVE BUT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I HAVE HAD AT LEAST 4 NEAR ACCIDENTS WITH THIS LEXUS RX330 SINCE JULY OF 2004. *AK

WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS STUCK. *AK THE MANUFACTURER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTED AND REPAIRED IT AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. *NM

BRAKES FAILED, AND CONSUMER UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE IN THE FRONT.*AK

I PURCHASE A LEXUS RX330 IN APRIL 2004 IN LARCHMONT, NY. THIS PAST SUMMER, AS I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE POWER BRAKES FAILED. I HAD TO PUSH MY FOOT DOWN VERY FORCEFULLY ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR TO GET THE CAR TO STOP. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE POWER WAS RESTORED. I HAD THE BRAKES FIXED THAT AFTERNOON AT THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP. I WAS NOT AWARE THAT THIS WAS A POTENTIALLY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM UNTIL I READ THE 2/16 NY TIMES ARTICLE. I DOUBT THAT LEXUS IS TELLING YOU THE FULL STORY ABOUT ALL THE BRAKE FAILURES AND REPAIRS THAT THEY ARE ENCOUNTERING.*AK

WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE BRAKES FAILED THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, AND THE BRAKE BOOSTER WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. *NM

THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING OUT OF REVERSE IN A PARKING LOT WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY DID NOT WORK. TAKEN TO DEALER FOR CHECKUP AND REPAIR. *NM

THE CONSUMER HAS TO PUT EXTREME PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN SERVICED FOR THIS PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. *NM

COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES WHILE DRIVING, PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO FLOOR. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER, IN SHOP FOR 10 DAYS AWAITING PARTS. BRAKE BOOSTER REPLACED. NOTE: 5 OTHERS IN SHOP AT SAME TIME WITH SAME EXACT PROBLEM. *JB

SIMULTANEOUSLY WITHOUT WARNING THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHILE THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR IN COLD WEATHER. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE DUPLICATE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

THE CAR, LEXUS RX330 2004 LOST ITS BREAKS. THE DEALER PROVIDED ME WITH ANOTHER RX330 FOR THE PERIOD OF THE REPAIR. THIS CAR ALSO LOST ITS BREAKS WHILE SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. *NM

ADD MY NAME TO THE LIST OF PEOPLE WITH BRAKE PROBLEMS IN THE 2004 LEXUS RX300. WE HAVE ALREADY HAD 2 MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH DAMAGED ROTORS AND PADS AS WELL AS SEVERE VIBRATION AND SHIMMYING WHEN BRAKING, ESPECIALLY AT HIGH SPEEDS. LEXUS HAS QUIETLY BEEN FIXING THE BRAKE PROBLEMS AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS TO THE NHTSA DOWN AND TO HIDE THE PROBLEM. I AM SURE AFTER YOU DO YOUR RESEARCH YOU WILL FIND MANY OTHER PEOPLE LIKE ME WITH MAJOR BRAKE PROBLEMS WHO DIDN'T CONTACT THE NHTSA BECAUSE LEXUS FIXED THE PROBLEMS FOR FREE. AS A RESULT YOU WILL PROBABLY ISSUE A SAFETY MANDATED RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. (THE BRAKING PROBLEMS ARE FREQUENT AND NOT JUST ON ONE DATE AS OFFERED BELOW)*AK

MY BRAKES FAILED WHILE TRAVELING DOWN A MOUNTAIN ROAD IN VERMONT. FORTUNATELY MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR WITH MUCH FORCE. WE CALLED THE LEXUS ROAD EMERGENCY PHONE AND WERE TOLD TO NOT DRIVE THE CAR ANYMORE, THEY WERE AWARE OF THE BRAKE PROBLEM AND WOULD HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALER. WE THEN ARRANGED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO OUR HOME DEALER 170 MILES AWAY - BUT THE CAR TOOK A MONTH TO REPAIR BECAUSE OF A BACKORDER ON THE PART AND WE WERE LEFT IN VERMONT WITHOUT A CAR. WHEN WE ARRIVED HOME, A RENTAL CAR WAS PROVIDED BY LEXUS.*AK

WHILE IN MOTION BRAKES POWER ASSIST FUNCTION FAILED. *AK

THE HIGH INTESITY LIGHTS (HIL) DO NOT ILLUMINATE ENOUGH DOWN THE ROAD FOR THE CONSUMER TO SEE SAFELY. *BF MOST OF THE LIGHT ILLUMINATES OUT TO THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *NM

