2004 Lexus RX330 transmission problems

POWER TRAIN

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 AND WATER PUMP FOR THE STEERING WILL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. TODAY 4/1/2017 MCGRATH LEXUS DEALER STATED I WILL COST AT LEAST $1200 WITH LABOR INCLUDED FOR THEM TO REPAIR. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH ON RECALLS FOR MY 2004 LEXUS RX330 I DISCOVERED THESE REQUIRED REPAIRS ARE LEXUS DEAKER RECALLS. WHY WOULD MCGRATH LEXUS CHARGE ME IF THESE ARE RECALLS ON MY LEXUS.

NHTSA complaint #10969946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

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 EVERYTHING IS STARTING TO GO. I HAD TO REPLACE THE SUNROOF, AIR CONDITIONING PUMP, RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION AFTER HITTING 80,000. I DON'T WANT TO PUT ANY MORE $$$ INTO THE CAR AT THIS POINT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SEEM WORTH. ONE PROBLEM AFTER THE NEXT.

NHTSA complaint #10615711 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

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 LOCAL LEXUS DEALERSHIP TO ASK IF SOMETHING COULD BE DONE, AND WAS ADVISED THEY COULD CHECK TO SEE IF THE PREVIOUS 1ST OWNER OF VEHICLE HAD EVER "UPGRADED" THE COMPUTER CHIP THAT CONTROLS THE SYSTEM. SO, WE TOOK IT IN AND THEY DETERMINED IT HAD NOT BEEN DONE SO WE PAID THE $100.00 FOR THE UPGRADE. WE HOPED IT HAD SOLVED THE ISSUE, BUT NOW IT IS EVEN WORSE. SEVERAL DAYS AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE BACK, I WAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY GOING 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON AND ACCELERATED TO CHANGE LANES AND PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE. DURING MY ATTEMPT TO PASS WITH MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR, FOR 5 OR 10 SECONDS THE ENGINE/ TRANSMISSION FROZE AND IT WAS LIKE YOU WERE IN NEUTRAL GEAR, IT DID NOTHING, AND FINALLY WITH MY FOOT ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR IT KICKED BACK INTO GEAR AND I WAS ABLE TO PASS THE VEHICLE TO MY SIDE. IF SOMEONE WOULD HAVE BEEN BEHIND ME I'M SURE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT, AS THE TRUCK WAS IN MOTION BUT NOT ACCELERATING. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THEY HAD COMPLAINTS AND WERE AWARE OF THE ACCELERATION ISSUE, BUT HAD NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH IT "FREEZING" LIKE THAT. HE SAID THE TRUCK WILL JUST HAVE TO "LEARN MY DRIVING PATTERN", AND UNLESS TOYOTA DOES A RECALL IT WILL ALWAYS HAVE THESE ISSUES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED, SOONER THAN LATER AND IT IS JUST NOT A "FLOOR MAT" CLIP FIX. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS TRUCK SINCE IT'S A TOSS UP AS TO WHEN OR WHERE IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10532165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

WE PURCHASED OUR 2004 LEXUS RX330 IN JANUARY 2013 AS THE 2ND OWNER WITH 78K MILES. WE BEGAN TO NOTICE AT LOWER SPEEDS THE TRUCK WILL JERK FORWARD WITH NO WARNING WHEN BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, OR EVEN WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MAKING LAND CHANGES OR SLOWING DOWN IN TRAFFIC. WE HAVE A 2001 LEXUS RX 300, AND IT NEVER HAS HAD THIS ISSUE. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED AND THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE, AND WILL BE CONTACTING OUR LOCAL LEXUS DEALERSHIP TO LET THEM KNOW, SO IT CAN BE DOCUMENTED. SINCE READING OTHERS COMPLAINTS, IT SEEMS THAT LEXUS IS NOT STANDING BEHIND THIS ISSUE, WE MAY BE LOOKING TO TRADE IT IN AND GO BACK TO THE HONDA CRV, WHICH HAD NO PROBLEMS AT ALL, WE JUST LIKED THE LUXURY OF THE LEXUS, AND WANTED AN UPGRADE, NOT A VEHICLE THAT CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WITH NO WARNING.

