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2004 Lexus RX problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

40 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

66,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 26 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Structure is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 40 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting37.5%
Braking behavior37.5%
Electrical and battery issues25.0%
Steering behavior25.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Structure
10
Unknown Or Other
8
Air Bags
6
Exterior Lighting
4
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
4
Engine
2
Seats
2
Service Brakes
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Structure10
Unknown Or Other8
Air Bags6
Exterior Lighting4
Power Train:Automatic Transmission4
Engine2
Seats2
Service Brakes2

Structure: 10; Unknown Or Other: 8; Air Bags: 6; Exterior Lighting: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Engine: 2; Seats: 2; Service Brakes: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
4
25,000 to 49,999
3
50,000 to 74,999
8
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
9
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0004
25,000 to 49,9993
50,000 to 74,9998
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9999
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 2

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 14 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2006
5
2007
3
2008
1
2010
1
2012
2
2013
1
2014
9
2015
2
2016
2
2017
1
2019
3
2020
4
2021
2
2022
1
2023
1
2025
1
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20065
20073
20081
20101
20122
20131
20149
20152
20162
20171
20193
20204
20212
20221
20231
20251
20261

2006: 5; 2007: 3; 2008: 1; 2010: 1; 2012: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 9; 2015: 2; 2016: 2; 2017: 1; 2019: 3; 2020: 4; 2021: 2; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Structure leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10164230 · 2006-08-02 (August 2, 2006)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10164230 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10169938 · 2006-10-04 (October 4, 2006)

I LEASED A 2004 RX330 IN JANUARY, 04. IMMEDIATELY I BEGAN HAVING DIFFICULTY PREDICTING WHAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOING TO DO NEXT. SHIFT POINTS ALL OVER THE PLACE. THE "UPGRADE" WAS PERFORMED, PROVIDED TEMPORARY ADJUSTMENT. MERGING IS DEADLY. I THOUGHT PERHAPS I WAS SLIPPING OFF THE PEDAL, BUT NOW KNOW IT WASN'T RESPONDING. THE DRIVELINE HAS ALWAYS HAD A "CLUNK" OR "THUMP" THAT OCCURS WHEN LIFTING FROM THE THROTTLE. WE HAVE REPORTED THIS TO OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP (TOM WOOD LEXUS, INDIANAPOLIS) ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE FIRST DIAGNOSIS W…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10169938 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10245160 · 2008-10-11 (October 11, 2008)

LEXUS HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE VIBRATION, THEY HAVE ISSUED A TSB BUT ALL THEY ARE DOING IS THROWING NEW ROTORS AND PADS. THIS IS NOT ADDRESSING THE REAL ISSUE AT HAND. BRAKE VIBRATION CAN CAUSE A CAR TO GO OFF THE ROAD WHEN THERE IS ICE OR SNOW ON THE GROUND AND ONCE THE CAR STARTS SLIPPING IN ICE OR SNOW YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. MY COMPLAINT IS REGARDING A 2004 RX 330 THAT ONLY HAS 34K ON AND I'M GOING ON MY THIRD SET OF BRAKE PADS. THE CALIPER IS HANGING UP CAUSING UNEVEN PAD WEAR, CAUSING BRAKE VIBRATION. THI…

Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10245160 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10904558 · 2016-09-07 (September 7, 2016)

THE LEXUS RX 330 IS ON RECALL BY LEXUS BECAUSE THE DASH HAS DEVELOPED CRACKS,I HAVE BEEN WAITING 2 YEARS FOR A REPLACEMENT AND WAS TOLD BY LEXUS OF ORLANDO I AM NUMBER 1024 ON THEIR LIST FRO REPLACEMENT. BY THE TIME THEY GET TO ME ACCORDING TO MY CALCULATIONS THE YEAR WILL BE 2095 AT THE PACE THAT THEY ARE REPLACING THE DASHES. ALSO LEXUS HAS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCHES,ALL OF THEM SEEM TO DEVELOP A PROBLEM WHERE THE VSC,BRAKES AND ABS LIGHTS ALL COME ON AT THE SAME TIME. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO ALL THREE LEXUS' THAT I HAVE O…

Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10904558 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10175670 · 2006-12-09 (December 9, 2006)

2004 LEXUS RX 330 HAD A COMPLETE BREAKDOWN ON DECEMBER 6, 2006 WITH JUST OVER 43,000 MILES. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID THAT THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN IN THIS NEWER LUXURY VEHICLE. THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY WHICH WAS UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 39,959 miles reported. Look up ODI 10175670 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10485015 · 2012-11-17 (November 17, 2012)

MY LEFT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AND I FOUND WATER AND CONDENSATION IN HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY COMPARTMENT. ENTIRE COMPARTMENT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT COST OF $1650.00. *TR IN RESEARCHING THIS MAKE AND MODEL HAS OTHER CONSUMERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. I BELIEVE THIS IS MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT HAS CAUSED SEALS TO MALFUNCTION ALLOWING EXCESSIVE WATER INTO THE LIGHT COMPARTMENT WHICH CAUSES ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO FAIL.

Owner-reported narrative. 57,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10485015 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11362754 · 2020-10-05 (October 5, 2020)

DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING, CONDITIONS WERE DRY, SUNNY FALL WEATHER. AVG SPEED 45 MPH, LIGHT TURNED YELLOW, VEHICLE IN FRONT STARTED TO SLOW DOWN, DAUGHTER APPLIED BRAKES, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, NO SLOWING DOWN, REPEATEDLY PUSHED BRAKE AND APPLIED FULL FORCE, CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN, HIT OTHER VEHICLE, TOTALING THE LEXUS. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER MY DAUGHTER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. WITNESS REPORTED SEEING MY DAUGHTER TRYING TO BRAKE BUT THE CAR NOT RESPONDING. NO EVIDENCE OF TIRE MARKS ON THE ROAD

Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11362754 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11560594 · 2023-12-18 (December 18, 2023)

Power steering very stiff and difficult to steer vsc light on and air bags light goes on and off and unknown cause.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11560594 at NHTSA ↗