2004 Lexus RX Complaint Log

ENGINE/TRANSMISSION HESITATION; MISSED SHIFT POINTS; AND STALLS IN TRAFFIC UPON ACCELERATION. USING AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL CAUSES ALL WINDOWS TO FOG UP TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU CAN NOT SEE OUT OF THE WINDOWS. LOAD ENGINE NOISES AND POPPING SOUNDS.

2004 LEXUS RX330 HAS PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION SHIFT.*MR THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT SIMPLY UPGRADING THE COMPUTER CHIP WOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *NM

AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, APPLIED BRAKES, AND CAR SHOOK SEVERLY, STEERING WHEEL SHOOK AND MOVED ABOUT 4 INCHES, LEFT AND RIGHT. I PULLED OFF FREEWAY. THINKING I HAD A FLAT. NO FLAT. ROTORS WERE RED HOT. I LET IT COOL, CHECKED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, IT WAS OFF. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON IN THE DASH. LEXUS REPLACED ROTORS, BRAKE PADS PER SOME BULLETIN: TSIB BR004-04 43512-48081 T-1 9B T-2 13. *AK

OUR LEXUS RX330 WAS PURCHASED IN AUGUST OF 2003. FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, THE VEHICLE HESITATES TO SHIFT GEARS WITH A LAG CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK FORWARD. WE HAVE TROUBLE MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY AS WELL AS ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AND WHILE TURNING DUE TO THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION. DEALER KEEPS PERFORMING THE TSB TC005-03 "POOR SHIFT QUALITY" AND REPROGRAMS THE COMPUTER WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. WE ARE TOLD THERE IS NOTHING MORE THAT CAN BE DONE. AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS WITH LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY DENY A PROBLEM EXISTS AND STATES THAT THE VEHICLE PERFORMS WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. CUSTOMER SERVICE EVEN FAILS TO DOCUMENT MY COMPLAINTS BY NOT ENTERING IT IN THE IR COMPUTER SYSTEMS IN AN ATTEMPT TO HIDE THE DEFECT. MANY OWNERS REPORT THIS PROBLEM ON INTERNET MESSAGE BOARDS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS AND UNACCEPTABLE DESIGN FLAW THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED WITH A RECALL.

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP COMPLETELY. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED BY PHILLIP'S WIFE LORIE HOLVERSON.*AK

THE BRAKES DID NOT OPERATE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. *JB

TRANSMISSION IS HESITANT, SWITCHES UP AND DOWN IN RAPID JUMPS, IS VERY UNPREDICTABLE!! ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. BEEN DOING IT SINCE I BOUGHT IT 2 YRS. DEALER CLAIMS KNOWN PROBLEM, AND NO FIX YET!!!*JB

2004 LEXUS RX330 HAD A FRONT SUSPENSION DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE CAR TO PULL TO THE LEFT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, ACCORDING TO LEXUS DEALERS, THERE IS NOT REPAIR AVAILABLE FOR THIS CONDITION. *AK

PICKING UP MY DAUGHTER AT A FRIENDS HOUSE AND FORTUNATELY WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 5-10MPH TO A STOP SIGN WHEN MY BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. I HAD TO PUT MY ENTIRE BODY WEIGHT ON THE PEDAL TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE CAR WAS TOWED BY FLATBED TO DEALERSHIP AND DETERMINED IT WAS THE BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY. AT THE SAME TIME MY FUEL INJECTOR ASSEMBLY APPARENTLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH I HAD NO IDEA OF UNTIL I RECIEVED MY WORK ORDER SHEET. I WAS ACCUSED OF USING CHEAP GAS WHICH I ABSOLUTELY NEVER USED. I ONLY USE THE HIGHEST GRADE OF FUEL IN MY VEHICLE SO THEY COULD GIVE ME NO OTHER REASON FOR THE COINCIDENCE. IT SEEMS LIKE MANY 2004 RX330'S HAVE BEEN HAVE ALOT OF BRAKE ISSUES BUT LEXUS' ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM IS THAT IF THE PROBLEM CAN BE FIXED THEN THE CAR IS RUNNING ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS. MY QUESTION TO THEM WAS CAN THEY FIX THE PROBLEM OF THE LOSS OF A LIFE WHEN THIS UNSAFE VEHICLE PRODUCES THAT PROBLEM? I HAVE ALSO HAD TO HAVE BRAKE ROTOR PADS REPLACED AT 15,000 MILES WHICH ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE TECH WAS OUT OF THE ORDINARY BUT NOT ACCORDING TO A LEXUS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ADMINISTRATOR. I FIND IT APPALLING THAT LEXUS IS NOT STANDING BEHIND ITS PRODUCT TO HAVE THESE UNSAFE VEHICLES TAKEN OFF THE ROAD INSTEAD THEY ARE WILLING TO RISK CONSUMERS LIVES NATIONWIDE.... SO MUCH FOR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION.