WHEN BACKING VEHICLE UP THE BRAKE PEDAL LOCKED AND BRAKES FAILED. *BF THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED. THE CONSUMER WAS GIVEN A LOANER VEHICLE OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AND HAD THE SAME FAILURE. *TC

THE BRAKE BOOSTER IS STICKING AND CAUSING THE BRAKES TO OPERATE IMMEDIATELY LIKE THE CONSUMER IS STOMPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. ALSO, BRAKE CHECK LIGHT IS ON. TOOK VEHICLE DEALER FOR CHECK UP, BUT THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK

MY BRAKES WENT COMPLETELY OUT WHILE TRAVELING DOWN A HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE OCCURRENCE. THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PUSH ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR GRABBED VIOLENTLY AND PULLED THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT RIGHT. WHEN I CALLED THE LEXUS DEALER THAT SOLD ME THE VEHICLE, I SAID THAT MY BRAKES HAD FAILED, AND WITHOUT ME EVER TELLING THEM WHAT MODEL IT WAS THE SERVICEMAN SAID YOU MUST HAVE AN RX-330. I REPLIED HOW DID YOU KNOW THAT? HE STATED THAT THEY HAD MANY [PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES ON THE RX-330. I THEN ASKED HIM TO HAVE IT PICKED UP BECAUSE I WAS NOT DRIVING IT ANY FURTHER. I NEXT ASK HOW LONG IT WOULD BE BEFORE IT WOULD BE FIXED, HE RESPONDED BETWEEN 1 AND 3 WEEKS. I ASKED WHY, HE SAID BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE BACK ORDERED BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS. THE PART ON MY WORK ORDER IS FOR A BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY. WHEN THE CAR WAS PICKED UP I ASKED THE TRUCK DRIVER IF HE PICKED UP MANY LEXUS'S FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS THE ANSWER WAS YES. THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED IN A COUPLE OF DAYS BECAUSE I RAISED SO MUCH HECK. THE CAR WAS RETURNED BY A DIFFERENT TOWING SERVICE. I ASKED THE SAME QUESTION AND THIS DRIVER SAID HE HAD 4 IN THE PASSED COUPLE OF MONTHS. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM, SO I ASKED LEXUS WHY I HAD NOT GOTTEN A LETTER OR RECALL ON IT LIKE I HAD FOR A FAULTY RADIATOR AND BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. ALL PEOPLE TALKED WITH PLAYED IT DOWN. I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD PUT A LETTER OR RECALL OUT BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION COMPARED TO A RADIATOR OR BRAKE

THE HEADLIGHTS ON A 2004 RX330 HAVE COST ME A LAWSUIT AGAINST DEALER. DROVE CAR SECOND NIGHT, 3 MILES, ON COUNTRY ROADS. I HAD MOTION SICKNESS AFTER THAT EXPERIENCE. EVERY TIME I HIT A BUMP THE CAR LIGHTS WOULD BOUNCE, AS IF ON A SPRING. THE LINE FROM LIGHTS GOES ACROSS CENTER OF WINDSHIELD AT EYE LEVEL. THE DRIVER CAN'T SEE BEYOND 20 FT. WHEN LOOKING BEYOND 20 FT. YOU SEE TOTAL DARKNESS. WHEN PASSING A PERSON ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD YOU CAN ONLY SEE THEM FROM THE KNEES DOWN. VERY SCARY DRIVING THE RX 330 AT NIGHT. *JB

THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE CONDITION CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SIDE SWIPE THE RIGHT REAR TIRE OF A TRUCK AND CONTINUED ON FOR TWO MILES BEFORE THE CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGED ITSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CALLED IN A MANUFACTURER REP. THE REP INFORMED THE DEALER THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. *JB *NM

