2004 Lexus RX Complaint Log

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

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

AROUND 11,000 MILES MY 2004 RX330 STARTED HAVING A THUMPING SOUND THAT OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DECELERATING ESPECIALLY AROUND 29 MPH AND THEN AGAIN AROUND 19 MPH. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS MY TRANS COOLER LINE ASSEMBLY AND OIL COOLER HOSE WHICH WERE REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED FOR ABOUT ONE WEEK THAT WAS BACK IN OCT. 2004. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK ABOUT 4 MORE TIMES FOR THE THUMPING NOISE THAT CONTINUES TO OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY AND NOW THEY TELL ME THE NOISE IS NORMAL AND THAT THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. I QUESTIONED HOW CAN IT BE CONSIDERED ABNORMAL BACK IN OCTOBER BUT NOW THAT THE THUMPING NOISE CAN'T BE FIXED THEY CONSIDER IT A DESIGN FLAW. THEY APPARENTLY UPGRADED IT AND THAT SHOULD HAVE ELIMINATED THE NOISE BUT IF IT DIDN'T THERE IS NOTHING ELSE TO DO BECAUSE THIS IS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED... I FEAR EVERYDAY THAT THIS THUMPING NOISE IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF WHAT IS YET TO FOLLOW AS I READ ALL THE OTHER TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN OCCURING AND SOME HAVE EXHIBITED THE THUMP SOUND...LEXUS NEEDS TO FIX THE PROBLEMS AND NOT JUST PUT A BAND-AID ON EACH ONE THAT OCCURS UNTIL THE NEXT MAJOR INCIDENT ... TAKE THIS VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD IF SO MANY CONSUMERS ARE PUTTING THEIR LIFE IN JEOPARDY DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT WAS APPARENTLY NOT MANUFACTURED PROPERLY AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED SAFE TO DRIVE.

LEXUS RX330 2004 BRAKE FAILURE. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE PLACED THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, IT MOVED QUITE FAST, WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKE TO SLOW IT DOWN NOTHING HAPPENED UNTIL THE CONSUMER SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE VERY HARD AND IT SLOWLY CAME TO A STOP. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING ABNORMAL. *JB

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

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

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

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

SINCE NEW THE VEHICLE HAS BOTH TRANSMISSION HESITATION SHIFTING PROBLEMS NOTED BY MANY OTHERS. AROUND 40 MPH, ASKING FOR ACCELERATION WITH ABOUT 3/4 THROTLE CAUSES THE TRNASMISSION TO COME OUT OF GEAR AND HUNT FOR ABOUT TWO SECONDS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS - DON'T PLAN ON PASSING ANYONE. COASTING AROUND 10 MPH, MILD THROTLE CAUSES THE TRANMISSION TO SHIFT HARD AND LURCH THE VEHICLE. LEXUS ACKNOWLEDGES THE CONDITION, BUT STATES IT IS NOT "A PROBLEM.*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 AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE TRUCK WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BY A MOTORIST DRIVING BETWEEN 20-40 MPH. UPON IMPACT THE SEAT MOUNTED SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A CONCUSISON AND INJURIES TO HIS/HER LEFT HAND. *JB

TRANSMISSION HAS A SERIOUS DELAY IN DOWNSHIFTING WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE SUDDENLY. THIS HAS CAUSED MORE THAN ONE INSTANCE WHERE A COLLISION COULD HAVE OCCURRED DUE TO INABILITY TO AVOID FASTER TRAFFIC. *AK *TC

