FaultScore

Lexus RX330 acceleration problems

60 of the 659 complaints filed about the Lexus RX330 are about the throttle and cruise control — 9% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2004.

60

Complaints

9%

Share of all complaints

23

Crashes

0

Fires

Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year

2004 RX330 34 56.7%

Median failure at 49,500 miles

2005 RX330 14 23.3%

Median failure at 51,000 miles

2006 RX330 12 20.0%

Median failure at 44,000 miles

What owners said

2004 Lexus RX330 at 185,000 miles LOS Lunas, NM

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT TURN ON, CANNOT OPERATE WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY. 12

NHTSA complaint #11161766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Lexus RX330 Homestead, FL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 11V539000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 11V112000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AT: LEXUS OF WEST KENDALL, MIAMI, FLORIDA AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA complaint #11012399 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Lexus RX330 at 176,000 miles Westfield, MA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

MY 2004 LEXUS RX330 WAS STOPPED IN A PARKING LOT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE ABOUT TO GET READY TO LET A PASSENGER LEAVE THE VEHICLE. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND NOT MOVING. WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR ACCELERATED TO FULL THROTTLE. WITHIN SECONDS THE CAR TOOK OFF AND JUMPED A CURB AND DROVE AT FULL THROTTLE. AS SOON AS I REALIZED WHAT WAS HAPPENING, I THEN PRESSED HARD ON THE BRAKE AND WAS FINALLY ABLE TO STOP THE CAR AFTER IT DROVE ABOUT 50 FT. I WAS IN SHOCK THAT THIS OCCURRED. MY HEAD HAD FLUNG BACK ALONG WITH MY PASSENGER WITH TERRIFIC FORCE. ONCE STOPPED AND I WAS COMPOSED, I DROVE THE CAR OFF THE GRASSY AREA IT WAS NOW ON AND RELUCTANTLY DROVE IT HOME. SOME DEGREE OF NECK PAIN LATER WAS NOTICED. THERE WAS NO FLOOR MAT ISSUE OR ANY NOTICEABLE OBSTRUCTIONS TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. LATER UPON INSPECTION OF THE CAR THERE APPEARED TO BE SOME BODY DAMAGE TO THE CAR. NOT SURE WHERE IT CAME FROM OR IF WE HIT ANYTHING OTHER THEN THE CURB THOUGH. THE CAR ACTED AS THOUGH IT WAS POSSESSED. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WILL BE LOOKING FOR ANOTHER CAR WITHOUT DRIVE BY WIRE IF THEY STILL EXIST.

NHTSA complaint #10862369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Lexus RX330 Houston, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 11V112000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND 10V499000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD BE COMPLETED WITHIN 4 TO 6 WEEKS. THE CONTACT CALLED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME AND RECEIVED NO FOLLOW UP RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER. MONTHS LATER, THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA complaint #10852270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Lexus RX330 at 246,357 miles Sanford, NC Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

INSURED WAS DRIVING WHEN ACCELERATOR STUCK CAUSING EXCESSIVE SPEED AND ENDED UP IN A COLLISION.

NHTSA complaint #10851325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Lexus RX330 at 247,357 miles Phoenix, AZ Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS RX330. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A DRAIN PIPE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 246,357.

NHTSA complaint #10839020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Lexus RX330 at 119,000 miles EGG Harbor, NJ Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS RX330. WHILE BACKING UP THE VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE AND HOUSE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO IMMEDIATELY STOP WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.

NHTSA complaint #10822595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Lexus RX330 Miami, FL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V112000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA complaint #10818889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Lexus RX330 at 60,000 miles Paradise Valley, AZ Crash 2 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS RX330. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO TWO OTHER VEHICLES AND A CURB. THE TWO PASSENGERS IN THE OTHER VEHICLES SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR BODY REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA complaint #10776614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Lexus RX330 at 38,473 miles Miami, FL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION WHEN ENTERING MY DRIVEWAY AT A VERY LOW RATE OF SPEED (2 MPH MAYBE) WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL FOR ABOUT 6 FEET. I WAS STANDING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL & IT FINALLY STOPPED. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF A PROBLEM WITH THE RUG BUNCHING UP. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO JAPANESE CAR CARE SPECIALIST, LLC THE NEXT DAY (WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT). THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT; NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, NO SIGN OF TRANSMISSION TROUBLE. WE ARE NOW DRIVING THE CAR AGAIN WITHOUT INCIDENT BUT IT'S HARD TO TRUST IT. JUST WANTED TO PUT THIS INCIDENT ON FILE WITH THE NTSB IN CASE IT SHOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. UPDATED 10/01/15*LJ UPDATED 12/28/2015