1)BACKING OUT OF MY SLANTING DRIVEWAY. 2)NO BRAKES-HAD TO HIT THEM REALLY HARD TO STOP AT ALL. 3. DEALER TOWED AND REPLACED BRAKE BOOSTERS.

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

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 ACCELERATOR STUCK, AND CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER LEFT THE VEHICLE, AND CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THEY HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED, SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED, BUT CONSUMER WAS NOT SATISFIED.*AK BECAUSE CONSUMER HAVE NO BRAKEBRAKES HE HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WHICH SLOWED THE CAR DOWN ENOUGH TO PUT IT IN PARK WHILE MOVING, THEN HE SHUT OFF THE IGNITION. THIS VEHICLE CAME WITH NO CLIPS ON THE KICK PANEL. *BF

I TOOK MY RX330 IN FOR ITS 5000 MI CHECKUP AND THE RECALL REGARDING THE BRAKE LIGHT RECALL. AFTER 2 HOURS I WAS TOLD THAT IN AN EFFORT TO GAS UP MY VEHICLE, MY BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED AT THE GAS STATION AND WAS BEING TRANSPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT I WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOO DANGEROURS TO DRIVE AND THAT I WOULD BE PROVIDED A LOANER. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE UP TO THREE WEEKS BEFORE MY VEHICLE WOULD BE READY. FORTUNATELY, IT TOOK ONLY FOUR DAYS TO BE REPAIRED. NOW I AM DRIVING MY VEHICLE WITH REAL APPREHENSION. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BASED UPON CONSUMER REPORTS SAFETY AND I HOPE I DO NOT LIVE TO REGRET IT.

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

POWER BRAKES ON 2004 LEXUS RX330 FAILED IN COLD WEATHER. ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENT WHILE BACKING OUT OF GARAGE. WARMING UP THE VEHICLE FOR 15 MIN TEMPORARILY SOLVED THE PROBLEM. IT FAILED AGAIN THE NEXT DAY. DEALER TOWED THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIR. WORKS FINE SINCE. I HAVE HEARD COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS MODEL AND WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER MY OWN

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

LOCKED BRAKE PEDAL;1. ON TURNING ON THE IGNITION, THE BRAKE PEDDAL LOCKED. WHEN THIS PROBLEM APPEARED THE FIRST TIME, I WASN'T SURE WHAT HAPPENDED AS THE BRAKE PEDAL UNLOCKED AFTER TURINING ON AND OFF THE IGNITION AGAIN.*AK 2. DURING THE 5000 MI SERVICE I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT HAD NOT TURNED OFF (LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD) ONCE AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK. THEY ASSUMED THIS TO BE RELATED TO THE RECALL MY VEHICLE HAD FOR THE BRAKE LIGHTS (TAIL LIGHTS) AND FIXED THE VEHICLE FOR THE RECALL ISSUE. 3. ONCE AGAIN THE BRAKE PEDAL LOCKED ON JAN 28TH WHEN I TURNED ON THE IGNITION WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A SLOPE IN SNOW. WHILE I USED THE PARKING BRAKE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE THE PEDAL DID NOT UNLOCK. AFTER REPEATEDLY TURNING ON AND OFF THE IGNITION I WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK THE PEDAL (ABOUT 5 MINS) AND I THEN CALLED UP THE DEALERSHIP. 4. THE DEALERSHIP FIXED THE CAR FOR LOCKING BY INSTALLING A "BRAKE BOOSTER" 5. WHAT BOTHERS ME MOST IS THE LACK OF PROACTIVE RESPONSE FROM LEXUS ON THIS DANGEROUS FAILURE. I WAS LUCKY THAT THE BRAKES LOCKED WHEN I WAS TURNING ON THE IGNITION, HAD THE SAME HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING THIS COULD HAVE COST ME AND MY WIFE OUR LIVES. AS THE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE (FROM OTHER CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS) THEY SHOULD HAVE PROACTIVELY CHECKED THE CAR WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR THE 5000 MI SERVICE. MY PEDAL LOCKED AFTER TWO DAYS OF THE SERVICE!