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

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

OUR 2004 LEXUS RX330 (NOW ABOUT 15,000 MILES) CONTINUES TO HAVE TERRIBLE SHIFTING PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IN PARTICULAR, TWO MAJOR ISSUES -- (1) DOESN'T UPSHIFT CORRECTLY, USUALLY BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS, BUT THE REAL CONCERN IS (2) WHEN SLOWING DOWN, COASTING ANYTHING ABOVE 0 MPH (EVEN 1), THEN HITTING THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR SIMPLY DOESN'T RESPOND FOR 3-5 SECONDS, THEN SLOWLY ACCELERATES. WE'VE ALMOST BEEN HIT 5 TIMES BECAUSE OF THE 2ND PROBLEM. WE'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALER DENIED THE PROBLEM EXISTED. THE SECOND TIME THEY RECOGNIZED IT (AFTER A TEST DRIVE WITH ME) AND RESET THE SOFTWARE/DRIVING CHIP, TELLING ME THE CAR "LEARNS" OUR DRIVING HABITS AFTER ABOUT 300 MILES, SO TO GET THE CAR TO RESPOND [THE WAY IT SHOULD], I SHOULD FLOOR THE GAS ALL THE TIME FOR THE FIRST 300 MILES OR SO, WHICH I DID FROM EVERY STOPLIGHT FOR 350 MILES. IT DIDN'T WORK. NOW DURING MY THIRD AND FOURTH VISITS LEXUS HAS DECLINED TO RESET THE CHIP OR DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE LEAD MECHANIC TOLD ME THEY SIMPLY DON'T HAVE A FIX, AND HE KNOWS IT'S AN ISSUE. IN FACT, A MONTH AGO (SERVICE APPT #4) THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY ABOUT $300 TO HAVE THEM RESET THE CHIP AGAIN (WHICH LIKELY WOULDN'T WORK ANYWAY, AS DESCRIBED ABOVE). I'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR HE'S HEARD COMPAINTS FROM MANY NEW RX330 OWNERS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT SHORT OF A RECALL FROM LEXUS, "THAT'S THE WAY THE TRANSMISSION WORKS ON THE RX330 AND WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT". IT'S TERRIBLY FRUSTRATING THAT LEXUS DENIES THERE'S A PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH MANY HAVE REPORTED IT, AND WE'VE ALMOST BEEN HIT BY ANOTHER AUTOMOBILE BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. I JUST HOPE IT DOESN'T TAKE A MAJOR ACCIDENT OR WORSE FOR LEXUS OR THE NHTSA TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.*AK

1.2004 RX 330 TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN ACCELERATING ,PASSING(MOST DANGEROUS WHEN GOING UP AN INCLINE),AND FROM A DEAD START(IE: LIGHT OR STOP SIGN).CAR SEEMS TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND HESATATES WHILE TACHOMETER REVS TO 5-6000 RPM.*AK 2. DANGERIOUS WHEN ENTERING FREEWAY ON RAMP AND ALMOST GOT REARENDED DUE TO DELAY. 3. REPORTED 3 TIMES TO DEALER, THEY SAID IT IS WITHIN SPECS.HAD A LOANER LEXUS RX 330 WHEN MINE WAS IN FOR SERVICE AND THE TRANSMISSION WES PERFECT. CONSTANT PROBLEM.

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

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

1. THERE WERE NO EVENTS THAT LED UP TO THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE BEEN HAVING. . THE TRANSMISSION ON MY BRAND NEW LEXUS RX 330 DOESN'T SHIFT PROPERLY. IT KICKS WHEN STEPING ON THE THE GAS PEDAL, THERE IS A HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, & BETWEEN 20 - 40 MPH, AS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS, THE TRANSMISSION HAS TROUBLE UP SHIFTING AND ENGINE REVS UP AND DOWN SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE SHIFTING 3. THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO REPROGRAM THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER, AND HAS TRIED SWITCHING TO HIGH OCTANE FUEL. NEITHER HAS WORKED. THE DEALER IS TRYING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER, I KNOW OF SEVERAL RX 330 OWNERS WHO ARE ALL EXPERIENCEING SIMMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TRANSMISSIONS. IT SEEMS APPARENT THAT THERE IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN SOME PART OF THE TRANSMISSIONS USED IN THE RX 330. *AK

VEHICLE HESITATES AND ACCELERATES ERRACTICALLY CAUSING A HAZARD WHEN ENTERING TRAFFIC. DEALER TECH STATES VEHICLE IS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED". *JB

