2005 Lexus RX Complaint Log

MY WIFE (WHO IS NOT THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE) WAS ENTERING A PERPENDICULAR PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF A BUSINESS LOCATED JUST OFF THE STREET. THE BUSINESS WAS ONCE A HOUSE AND HAS NOW PUT 3 PARKING SPACES IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING JUST OVER THE SIDEWALK.THE ENTRANCE IS UP A DRIVEWAY AND JUST BEYOND THE SIDEWALK AND INTO THE PARKING SPACES. AS SHE WAS GOING UP THE DRIVEWAY AND TURN SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT TO ENTER A PARKING SPACE, THE CAR HESITATED AND THEN ACCELERATED, SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND LEFT A 5 FOOT SKID MARK BEFORE CRASHING INTO THE FRONT OF THE BUSINESS. THE CAR HAS DONE THIS BEFORE ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING AND APPLYING A LITTLE GAS, IT WILL HESITATE AND THEN SUDDENLY ACCELERATE, BUT NEVER CONTINUING AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKE. WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS PREVIOUSLY WITH THE LEXUS DEALER AND THEY SAY THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AND THAT COMPUTERS THAT CONTROL THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION CONSTANTLY ADJUST TO THE PRIMARY DRIVER MAY CREATE THIS ISSUE, BUT IT IS NOT A PROBLEM AS FAR AS THEY ARE CONCERNED....UPDATED 09/08/15*BF UPDATED 12/3/15 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 LEXUS RX330. WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD. ALTHOUGH THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PILLAR. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

I STARTED THE CAR AS USUAL, LET IT IDLE FOR 10-15 SECONDS, PUT IT IN DRIVE AND LEFT THE DRIVEWAY. SECONDS LATER OR 150-200 FEET LATER, I APPLIED THE BRAKES, FELT THE BRAKES GETTING MUSHY FOLLOWED BY A HUGE BILLOW OF WHITE SMOKE BLOWING OUT OF THE EXHAUST. I USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR (WAS ONLY TRAVELING AT 5-8 MPH) AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. WHEN I INSPECTED THE MASTER CYLINDER, I NOTICED IT WAS EMPTY - ABSOLUTELY NO FLUID IN IT. SURMISED THE WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF MY EXHAUST WAS THE BRAKE FLUID BEING DRAWN INTO IT BUT I DIDN'T KNOW HOW OR WHY. I LEFT THE CAR SIT IN MY DRIVE WAY UNTIL I HAD THE ENERGY AND TIME TO DEAL WITH IT. LATER ON, I LOOKED UP HOW TO REMOVE THE MASTER CYLINDER OFF THE INTERNET WHEN I NOTICE RECALLS FOR 2004-2005 RX330'S, IN PARTICULAR MASTER CYLINDER SEALS AND VACUUM BOOSTERS. BOTH ISSUES REFLECTED EXACTLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO MY CAR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO LEXUS OF WESTMINSTER WHO PROMPTLY SAID A RECALL SEAL WAS REPLACED (ALTHOUGH I DON'T RECALL THIS HAPPENING) AND IT WILL COST ME $200 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I HAD THE AUTO TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT LEXUS MECHANIC WHERE I FOUND OUT THE BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED. ADDITIONAL RESEARCH FOUND RECALL NOTICES ON BOTH OF THESE ITEMS WITH THE DESCRIPTIONS DESCRIBING WHAT OCCURRED ON OTHER RX330'S WAS EXACTLY WHAT OCCURRED WITH THIS LEXUS, YET LEXUS OF WESTMINSTER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY PROBLEM OR LIABILITY ASSOCIATED WITH THESE TWO ISSUES. ALL THEY SAID WAS THE SEAL (MASTER CYLINDER) WAS REPLACED SOME TIME AGO AND ANY FURTHER REPAIRS ARE ON ME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS RX330. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE HEADLIGHT DIMMER CREATED POOR VISIBILITY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 03/24/15*LJ UPDATED 9/18/2017*CN

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A SINGLE VEHICLE CRASH AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT WITH CENTER DIVIDE AT AN APPROXIMATE SPEED OF 45 MPH. *TR

VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO POWER STEERING RACK LEAKING.. WAS REFERRED TO DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT.. CALLED LEXUS CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER, TWICE, AND HAVE STILL NOT GOTTEN ANY SATISFACTION OR RESOLVE. SO MUCH FOR LEXUS QUALITY.. *TR

BOUGHT THIS CAR USED 3/2011. ON 10/26/14 WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE THE CAR BEGAN MAKING A WHINING NOISE & THEN COMPLETELY STOPPED. WOULD ONLY GO FORWARD A FEW FEET, BACKWARD A FEW FEET & THEN NOTHING. HAD THE CAR TOWED & DISCOVERED THAT TRANSMISSION WAS BAD. ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION IN 2002 RX300 & KNEW THAT YEAR MODEL WAS NOTORIOUS FOR BAD TRANS BUT HAD RESEARCHED THIS YEAR MODEL & TRANS PROBS DID NOT SEEM TO BE AN ISSUE. AFTER DIAGNOSIS I RESEARCHED THE SERVICE RECORDS ONLINE & DISCOVERED THE TRANSMISSION HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED IN THIS SAME CAR ON 10/26/2010 AT 102K MILES. (HOW IRONIC - 4 YEARS TO THE DATE THE TRANSMISSION IS OUT AGAIN!) I PURCHASED THE CAR WITH 103K MILES APPROX 5 MONTHS AFTER THE TRANS WAS REPLACED. MY CAR NOW HAS 196,625K MILES & THE TRANSMISSION IS BAD AGAIN. SPOKE WITH NALLEY LEXUS & WAS INFORMED THAT THEY HAD REPLACED THE TRANS IN 2010 WITH A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION. NOW AT APPROX 94K MILES THE TRANS IS BAD AGAIN??? THIS DOES NOT SEEM NORMAL! I FEEL LIKE THERE SHOULD BE SOME REIMBURSEMENT FOR ME HAVING TO REPLACE THE TRANS IN THE SAME CAR AGAIN! SOMETHING IS MAKING THE TRANSMISSION GO OUT. AS EXPENSIVE AS THESE CARS ARE - YOU WOULD THINK THE PARTS - ESPECIALLY THE TRANSMISSION - WOULD HOLD UP BETTER. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THERE WAS A STARTLINGLY LOUD NOISE FROM THE BACK, UPPER LEFT PART OF THE CAR. AFTER REACHING OUR DESTINATION WE REALIZED THE TOP MOLDING ON THE QUARTER REAR DRIVER-SIDE WINDOW HAD RIPPED OFF THE CAR WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON DESIGN FLAW, BASED ON LEXUS CHATS. THIS SHOULD BE A MANUFACTURER COVERED DEFECT EVEN IF THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS DANGER IF THOSE HIT SOMEONE OR SOMETHING. *TR

VEHICLE STARTING MAKING NOISE, TOOK IT INTO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP, AND WAS TOLD THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS VERY LOW. THEY ALSO STATED I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION. I LOOKED ONLINE, AND IT SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH 2005 RX330'S. OBVIOUSLY, READING THE COMPLAINTS, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS RX330. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE NEAR THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MERGE TO THE EMERGENCY LANE, BUT THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AND HEADED BACK INTO TRAFFIC. ONLY THE FRONT TWO WHEELS WERE OPERATING NORMALLY AND THE REAR TIRES WERE LOCKED. THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 11V112000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND 10V499000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

I WAS TOLD BY THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP THAT I HAVE A POWER STEERING RACK LEAK ON MY 2005 LEXUS RX330. TO REPAIR THE LEAK WILL COST APPROXIMATE $1700. I HAVE CONTACTED THE LEXUS MANUFACTURER DIRECTLY ABOUT THE FAILURE AND WAS INFORMED THAT WAS A RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING BACK IN 2011 BUT UNFORTUNATELY MY CAR IS NOT PART OF RECALL. I HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT MOST LEXUS OWNERS WERE HAVING. THIS CONFIRMS THAT THE POWER STEERING LEAK IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THEIR POWER STEERING RECALL. I HOPE NHTSA CAN INVESTIGATE INTO THIS PROBLEM FURTHER AND REQUEST LEXUS TO INCLUDE THE POWER STEERING RACK LEAK AS PART OF THE RECALL. YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. *TR

POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY O-RING SEALS FAIL ALLOWING POWER STEERING FLUID TO LEAK OUT INTO RUBBER BOOT. REPLACEMENT IS RECOMMENDED AVERAGE COST TO OWNER $1000, LEXUS REFUSES TO COVER ANY OF IT. MY LEXUS WAS INSPECTED BY CAR CENTER LOCATED IN GREENVILLE MI LICENSED MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED AND DOCUMENTED THE PROBLEM. CALLED MY LOCAL LEXUS DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS MY PROBLEM. *TR

POWER STEERING RACK UNIT LEAKING COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY LEXUS OWNERS AS SHOWN BELOW. TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM LEAVING MANY OWNERS TO PAY FOR EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. I HAVE PURCHASED THE REPLACEMENT PART MYSELF AND WILL HAVE MY LOCAL CERTIFIED MECHANIC DO THE LABOR. TOTAL COST TO ME WILL BE OVER $600 WHICH IS FAR CHEAPER THEN THE LOCAL LEXUS DEALERSHIP CHARGES. LINK BELOW SHOWS HOW MANY LEXUS OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS EXACT PROBLEM. HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2005/LEXUS/RX+330/STEERING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS RX330. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH INTO HIS DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN ORDER TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND CRASHED INTO THE HOUSE. THE CONTACT WAS UNINJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,658. UPDATED 8/28/14*CN UPDATED 11/28/2014 *JS

REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS YESTERDAY ON MY 2005 LEXUS RX330, ON THE PASSENGER SIDE I NOTICED THE INNER TIE ROD BOOT DETERIORATED AND SURROUNDED BY OIL AND/OR GREASE LEAKING. I WAS BAFFLED BY THE POOR CONDITION THIS BOOT WAS IN, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT AND HOW THIS WAS CAUSED. DURING MY RESEARCH ONLINE, I SOON DISCOVERED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME DEFECT. THE FIX IS TO REPLACE THE RACK & PINION DUE TO A FAULTY SEAL THAT HAS CAUSED POWER STEERING FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE INNER TIE ROD BOOT AND BREAK DOWN AND DISINTEGRATE THE RUBBER BOOT. A VERY COSTLY REPAIR, THAT I FEEL THE CONSUMER SHOULDN'T HAVE TO ABSORB, BEING LEXUS IS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT. I HAVE 135,000 MILES ON MY RX330. I BOUGHT A LEXUS FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF RELIABLITY AND LONGEVITY. I'M WONDERING IF I MADE THE WRONG CHOICE..... ANY HELP IN THIS MATTER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

I WILL ADD MY COMPLAINT TO PREVIOUS REPORTER. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADLAMP 2 TIMES DUE TO WATER IN THE ASSEMBLY OF THE HEADLAMP. THE RIGHT SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED. THERE IS MOISTURE UNDER THE GLASS WHICH SHORTED OUT THE LIGHT. ONLINE I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS HAPPENING TO THE SAME MODEL LEXUS. THE REPAIR FOR THIS HEADLIGHT RUNS OVER $1,500. LEXUS CORPORATION REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

MY DASHBOARD BEGAN TO SHOW SIGNS OF CRACKING ABOUT A YEAR AGO. IT STARTED TO CRACK AROUND THE RADIO/AUDIO COMPONENTS AND SPREAD QUICKLY LIKE A SPIDER WEB. LEXUS AGREED TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD AT NO CHARGE, BUT NOT THE LABOR COSTS. WHILE REPLACING IT, THEY ADVISED ME THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION HAD SEVERE FLUID LEAKAGE ON RIGHT SIDE, BOOT DETERIORATED. THE COST OF THIS REPAIR WAS $1,856.00. THERE WAS ALSO AN ISSUE WITH THE LEFT FRONT CV AXLE INBOARD JOINT BOOT, AN ADDITIONAL $412.00. IN READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE AND ON THE INTERNET, IT APPEARS THAT THE DASHBOARD AND THE RACK AND PINION ARE A COMMON PROBLEMS THAT LEXUS IS AWARE OF. A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE RX 350 HAS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM WITH THE RACK AND PINION, BUT LEXUS IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I AM HOPING THAT THIS BRINGS LIGHT TO THESE ISSUES AND SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS. *TR

