2004 Lexus RX330 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
287 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
40,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 188 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 54 of 287 complaints (18.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 82 | 28.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 54 | 18.8% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 4.2% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 2.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 0.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.3% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 54 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 30 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 23 |
| Unknown Or Other | 20 |
| Air Bags | 18 |
| Structure | 18 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist | 17 |
| Structure:Body | 13 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 54; Vehicle Speed Control: 30; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 23; Unknown Or Other: 20; Air Bags: 18; Structure: 18; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist: 17; Structure:Body: 13
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 81 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 25 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 24 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 22 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 26 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 81; 25,000 to 49,999: 25; 50,000 to 74,999: 24; 75,000 to 99,999: 22; 100,000 to 149,999: 26; 150,000 and above: 10
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (81). 99 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 54 |
| 2005 | 68 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 7 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 36 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 24 |
| 2015 | 14 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2003: 6; 2004: 54; 2005: 68; 2006: 10; 2007: 8; 2008: 7; 2009: 7; 2010: 36; 2011: 10; 2012: 5; 2013: 9; 2014: 24; 2015: 14; 2016: 6; 2017: 7; 2018: 10; 2019: 5; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 82 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 54 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 12 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 10049191 · 2003-12-04 (December 4, 2003)
HIGH-INTENSITY HEADLIGHTS ON 2004 LEXUS RX 330 DO NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE NIGHT VISION YET ARE SET ACCORDING TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER. ILLUMINATED DISTANCE IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AT "NORMAL" BEAM DOES NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE OBSTACLE RECOGNITION AND BRAKING TIME EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS OF 25-30 MPH ON DARK ROADS. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10049191 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060739 · 2004-03-08 (March 8, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10060739 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039614 · 2003-09-26 (September 26, 2003)
MANY OWNERS OF 2004 RX330 HAVE REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH THE 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL "LAG" IN SHIFTING AT LOW SPEEDS AROUND 20 MPH WITH OCCASIONAL REPORTS OF THE CAR REVVING TO "REDLINE" WITHOUT THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGING. THIS RESULTS IN THE VEHIBLE BECOMING IMMOBILE IN INTERSECTIONS OR WHEN EXITING TOOLBOOTHS. THERE IS A SIMILAR PROBLEM AT AROUND 40 MPH. IT HAS HAPPENED TO OUR VEHICLE AT LEAST 6 TIMES, TWO OF WHICH NEARLY RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT FROM BEING "REAR-ENDED." LEXUS HAS RELEASED A SOFTWARE UPGRADE BUT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10039614 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10047346 · 2003-11-21 (November 21, 2003)
SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION HAS ACTED STRANGE. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY WHEN CHANGING FROM ONE GEAR TO THE NEXT. WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. WAS TOLD THE FIRST TIME THAT IS THE WAY THE VEHICLE SHIFTS. AFTER THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE, WE TOOK IT BACK AGAIN. DEALER CONFIRMED THAT WE WERE NOT THE ONLY OWNER THAT HAS COMPLAINED TO THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM. WAS TOLD TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN AND THEY WOULD RE CALIBRATE THE CHIP THAT CONTROLS THE SHIFTING. GOT THE VEHICLE BACK AFTER THEY WORKED ON IT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10047346 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116645 · 2005-04-09 (April 9, 2005)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 12,901 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116645 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121750 · 2005-05-20 (May 20, 2005)
MY 2004 LEXUS RX330 HAS NOISY RATTLING SUSPENSION WHEN DRIVING OVER UNDULATING SURFACES OR SPEED BUMPS, ALSO THE STEERING APEARS TO DRIFT WHEN TRAVELLING IN A STRIAGHT LINE,. DEALER HAS CHECKED ON NUMBER OF OCCASIONS BUT STATED IT IS JUST A CHARACTRISTIC OF THE VEHICLE, BUT I HAVE DRIVEN MANY OTHER SIMILAR CARS WITH NO SUCH NOISE OR DRIFT.
Owner-reported narrative. 29,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121750 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060498 · 2004-03-05 (March 5, 2004)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10060498 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063670 · 2004-03-23 (March 23, 2004)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063670 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10627063 · 2014-08-21 (August 21, 2014)
MY ELECTRICAL WIRING HAS A HUGE ISSUE. I AM CONFIDENT THIS HAS TO BE A HAZARD OF SOME KIND! A FEW YEARS AGO I STARTED HAVING ISSUES LOCKING/UNLOCKING MY CAR DOORS WITH THE KEY FOB. ONLY ONE OR TWO DOORS WOULD LOCK/UNLOCK ON COMMAND. AFTER RESEARCH I FOUND THIS TO BE A POSSIBLE ACTUATOR PROBLEM. LEXUS ESTIMATED THE COST TO BE $700/ACTUATOR (PER DOOR). WITHOUT HAVING THE ACTUATORS FIXED JUST YET, A COUPLE OF DAYS PASSED AND I NOTICED MY TAIL LIGHT WENT OUT. THE NEXT DAY A HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. I VISITED OUR LOCAL ADVANCED AUTO WHERE THEY REPLACED …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10627063 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11234872 · 2019-07-25 (July 25, 2019)
HAVE HAD TO REPLACE RADIATOR 3 TIMES & WILL NEED A 4TH AT THIS TIME, SINCE 2015, WAS BOUGHT USED IN 2014. !ST REPLACEMENT 2015 2ND) 2016, 3RD) 2017, AND NOW NEEDS AGAIN. MANY WEBSITES STATE MANY DIFFERENT PROBLEMS RELATED TO MY VEHICLE, AS WELL AS OTHERS OF A NEW YEAR IE; 2005, 2006. LEXUS CLAIMS VIN IS THE ONLY SOURCE TO VERIFY IF NEEDS FIXING STATED TO ME, YET A WEBSOURCE CLUBLEXUS.COM/FORUM SHOWS A STATEMENT BY LEXUS STATING THE ISSUE IS NOT BY VIN ALONE BUT BY MAKE MODEL & YEAR. A LOCAL RADIATOR SHOP IN WESTERN STATED TO ME VIA PHONE THAT L…
Owner-reported narrative. 158,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11234872 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10125414 · 2005-06-15 (June 15, 2005)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10125414 at NHTSA ↗