I AM LEASING A 2004 LEXUS RX 330 FWD WITH ABOUT 20,000 MILES ON IT. WHEN I TRY TO APPLY THE THROTTLE AFTER SLOWING DOWN THERE IS A SEVERE HESITATION, USUALLY FOLLOWED BY A SUDDEN SURGE IN POWER. AT TIMES THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL HESITATION WHILE THE TRANSMISSION IS DECIDING WHAT GEAR IT SHOULD BE IN. THIS IS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WHILE MAKING A TURN AT AN INTERSECTION, AND ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS IF THERE ARE PEDESTRIANS IN THE INTERSECTION. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE LEASING DEALER (LONGO LEXUS) AND THEY REPROGRAMMED THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH PROVIDED A TEMPORARY AND PARTIAL FIX. AFTER A FEW WEEKS, APARENTLY THE TRANSMISSION REPROGRAMMED ITSELF AND THE PROBLEM RETURNED. I TOOK THE CAR TO A SECOND DEALER AND HE SAID THAT THEY HAD MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THAT DRIVELINE, BUT THERE WAS NO FACTORY FIX. I CALLED LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SAID THE SAME. THIS PROBLEM BEGAN SHORTLY AFTER I GOT THE CAR IN APRIL 2003 AND STILL EXISTS. IF LEXUS TRULY WANTED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, IT WOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN DONE. THEY NEED A PUSH. *AK

WHILE BRAKING AT LOW SPEED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE BRAKE BOOSTER. *JB

2004 LEXUS RX330 DEVELOPED A BRAKE BOOSTER PROBLEM.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE BOOSTER, IS THAT THE BRAKES FREEZE. *JB

BRAKE AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. DEALER TOWED CAR IN FOR REPAIRS. IT IS A FAILURE OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER SYSTEM WHICH COULD HAVE LED TO TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING. *JB

CAR IS A 2004 LEXUS RX330. IT HAS HID HEADLIGHTS. THESE ARE THE WORST HEADLIGHTS I HAVE EVER HAD ON A CAR. THEY ONLY LIGHT UP ROAD A VERY SHORT DISTANCE. ESPECIALLY ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THATS THE WAY THEY WERE MADE. THIS IS A REAL SAFTEY ISSUE. I NEVER WOULD OF BOUGHT THIS CAR IF I NEW THIS.*AK

2004 LEXUS RX330 ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ARE TOO SENSITIVE AND DOES NOT STOP IN SNOW OR ICE. THIS ALLOWS THE VEHICLE TO ROLL FORWARD AND DOES NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO STOP UNDER ITS OWN WEIGHT. LEXUS RX300 DOES NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. AM OWNER OF BOTH. *NM

BRAKES FAILED! AFTER STARTING MY CAR AND PUTTING IT INTO REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, I FOUND I HAD NO BRAKES ...THE CAR STARTED MOVING DESPITE MY FOOT BEING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. AFTER STOPPING THE CAR, I OBSERVED THE BREAK PEDAL IS ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP!*AK

THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM OF MY 2004 LEXUS RX330 HAS UNPLEASANT ODOR WHEN IT IS TURNED ON. I AM PERSONALLY ALLERGIC TO THE ODOR RELEASED BY THE SYSTEM. *AK

I HAVE HAD TWO PROBLEMS. ONE BEING YESTERDAY I CAME OUT TO MY CAR IN THE PARKING LOT STARTED UP MY CAR AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. HAD TO PUT CAR IN PARK TO STOP CAR. THE BRAKES WERE ROCK HARD. THEY SAID IT WAS THE BOOSTER THAT HAD TO BE REPAIRED. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS I HAD ALMOST 2 ACCIDENTS WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP SIGN. I HIT THE GAS AND THE CAR DOESN'T GO IT LAGS AND THEN GOES. THIS HESITATION IS VERY VERY SERIOUS AND HAS ME VERY WORRIED ABOUT DRIVING WITH KIDS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR THE SAFETY FEATURES AND NOW I'M SCARED TO DRIVE IT. WHAT IF MY BRAKES FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY I WAS ON? WHAT IF MY CAR LAGS IN FRONT OF A TRUCK?*AK

CONSUMER ENTERED THE VEHICLE, AND UPON EXITING THE PARKING LOT, VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. CONSUMER HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO PARK IN ORDER TO STOP. VEHICLE WAS TOWED, AND THE MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE BOOSTER WERE REPLACED. *AK...PART WAS ON BACK ORDER. MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP REPORTED THAT HE HAS SEEN A COUPLE OF CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

BRAKE BOOSTER FAILURE WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AT LESS THAN 5MPH. DLR ADVISES REPLACEMENT BOOSTERS ARE ON BACK ORDER.*AK

NO WARNING, HAD BRAKING FAILURE NEARLY GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. DEALER TOLD ME THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM PARTS ON BACKORDER NO LOANER CAR HAD TO RENT A VEHICLE. *AK