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

WHEN INITIALLY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE PEDAL DOES NOT DEPRESS SMOOTHLY, INSTEAD IN FREQUENTLY SHUDDERS AS IT GOES DOWN THROUGH THE INITIAL PART OF THE STROKE, GOING DOWN IN A STAIR-STEP MANNER. THIS HAPPENS EVEN WHEN STANDING STILL, AND IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKE GENTLY. IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP SMOOTHLY AND PRECISELY, OCCASIONALLY CAUSING JERKY, ERRATIC BRAKING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND BOOSTER ASSEMBLY, ONLY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM BECOME EVEN WORSE! *JB

ON JULY 10,2004 I PICKED UP MY NEW VEHICLE, A LEXUS RX 330 FROM THE BAYRIDGE LEXUS DEALER IN NYS. WITHIN A 1/2 HOUR, WHILE TESTING THE SAFETY FEATURES OF VEHICLE, I HAD PLACED A LARGE STUFFED ANIMAL (IN PLACE OF A HUMAN BODY PART OF A ADULT OR CHILD). ALTHOUGH ALL THE WINDOWS AND REMOTE REAR DOOR AUTOMATICALLY OPENED WHEN COMING INTO CONTACT WITH FOREIGN OBJECT ( STUFFED BEAR), THE SUNROOF JAMMED THE BEAR BETWEEN THE CLOSING GLASS AND FRAME I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE STUFFED ANIMAL STILL JAMMED IN THE SUNROOF BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN WERE UNABLE TO DISLODGE THE STUFFED ANIMAL'S HEAD FROM THE JAMMED SUNROOF (IMAGINE IF THIS WAS A CHILD'S BODY PART???) AND HAD TO DISMANTLE THE SUNROOF TO REMOVE THE STUFFED ANIMAL AND HAD ME RETURN ON THE 12TH DETERMINE THE CAUSE AND TO FIX THE SUNROOF. SINCE THAT TIME, THIS SAME VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED BY THE SAME LEXUS DEALERSHIP A MINIMUM OF 6 TIMES FOR PROBLEMS WITH THE SUNROOF. ALL THE WHILE I WAS RETURNING WITH THE VEHICLE TO BE GET SUNROOF REPAIRED, I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY HAD REPORTED THIS OBVEROUS SAFETY DEFECT THAT A FOREIGN OBJECT (STUFFED BEAR OVER 2 1/2' IN LENGTH AND AS SOFT AS A CHILD'S HAND) WOULD GET JAMMED BETWEEN THE CLOSING GLASS AND THE FRAME OF THE SUNROOF WITHOUT A SAFETY FEATURE TO AUTOMATICALLY OPEN THE WINDOW IF A FOREIGN OBJECT GETS IN WAY OF CLOSING AS WITH THE REMOTE TRUCK CLOSING SYSTEM AND THE AUTOMATIC WINDOWS THIS VEHICLE IS FACTORY EQUIPPED WITH. NYS HAS THE LEMON LAWS FOR NEW VEHICLES SOLD THAT ARE DEFECTIVE. IT WAS DURING THIS PROCESS IN COLLECTING MY SERVICE RECORDS FROM BAYRIDGE LEXUS THAT I DISCOVERED THAT THEY NEVER LOOKED INTO THIS MATTER AS A SAFETY DEFECT, NOR WAS IT REPORTED (TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE) TO ANY OFFICIAL AGENCY THAT CAR MANUFACTURES ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT POSSIBLE SAFELTY DEFECTS. *JB

OUR 2004 LEXUS 330 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY. THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES AND SEEMS TO "BOUNCE" BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEARS. WE HAVE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TWICE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO NO AVAIL. THIS SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN PROBLEM. *AK