NHTSA complaint #10744228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Lexus RX330 North Brunswick, NJ Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 LEXUS RX330. WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD. ALTHOUGH THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PILLAR. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10730172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Lexus RX330 at 113,000 miles Sacramento, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I GOT IN THE CAR AT 2 P.M. AFTER DRIVING 1/4 MILE IT WOULD NOT TAKE OFF FROM THE STOP SIGN IT STALLED AND LUNGED FORWARD DUE TO LOSS OF CONNECTION WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL. I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE AND SHIFTED FROM D TO 4 AND IT BEGAN TO SHAKE IN THE FRONT OF THE BUMPER. I PULLED OVER, PUT IT IN NEUTRAL WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ON AND MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON, AND OPENED THE HOOD. IT STOPPED SHAKING AND I REMOVED THE FLOOR MAT, WHICH IS ATTACHED WITH CLIPS AND WITH MY HAND, I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL. IT HAD NO REV IN THE ENGINE, AS I WOULD EXPECT. I GOT BACK IN THE CAR AND SHIFTED TO R AND THEN WITH THE BRAKE OFF, I SHIFTED TO 4. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS FLASHING AND VSC LIGHT AS WELL. I CAN TELL YOU FOR CERTAIN MY CAR WAS NOT OVERHEATING WHEN I TOOK IT TO SEARS AUTO CENTER WITH WARNING LIGHTS VSC AND CHECK ENGINE COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. IF THE VEHICLE OVERHEATING WAS THE CAUSE OF THE DAMAGE THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE ON THE DASH WOULD HAVE INDICATED THAT WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO SEARS. MIKE, SERVICE ADVISOR AT LEXUS OF ROSEVILLE STATED IN AN E-MAIL TO ME THAT HIS TECHNICIAN 'FOUND # 5 CYLINDER INTAKE VALVES BENT AND STUCK. #1 CYLINDER INTAKE VALVE STICKING (WILL STAY OPEN TILL PISTON HITS AND CLOSES IT). SUSPECT VEHICLE OVERHEATED CAUSING VALVE TO STICK IN GUIDES.MY CAR WAS NOT OVERHEATING AND I THINK THE ENGINE IS DEFECTIVE. I HAD A LKQ ENGINE INSTALLED AMD IT WAS FINE FOR A MONTH BEFORE IT STARTED SOUNDING LIKE MARBLES. I THINK MY CAR IS DAMAGED DUE TO A DEFECT. I HAD JUST HAD A FUL SYNTHETIC OIL CHANGE TWO WEEKS BEFORE THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED AND PUT FOUR BRAND NEW TIRES AS WELL. I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH ONLY 101K MILES FOR $23,000 IN AUGUST 2013 AND I STILL OWE $5,000 ON MY LOAN. MY CAR HAD ALL THE SERVICE RECORDS FROM LEXUS OF ROCKVILLE, PROVING THIS CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED BY BOTH MYSELF AND THE PREVIOUS OWNER.

NHTSA complaint #10693965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Lexus RX330 at 131,000 miles Orangevale, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS RX330. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE NEAR THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MERGE TO THE EMERGENCY LANE, BUT THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AND HEADED BACK INTO TRAFFIC. ONLY THE FRONT TWO WHEELS WERE OPERATING NORMALLY AND THE REAR TIRES WERE LOCKED. THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 11V112000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND 10V499000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

NHTSA complaint #10639805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Lexus RX330 at 123,000 miles Houston, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I WAS ON THE FEEDER OF THE FREEWAY AND WAS GETTING READY TO ENTER THE FREEWAY ENTRANCE RAMP. I PUSHED ON THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE, AT THIS TIME THE CAR SPED UP ON ITS OWN BEYOND THE SPEED THAT I WAS ATTEMPTING TO GO. I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE PEDAL; HOWEVER THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING. I PUSHED ON THE BRAKES AND THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING. I HAD HEARD ABOUT THE FLOOR MAT CAUSING THIS PROBLEM; SO I CHECKED THE GAS PEDAL AND THERE WAS NOTHING NEAR PEDAL. THE FLOOR MAT HAD NOT MOVED EVERYTHING WAS IN PLACE. I PUT MY FOOT UNDER THE GAS PEDAL AND ATTEMPTED TO RAISE THE PEDAL; THIS HAD NO EFFECT ON THE SPEED. I STOMPED ON THE GAS PEDAL A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THE PEDAL THEN STARTED RESPONDING NORMALLY. I TRIED TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO RESPONSE.

