Lexus RX330 transmission problems
67 complaint narratives mention transmission terms.
Key facts
526 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
60,586 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 to 2011 model years. Data snapshot: . 368 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Transmission and shifting evidence
67 of 526 complaints match this topic (12.7%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
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 10047589 · 2003-11-26 (November 26, 2003)
THIS CAR HAS A INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. THE ENGINE REVS UP IN BETWEEN GEARS AND FINALLY SHIFTS INTO GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION IS VERY SLUGGISH BETWEEN ALL GEARS. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE AND SERVICE MANAGER SAYS THAT THIS IS AS GOOD AS IT IS GOING TO BE. WHEN THE CAR IS BETWEEN 2 & 3 I SOMETIMES FEEL THAT IT WILL LET GO ENTIRELY AND MIGHT CAUSE A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10047589 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052445 · 2004-01-05 (January 5, 2004)
WHEN I SLOW MY LEXUS LS-430 DOWN TO ABOUT 10 - 15 MPH THEN ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE LIGHTLY, THE CAR WILL OFTEN NOT RESPOND TO THE THROTTLE. I'LL DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR FURTHER AND EVENTUALLY THE CAR WILL RESPOND BY DOWN SHIFTING INTO A LOWER GEAR AND ACCELERATING VERY RAPIDLY. I HAVE CONTACTED LEXUS AND THEY HAVE STATED THAT THIS IS A RESULT OF THE "FLY-BY-WIRE" DESIGN OF THE THROTTLE AND THAT I'LL EVENTUALLY LEARN TO COMPENSATE. THEY STATED THAT THEY CANNOT REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER TO ELIMINATE THIS CONDITION SINCE THIS WOULD REQUIRE RECERTI…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052445 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10054711 · 2004-01-23 (January 23, 2004)
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 MI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10054711 at NHTSA ↗