ACCELERATION WITH THIS SUV IS NOT POSITIVE AND YOU NEVER KNOW IF YOU ARE GOING TO MOVE WHEN YOU DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR. THIS SUV USES "DRIVE BY WIRE" TECHNOLOGY SO THERE IS NO PHYSICAL LINK BETWEEN THE GAS PEDAL AND THE ENGINE. WHEN YOU DEPRESS THE GAS, THERE IS A DELAY IN THE REPONSE WHICH CAN CAUSE YOU TO END UP IN SOME OTHER DRIVER'S PATH. THIS CAR IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. I TOOK MY SUV TO THE DEALER AND HE "RESET MY ON-BOARD COMPUTER AND THE COMPUTER THAT COMMUNICATES TO THE TRANSMISSION .......... THIS DID NOTHING! I PLAN TO TAKE MY SUV BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND IF HE CANNOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM I AM GOING TO TERMINATE MY LEASE!*AK

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

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 AUTOMOBILE HAS A LATENT DEFECT AND IS INHERENTLY DANGEROUS. IN NOVEMBER 2003, I ATTEMPTED TO BACK UP IN A CROWDED PARKING LOT, AND WHILE IN REVERSE, I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR - THERE WAS A LAG AND THE VEHICLE THEN ACCELERATED BACKWARD VERY RAPIDLY, STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE. I ASSUMED THE FAULT WAS MY OWN (SINCE IN MOVING MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR TO THE BRAKE, MY FOOT WAS CAUGHT UNDER THE BRAKE BECAUSE THE PEDALS ARE CLOSE TOGETHER, BUT THAT IS ANOTHER ITEM) AND AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED (APPROXIMATELY $7,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE) I RESUMED DRIVING THE VEHICLE. ON JUNE 29, 2004, AGAIN I WAS ATTEMPTING TO BACK UP AND AGAIN THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE AND AGAIN WHEN I PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR, THERE WAS A LAG AND THEN AGAIN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY BACKWARDS, STRIKING A BUILDING. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE IS OVER $10,000, AND I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE COST OF THE DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING IS. INTERESTINGLY, AS WELL, IN NEITHER CASE DID THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY. THE SECOND INCIDENT RECEIVED SOME LOCAL PRESS COVERAGE, AND ON JULY 8, 2004 I RECEIVED A CALL FROM A VISITOR TO MASSACHUSETTS FROM FLORIDA WHO HAD HEARD ABOUT THE SECOND INCIDENT AND WHO REPORTED THAT ON JULY 1, 2004 THAT DRIVER WHILE IN A PARKING LOT HAD ALSO HAD SUDDEN RAPID ACCELERATION AND HAD STRUCK A BUILDING, DAMAGING THE DRIVER'S LEXUS RX 330. THAT DRIVER ALSO STATED THAT SHE HAD HEARD OF A THIRD INCIDENT IN MASSACHUSETTS OF A LEXUS RX 330 STRIKING A BUILDING FOLLOWING SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION, COUPLED WITH THE POWER AND TORQUE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE RESULTING SUDDEN ACCELERATION, IS A SERIOUS DEFECT; I WILL NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE RESPONSE OF THE LEXUS DEALER WHEN THE INCIDENTS WERE REPORTED TO IT WAS SILENCE. *LA

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

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE INTO TRAFFIC VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN INSPECTION. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT THE VEHICLE MEETS U.S. DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION SPECIFICATIONS. *TC *JB

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 GRAVITY OF THE PROBLEM BUT THAT LEXUS WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD TO EXPECT NO SOLUTION AND TO JUST LIVE WITH IT. SIGNIFICANTLY, THIS IS THE LARGEST SELLING LEXUS MODEL. THEREFORE, THESE PROBLEMS AND THE HAZARDS THAT THEY CREATE AFFECT THOUSANDS OF MOTORISTS.*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

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN OR A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE DROPPED OUT OF GEAR THEN SURGED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION PERFORMED ERRATICALLY. *JB THE TRANSMISSION ALSO FAILED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT. THE MANUFACTURERE CLAIMED THAT THIS WAS A CHARAXTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. *NM

