no report yet
Engine and engine cooling
Risk. 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…
2004 Lexus RX330Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 287 owner complaints about the 2004 Lexus RX330, most often about the power train. It is covered by 5 safety recalls.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through March 31, 2021. Updated daily. Photo: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2004 Lexus RX330 has problems
287 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
69Power train4 crash/fire/injury
58Service brakes, hydraulic9 crash/fire/injury
34Structure3 crash/fire/injury
34Vehicle speed control17 crash/fire/injury
22Exterior lighting
21Air bags11 crash/fire/injury
19Visibility
11Engine and engine cooling
9Steering
4215 other systems3 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 69 | 4 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 58 | 9 |
| Structure | 34 | 3 |
| Vehicle speed control | 34 | 17 |
| Exterior lighting | 22 | 0 |
| Air bags | 21 | 11 |
| Visibility | 19 | 1 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 11 | 3 |
| Steering | 9 | 0 |
| 15 other systems | 42 | 3 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
5 recalls
2004 Lexus RX330 recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal
Risk. IF THIS OCCURS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY TEMPORARILY BECOME STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION RATHER THAN RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION.
no report yet
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal
Risk. THIS CONDITION MAY INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
no report yet
Seat belts: rear/other
Risk. THE REAR SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Show 1 more recall
no report yet
Brake lights: switch
Risk. IF THE SWITCH IS INOPERABLE, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE AND CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Lexus.
Mileage at failure
When do power train problems start?
6kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 41 power train complaints. 98% were reported before 100,000 miles.
27under 30k miles40under 100k miles1100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2004 vs. every other RX330 year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the RX330 median. How we score
'04'05'06'07'09'11
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2004 Lexus RX330 safety ratings
2004 Lexus RX330 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
2 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2004 Lexus RX330, and the recalls they led to.
- VACUUM BRAKE BOOSTER FAILURENo recall
- Unintended and Uncontrolled AccelerationLed to recall 11V-112
In owners' words
What RX330 owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
AS OF 3/18/2016 I PURCHASED AN NEW RADIATOR FOR A TOTAL OF $945 AT MCGRATH LEXUS DEALERSHIP IN CHICAGO ON DIVISION ST BECAUSE THE OLD RADIATOR WAS LEAKING. AS OF 3/31/2017 THE NEW RADIATOR IS NOW LEAKING AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OVER HEATING. AS OF 4/1/2017 THE TIMING BELT…
MY STEERING STARTED GETTING STIFF AND MAKING A GRINDING SOUND WITHOUT WARNING. IT WOULD THEN DISAPPEAR AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. I NOTICED THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AT THE 90,000 MARK. I BOUGHT A LEXUS BECAUSE I THOUGHT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE SOLID BUT IT SEEMS LIKE…
THIS IS OUR 2ND COMPLAINT REGARDING OUR 2004 RX 330. WE HAVE OWNED IT FOR 8 MONTHS AND HAVE PUT 7K MILES ON IT SINCE PURCHASE, AND IT ONLY HAS 85K NOW. SINCE PURCHASE WE NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING AND JERKING PROBLEMS AT ALL RATES OF SPEED WHEN STARTING/ DRIVING/STOPPING. WE CONTACTED OUR…
Own a 2004 RX330?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.