NHTSA complaint #10523172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2004 LEXUS RX330 TRANSMISSION JUMPS AND WILL ACCELERATE WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL. HAS ALMOST CAUSED A FEW ACCIDENTS. LEXUS WILL NOT HONOR ANY TSB'S DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10408588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I BOUGHT MY LEXUS IN 2007. IT IS A 2004 RX LEXUS 330 IT HAD 31,000 MILES WHEN BOUGHT. SINCE I HAD THE CAR MY RADIATOR WAS BROKEN AND THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP REPAIRED IT UNDER WARRANTY. BEFORE THIS I REMEMBER STOPPING TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE FELT THE CAR WAS STALLING AND WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING WRONG ITS JUST I HAVE TO BE CONSISTENT THE WAY I DRIVE WITH SPEED. NOW IN 2010 I'M EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CAR STALLING OR LAGGING WITH THE RPM AND A LITTLE NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. I REALLY THINK THEY SHOULD RECALL THIS OR DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE I READ ALOT OF REVIEWS THAT THIS IS HAPPENING AND THE CAR DOESNT EVEN HAVE THAT MANY MILES. I SPENT ALOT OF MONEY ON THIS CAR AND THEY SHOULD TAKE THIS PROBLEMS IN CONSIDERATION REALLY.

NHTSA complaint #10324986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

VEHICLE PERIODICALLY (APPROX. WEEKLY) SURGES BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE PURCHASE IN OCT. 2003, AS A BRAND NEW VEHICLE, UP THROUGH THE PRESENT DATE. FOR YEARS I COMPLAINED VERBALLY, AND WROTE LETTERS AND E-MAILS TO LEXUS. THEY FIRST DENIED THERE WAS A PROBLEM, THEN CHANGED TACTICS AND BLAMED IT ON ME, THEN SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS OR IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM, THEN LEXUS FINALLY ADMITTED THERE WAS A PROBLEM--"OFF THE RECORD," BUT DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. EVERY TIME I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR ROUTINE SERVICE, THEY WOULD INSTALL COMPUTER UPDATES TO SEE IF THAT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM--WHICH IT DID NOT. YEARS AGO, I RESEARCHED THROUGH GOVERNMENT RECORDS AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME KIND WITH 2004 LEXUS RX 330S. IN LIGHT OF RECENT RECALLS OF TOYOTA VEHICLES, I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY SOMEDAY TURN INTO THE SAME UNINTENDED ACCELERATION PROBLEM THAT IS HAPPENING WITH OTHER TOYOTAS. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN MY CAR!

NHTSA complaint #10320707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

PURCHASED A NEW 2004 LEXUS RX 330 IN AUGUST OF 2003 AND REPEATEDLY BROUGHT THE CAR TO DEALERSHIPS COMPLAINING OF A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE ELECTRONIC ACCELERATOR AND THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE IN AN INTERSECTION OR ON A FREEWAY ENTRANCE RAMP, THE CAR WILL HESITATE FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN CATAPULT FORWARD. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION WILL ERRATICALLY JUMP BETWEEN DIFFERENT GEARS, AS IF LOOKING FOR THE OPTIMAL GEAR. I CAN BEST DESCRIBE THIS TRANSMISSION AS SCHIZOPHRENIC. I HAVE CONTACTED MULTIPLE LEXUS DEALERS OVER THE YEARS FROM MINNEAPOLIS, TO CHICAGO TO SALT LAKE CITY AND THEY ALL TOLD ME THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS MANY CUSTOMERS HAVE COMPLAINED. HOWEVER, LEXUS HAS NEVER OFFERED SERVICE OR A RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE REPROGRAMMED MY TRANSMISSION ON 2 OCCASIONS AND TOLD ME TO USE PREMIUM FUEL. NONE OF THESE ACTIONS CORRECTED THE SITUATION. I FEEL THAT IN A BUSY INTERSECTION, THE UNPREDICTABLE ACCELERATION OF MY VEHICLE PROVIDES NO ASSURANCE THAT MY CAR WILL MOVE FORWARD WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED. THIS CAN LEAD TO COLLISION AND INJURY.

