2004 Lexus RX: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Most common problems
Structure is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 40 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 7.5% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 7.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 5.0% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 5.0% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure | 10 |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Seats | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10162417 · 2006-07-14 (July 14, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE FAR ENOUGH WHILE DRIVING IN THE EVENING AT A SPEED OF 70 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERS WHO ADJUSTED THE HEADLIGHTS BUT WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10162417 at NHTSA ↗
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 10174798 · 2006-11-30 (November 30, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HESITATED WHEN MAKING THE SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR AND FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR AS WELL. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS INDICATING A FAILURE IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN SEVEN TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE SOFTWARE HAD BEEN RESET SEVERAL TIMES HOWEVER, THE DEFECT WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED. THE CONTACT WAS VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SATISFACTORY RESOLUTION.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10174798 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 10180946 · 2007-01-28 (January 28, 2007)
THE TOP LATCH STRAP PROVIDED ON THIS SEAT CANNOT BE TIGHTENED FIRMLY AGAINST THE VEHICLE SEAT. RATHER THAN PROVIDE A (NORMAL) TENSIONING DEVICE FOR THE TOP STRAP, THE MANUFACTURER ELECTED TO PROVIDE A DUAL LOOP STEEL PLATE. THE STRAP IS THREADED THROUGH THIS PLATE IN A RIDICULOUSLY COMPLEX MANNER, AND NO AMOUNT OF PULLING, TUGGING, OR TRYING TO FINAGLE ENOUGH SLACK THROUGH THE MULTIPLE LAYERS THE STRAP GOES THROUGH (TO ALLOW THE WHOLE STRAP TO BE PULLED TIGHTLY) ALLOW PROPER TENSIONING TO SECURE THE CHILD SEAT BACK TO THE VEHICLE SEAT. A FEW DO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10180946 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10185280 · 2007-03-16 (March 16, 2007)
MY 2004 LEXUS RX330 HAS REPEATEDLY HAD ACCELERATION PROBLEMS WHEN I HAVE SLOWED AND NEED TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY DUE TO TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. TODAY ON THE WAY TO WORK I WAS TRYING TO MERGE ON TO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AND NEARLY GOT REAR-ENDED BECAUSE MY VEHICLE DIDN'T ACCELERATE WHEN I PRESSED THE PEDAL AS I WAS TRYING TO MERGE IN TO THE LANE. THERE HAVE BEEN COUNTLESS TIMES IN THE 2 YEARS I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED NEAR COLLISONS DUE TO THE SLUGGISH OR LACK OF ACCELERATION WHEN I DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. MY HUSBAND WON'T E…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10185280 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10198126 · 2007-08-01 (August 1, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD TWO DAYS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE SENSOR LIGHT SHINES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE SHOULD BE CHECKED. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND DEALER INFORMATION WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 57,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10198126 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
10V499000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder
Reported: 2010-10-21 (October 21, 2010)
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 AVALON, MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 HIGHLANDER, MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 LEXUS RX, AND MODEL YEAR 2006 LEXUS GS AND IS VEHICLES. BRAKE FLUID CONTAINING POLYMERS IS USED THAT ACTS AS LUBRICANTS FOR CERTAIN BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENTS. IF REPLACEMENT BRAKE FLUID IS USED THAT DOES NOT CONTAIN SUCH POLYMERS, OR THAT CONTAINS ONLY SMALL AMOUNTS, A PART OF THE RUBBER SEAL LOCATED AT THE REAR OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER MAY BECOME DRY, AND THE SEAL MAY CURL DURING MOVEMENT OF THE PISTON. IF THIS OCCURS, A SMALL AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID COULD SLOWLY LEAK FROM THE SEAL INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER.
Consequence: A LEAK OF BRAKE FLUID COULD LEAD TO A CHANGE IN BRAKE PEDAL FEEL AND OVERTIME A DEGRADATION IN BRAKING PERFORMANCE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAL WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 AND LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
NHTSA campaign record ↗