ONGOING INTERMITTENT SUDDEN SURGES WHEN I PRESS LIGHTLY ON THE ACCELERATOR. THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY SPEED UP MUCH FASTER THAN THE PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD WARRANT. DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER EACH TIME SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE, AT LEAST 5 TIMES IN THE 1ST 3-4 YEARS. EACH TIME, I WAS TOLD THEY COULD FIND NOTHING, AND THAT I JUST PROBABLY WAS NOT USED TO THE CAR. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2004 LEXUS RX330 IN JANUARY OF 2004 AND THERE IS A CONSISTENT LAG OF THE DRIVETRAIN WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STANDING START AND WHEN ACCELERATING TO PASS. FROM A STANDING START THE VEHICLE HESITATES AND THEN ABRUPTLY LURCHES FORWARD. AT HIGHWAY SPEED THERE IS A DECELERATION WHICH PITCHES ONE FORWARD AND THEN AN ENGAGEMENT WHICH LURCHES THE OCCUPANT BACK WITH A SNAPPING MOTION. THE ECM WAS REPROGRAMED AT 1000 MILE CHECK. WHEN A PRINT OUT OF TSB WAS PRESENTED SERVICE MANAGER REACTED LIKE A SNAKE WAS PLACED ON COUNTER AND THEN ADVISED THAT REPROGAMING ECM WOULD NOT NECESSARILY IMPROVE PROBLEM. HE WAS RIGHT. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS PULLING OUT TO PASS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.*AK

MY RX 330 HAS A TRANSMISSION LAG AT 20-25MPH. THE CAR JUST DOESNT GO AND IT IS EXTREMLY DANGEROUS IN INTERSECTIONS. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED AND I HOPE IT IS NOT ME.*AK

TRANSMISSION SHIFTING ERRATIC AT LOW SPEEDS. "CLUNK OR MUTED "CLANK" HEARD AND FELT UNDER CLOSED THROTTLE DOWSHIFTS WHILE SLOWING TO A STOP. MOST NOTICEABLE DURING THE 5-4 DOWNSHIFT (37 MPH) AND THE 4-3 DOWNSHIFT (25 MPH). SERVICE MANAGER CLAIMS IT'S A NORMAL OPERATING CONDITION FOR LEXUS. TECHNICIAN WHO RODE WITH ME DISAGREED. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 5100 MILES. PROBLEM BEGAN AT 2000 MILE MARK. *JB

I HAVE A LEXUS RX 330, 2004. STARTING IN APRIL 2004 RIGHT AFTER I PURCHASED IT ON MARCH 31, 2004 I HAVE HAD BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. IT WOULD JOLT WHEN YOU WERE APPLYING THE BRAKES, AND PULL TO THE SIDE. THIS WAS REPORTED BY PHONE, AND DURING ITS FIRST CHECK UP AT 1000 MILES. TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. CONTINUED PROBLEM. TOLD SAME AT 5000 MILE CHECK UP, BUT THEY REPLACED BRAKE BOOSTER ANYWAY. WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVE BRAKES FAILED, AND VEHICLE RAN INTO A YARD. THEN BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. LEXUS DEALER SENT CAR CARRIER TO PICK UP. DRIVER SAW THERE WERE NO BRAKES AND LIGHT WAS ON. TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THE BRAKES WORKING AND LIGHT ON, BUT REPLACED BRAKE BOOSTERS AGAIN. THIS TIME SUPPOSEDLY WITH ANOTHER TYPE. I WAS ASSURED EACH TIME NOTHING WRONG WITH CAR. KEPT DRIVING IT, AND CAR WOULD CONTINUE TO JOLT, AND PULLED TO SIDE WHILE STEADILY APPLYING BRAKES. EVEN TO THE POINT IT WOULD BREAK TRACTION IN RAIN. HAD CAR PICKED UP AGAIN,, AND THEY TOLD ME THIS TIME IT WAS A CHIP WHICH CONTROLLED THE BAFFLE SYSTEM THAT CONTROLLED THE BRAKES. I REFUSED TO LET THEM WORK ON IT, AND ASKED LEXUS AT THIS TIME TO BUY THE CAR BACK UNDER THE GA LEMON LAW WHICH WAS VERY CLEAR ABOUT MAJOR SYSTEM FAILURE SUCH AS BRAKES. HIS BUY BACK PROCESS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE FEBRUARY. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH LEXUS TO BUY IT BACK OVER 45 DAYS AGO AND THEY STILL HAVE NOT GIVEN ME MY MONEY.*AK