NHTSA complaint #10313789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I BOUGHT A USED 2004 LEXUS RX IN DECEMBER OF 2008. EVER SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE, AT RANDOM TIMES WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR SLOW MOVEMENT, IT WILL HESITATE AND THEN REVS UP AND THRUSTS FORWARD. I TOLD MY MECHANIC (A CERTIFIED LEXUS MECHANIC) ABOUT IT AND HE SAID THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT TO THE LEXUS DEALER TO HAVE THE "COMPUTER PROGRAM UPDATED". I TOOK IT TO THEM LAST SPRING AND THEY MADE ME DRIVE IT WITH THEM TO FEEL THE HESITATION AND THRUSTING FORWARD AND THEN TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP TO COMPLETE THE REPROGRAMMING OF IT. BUT THEN THEY LOOKED AT THE CAR'S RECORDS AND IT SAID THAT THE CAR HAD ALREADY BEEN REPROGRAMMED AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULDN'T REPROGRAM IT AGAIN. THE MECHANIC SAID HE WOULD SEND NOTICE OF THE PROBLEM TO LEXUS, BUT I NEVER HEARD ANYTHING BACK FROM THE DEALER OR LEXUS. MY CAR STILL DOES THIS REVVING UP AND THRUSTING FORWARD. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT, BUT I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT WANT TO KNOW ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH A LEXUS ACCELERATOR AND ITS COMPUTER SYSTEM, THAT THEY EITHER IGNORED OR CAN'T FIX. DO YOU THINK THIS COULD BE A PRECURSOR TO A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND MAYBE AN ACCIDENT IN THE FUTURE? I AM NERVOUS NOW THAT I HAVE HEARD ALL ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH LEXUS ACCELERATORS AND ACCUSATIONS OF COVER-UPS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND NOTHING WAS FIXED AND NO ONE HAD THE COURTESY TO LET ME KNOW WHY NOT. WHO SHOULD I TRUST TO TAKE IT TO NOW? AM I IN DANGER IN THE FUTURE? HAVE YOU HAD OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE LEXUS ACCELERATOR COMPUTER SYSTEM?

NHTSA complaint #10312789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION INITIALLY FAILS TO ENGAGE IN GEAR CAUSING DRIVER TO INCREASE ACCELERATION UPON WHICH GEARS SUDDENLY (AND SOMETIMES DANGEROUSLY) ENGAGE & JERK VEHICLE FORWARD.

NHTSA complaint #10308813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH BOUND DOING THE SPEED OF 70 ON THE EXPRESSWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY POWER WAS LOST IT DROPPED TO ZERO, IT COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT, BUT I THANK GOD IT WAS NOT, I HAD TO COAST AND TRY TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY ONTO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY.

NHTSA complaint #10283113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION JERK, LAGS AND HESITATES, CAR LOOSES POWER WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. ON GOING PROBLEM, HAD DEALER PERFORM ECM REPROGRAMMING AS PER TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, CONDITION PERSISTS, GET WORSE. SAFETY ISSUE WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE OUT OF TRAFFIC OR AVOID AN OBJECT ON THE ROAD. BROUGHT CAR BACK TO DEALER SERVICE, THEY STATED CONDITION IS "NORMAL". MANY MANY MORE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON SEVERAL BLOGS AND MESSAGE BOARDS ON THE INTERNET. CAR NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. SHOULD HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10272387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

VEHICLE KEEPS MAKING NOISES AT AROUND 30 MPH. ROOT CAUSE IS THAT A TRANSMISSION COOLING LINE ON MY 2004 WHEN UNDER PRESSURE BANGS AGAINST THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. LEXUS WAS WELL AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, SO THEY RE-DESIGNED THE LINE ON NEWER VEHICLE. LEXUS IS WILLING TO REPLACE THE PART BUT AT OWNER COST. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT AND LEXUS NEED TO REPLACE THE PART UNDER THEIR OWN COST.

NHTSA complaint #10244521 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

UPON ACELLERATION, THIS VEHICLE SOMETIMES HESITATES AND AT TIMES ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE TAKEN THIS TO THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE AWARE OF IT. THEY SAY THERE IS NO FIX. I WAS TOLD TO USE PREMIUM GAS, AND I HAVEBEEN TOLD THAT THE NEW SOFTWARE IS IN AND THAT IS ALL THEY COULD DO.

NHTSA complaint #10202916 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

UPON ACELLERATION, THIS VEHICLE SOMETIMES HESITATES AND AT TIMES ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE TAKEN THIS TO THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE AWARE OF IT. THEY SAY THERE IS NO FIX. I WAS TOLD TO USE PREMIUM GAS, AND I HAVEBEEN TOLD THAT THE NEW SOFTWARE IS IN AND THAT IS ALL THEY COULD DO.

