2006 Lexus RX330 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
67 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
65,349 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 52 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 67 complaints (17.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 8 | 11.9% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 10.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 4.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 |
| Steering | 8 |
| Structure:Body | 8 |
| Structure | 7 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 12; Steering: 8; Structure:Body: 8; Structure: 7; Unknown Or Other: 7; Engine: 5; Exterior Lighting: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 21 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 21; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 4
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 15 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 12 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2006: 4; 2008: 2; 2009: 3; 2010: 9; 2011: 5; 2012: 12; 2013: 4; 2014: 10; 2015: 5; 2016: 8; 2017: 3; 2018: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 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 10168338 · 2006-09-15 (September 15, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE AT ANY SPEED ON VARIOUS ROAD CONDITIONS, THERE WAS AN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED BRAKE FLUID HAD LEAKED INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER RENDERING THE MASTER CYLINDER INOPERATIVE. AFTER THE INITIAL MASTER CYLINDER REPLACEMENT, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.
Owner-reported narrative. 11,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168338 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10260001 · 2009-02-26 (February 26, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AND STATED THAT THEY HAVE REPLACED THIS COMPONENT NUMEROUS TIMES ON OTHER IDENTICAL VEHICLES OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL. THE BRAKE LIGHT MALFUNCTION PREVENTS THE DRIVER FROM SIGNALING INTENT, WHICH INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH. SHE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 71,185. UPDATED 03/17/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/18/09. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 71,185 miles reported. Look up ODI 10260001 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10314572 · 2010-02-26 (February 26, 2010)
I WAS ON INTERSTATE 5 ON MAY 25, 2009 (MEMORIAL DAY) AT THE SPEED OF 75-80 MPH WITH MY WHOLE FAMILY IN THE CAR. THE CAR'S MODEL IS LEXUS RX330,2006 MODEL. WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE LEFTMOST LANE, MY LEFT WHEEL WENT A LITTLE BIT ON THE RUMBLE STRIP. I TRIED TO PULL MY CAR BACK ON THE LANE. IT IS HERE THAT THE PROBLEM STARTED. MY STEERING STARTED TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE AND THE CAR STOPPED TO ACCELERATE. WHEN ALL THE CARS WERE GOING AT SUCH A HIGH SPEED THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO. I WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR AS WELL AS ACCELERATE OR EVEN BRAKE …
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10314572 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10451336 · 2012-03-12 (March 12, 2012)
UNUSUAL/ ABNORMAL NOISE IN THE ENGINE AREA WAS DIAGNOSED DUE TO THE FOLLOWING: RADIATOR FAILURE -HAD A CRACK AND LEAKING COOLANT AT 55K MILES; WATER PUMP FAILURE AT 55K MILES; TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT AT 55K MILES; HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE FAILURE AT 55K MILES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 55,366 miles reported. Look up ODI 10451336 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10238060 · 2008-08-13 (August 13, 2008)
WE HAVE A 2006 LEXUS RX330 SUV. IT HAS A VERY SIGNIFICANT HESITATION WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE TO CHANGE LANES OR ENTER HIGHWAY ETC. WE HAVE A 3 YEAR OLD AND WE ARE VERY SCARED MOST OF THE TIME DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THIS KIND OF HESITATION OF THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE TAKEN THE SUV TO THE LEXUS DEALER AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A NORMAL OPERATION OF THESE SUV'S. WE HAVE NO WHERE TO GO EXCEPT NHTSA TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST LEXUS LIKE RECALLING THESE CARS BEFORE THIS SITUATION CAUSES THE LOSS OF LIVES. THANK YOU. RAIF CAGLAR *TR…
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10238060 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10785893 · 2015-10-25 (October 25, 2015)
TRANSMISSION HAS A HARD TIME SELECTING A GEAR BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD. IT STARTS TO GO INTO 3RD GEAR THEN JUMPS OUT FOR A SECOND AND THEN SLAMS BACK INTO 3RD. USUALLY WHEN LIGHTLY ACCELERATING. VERY NOTICEABLE. I HAVE TAKEN IT INTO THE DEALER 4 TIMES AND WAS TOLD I MAY JUST NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION!! IT ONLY HAS 108,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM WITH A LEXUS! THAT AND THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS DIAGNOSED AS BAD AS WELL! IT'S LIKE THE ENTIRE DRIVE TRAIN IS GARBAGE!! VERY VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH LEXUS AND I HOPE THEY WILL MAKE THIS…
Owner-reported narrative. 108,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10785893 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10837106 · 2016-02-19 (February 19, 2016)
WHEN DEPRESSING THE REMOTE OR MANUALLY OPENING THE REAR LIFT GATE SOMETIMES THE REAR LIFT GATE (DOOR) WILL START TO CLOSE AUTOMATICALLY AND IT CAN ONLY BE STOPPED BY PRESSING THE REMOTE OR BUTTON ON LIFT GATE OR APPLYING LARGE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE TO HOLD DOOR OPEN. TWICE A PERSON HAS BEEN IN THE LINE OF FIRE AND HAD TO JUMP OUT OF WAY WHEN PLACING AN ITEM IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. ON ANOTHER TIME THE LIFT GATE HIT A PERSON IN THE HEAD WHEN THEY DID NOT GET OUT OF THE WAY FAST ENOUGH. THE LEXUS DEALER HAS CHECKED THE AUTO CLOSURE SYSTEM AND REPLA…
Owner-reported narrative. 108,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10837106 at NHTSA ↗