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 LIGHT. SOME ONE WILL GET KILLED OVER THIS AND IT EASILY COULD HAVE BEEN ME! *JB

I GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT ON THE WAY TO WORK. I WAS GOING 30 MPH OFF A FREEWAY EXIT AND HAD TO SLAM ON MY BRAKE BECAUSE THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME ALL STOPPED ALL OF A SUDDEN. I STEPPED ON MY BRAKE PAD ALL THE WAY DOWN BUT MY CAR DID NOT STOP AT ALL AND RAN INTO THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. MY 2004 RX330 WENT UNDER THE BACK OF THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME, AND MY HOOD WAS ALL CRUMPLED UP. MY INSURANCE PAID FOR ALL THE REPAIRS, WHICH WAS OVER $9000.00 AND NOW MY INRUANCE WILL GO UP. THE REPAIR WAS 2 WEEKS LONG, AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME FILED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY.*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

WITHOUT ANY PRIOR INDICATION OF A PROBLEM, ON JAN.22.05 THE BRAKES ON MY 2004 LEXUS RX 330 STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. WOULD ONLY WORK WITH EXTREME FOOT PRESSURE AND THEN VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THIS HAPPENED IN COLD WEATHER AFTER THE CAR WAS JUST WASHED AT A COMMERCIAL CAR WASH. MILEAGE ON CAR ABOUT 10,500. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR LESS THAN A MILE, I CALLED LEXUS ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WHO ARRANGED FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE TOWED FOR SERVICE IN WESTPORT CT. I WAS TOLD THE "BRAKE BOOSTER" HAD FAILED. THE DEALER REPLACED IT WITHIN A FEW DAYS AND UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER ALSO INDICATED THERE WERE OTHER VEHICLES WHO HAD EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEMS. HIS WAS THE EXACT PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE FEB.16.05 EDITION OF THE NEW YORK TIMES FOR VEHICLES OF THIS MODEL PRODUCED IN CANADA.*AK

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

ON JANUARY 17, 2005 I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT IN MY 2004 LEXUS RX330. THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED LESS THAN 1 MILE FROM MY HOME, ON MY OWN STREET, 1-2 MINUTES AFTER LEAVING MY HOME. IT HAD SNOWED THE NIGHT BEFORE AND THE ROADWAY WAS STILL SNOW/ICE COVERED, IT WAS A FRIGID MORNING. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES PER HOUR AND THE VEHICLE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE. I ATTEMPTED TO PUSH THE BRAKE PETAL TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT RESULT. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION. THE DAMAGE TO THIS VEHICLE EXCEEDED $8000. DAYS AFTER THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED MY HUSBAND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LEXUS OF TOWSON DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE BRAKING MECHANISM LOOKED AT. DURING THE DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP (IN SIMILAR, SNOW COVERED/FRIGID CONDITIONS) MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO REPRODUCE THIS PROBLEM, AGAIN JUST AFTER LEAVING OUR HOME. THE DEALERSHIP (A 40 MINUTE DRIVE FROM OUR HOME) WAS UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THIS PROBLEM AND TOLD US TO CALL BACK IF THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. TODAY, MAY 24, 2005, WE WERE INFORMED DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE THAT THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WTH THE BRAKES AND THAT A CAMPAIGN WAS UNDERWAY TO INVESTIGATE. I WANTED TO FORMALLY ADD MY VEHICLE TO THIS LIST OF COMPAINTS.