VEHICLE'S SVC SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE'S STEERING TO OPERATE ERRATICALLY-PARTICULARLY AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50MPH. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 LEXUS RX330. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DUE TO EXCESSIVE FORCE, THE AIR BAGS CAUSED SEVERE INJURIES DURING DEPLOYMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 04/11/17 LJ *CN

PERIODICALLY THE BRAKE,ABS,VSC, AND LOW PRESSURE LIGHT BLINKS WHILE DRIVING , AS SOON AS THE KEY IS TURNED OFF THEN BACK ON THE WARNING LIGHTS DISAPPEAR. *JS

2005 RX330 DASHBOARD STARTED CRACKING OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG AND AIR VENT ON PASSENGER SIDE...CALLED DEALER AND DIDN'T GET ANYWHERE. BEGAN LOOKING UP INFORMATION ON GOOGLE ON HOW TO REPAIR DASHBOARDS AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS LISTED AND THAT THE DASHBOARDS WERE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE, BUT LEXUS NOT CORRECTING THE PROBLEMS. CONFRONTED DEALER WHO SOLD THE CAR AND HE THEN ADMITTED THAT IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM..I COULD EITHER REPLACE THE DASH FOR AROUND $2000 OR TRY TO PATCH/REPAIR IT. CALLED AND SOME REPAIR SHOPS WOULD NOT REPAIR MY DASH BECAUSE THE DAMAGE WAS RIGHT WHERE THE AIRBAG IS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THEY WOULDN'T TOUCH IT. HOW CAN A LUXURY CAR MANUFACTURER GET AWAY WITH DEFECTIVE DASHBOARDS? IF THE DASHBOARD CRACKS MORE SEVERELY, WILL THE AIRBAG DEPLOY? ONE REPAIR COMPANY SAID THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THESE DASHBOARDS CRACK SO BAD THAT THEY LOOK LIKE A SPIDER WEB OVER THE WHOLE DASH. IS THIS SAFE TO CONTINUE DRIVING LIKE THIS? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS RX330. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, THE STEERING WHEEL FELT LOOSE AND A NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. IN ADDITION, WHILE IN PARK, THERE WAS A NOISE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT AND THE RACK AND PINION NUT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,594.

TOOK VEHICLE TO LEXUS DEALER FOR 90,000 MILE SERVICE AND TECH FOUND POWER STEERING FLUID LOW AND DIRTY. WHEN LOOKING FURTHER, TECH FOUND THAT STEERING RACK WAS TORN AND LEAKING. TECH REQUESTED TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING RACK AND PERFORM A FLUSH. I DECLINED BECAUSE OF THE EXORBITANT COST ($1,000?). THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE AND VERY SIMILAR TO A COMPLAINT FILED 11-5-13, NHTSA I.D. NO. 10550956. I BELIEVE THERE IS A PATTERN HERE, THE PRODUCT RECALLED, AND LEXUS/TOYOTA ACCEPT THE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED ASAP. I BELIEVE THEY MAY HAVE SERVICE BULLETIN NO. LSB-0107-12, NHTSA I.D. NO. 10050660, STEERING, ISSUED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU. THANK YOU. *TR

THE RIGHT SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED. THERE IS MOISTURE UNDER THE GLASS WHICH SHORTED OUT THE LIGHT. ONLINE I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS HAPPENING TO THE SAME MODEL LEXUS. THE REPAIR FOR THIS HEADLIGHT RUNS OVER $1,500. LEXUS CORPORATION REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW. *TR

(4) 235/55R-18 HANKOOK VENTUS AS RH07 XL TIRES THAT WERE INSTALLED ON A 2005 LEXUS RX330 SUV WITH LESS THAN 10,000 MILES ON THEM HAVE CAUSED NOTICEABLE NOISE AND VIBRATION ABOVE 45MPH. THE VEHICLE'S ALIGNMENT WAS CHECKED AND WITHIN VEHICLE SPEC AND THE TIRES/WHEELS HAVE BEEN RE-BALANCED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,901.

