2005 Lexus RX330: complaints, problems and recalls

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE NORMAL AT LOW BEAM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB WHEN DRIVING IN THE HILLS THE HEADLIGHTS ONLY ILLUMINATE TO 20 TO 25 FEET. THE ILLUMINATED PORTION IS VERY BRIGHT AND THE NON-ILLUMINATED PORTION IS PITCH BLACK. *EH *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10103466 at NHTSA ↗

I LEASED A LEXUS 2005 RX 330 ON NOVEMBER 30, 2004. SINCE I HAVE HAD THE CAR THE CAR HAS BEEN VANDALIZED TWO TIMES ONCE ON DECEMBER. 12 AND AGAIN ON JANUARY. 22. EACH TIME THERE HAS BEEN IN EXCESS OF 5,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE. EACH TIME IT IS THEFT INVOLVING OF XENON HEADLIGHTS. THIS IS A OBVIOUS MANUFACTURES DEFECT AND THE CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED. I URGE THIS DONE!!! *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10107867 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE BRAKING FROM 50 TO 60 MPH THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO APPLIEDTHE BRAKE PEDAL HARDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARTE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER REPLACE THE BRAKE BOOSTER THE FIRST AND THE SECOND TIME THEY WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A PROBLEM. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10111690 at NHTSA ↗

LEXUS RX 330 STOLEN HEADLIGHTS, THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. *BF *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10112951 at NHTSA ↗

2004 LEXUS RX 330: BASICALLY, THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GEAR DOWN SATISFACTORILY, UNTIL IT COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP. A SLOW TURN AND THEN ACCELERATION WILL 'ALWAYS' RESULT IN 'LAGGING' OF GEAR CHANGES, THEN IT WILL FINALLY GEAR DOWN AND LURCH INTO THE LOWER GEAR. IT'S AGGRAVATING AND CAN BE DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS IN TIGHT CROWDED FREEWAY DRIVING CONDITIONS WHERE IT'S NOT UNUSUAL TO HAVE TO SLOW DOWN AND THEN SPEED UP WITHOUT GETTING REAR-ENDED. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO HAS A VERY LOUD "WHINING" AS SOON AS YOU LET OFF ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR HAS …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10124089 at NHTSA ↗

2005 LEXUS RX 300 DESIGN FLAW WITH THE GRILL IN THE CONDENSER.*MR THE MECAHNIC DETERMINED THAT A VERY MINUTE PIECE OF A STONE CHIP MADE A HOLD IN THE GRILL IN FRONT OF THE CONDENSER, WHICH CAUSED THE FREON TO DRAIN OUT. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE GRILL WAS TOO DELICATED *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 5,160 miles reported. Look up ODI 10130255 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A LEXUS RX330 AWD (2005) WITH HIDS IN NJ. THE VEHICLE IS REALLY GOOD AND SO IS THE HEADLIGHTS. NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE RIDE AND LUXURY. BUT ITS DISAPPOINTING TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCES AND THE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS I AM HAVING FOR THE LAST 2 MONTHS. THE HID HEADLIGHTS WERE STOLEN TWICE AND I AM HAVING SCARY NIGHTS AFTER SPENDING 40K ON THIS LUXURY SUV. ONE OF THE BIG REASON WHY I WENT FOR RX 330 FROM THE OTHER BRANDS WAS THE KNOWN QUALITY OF SERVICE AND RELIABILITY OF THE LEXUS BRAND. BUT NOW I AM TOTALLY DISAPPOINTED. LEXUS SHOULD…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10139135 at NHTSA ↗

THE TAIL LIGHT LENSE OF THE NEW LEXUS SUV IS CLEAR/WHITE PLASTIC AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO THE VEHICLE FOLLOWING IT WHEN THE SUN SHINES ON IT FROM THAT DIRECTION.I HAVE BEEN DISTRACTED/BLINDED A NUMBER OF TIMES.WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE LAW THAT REQUIRED THE TAIL LIGHTS TO BE RED?TOYOTA MUST THINK THAT THIS IS A COOL STYLING FEATURE.THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10139718 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2006-07-13 (July 13, 2006)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY AND HYBRID VEHICLES, THE TWO RETAINING CLIPS FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE FORWARD CENTER CONSOLE CAN BECOME LOOSE. IF BOTH CLIPS SEPARATE FROM THE FLOOR CARPET COVER, THE COVER MAY LEAN TOWARD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSING INTERFERENCE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ROD.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION MAY INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TWO FLOOR CARPET COVER RETAINING CLIPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 24, 2006, AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY EARLY SEPTEMBER 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 OR LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.

Reported: 2011-02-24 (February 24, 2011)

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 HIGHLANDER, HIGHLANDER HYBRID, AND MODEL YEAR 2004-2007 LEXUS RX330, RX350, AND RX400H VEHICLES. IF THE FORWARD RETENTION CLIP USED TO SECURE THE FLOOR CARPET COVER, WHICH IS LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE CENTER CONSOLE, IS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY THE COVER MAY LEAN TOWARD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM.

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY TEMPORARILY BECOME STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION RATHER THAN RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION. A STUCK ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN UNINTENDED AND SUSTAINED VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FLOOR CARPET COVER WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE FREE OR CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Reported: 2011-11-09 (November 9, 2011)

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AVALON VEHICLES; 2004 AND 2005 CAMRY, CAMRY SOLARA, HIGHLANDER, AND SIENNA VEHICLES, 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID; 2004 AND 2005 LEXUS ES330 AND RX330; AND 2006 LEXUS RX400H VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 1, 2004 THROUGH MARCH 31, 2005, EQUIPPED WITH THE 1MZ-FE OR 3MZ-FE ENGINE. THE AMOUNT OF ADHESIVE AGENT APPLIED BETWEEN THE OUTER RING AND THE TORSIONAL RUBBER DAMPER (INNER RING) IN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY MAY BE INADEQUATE. IF THE ADHESIVE IS INSUFFICIENT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE OUTER RING MAY BECOME MISALIGNED AND IT MAY NOT PROPERLY ROTATE WITH THE INNER RING, CAUSING NOISE AND/OR ILLUMINATION OF THE BATTERY DISCHARGE INDICATOR LIGHT.

Consequence: IN SOME CASES, THE BELT FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE PULLEY WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND A SUDDEN INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL CHECK THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY TO IDENTIFY WHETHER IT WAS PRODUCED BY THE U.S. SUPPLIER. IF SO, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE PULLEY WITH A NEW ONE AT NO CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING EARLY JANUARY 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.