NHTSA complaint #10632627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Lexus RX330 at 74,658 miles Milton, GA Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS RX330. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH INTO HIS DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN ORDER TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND CRASHED INTO THE HOUSE. THE CONTACT WAS UNINJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,658. UPDATED 8/28/14*CN UPDATED 11/28/2014

NHTSA complaint #10617140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Lexus RX330 at 101,000 miles MT. Vernon, NY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

VEHICLE'S SVC SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE'S STEERING TO OPERATE ERRATICALLY-PARTICULARLY AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50MPH. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER.

NHTSA complaint #10597712 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Lexus RX330 at 120,000 miles Howard, OH Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

BACKING CAR OUT OF GARAGE AND ACCELERATOR AUTOMATICALLY INCREASED HIGH SPEED. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP. CAR HIT GARAGE DOOR AND DAMAGED THE GARAGE DOOR, WALL, FRONT DRIVER SIDE QUARTER PANEL, FRONT BUMPER. APPROX $3600 CAR DAMAGE AND $1500 GARAGE DAMAGE. FORTUNATE THAT NO OTHER DAMAGE OR INJURIES OCCURRED. THIS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE AND WAS VERY UNEXPECTED. I AM NOW AFRAID THAT THIS MAY HAPPEN AGAIN UNDER UNEXPECTED CIRCUMSTANCES WITH MORE SEVERE CONSEQUENCES.

NHTSA complaint #10565522 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Lexus RX330 at 80,000 miles Rockford, MI

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

PERIODICALLY THE BRAKE,ABS,VSC, AND LOW PRESSURE LIGHT BLINKS WHILE DRIVING , AS SOON AS THE KEY IS TURNED OFF THEN BACK ON THE WARNING LIGHTS DISAPPEAR. TROUBLE CODE SCANNED C 1249, AND C 1223 OPEN CIRCUIT IN STOP LIGHT SWITCH OR ABS CONTROL FAULT ERROR. OXIDE GREASE RESIDUE ON ELECTRICAL CONTACT POINTS MAKE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH SUSCEPTIBLE TO FAILURE. TOYOTA LEXUS HAD A RECALL THAT ONLY COVERED CERTAIN DATES WHILE THE PROBLEM BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILURES CONTINUED IN NEWER MODELS. LEXUS REFUSES TO FIX OLDER MODELS SAYING THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED AFTER LATE 2004, WHICH AS WE ALL KNOW NOW IS NOT CORRECT. I WOULD LIKE LEXUS /TOYOTA TO REPLACE MY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AT NO EXPENSE TO ME SINCE IT WAS A ASSEMBLY ERROR ON THEIR PART.

NHTSA complaint #10554268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Lexus RX330 at 107,304 miles Westwood, MA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ON SEPTEMBER THE 1ST WE HAD JUST HAD EXTREME THUNDER AND LIGHTNING, TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS. I HAD JUST DROPPED MY GIRLFRIEND OFF AT WORK AND AT THIS TIME IT WAS ONLY RAINING MODERATELY, AND THE TIME WAS 1:20 PM, AND THEN I STARTED THE 15 MINUTE TRIP BACK HOME. I WAS 1/3 OF THE WAY BACK HOME AND NOTICED AS I WAS DRIVING, A PEDESTRIAN WANTING TO CROSS THE STREET SO AT THIS TIME I STOPPED AND THE VEHICLES BRAKING SYSTEM SEEMED TO WORK JUST FINE AT THAT TIME. I THEN STARTED DRIVING THE FINAL 2/3 OF THE WAY HOME, I WAS ABOUT ONE AND A HALF TO 1-3/4 OF A MILE TO HOME AND THANK GOODNESS NO PEDESTRIAN OR VEHICLE WAS IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE FOR APPROXIMATELY 1400 TO 1600 FEET THE LEXUS SUV WOULD NOT STOP OR SLOW DOWN AND THANKFULLY I WAS ONLY GOING 30 TO 35 MPH AND THE VEHICLE FORTUNATELY HAD ENOUGH DISTANCE TO SLOW ITSELF DOWN BEFORE THE HAIRPIN LEFT CURVE IN THE NEXT PART OF THE ROAD. AND THEN STRANGELY ENOUGH THE BRAKES SEEMED TO BE OPERATING PROPERLY AGAIN. PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM MECHANICALLY INCLINED, AND CAN NAME ALL OF THE PARTS IN THE VEHICLE'S BRAKING SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #10541750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Lexus RX330 Homewood, CA Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

2004 LEXUS RX330. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE CRASH AND RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING FLOOR CARPET COVER AND RETENTION CLIPS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HIS FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SHATTERED THE GARAGE DOOR AND STOPPED ONLY AFTER HITTING THE OPPOSITE WALL AND STORAGE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DAY AFTER THE INCIDENT, HE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN THE MAIL, REGARDING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.

NHTSA complaint #10476101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Lexus RX330 problems