PERIODICALLY THE BRAKE,ABS,VSC, AND LOW PRESSURE LIGHT BLINKS WHILE DRIVING , AS SOON AS THE KEY IS TURNED OFF THEN BACK ON THE WARNING LIGHTS DISAPPEAR. TROUBLE CODE SCANNED C 1249, AND C 1223 OPEN CIRCUIT IN STOP LIGHT SWITCH OR ABS CONTROL FAULT ERROR. OXIDE GREASE RESIDUE ON ELECTRICAL CONTACT POINTS MAKE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH SUSCEPTIBLE TO FAILURE. TOYOTA LEXUS HAD A RECALL THAT ONLY COVERED CERTAIN DATES WHILE THE PROBLEM BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILURES CONTINUED IN NEWER MODELS. LEXUS REFUSES TO FIX OLDER MODELS SAYING THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED AFTER LATE 2004, WHICH AS WE ALL KNOW NOW IS NOT CORRECT. I WOULD LIKE LEXUS /TOYOTA TO REPLACE MY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AT NO EXPENSE TO ME SINCE IT WAS A ASSEMBLY ERROR ON THEIR PART. *TR

ON SEPTEMBER THE 1ST WE HAD JUST HAD EXTREME THUNDER AND LIGHTNING, TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS. I HAD JUST DROPPED MY GIRLFRIEND OFF AT WORK AND AT THIS TIME IT WAS ONLY RAINING MODERATELY, AND THE TIME WAS 1:20 PM, AND THEN I STARTED THE 15 MINUTE TRIP BACK HOME. I WAS 1/3 OF THE WAY BACK HOME AND NOTICED AS I WAS DRIVING, A PEDESTRIAN WANTING TO CROSS THE STREET SO AT THIS TIME I STOPPED AND THE VEHICLES BRAKING SYSTEM SEEMED TO WORK JUST FINE AT THAT TIME. I THEN STARTED DRIVING THE FINAL 2/3 OF THE WAY HOME, I WAS ABOUT ONE AND A HALF TO 1-3/4 OF A MILE TO HOME AND THANK GOODNESS NO PEDESTRIAN OR VEHICLE WAS IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE FOR APPROXIMATELY 1400 TO 1600 FEET THE LEXUS SUV WOULD NOT STOP OR SLOW DOWN AND THANKFULLY I WAS ONLY GOING 30 TO 35 MPH AND THE VEHICLE FORTUNATELY HAD ENOUGH DISTANCE TO SLOW ITSELF DOWN BEFORE THE HAIRPIN LEFT CURVE IN THE NEXT PART OF THE ROAD. AND THEN STRANGELY ENOUGH THE BRAKES SEEMED TO BE OPERATING PROPERLY AGAIN. PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM MECHANICALLY INCLINED, AND CAN NAME ALL OF THE PARTS IN THE VEHICLE'S BRAKING SYSTEM.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER LEAKED ONTO THE FLOORBOARD AND FLOODED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE CAUSED MOLD TO GROW INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT AN UNKNOWN AIR CONDITIONER DRAIN NEEDED TO BE UNCLOGGED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.