I AM WONDERING IF THERE ARE ANY REGULATIONS REGARDING REAR VEHICLE LIGHTING? MY QUESTION CENTERS AROUND THE NEW LEXUS RX330. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE HAS NO RED LENSES OR OTHER DEVICES THAT WOULD INDICATE THE BACK END OF A VEHICLE. IS THERE A REGULATION REGARDING REAR LIGHTING? *NM

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM: SERIOUS LAG BETWEEN GEAR SHIFTS. IF I PUSH THE ACCELERATOR DOWN TO ACCELERATE TO GET OUT OF A DANGEROUS SITUATION: NOTHING HAPPENS. THE CAR SEEMS TO STALL, SLOWS DOWN AND THEN ONCE THE ECU HAS DETERMINED WHICH GEAR TO SELECTIT ACCELERATES VIOLENTLY TAKING THE DRIVER BY SURPRISE. ALTOGETHER THE RESPONSE IS FAR TOO SLOW. TRANSMISSION IS NOT SMOOTH. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. DEALER CHECKED TRANSMISSION:"WORKING ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS" ?! ALSO "THUMP" "CLUNK" NOISE WHEN DECELERATING FROM 50 MPH TO LOWER SPEEDS, OCCASIONALLY. AA. *AK

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

THIS CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC WIPER SYSTEM. WHEN THE AUTOMATIC MODE IS USED THE WIPERS FAIL TO KEEP THE WINDSHIELD CLEAR. IN A LIGHT RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD CAN GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU MUST TAKE MANUAL ACTION TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ISOLATED TO MY CAR BUT OCCURS IN OTHER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE AUTOMATIC WIPER SYSTEM MANUFACTURED BY TOYOTA. I'VE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO LEXUS HQ. *JB

MY 2004 LEXUS RX330 AWD HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION "HANGING" ON THE 2-3 UPSHIFT. THE CAR HESITATES THEN ROUGHLY SHIFTS INTO THE NEXT GEAR. IT HAS NEVER SHIFTED AS SMOOTHLY IN ANY GEAR AS OTHER LEXUS AND TOYOTA PRODUCTS I DRIVEN. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE ENGINE MANAGEMENT CONTROL. THE NET RESULT HAS BEEN THAT THE ENGINE SHIFTS AT A HIGHER RPM THAN IT DID BEFORE, BUT IS STILL NOT SMOOTH. THE HESITATION BETWEEN GEARS WAS LESS FREQUENT FOR A WEEK OR TWO AFTER THE REPROGRAM, BUT HAS NOW RETURNED AND THERE IS AN INCREASING LAG OR HESITATION IN SHIFTING IN THE 2-3 AND 3-4 UPSHIFT. LAST WEEK AS I WAS MERGING INTO EXPRESSWAY TRAFFIC, I PUSHED DOWN THE THROTTLE AND NOTHING HAPPENED. IT ALMOST SEEMED AS THOUGH THE ENGINE DIED. I RELEASED THE THROTTLE, PUSHED AGAIN AND THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED A LOWER GEAR AND ACCELERATED. THE BEHAVIOR OF THE TRANSMISSION IS UNPREDICTABLE. SOMETIMES, BUT NOT ALWAYS, THE ENGINE FEELS LIKE IT STALLS WHEN TURNING A CORNER. THE HESITATION ON DOWNSHIFT HAS OCCURRED FOUR TIMES NOW SINCE THE REPROGRAM. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 6000 MILES ON IT. THE DEALER SEEMED TO TRY TO BE HELPFUL, BUT CAN ONLY PASS ON WHAT THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDES THEM, SO I THINK THE RESOLUTION LIES WITH TOYOTA AND LEXUS IN DEVELOPING A FIX FOR A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *JB