NHTSA complaint #10202916 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, I GET A LOT OF HESITATION IN THE TRANSMISSION DURING HIGH SPEED DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND ALSO DRIVING IN THE CITY. THERE HAS BEEN TIMES WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE AND THE TRANSMISSION STRUGGLES TO INCREASE IN SPEED AND CHOKES UP BUT IT DOESN'T CUT OFF. I'VE NOTICED THAT WHEN I DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY AT SPEEDS OF 55 OR 60 AND TRY TO INCREASE THE ACCELERATION, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE WHEN YOU PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL. IT WILL TAKE 5-10 SECONDS TO THINK ABOUT INCREASING AND THEN IT REVVS UP IN RPMS AND THEN JUST KICKS IN. YOU CAN HEAR THE ENGINE MAKING ALL OF HESITATION NOISE AND ALSO SEEING THE HESITATION ON THE RPM AND SPEEDOMETER READING. I'VE TAKEN THIS ISSUE INTO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IS OPERATING PER THE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS AND THAT IT IS NOT OUT OF SPECS. THEY THEN TELL ME THAT THERE IS AN UPDATE TO THE TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE SO THEY SUPPOSEDLY UPDATE IT TO OPERATE BETTER. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A DIFFERENCE AFTER THE UPDATE.

NHTSA complaint #10199771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION HESITATION ON 2004 LEXUS RX330 NEARLY RESULTED IN HIGH SPEED ACCIDENT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. ON JULY 14, 2007 WHILE MERGING FROM I-75 IN TAMPA ON RAMP INTO RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, THE LEXUS AT FIRST FAILED TO SLOW (TO MATCH SPEEDS) WHEN GAS PEDAL WAS RELEASED, THEN WHEN THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO ACCELERATE AFTER THE MERGE (TRAFFIC FLOW WAS ERRATIC), IT FAILED TO ACCELERATE FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS, AND WE HAD TO DRIVE OFF THE PAVEMENT TO AVOID A REAR END COLLISION. WE HAVE REPORTED THE TRANSMISSION HESITATION PROBLEM TO LEXUS 5 OR MORE TIMES SO FAR, AND THEY SAY IT IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THIS SITUATION IS HAZARDOUS UNDER CERTAIN COMMON TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. THE JULY 14, 2007 INCIDENT WAS ONE OF SEVERAL WHERE WE NEARLY HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION DELAY. *TR UPDATED 01/09/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED IN HEAVY RAIN DEFOGGER TURNED TO KEEP WINDOWS CLEAR. WHILE DRIVING IF VEHICLE HITS A LARGE PUDDLE A/C WILL TURN OFF AND NO WAY TO RESTART THE A/C OTHER THAN TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF. UPDATED 12/12/07

NHTSA complaint #10197882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I OWN A 2004 LEXUS RX330. SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT, THERE HAS BEEN A POWER "FADE" WHEN I MAKE SUDDEN SPEED CHANGES USUALLY FROM A SLOW DOWN TO QUICK ACCELERATION--SAY A LANE CHANGE TO AVOID SLOWER TRAFFIC. THERE IS APPROXIMATELY 2 OR 3 SECONDS WHEN THERE IS NO RESPONSE FROM PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. IT FEELS LIKE ALL POWER FALLS AWAY. I AM LEFT LIKE A SITTING DUCK UNTIL THE VEHICLE DECIDES WHAT TO DO WITH MY COMMAND. IF I AM CROSSING A MEDIAN, I MUST ALLOW FOR THIS DELAY. HOWEVER, IF I HAVE TO CHANGE LANES TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE MAKING AN UNSIGNALED TURN OR SUDDEN STOP, I AM PUTTING MYSELF AND OTHERS IN DANGER BECAUSE I CANNOT COUNT ON HAVING THE POWER TO AVOID THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME BY CHANGING LANES AND THEN I RISK AN INCIDENT IN TRYING TO MATCH THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE THAT IS NOW BEHIND ME. I HAVE ADDRESSED THIS WITH LEXUS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS INCLUDING ONE TRIP WHERE I DEMANDED THAT THE MASTER MECHANIC RIDE WITH ME. HE EXPLAINED THAT LEXUS IS AWARE AND THAT IT IS A COMPUTER PROBLEM FOR WHICH THERE IS NO PATCH AVAILABLE. AS OF TODAY, THERE IS STILL NO CURE. THE LAST UPDATE MY VEHICLE RECEIVED WAS IN SEPT 2006.