TOYOTA/LEXUS NEEDS TO ADDRESS THEIR POWER TRAIN PROBLEM ON THE 2004 RX 330 INSTEAD OF SEEMINGLY IGNORING IT. THE REPROGRAMMING DOES NOT WORK. I'VE HAD IT DONE. SEEMED TO BE A BAND AID FIX FOR A MAJOR PROBLEM. WILL IT HAVE TO BE A DEATH BEFORE THEY RECALL THESE LOUSY TRANSMISSIONS. I HAVE BEEN IN SEVERAL NEAR MISS SITUATIONS BECAUSE OF THIS AWFUL TRANSMISSION SINCE PURCHASING THIS SUV BRAND NEW APRIL 15, 2003. AND AFTER PAYING CASH ($45,000) FOR THEIR SUPPOSED GREAT PRODUCT I WANT TO SUE FOR MY MONEY BACK. THE LAG BETWEEN GEARS, THE HIGH REVS BEFORE GETTING INTO A GEAR IS UTTERLY INSANE. CAN YOU SAY RECALLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*JB

MY WIFE HAD PULLED ROUTINELY OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY ON A CLEAR MORNING WITH NO OBSTRUCTIONS ON THE ROAD, SHE TURNED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY ONTO OUR PRIVATE ROAD AND SUV THEN SUDDENLY AND VIOLENTLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, ROCKETING HER INTO A TREE AND STONE WALL. THE AIR/KNEE BAGS AND ACTIVE SEAT BELT RESTRAINT WERE DEPLOYED, SAVING MY WIFE'S LIFE. THE INVESTIGATION BY THE LEXUS FRONT OFFICE IN TORRANCE REVEALED THAT VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING ACCORDING TO SPECS. I HAD NOTICED A REVVING NOISE ON DAY ONE OF PURCHASE AND MENTIONED IT TO THE SALESMAN WHO SAID HE WOULD LOOK INTO IT. WITH NO FURTHER INFORMATION THE DEALER SUGGESTED MENTIONING THE PROBLEM AT THE 1000 MILE CHECK-UP. NOTHING ABNORMAL WAS DETECTED, THOUGH MY COMPLAINT WAS RECORDED (APRIL '04). THE REVVING NOISE CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY BUT WITHOUT INCIDENT UNTIL JUNE 30, 2004, THE DATE OF THE CRASH. UPON HEARING OF A LEXUS SUV INCIDENT IN MY TOWN, I DECIDED TO CHECK THE NTSB DATABASE. I WAS ASTOUNDED BY THE CONCENSUS OF COMPLAINTS INVOLVING THE POWER-TRAIN. I HAVE BEEN A LEXUS OWNER SINCE 1995 (SC 300 COUPE) AND HAVE DRIVEN A NUMBER OF RX 300'S AND ONE OTHER RX 330 (AS LOANER VEHICLES). I BELIEVE IN THE PRODUCT SO MUCH SO, THAT I WOULD ENTRUST THE SAFETY OF MY WIFE AND CHILDREN IN A LEXUS. HOW MANY FATALITIES WILL RESULT BEFORE A RECALL IS ISSUED?? THE MALFUNCTION APPARENTLY DEFIES DIAGNOSTIC DETECTION. *AK

THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE HIGH INTENSITY BEAMS. CONSUMER CAN'T SEE THE TURNS COMING UP OR THE ROAD. THE ROAD ILLUMINATION IS 35 FEET, AND THE STANDARD CALLED FOR 150 REGULAR LIGHTS. DEALER STATED THEY CAN'T BE ADJUSTED. *AK

WHILE THERE WAS NO EMERGENCY FROM THIS PROBLEM IT DOES CAUSE ME TO NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHILE USING LOW BEAMS, AS THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROADWAY A SUFFICIENT DISTANCE IN FRONT OF THE CAR TO BE ABLE TO SEE AND STOP FOR OBSTACLES IN THE ROADWAY.*AK

HESITATION ON 2004 LEXUS RX 330 TRANSMISSION. IT'S UNSAFE TO PULL OUT IN TRAFFIC WITH THIS CAR. YOU DON'T KNOW IF THE CAR WILL PROCEED OR IF IT WILL HESITATE WHILE IN TRAFFIC. LEXUS SAYS IT'S A DESIGN ISSUE, WITH NO FIX. LEXUS TOLD US TO USE PREMIUM GAS - THEN DID AN ECM REFLASH - THEN SAID IT'S A DESIGN ISSUE. THIS CAR DOES THIS EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT. IT'S GREAT ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH, BUT FROM A STARTING POSITION OR A LOW SPEED POSITION IN THE CITY - IT'S TERRIBLE - MORE IMPORTANTLY IT DOESN'T FEEL SAFE. TODAY - IT EVEN SURGED WHEN I PULLED AWAY FROM A LIGHT.*AK