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH APPROACHING RED LIGHT DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO COLLIDE WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. NO DAMAGE TO VEHICLE STRUCK IN REAR AND MINIMAL DAMAGE TO FRONT BUMPER OF LEXUS. DRIVER'S RIGHT FOOT BRUISED. 1 MONTH LATER VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THE BRAKE BOOSTER WAS REPLACED.*AK THE CONSUMER SUSTAIN AN INJURED FOOT AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. *NM

CAR IS A 2004 LEXUS RX330. BRAKES FAILED - PEDAL BECAME HARD AS A ROCK AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON WITHOUT WARNING. ALMOST DROVE THROUGH MY DRIVEWAY FENCE. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE BOOSTER UNDER WARRANTY. IT TOOK A WEEK TO GET THE BOOSTER. SO FAR THE BRAKES SEEM TO BE OK. *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

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 LEXUS RX 330 WITH A MAJOR PROBLEM OF RUNNING OFF THE ROAD. UNLESS THE CAR IS CONSTANTLY STEERED BACK ON THE ROAD IT WILL RUN YOU INTO THE DITCH IN A VERY SHORT DISTANCE. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND HAD IT IN FOR THIS PROBLEM MANY TIMES. (POHANKA LEXUS, CHANTILLY VA.) THEY COULD NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND EVENTUALLY JUST USE AN EXCUSES LIKE THE CROWN IN THE ROAD. I HAVE VERY FEW MILES ON THIS CAR BECAUSE IT IS MY WIFE'S AND SHE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. PLEASE SEE HOW MANY RX 330 2004 LEXUS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS OF CROSSING INTO TRAFFIC OR RUNNING OFF THE ROAD. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

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

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

2004 LEXUS RX330 HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE VACUUM SYSTEM FOR THE BRAKE EQUIPMENT.*MR THE BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL WHILE BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY. THE BRAKES WOULD LSO LOCK UP AND THE PEDAL WOULD TRAVEL TO THE FLOOR. *NM

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

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

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

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

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

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

WHILE IN MOTION BRAKES POWER ASSIST FUNCTION FAILED. *AK

VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED 2 TOTAL BRAKE FAILURES. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES , THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR. OWNER TOWED THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED AFTER BEING THERE FOR 10 DAYS. APPROXIMATELY 30 DAYS LATER THIS PROBLEM RE-OCCURRED. OWNER HAD THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY AND PADS REPLACED. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *NM *NM

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

I HAD DRIVEN MY CAR TO THE BANK AND WHEN I CAME OUT TO START MY CAR THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS VERY STIFF. I SAW A RED BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASH AND FIRST THOUGHT I HAD SOMEHOW PUT ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. I REALIZED THAT THIS WAS NOT THE CASE AND THAT I HAD NO BRAKES. I WAS STILL IN THE PARKING LOT SO NO INJURIES OCCURRED. AFTER TRYING NUMEROUS TIMES TO MOVE MY CAR, THE LIGHT WENT OFF AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. THIS WAS ONLY ABOUT A MILE. ONCE I WAS HOME, THE VEHICLE AGAIN FROZE UP AND I HAD NO BRAKES AND COULD NOT EVEN PUSH DOWN THE BRAKE PEDAL. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING OF A PROBLEM, NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF A LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND HAD TO GET TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON A FLATBED TRUCK. THIS WAS A NEW 2004 LEXUS RX330 WITH ONLY 5,000 MILES ON IT. THE DEALERSHIP PUT A SIGN ON MY CAR...DO NOT DRIVE - NO BRAKES. THE NEXT DAY I WAS TOLD THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD AN INTERNAL LEAK. BECAUSE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER (I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE IN THE COUNTRY AND IT WOULD TAKE 3 WEEKS TO SHIP A PART) I WAS NOT GIVEN MY OLD PART AND THE ONLY EXPLANATION WAS THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD AN INTERNAL LEAK. I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING IF THIS NEW PART HAS A DEFECT TOO, AND IF IN ANOTHER 5,000 MILES THIS MASTER CYLINDER WILL FAIL. THE FACT THAT NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY LEADS ME TO QUESTION WHETHER THERE WERE A NUMBER OF OTHER 2004 LEXUS RX330'S THAT HAD SIMILAR MASTER CYLINDER MALFUNCTIONS. IF YOU HAVE HAD OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEMS ON LEXUS RX330'S I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU. *JB

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

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

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

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

WHIKE DRIVING AT 10 MPH POWER BRAKES FAILED. *AK

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

DT: THE POWER BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED. THIS HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2005. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED; THE FIRST TIME WAS ON OCTOBER 27, 2004, AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE BOOSTER OR SOMETHING TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER. THERE WAS NO FOREWARNING, BUT ONE COULD HEAR A LITTLE NOISE WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKES, AND THAT WAS AT THE MOMENT IT HAPPENED. IT HAPPENED IN DRY PAVEMENT AND WARM WEATHER. *AK