NHTSA complaint #10183788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2004 RX 330, STILL HAVING TROUBLE FROM DAY 1. I ALMOST GOT SLAMMED INTO BY A TRUCK 2 DAYS AGO. THE HAVE FLASHED THE COMPUTER, FOR TRANSMISSION HESITATION, BUT INSIST IT IS PERFORMING THE WAY IT WAS INTENDED. IT IS A DESIGN FLAW, AND LEXUS WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT! SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED! THIS IS VERY SERIOUS, IT HAPPENS AT ABOUT 20 MPH, WHEN YOU NEED TO ACCELERATE TO GET ON FREEWAY, ETC, IT WILL HESITATE, AND ACT LIKE IT DIED, OR REVS UP, AND DOES NOTHING. THEN YOU LET OFF PEDAL AND HIT IT AGAIN, AND IT HESITATES A SEC THEN GOES. I ALREADY HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER 6 TIMES FOR THIS, AND CALLED 80025LEXUS TWICE, AND THEY ARE NOT DOING A RECALL THEY SAY. IT IS PERFORMING TO THE SPECS OF THE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #10169285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

1994 LEXUS RX330 HESITATES WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. *KB THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM BUT THEY CLAIMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING WITHIN NORMAL SPECIFICATIONS. THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO BEEN PLAGUED BY OTHER MALFUNCTIONS TO INCLUDE SQUEAKS, RATTLES, MULTIPLE MALFUNCTIONS OF THE SUNROOF ELECTRONICS, BROKEN SEATS AND LIFTGATE ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS. *NM UPDATED 08/14/06.

NHTSA complaint #10165853 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

HESITATION, JERKY WHEN SHIFTING. TOOK TO DEALERS 3 TIMES AND UNABLE TO RESOLVE ISSUE. THEY STATED THAT VEHICLE IS OPERATING WITHIN PARAMETERS. NOW IT IS JERKY WHEN SHIFTING MOST OF THE TIME.

NHTSA complaint #10165290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION IS HESITANT, SWITCHES UP AND DOWN IN RAPID JUMPS, IS VERY UNPREDICTABLE!! ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. BEEN DOING IT SINCE I BOUGHT IT 2 YRS. DEALER CLAIMS KNOWN PROBLEM, AND NO FIX YET!!!

NHTSA complaint #10151842 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

LOW SPEED, SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT. RIGHT FRONT TIRE HIT CURB, 20-25 MILES AN HOUR. VISIBLE DAMAGE- TIRE RUINED, RIM SCRATCHED. DEALER INSPIRED- TIRE, RIM, BALL JOINTS, LOWER CONTROL ARM, CVT, AXLE, ETC. DRIVE TRAIN HAD PRE EXISTING CONDITION OF NOISE COMING FROM RIGHT HAND DRIVE AREA. DEALER STATED NO PROBLEM. SINCE ACCIDENT, DEALER STATES NEED TO REPLACE ALL OF THIS. OBVIOUS DEALER OVER REPAIR OR LACK OF TRAINED STAFF, RESULTING IN OVERCHARGES.

NHTSA complaint #10144470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS A LAG IN IT AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS IS APPARENT WHEN RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR TO SLOW DOWN AND THEN ACCELERATING AGAIN. IN THIS SITUATION THE TRANSMISSION DOES ON ENGAGE OR IT LAGS CAUSING AN UNSAFE CONDITION BY ITS UNPREDICTABLE BEHAVIOR. THIS SITUATION HAPPENS ON A FREQUENT BASIS. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. IS NHTSA GOING TO HOLD LEXUS ACCOUNTABLE FOR PUTTING A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION ON THE ROAD? I HAVE READ THAT LEXUS' REPEATED REPLY IS TO STATE THIS BEHAVIOR IS NORMAL. LEXUS CAN NOT WIN THIS ARGUMENT ON REPETITION, IT IS DEFECTIVE. IF THIS LAG IS *NORMAL* WHY DIDN'T LEXUS DESIGN THIS NICE LAG INTO ALL OF THEIR CARS? I'M SURE THIS WOULD BE A FEATURE THEY WOULD WANT TO RUN AN AD CAMPAIGN ON.