VEHICLE'S STABILIZATION CONTROL (VSC) MALFUNCTIONS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE DIFFICULTY IN STEERING. *TR

LEAKING POWER STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY. SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE RX330'S... *TR

THE DASH OF MY CAR IS CRACKING AND CHIPPING

DASH HAS HAIRLINE CRACKS NEAR FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG AND AROUND IGNITION AND GAUGES. I HAVE HAD MY DASH COVERED FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS AND ALSO VEHICLE KEPT UNDER A CARPORT. MANY FORUMS HAVE CUSTOMERS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUE. LEXUS REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I'M CONCERNED IF MY VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED THE FLYING DEBRIS FROM DASH COULD POSSIBLY PUT SOMEONE'S EYE OUT OR CAUSE FACIAL INJURY. HOPEFULLY, THIS WILL BE INVESTIGATED AND LEXUS WILL HAVE TO ISSUE A RECALL TO REPLACE THE DASH DUE TO THE FAULTY MATERIAL USED TO MAKE THE DASH. *TR

VEHICLE REARENDED A STATIONARY VEHICLE IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. SAN RAMON PD REPORT #[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE ON AN INCLINE, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY AND INDEPENDENTLY REVERSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS RX-330. THE CONTACT WAS ENTERING THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD BEGAN TO CRACK AND DISINTEGRATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH HYDROLYSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE PROGRESSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD MELTED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DASHBOARD BECAME EXTREMELY STICKY AND THE PLASTIC TRAVELED TOWARD THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OFTHE FAILURE AND WAS ABLE TO ASSIST THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT WATER COOLANT LEAKED ONTO THE TIMING BELT AND BOTH THE WATER PUMP AND THE TIMING BELT WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

MY VEHICLE IS A 2005 LEXUS RX 330. I PURCHASED IT CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED IN 2007. I WAS COMING OFF THE HIGHWAY AND STOPPED AT A LIGHT. AS I PROCEEDED TO TAKE A LEFT HAND TURN THE CAR STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE. IT WAS JUMPING AND SHIFTING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL IT AND PULL INTO A NEARBY GAS STATION. I COULDN'T DRIVE IT AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST LEXUS SERVICE CENTER. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THE TRANSFER CASE ON THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL WENT. THEY OPENED UP THE CASE BOX AND METAL SHAVINGS FELL OUT! I GUESS THERE WAS NO TRANSFER CASE FLUID! SHOULDN'T A MAINTENANCE REQUIRED LIGHT POP ON OR A WARNING? IF I HAD CONTINUED ON THE HIGHWAY RATHER THAN GET OFF THE EXIT, IT WOULD HAVE ENDED BADLY! THE BACK END OF THE CAR COMPLETELY LOCKED ON ME. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT THE TRANSFER CASE IS RUNNING OUT OF FLUID? THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THIS IS NOT NORMAL. THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $2700 FOR THE PART AND $1500 FOR LABOR! I ENDED UP HAVING THE CAR TOWED BACK TO MY HOUSE UNTIL I CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO. I HAVE A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING AND HAD I BEEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED, I COULD HAVE FLIPPED THE CAR AND ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL OR DEAD. I WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR LEXUS/TOYOTA TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS! *TR

LEAKING POWER STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY. SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE RX330'S. ADVISED I NEED A NEW RACK & PINION ASSEMBLY. LEXUS NEEDS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE, TOO MANY COMPLAINTS! ALSO TOLD NEED TO REPLACE HEADLIGHT BALLIST! *TR

I TOOK MY CAR INTO PARK PLACE LEXUS IN PLANO TO HAVE THEM FIX MY AIR BAG. IT IS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE LIGHT SHOWS THAT THE AIR BAG WILL NOT COME ON. AFTER HAVING THE DEALER TRY TO FIX THE AIR BAG FIRST AT A COST OF $99.00 THEN A COAT OF $230.00 IT IS STILL NOT FIXED. WHAT CAN I DO TO HAVE THIS FAULTY PART FIXED?I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IT IS SOMETHING I SHOULD BE PAYING FOR. *TR

