2006 Lexus RX330 engine problems

ENGINE

COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. NO LEAKS. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SERVICE STATION AND MECHANIC DIAGNOSED SEIZED ENGINE DUE TO CLOGGED OIL INTAKE DUE TO EXCESSIVE SLUDGE BUILD UP. VEHICLE OIL WAS ROUTINELY CHANGED IAW MANUFACTURE GUIDELINES WITH SYNTHETIC OIL. REPLACED ENGINE WITH A USED ENGINE AND AFTER ONE DAY OF DRIVING THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE. CURRENTLY UNABLE TO LOCATE A THIRD ENGINE THAT DOESN'T SUFFER FROM EXCESSIVE SLUDGE BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE.

NHTSA complaint #10609837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE STEAM BEGAN RISING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED COOLANT LEAKING FROM THE RADIATOR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER, WHO ADVISED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE WATER PUMP AND TIMING BELT WERE RECOMMENDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REPLACED ALL THREE COMPONENTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA complaint #10560421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR EXPLODED, CAUSING A LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT FLUID. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AS THE CONTACT TRAVELED 35 PH. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE BEGAN INCREASING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, INDICATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA complaint #10490535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED COOLANT LEAKED FROM THE RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THE RADIATOR WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,340.

NHTSA complaint #10475716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

I HAVE 41K MILES ON MY CAR. ANTI FREEZE HAS BEEN DRIPPING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RADIATOR SAME AS OTHER PEOPLE. IN CONTACTING LEXUS, BEING THAT THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, THEY WILL CHARGE TO EVALUATE THE PROBLEM AND THE REPAIR ESTIMATE IS 1K. HOW DOES LEXUS KNOW THAT THE RESIDUAL PARTS FROM 2004-05, WHICH HAS BEEN RECALLED, WAS NOT USED DURING THE 2006 ASSEMBLY?

NHTSA complaint #10456965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

CRACK IN THE RADIATOR AT 73800 MILES. CAR STARTED SMOKING AND WHEN STOPPED AND OPENED UP HOOD PINK FLUID SPILLED OUT OF PASSENGER SIDE OF RADIATOR (ANTI-FREEZE) AND WAS STEAMING. NOTICED THAT COMMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE THAT 2004 -05 MODELS HAVE HAD RADIATOR RECALL FOR SAME PROBLEM AND READ CLAIMS THAT THIS RADIATOR MIGHT BE THE SAME.

NHTSA complaint #10454621 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

UNUSUAL/ ABNORMAL NOISE IN THE ENGINE AREA WAS DIAGNOSED DUE TO THE FOLLOWING: RADIATOR FAILURE -HAD A CRACK AND LEAKING COOLANT AT 55K MILES; WATER PUMP FAILURE AT 55K MILES; TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT AT 55K MILES; HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE FAILURE AT 55K MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10451336 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

RADIATOR SEAM SPLIT. THIS WAS A DEFECT ON 2004 AND 2005 MODELS.

NHTSA complaint #10448256 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COOLING SYSTEM WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO OFFERED TO ASSIST WITH FIFTY PERCENT OF THE REPAIR COSTS BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000. UPDATED 05/04/11 *BF UPDATED 05/09/11

NHTSA complaint #10392407 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

2006 LEXUS RX330. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH CATALYTIC CONVERTER *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE COST TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS $4,000.00. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A REFUND, BECAUSE ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS MANUAL, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND PROTECTOR WERE COVERED FOR 8 YEARS/80,000 MILES. *JB UPDATED 04/12/11

NHTSA complaint #10358671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

RADIATOR FAILURE AT 44,000 MILES 2006 LEXUS RX330.

NHTSA complaint #10294604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

RADIATOR FAILURE AT 44,000 MILES 2006 LEXUS RX330.

NHTSA complaint #10294604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS RX330. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AND THE OIL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. SHE STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THAT SLUDGE DESTROYED HER ENGINE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

NHTSA complaint #10263151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.