NHTSA complaint #10144183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

2004 LEXUS RX-330 AWD. VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. THERE IS A DELAY, ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING FROM A DEAD STOP SUCH AS PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. ALSO, IF YOU ATTEMPT TO QUICKLY SPEED UP AS WHEN MERGING OR AN EVASIVE MANEUVER, THE ENGINE LAGS. WILL ALSO HAPPEN WHEN TURNING A CORNER, THEN ACCELERATING. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY LEXUS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE "THROTTLE BY WIRE" AND "INTELLIGENT TRANSMISSION". I CURRENTLY PULL THE ECU FUSE MONTHLY TO RESET THE PROCESSORS AND THAT APPEARS TO HELP FOR A WHILE. THAT IS THE "FIX" SUGGESTED BY THE LEXUS RX-330 FORUMS. NOW THAT 2006 MODELS ARE COMING, I KNOW THIS IS NO LONGER ON THE LEXUS ENGINEERS' MINDS, BUT THERE ARE THOSE OF US THAT FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS YOU NEVER KNOW IF THE CAR WILL RESPOND RELIABLY, ESPECIALLY WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC, CREATING A REAL HAZARD.

NHTSA complaint #10133137 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

OUR LEXUS RX330 WAS PURCHASED IN AUGUST OF 2003. FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, THE VEHICLE HESITATES TO SHIFT GEARS WITH A LAG CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK FORWARD. WE HAVE TROUBLE MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY AS WELL AS ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AND WHILE TURNING DUE TO THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION. DEALER KEEPS PERFORMING THE TSB TC005-03 "POOR SHIFT QUALITY" AND REPROGRAMS THE COMPUTER WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. WE ARE TOLD THERE IS NOTHING MORE THAT CAN BE DONE. AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS WITH LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY DENY A PROBLEM EXISTS AND STATES THAT THE VEHICLE PERFORMS WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. CUSTOMER SERVICE EVEN FAILS TO DOCUMENT MY COMPLAINTS BY NOT ENTERING IT IN THE IR COMPUTER SYSTEMS IN AN ATTEMPT TO HIDE THE DEFECT. MANY OWNERS REPORT THIS PROBLEM ON INTERNET MESSAGE BOARDS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS AND UNACCEPTABLE DESIGN FLAW THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED WITH A RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10125990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

CONSUMER HAS 3 MAJOR COMPLAINTS ON THE 2004 LEXUS RX 330: SUN GLARE FROM THE DASHBOARD OBSTRUCTING VISIBILITY. THE HIGH INTENSITY LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE ENOUGH DOWN THE ROAD FOR THE CONSUMER TO SEE SAFELY. THERE IS SEVERE HESITATION AFTER SLOWING THE VEHICLE DOWN, FOLLOWED BY A SUDDEN SURGE OF POWER. *MR THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT INDICATED THERE WAS NO WAY TO FIX THEM.

NHTSA complaint #10125817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AROUND 11,000 MILES MY 2004 RX330 STARTED HAVING A THUMPING SOUND THAT OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DECELERATING ESPECIALLY AROUND 29 MPH AND THEN AGAIN AROUND 19 MPH. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS MY TRANS COOLER LINE ASSEMBLY AND OIL COOLER HOSE WHICH WERE REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED FOR ABOUT ONE WEEK THAT WAS BACK IN OCT. 2004. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK ABOUT 4 MORE TIMES FOR THE THUMPING NOISE THAT CONTINUES TO OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY AND NOW THEY TELL ME THE NOISE IS NORMAL AND THAT THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. I QUESTIONED HOW CAN IT BE CONSIDERED ABNORMAL BACK IN OCTOBER BUT NOW THAT THE THUMPING NOISE CAN'T BE FIXED THEY CONSIDER IT A DESIGN FLAW. THEY APPARENTLY UPGRADED IT AND THAT SHOULD HAVE ELIMINATED THE NOISE BUT IF IT DIDN'T THERE IS NOTHING ELSE TO DO BECAUSE THIS IS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED... I FEAR EVERYDAY THAT THIS THUMPING NOISE IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF WHAT IS YET TO FOLLOW AS I READ ALL THE OTHER TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN OCCURING AND SOME HAVE EXHIBITED THE THUMP SOUND...LEXUS NEEDS TO FIX THE PROBLEMS AND NOT JUST PUT A BAND-AID ON EACH ONE THAT OCCURS UNTIL THE NEXT MAJOR INCIDENT ... TAKE THIS VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD IF SO MANY CONSUMERS ARE PUTTING THEIR LIFE IN JEOPARDY DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT WAS APPARENTLY NOT MANUFACTURED PROPERLY AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED SAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA complaint #10125416 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.