I AM HAVING SERIOUS QUALITY PROBLEMS WITH MY 2005 RX330. THE VEHICLE IS KEPT IN THE GARAGE AND BEING TAKEN CARE OF LIKE A FAMILY MEMBER. I TOOK THE SUV TO A LEXUS DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LEAKING AND NEED TO BE REPLACED - APPROXIMATE COST $1800. I WAS ALSO TOLD THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL WAS LEAKING AND NEED TO BE REPLACED - COST ANOTHER $1000. THIS IS NOT THE END! APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS AGO MY WATER PUMP FAILED AT THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION, AND I HAD TO REPLACE MY WATER PUMP, TIMING BELT, DRIVE BELTS, ETC ONLY AT 65K MILES - COST $1200. WHY EVERY MAJOR KEY COMPONENTS ARE FAILING SO EARLY? I DROVE A CAR MADE BY A COMPETITOR UPTO 110K MILES WITHOUT ANY OF THESE ISSUES. LEXUS/TOYOTA IS USING DEFECTIVE/CHEAP PARTS AT THE EXPENSE AND SAFETY OF CONSUMERS. I WOULD RECOMMEND STARTING AN INVESTIGATION AGAINST LEXUS/TOYOTA FOR FAULTY STEERING AND POWER TRAIN COMPONENTS IN RX, AND BASED ON THE INVESTIGATION, START A RECALL IF NEEDED. I REACHED OUT TO LEXUS IN THE PAST, BUT THEY DON'T ACKNOWLEDGE ANY QUALITY PROBLEMS WITH RX330; HOWEVER, WHEN I SEARCHED THE INTERNET, I SEE HUNDREDS OF OWNERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUES AND THEY ARE HELPLESS. LEXUS WILL NOT DO ANYTHING, AND THEREFORE, WE NEED NHTSA'S HELP TO PUSH LEXUS TO RECALL RX330 STEERING AND POWER TRAIN COMPONENTS. *TR

STEERING RACK ON VEHICLE HAS DEVELOPED LEAK, IT SEEMS A COMMON OCCURRENCE ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

MY DASH IS EXPERIENCING CRACKS IN THE DASH AT THE AIR BAG LOCATION. THE DASH IS FALLING APART AND HAS SEVERAL CRACKS THE LENGTH OF THE DASH AND CLOSE TO THE AIR BAG LOCATION. I KEEP MY VEHICLE MAINTAINED AND MOST PEOPLE WOULD SAY I AM EXCESSIVE ABOUT KEEPING MY VEHICLE CLEAN AND LOOKING SHOW ROOM CONDITION. MY DASH IS ALSO CRACKING AROUND THE RADIO AREA. THESE ARE SMALL CRACKS BUT ARE STILL THERE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF AIR BAGS THAT COME FROM BEHIND THE DASH TO OPERATE. I BELIEVE THIS FROM DIRECT AFFECTS OF HOW THE AIR BAGS WHERE MOUNTED BEHIND THE DASH. WE ALL THE RECALLS ON AIRBAGS I ALSO CONCERNED THAT MY VEHICLE HAS A AFFECT OR DEFECTIVE AIR BAGS. SINCE THE AIR BAGS ARE LOCATED BEHIND THE DASH AND ARE PART OF THE DASH PANEL I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED TO ENSURE THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE NOT LEAKING OR AFFECTING THE DASH PANEL. WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT CRACKING DASH PANELS IN LEXUS VEHICLES WHICH ARE SUPPOSE TO BE A HIGH QUALITY VEHICLE I FEEL IT SHOULD NOT BE CRACKING OR COMING APART AND THAT LEXUS SHOULD REPLACE THE DASH PANEL AND AIR BAGS TO ENSURE SAFETY TO DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER. MY VEHICLE LOOKS SHOW ROOM CONDITION RIGHT NOW AND HAS A LITTLE OVER 100,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN SERVICED AT OUR LOCAL LEXUS DEALER. THE DEALER COSTS ARE MUCH MORE THAN PRIVATE REPAIR STATION BUT BEING AFRAID TO TAKE THESE REPAIR CENTER THAT THE DEALER WILL SAY THE WARRANTY IS VOID OR THAT I DID SOMETHING WRONG. I LOVE MY LEXUS AND IT RUNS JUST AS GOOD AS IT DID THE FIRST DAY I PURCHASED IT. MY DEALER HAS BEEN HELPFUL AND COURTESY TO ME EVERY TIME I GO IN FOR SERVICE. JUST CONCERNED ABOUT THE DASH AND AIR BAGS. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. *TR