WHEN I DRIVE MY 2004 LEXUS RX330 MANUAL ON 4TH, SPEED IS AROUND 40 MPH, AND LEFT OFF THE THROTTLE, I CAN HEAR A WHINING NOISE FROM REAR. ONCE I PUSH THE GAS PADDLE, THE NOISE IS GONE. IT CAN BE DUPLICATED ON D WHEN I SLOW DOWN FROM 50 MPH. THIS ALSO HAPPENS TO THE OTHER THREE RX330S (TWO LOANER CARS AND ONE BRAND NEW CAR).*AK

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

FULL LOAD SUSPENSION TRAVEL. BOTTOMS OUT CONSTANTLY WITH 700 LBS. LOAD (FOUR ADULTS).*AK

THE RX330 HAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THAT AFFECTS THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A SERIOUS LAG BETWEEN GEAR SHIFTS. THE ENGINE WILL REV UP BUT THE CAR DOESN'T MOVE. THIS HAPPENS WHEN STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION AND ALSO WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC, CHANGING LANES, AND PASSING TRAFFIC. I HAVE NARROWLY AVOIDED BEING HIT IN THE REAR TWICE BECAUSE OF THIS BEHAVIOR. WHEN SLOWING DOWN THE CAR DOESN'T DOWNSHIFT INTO THE PROPER GEAR AT TIMES AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS "OPERATING AS DESIGNED". THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES THE COMPLAINTS THAT I HAVE BUT TELL ME THAT LEXUS HAS NOT COME UP WITH A FIX YET. I HAVE CONTACTED LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE ABOUT THIS ISSUE ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT IT IS "OPERATING AS DESIGNED". THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND I FEAR A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION BEHAVIOR. IS THERE NO RECOURSE FOR A CONSUMER WHO HAS BEEN SOLD AN UNSAFE VEHICLE? *LA

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.

MY RX330 HAS JUST COME OUT OF THE DEALER SERVICE FOR THE SECOND TIME DUE TO A COMPLETE FAILURE TO DOWNSHIFT WHEN NECESSARY. ESPECIALLY AS I SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 20 MPH, AND THE TRY TO RE-ACCELERATE, THE RPM'S GO TO 5500 BUT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE AND THE CLUTCH NEVER ENGAGES. YOU HAVE TO LET OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND LET THE RPM'S COME BACK DOWN AND TRY IT AGAIN. THIS HAS ALMOST GOT ME HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AT LEAST 3 TIMES. ON THE FIRST SERVICE CALL THEY TRIED TO DO A TRANSMISSION "RESET" I HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE 2500 MILES SINCE THEN AND IT MIGHT EVEN BE WORSE. THIS TIME IT WENT TO THE SHOP AND TWO TECHNICIANS, ONE MANAGER, AND ONE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP ALL TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SIMULATE THE PROBLEM ON TEST DRIVES BUT THAT IT IS "NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE", HOWEVER, THEY ARE STILL GOING TO REPORT IT TO THE MANUFACTURER. MY RESPONSE IS THAT THIS MAY BE "NORMAL" FOR THIS VEHICLE, BUT IT IS NOT NORMAL FOR "A" VEHICLE. THEY ALL AGREED BUT SAID THAT LEXUS DOES NOT HAVE A FIX. THIS IS CURRENTLY ELEVATED TO THE LEXUS COMPANY CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD GET BACK TO ME. UNTIL THEN I AM STUCK IN A DANGEROUS VEHICLE. *LA

THE HEADLIGHTS ARE MY NEW RX330 HAVE SUCH LIMITED SIGHT DISTANCE THAT I'M AFRAID WITH THE DEER POPULATION IN MY AREA, THERE IS NOT ENOUGH BRAKING TIME. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS IN TO THE DEALER AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THE DISTINCT CUT OFF IN LIGHTING BUT SAY THEY ARE TO STANDARDS AND NOT MANY PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND AM STILL COMPLAINING. *AK