WHIKE DRIVING AT 10 MPH POWER BRAKES FAILED. *AK

SUN GLARE FROM DASHBOARD REFLECTS IN THE WINDSHIELD OBSTRUCTING VISIBILITY. LEXUS RX330. DEALER SAYS OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED BUT NO FIX OTHER THAN DASH COVER. TRIED DASH COVER BUT ONLY BLACK WORKS TO SOME EXTENT. BLACK DOES NOT MATCH THE TAN LEATHER INTERIOR OF THIS LUXURY VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM IS ESPECIALLY BAD WHEN TRAVELING A TREE LINED STREET INTO THE SUN WHERE THERE IS ALTERNATING BRIGHT SUN AND SHADE.*AK

RE: SUPPLEMENT TO CONSUMER COMPLAINT #10091268 LEXUS RX 330 TRANSMISSION/THROTTLE PROBLEMS. *BF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HESTIATES, HUNTS, SHIFTS INCONSISTENTLY, HANGS IN BETWEEN GEARS, DELAYES, ETC. THE THROTTLE DELAYS AT THE FIRST APPLICATION OF GAS AND THE RATE OF ACCELERATION SURGES UP AND DOWN UNEVENLY. DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. *TT

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS RENDERED THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY UNSAFE, PRONE TO POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS. *BF THE CONSUMER DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM AS LAG OR HESITATION WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED FROM FIRST TO SECOND AND OR SECOND TO THIRD, SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE REVVED UP TO THE REDLINE WITH OUT THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGING. THE DEALER RESET A COMPUTER CHIP THAT WAS INVOLVED IN REGULATING THE POWER TRAIN SYSTEM. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THERE WAS ELSE THAT COULD BE DONE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS THE RESULT OF THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. (LAWYER IRA NEWMAN ON BEHALF OF CLIENT, PETER JANCZUK)*JB

REAR WINDOW SHATTERED WITHOUT PROBABLE CAUSE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE WINDOW BROKE DUE TO EXTREME HEAT. *AK THE CONSUMER PURCHASED ANOTHER 2004 LEXUS (MODEL/RX330) AND THE SAME WINDOW SHATTERED. THE SERVICE MANAGER SUGGESTED THAT THIS HAPPENED DUE TO HEAT. *SC *JB

SINCE I HAVE BOUGHT MY CAR THE TRANSMISSION HAS NOT BEEN SHIFTING PROPERLY. IT HESITATES IN LOW GEARS WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATES . THE MOST BOTHERSOME IS THE LACK OF PROPER RESPONSE WHEN THE DRIVER NEEDS TO SLOW DOWN AND THEN ACCELERATE (SUCH AS TURNING LEFT OR CHANGING LANES TO AVOID OBSTACLES OR DOUBLE PARKED CARS). IN THESE CASES TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO GO INTO NEUTRAL, AND AFTER ABOUT A SECOND GOES INTO THIRD OR FOURTH GEAR WITH A RAPID , JERKY MOVEMENT OF THE WHOLE CAR, WHICH I WOULD COMPARE TO BEING REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER CAR. IT HAPPENED TO ME AND MY WIFE 4 TIMES AND RESULTED IN NECK PAIN AND HEADACHE, AND ALMOST BEING HIT BY ANOTHER CAR. LEXUS DEALER AND CUSTOMER CARE STATE THAT THE CAR WAS DESIGNED TO WORK THIS WAY AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO.*AK

THIS HAS BEEN A CONTINUING PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASED NEW IN DEC 2003. AS HAS BEEN REPORTED NUMEROUS TIMES, MY CAR ACCELERATION HESITATES FROM A STOP OR FROM LOW SPEEDS. ALSO MY VEHICLE HAS EXTENSIVE PAUSE OR LAG BETWEEN GEARS. THIS HAS CREATED NUMEROUS DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHERE I WAS STUCK WHILE OTHER VEHICLES HAD TO TAKE ACTION TO AVOID HITTING MY RX330. OFTEN, WHILE MAKING LEFT TURNS AGAINST ONCOMING TRAFFIC, THIS LAG IS SO LONG AS TO BE DANGEROUS. IN THE PAST, I HAVE ACCELERATED HARDER THAN I FEEL NECESSARY IN ORDER TO COMPENSATE FOR THIS LAG. THIS RESULTS IN A SUDDEN DOWNSHIFT AND FORWARD LURCH THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO MY DEALER ON 3 OR MORE OCCASIONS AND THEIR RESPONSE IS THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR MY MODEL. THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER DID DOCUMENT THIS COMPLAINT ON MY SERVICE RECORD THE LAST TIME I VISITED ON 8/13/04.*AK

