2004 Lexus RX330 recalls and problems

The 2004 Lexus RX330 has 5 recalls and 287 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is power train.

How the 2004 compares

Highest

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Highest complaint count among 6 RX330 model years — the most of any year.

5recalls

287complaints

37crashes

1fires

27injuries

41,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

5 recalls

Engine

Nov 9, 2011 · NHTSA campaign 11V539000 · 420,326 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

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 steering effort, increasing the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

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 & notes

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.

Owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Vehicle Speed Control

Feb 24, 2011 · NHTSA campaign 11V112000 · 769,379 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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 & notes

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.

Toyota safety recall boa Lexus safety recall no. Blc.owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Vehicle Speed Control

Jul 13, 2006 · NHTSA campaign 06V253000 · 367,594 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: This condition May interfere with the accelerator pedal returning to the idle position increasing the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

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

Remedy & notes

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.

Toyota recall no. 60F and Lexus recall no. 6LD.customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Seat Belts

Jan 27, 2006 · NHTSA campaign 06V023000 · 3,851 vehicles

Problem: Certain sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 210, "seat belt assembly anchorages." the anchor bolt for the rear, left-hand side seat belt buckle directly behind the driver's seat does not have sufficient strength.

Original NHTSA wording

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES." THE ANCHOR BOLT FOR THE REAR, LEFT-HAND SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE DIRECTLY BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT DOES NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT STRENGTH.

Risk: The rear seat occupant May not be properly restrained in the event of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THE REAR SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace free of charge the rear, left-hand side seat belt buckle anchor bolt with an improved one. The recall began on February 3, 2006. Owners May contact Lexus at 800-255-3987.

Lexus recall no. 6LA.customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Exterior Lighting

Nov 22, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V558000 · 183,090 vehicles

Problem: Certain passenger vehicles May be equipped with an improperly designed brake light switch. A silicon oxide build-up occurs on the contacts inside the brake light switch, which can make it inoperable.

Original NHTSA wording

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH AN IMPROPERLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. A SILICON OXIDE BUILD-UP OCCURS ON THE CONTACTS INSIDE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, WHICH CAN MAKE IT INOPERABLE.

Risk: If the switch is inoperable, the brake lights will not illuminate and can increase the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

IF THE SWITCH IS INOPERABLE, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE AND CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the brake light switch. The recall began during December 2004. Owners should contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

Toyota recall no. Ssc 40/Lexus recall no. Ssc 4LH.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Power Train69

Service Brakes62

Structure34

Vehicle Speed Control34

Unknown or other20

Engine14

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

NHTSA investigations

Unintended and Uncontrolled Acceleration

RQ10003 · opened Feb 16, 2010 · closed Mar 1, 2011 · led to recall 11V112000

Summary

On February 16, 2010, NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened RQ10-003 to determine whether the scope of prior Toyota recalls relating to potential unintended acceleration were sufficiently broad, including, among others, Toyota recalls 07E-082, 09V-388, 10V-017, and 10V-023.NHTSA also requested information regarding potential electronic causes of unintended acceleration in Toyota and Lexus vehicles.I. Pedal Interference from Floor mats, Carpet Covers and Plastic Pads in Carpets.During the RQ10-003 investigation, ODI reviewed a large volume of documents to assess whether additional vehicles should be recalled.Following the agency's analysis, NHTSA requested that Toyota recall additional vehicles.Toyota complied with the agency's request.The details of these recalls are set forth more fully in Toyota's reports to NHTSA pursuant to 49 CFR Part 573.These recalls are as follows:Recall 11V-112: (1) model year (MY) 2004-2006 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid; and, (2) MY 2004-2007 Lexus RX330,RX350, and RX400h (hybrid model). The total estimated population under this recall is 769,379 vehicles.This recall remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment caused by a loose floor carpet cover (trim panel). Recall 11V-113: (1) MY 2003-2009 through 2009 Toyota 4Runner; (2) MY 2006-2010 Toyota RAV4; and, (3) MY 2008-2011 Lexus LX570.The total estimated population under this recall is 1,381,000 vehicles.This recall supplements recall 09V-388 and remedies potential accele…

VACUUM BRAKE BOOSTER FAILURE

PE05009 · opened Feb 10, 2005 · closed Jun 15, 2005

Summary

ON FEBRUARY 10, 2005, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED LOSS OF BRAKE POWER-ASSIST IN CERTAIN 2004 MODEL YEAR (MY) LEXUS RX330 VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH APPROXIMATELY JUNE 30, 2004.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED AT TOYOTA MOTOR MANUFACTURING CANADA, INC.?S CAMBRIDGE, ONTARIO ASSEMBLY PLANT AND WERE EQUIPPED WITH VACUUM BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLIES SOURCED FROM AISIN SEIKI CO., LTD (AISIN) SUBSIDIARY ADVICS NORTH AMERICA, INC. (ADVICS-NA).TO DATE, ODI IS AWARE OF 146 NON-DUPLICATIVE REPORTS THAT ALLEGE LOSS OF BRAKE POWER-ASSIST AND 6 CRASHES ALLEGEDLY CAUSED BY LOSS OF BRAKE POWER-ASSIST (RESULTING IN 1 MINOR INJURY) ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES USE A CONVENTIONAL BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY THAT CONTAINS A RUBBER DIAPHRAGM TO SEPARATE THE FORE AND AFT PRESSURE CHAMBERS.THE OUTER EDGE OF THE RUBBER DIAPHRAGM IS HELD IN PLACE VIA A RETAINING GROOVE ON THE BRAKE BOOSTER BODY.IF THE BOOSTER LOSES VACUUM (E.G., OPERATOR DEPLETES THE VACUUM BY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES WHILE THE ENGINE IS OFF), IT MAY CAUSE THE DIAPHRAGM TO DEFORM IN THE AREA OF THE RETAINING GROOVE TO THE POINT THAT INSUFFICIENT SEAL EXISTS BETWEEN DIAPHRAGM AND BOOSTER BODY, THUS CAUSING A MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKE POWER-ASSIST.THE ADVICS-NA SUPPLIED DIAPHRAGM HAS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT MATERIAL PROPERTIES COMPARED TO THE DIAPHRAGM INSIDE BRAKE BOOSTERS SUPPLIED BY ADVICS JAPAN, CORP. (ADVICS-J) AND USED ON 2004MY LEXUS RX330 VEHIC…

2004 vs. other Lexus RX330 years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2004. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2004 Lexus RX330 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns covering the 2004 Lexus RX330, the latest from Nov 9, 2011 (engine). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2004 Lexus RX330?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention power train (69), service brakes (62), structure (34). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.