WE ARE EXPERIENCING SEVERE CRACKING AND SOFTENING OF THE DASHBOARD MATERIAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE GARAGED THE VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASING. WE ALSO HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY WHICH HAS NO DASHBOARD ISSUES AND IT HAS BEEN LEFT OUTSIDE CONSISTENTLY SINCE PURCHASED NEW IN 2005. WE FEEL THAT THE CRACKING AND SOFTENING OF THE DASHBOARD PRESENTS A CHEMICAL HEALTH RISK. *TR

LEXUS RX 330 HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS DEFECTIVE. EVERYTIME I WASH MY RX330 OR IF IT RAINS, WATER LEAK IN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY CREATES MOISTURE INSIDE THE HEADLIGHTS. THIS CAUSES LESS VISIBILITY AT NIGHTS AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THERE ARE SEVERAL HUNDRED COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUE ON THE WEB; HOWEVER, LEXUS/TOYOTA WILL NOT RECALL THEIR DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. THEY ARE EVEN RELUCTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE. WILL APPRECIATE IF NHTSA INVESTIGATES THIS ISSUE AND TAKE NECESSARY ACTION AGAINST LEXUS ASAP. *TR

OUR LEXUS HAD A BAD ROLLER BEARING ON THE REAR PASSENGER'S WHEEL. THE INTERNET (LEXUS OWNERS CLUB) TELLS US THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS WITH THIS MODEL HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE SAME LOCATION. IT IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE WHEEL CAN SUDDENLY SEIZE OR FLY OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. I HOPE YOU WILL REQUIRE LEXUS TO RECALL AND FIX THE CARS THAT HAVEN'T FAILED YET, AND TO REIMBURSE THOSE WHO HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT FIXED ALREADY. *TR

THE DASHBOARD OF MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN MELTING AWAY AND CRACKING. THE LEATHER HAS COMPLETELY COME OFF IN SOME AREAS AND THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD HAS CRACKS. I CONTACTED LEXUS ABOUT THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURES DEFECT. LEXUS HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE IN TRYING TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE STATING I AM OUT OF WARRANTY. PLEASE HELP! *JS

MY 2005 LEXUS RX 330 WITH ONLY 39459 MILEAGE WAS TOLD THE WATER PUMP IS LEAKS, WHEN I REPLACED THE BATTERY AT INDEPENDENT SHOP. WHEN FOR A RECALL (ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY) DONE BY DEALER THAT COUPLE MONTH AGO ON MILEAGE 39152, DEALER ALSO PERFORMED MULTI POINT INSPECTION DID NOT SPOT ANY WATER PUMP LEAKS. HOWEVER, I BROUGHT CAR BACK TO DEALER TO DIAGNOSTIC, INSPECTED STATES THAT FOR POSSIBLE COOLANT LEAKS - WATER PUMP TIMING BELT PACKAGE COST $1,995.00 FOR REPLACEMENT. THAT IS OUTRAGEOUS, I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THE WATER PUMP IS FAILING AT THE CAR ONLY HAS UNDER 40K MILES. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE FOR SAFETY AS AN ENGINE WITH FAILED WATER PUMP MIGHT BE CAUSE A VERY SERIOUS DAMAGES AND INJURY WHEN DRIVING. IN THIS CASE HEREBY, I'M SENDING THIS COMPLIANT TO NHTSA, I HOPE ODI OFFICE WOULD START TO INVESTIGATION FOR THIS ISSUE. LEXUS SHOULD MAKE RECALL FOR THIS LOW QUALITY PARTS INSTEAD OF PUT OTHER PEOPLES LIFE IN DANGERS WHEN DRIVING. TO EMPHASIZE THAT I HAVE FOUND OUT ON YOUR WEBSITE THERE ARE SAME COMPLAINTS FOR FAILED WATER PUMP AS WELL. AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE LOTS OF CAR OWNER HAVE SAME PROBLEMS JUST WERE NOT AWARE OF WHERE THEY COULD MAKE COMPLAINTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION IN THIS MATTER. *JS