MY LEXUS RX 330 HAS HAD REPEATED TRANSMISSION AND THROTTLE PROBLEMS. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HESITATES, HUNTS, SHIFTS INCONSISTENTLY, HANGS IN BETWEEN GEARS, DELAYS, ETC. THE THROTTLE DELAYS AT THE FIRST APPLICATION OF GAS AND THE RATE OF ACCELLERATION SURGES UP AND DOWN UNEVENLY. THE RESULT IS THAT THE CAR OFTEN CANNOT AVOID HAZARD SITUATIONS. IF ONE IS TRYING TO PULL INTO TRAFFIC THE DELAYS CREATE HAZARDS. IF ONE ANTICIPATES AND APPLIES THE THROTTLE EARLY TO COMPENSATE, ONE SOMETIMES LURCHES INTO TRAFFIC. WHEN YOU ATTEMPT A LANE CHANGE THE SAME PROBLEMS CAUSE THE SAME TROUBLES: DELAYS AND A HAZARD. THE DELAY ALSO HAS CAUSED ME TO BE ALMOST REAR ENDED AT STOP LIGHTS. I HAVE REPEATEDLY REPORTED THIS PROBLEM OR PACKAGE OF PROBLEMS TO MY LOCAL SERVICING DEALER AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT LEXUS KNOWS OF THE WIDESPREAD NATURE OF THE COMPLAINTS BUT THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT LEXUS WILL DO FOR IT (OTHER THAN ONE REFLASH THAT DID NOT WORK FOR THE ISSUES). AMAZINGLY, WHEN I RAISED THESE ISSUES IN WRITING, THE WRITTEN RESPONSE ON MY SERVICE RECORDS SHOWED "NO PROBLEMS". WHEN I PUSHED THE SERVICE PERSONNEL ON THIS, THEY ADMITTED THAT ALL OF MY COMPLAINTS WERE FOUND BUT THAT LEXUS CLAIMS THESE PROBLEMS ARE "NORMAL" TO THE DESIGN, THEREFORE, THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD BY LEXUS TO SIMPLY RESPOND THAT "THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION IS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED. A BAD DESIGN IS JUST THAT. LOCAL SERVICE PEOPLE SIMPLY THROW THEIR COLLECTIVE HANDS UP AND SAY THE THEY KNOW ABOUT THE GRAVI

JUST LEFT MY LEXUS DEALER FOR MY 20,000 SERVICE. FINALLY THE SERVICE MGR ACKNOWLEDGED MY TRANSMISSION WOES. SEE MY PREVIOUS POST. HE SAID LEXUS IS AWARE OF THE CONCERN "NATION WIDE". THEY CHANGED? THE TRANNY FOR 2005!!! THEY ARE ALSO POSTPONING THE HYBRID FOR 6 MONTHS DUE TO THE CONCERNS OF THE 2004 RX TRANSMISSION THOUGH WE KNOW THAT'S A TOTALLY DIFFERENT APPLICATION. THE KICKER IS THOUGH IT'S STILL AN OPEN CASE, LEXUS AT THIS TIME DOES NOT HAVE A FIX. SO 20,000 MILES LATER I HAVE A 40,0000 SUV THAT HAS A TRANSMISSION OF A YUGO. NO OFFENSE TO THE YUGO. I WAS TOLD HOW FRUSTRATED THEY ARE WITH THIS. I BELIEVE MY FRUSTRATION IS GREATER, SEEING HOW I MAKE THE PAYMENTS AND DRIVE THIS CAR DAILY. ALSO NOT MUCH THEY CAN DO RIGHT NOW UNTIL LEXUS MAKES A MOVE. AAAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH. NOT HAPPY IN THE TWIN CITIES.*AK

THE CONSUMER SMELLED A ROTTEN EGG SMELL, THE PROBLEM WAS THAT WHEN DRIVING THE CAR, THE EXHAUST SMELL ENTERED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE EVEN WITH THE WINDOW UP. IT WAS WORSE WITH THEM DOWN. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER TO CHANGED GAS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB