89 of the
659 complaints filed about the Lexus RX330
are about the braking system —
14% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2004.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED AND THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A LOUD NOISE WHILE BEING TURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEXUS OF ANNAPOLIS (121 FERGUSON ROAD, ANNAPOLIS, MD 21409, (410)-266-3333) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED AND CAUSED THE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,100.
NHTSA complaint #11102514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TAKATA RECALL, I CALLED ABOUT THE RECALL FOR THE ENGINE COOLING AND THE BRAKES HYDRULIC AND THEY SAY MY CAR IS NOT IN THE RECALL BUT I AM HAVING PROBLEM WITH MY COOLING
NHTSA complaint #11073887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE SERVICE (FOOT) BRAKE IS NOT HOLDING PRESSURE AT A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE. EVEN THOUGH FOOT BRAKE IS APPLIED FULLY, VEHICLE TENDS TO MOVE FORWARD AND MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WITH THE CAR/OBJECT IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #11011184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
I STARTED THE CAR AS USUAL, LET IT IDLE FOR 10-15 SECONDS, PUT IT IN DRIVE AND LEFT THE DRIVEWAY. SECONDS LATER OR 150-200 FEET LATER, I APPLIED THE BRAKES, FELT THE BRAKES GETTING MUSHY FOLLOWED BY A HUGE BILLOW OF WHITE SMOKE BLOWING OUT OF THE EXHAUST. I USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR (WAS ONLY TRAVELING AT 5-8 MPH) AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. WHEN I INSPECTED THE MASTER CYLINDER, I NOTICED IT WAS EMPTY - ABSOLUTELY NO FLUID IN IT. SURMISED THE WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF MY EXHAUST WAS THE BRAKE FLUID BEING DRAWN INTO IT BUT I DIDN'T KNOW HOW OR WHY. I LEFT THE CAR SIT IN MY DRIVE WAY UNTIL I HAD THE ENERGY AND TIME TO DEAL WITH IT. LATER ON, I LOOKED UP HOW TO REMOVE THE MASTER CYLINDER OFF THE INTERNET WHEN I NOTICE RECALLS FOR 2004-2005 RX330'S, IN PARTICULAR MASTER CYLINDER SEALS AND VACUUM BOOSTERS. BOTH ISSUES REFLECTED EXACTLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO MY CAR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO LEXUS OF WESTMINSTER WHO PROMPTLY SAID A RECALL SEAL WAS REPLACED (ALTHOUGH I DON'T RECALL THIS HAPPENING) AND IT WILL COST ME $200 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I HAD THE AUTO TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT LEXUS MECHANIC WHERE I FOUND OUT THE BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED. ADDITIONAL RESEARCH FOUND RECALL NOTICES ON BOTH OF THESE ITEMS WITH THE DESCRIPTIONS DESCRIBING WHAT OCCURRED ON OTHER RX330'S WAS EXACTLY WHAT OCCURRED WITH THIS LEXUS, YET LEXUS OF WESTMINSTER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY PROBLEM OR LIABILITY ASSOCIATED WITH THESE TWO ISSUES. ALL THEY SAID WAS THE SEAL (MASTER CYLINDER) WAS REPLACED SOME TIME AGO AND ANY FURTHER REPAIRS ARE ON ME.
NHTSA complaint #10713595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS RX330. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, THE STEERING WHEEL FELT LOOSE AND A NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. IN ADDITION, WHILE IN PARK, THERE WAS A NOISE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT AND THE RACK AND PINION NUT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,594.
NHTSA complaint #10695362 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10579445 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
AT APPROXIMATELY 4 IN AFTERNOON, I HAD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN FRONT OF MY TOWNHOUSE. MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE FROM STOPPING (I WAS JUST ABOUT TO PUT IT IN PARK AND TAKE OUT KEY AND UNFASTENED SEAT BELT) WHEN IT LURCHED FORWARD AND STARTED TO ACCELERATE. I TRIED TO STEER AND PUMP THE BRAKES BUT NOTHING WORKED. IT WAS TOTALLY OUT OF MY CONTROL. THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD GOING OVER THE SIDE WALK AND INTO MY FRONT PORCH, DIRECTLY HITTING MY WROUGHT IRON BANNISTER. THE DISTANCE FROM THE PARKING PLACE TO THE BANNISTER IS ABOUT 10 FEET. THE CAR ACCELERATION STOPPED ON IMPACT. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY INSURANCE CO AND I CALLED THE POLICE AND FILLED OUT A POLICE REPORT. I LIVE ACROSS FROM OUR COMMUNITY SWIMMING POOL. CHILDREN ARE CONSTANTLY WALKING ON SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE ON WAY TO POOL. NEIGHBORS WALK BY MY HOUSE TO WALK THEIR DOGS AS WELL. SOMEONE COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN INJURED OR KILLED. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE CAR SINCE THE EVENT. LEXUS USA AND THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT ADDRESS THE PROBLEM WITH ME. I BOUGHT THE CAR..USED..ONLY 6 MONTHS AGO. MY CAR WAS DAMAGED IN THE FRONT, AND MY WROUGHT IRON BANNISTER WAS DESTROYED. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THE FACT THAT THE CAR DISPLAYED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND IS NOT SAFE FOR ANYONE TO DRIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10532900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE HARD TIME DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL. I WENT TO LEXUS DEALER TO GET IT CHECKED. I THINK I PAID 170 DOLLARS AND THEY SAID IT IS OK. BUT, I STILL DO NOT LIKE THE BRAKE PEDAL NEVER BEEN SMOOTH.
NHTSA complaint #10397915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS RX-330. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AND CRASHED. DURING THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT COULD SMELL A BURNING ODOR AND NOTICED SMOKE WAS ESCAPING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE BRAKES WERE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000. UPDATED 03/16/11 *BF UPDATED 03/21/11
NHTSA complaint #10380945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2004 LEXUS RX330. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE FLUID AFTER THE VEHICLE WENT IN FOR A 30,000 MILE CLEAN UP. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT AN AIR BUBBLE HAD FORMED IN THE BRAKE LINE, POSSIBLY CAUSED WHEN THE LINE WAS DRAINED DURING A 30,000 MILE CHECK-UP AND RESULTED IN THE BRAKE FLUID BEING SLIGHTLY LOW. THE FOLLOWING WEEK, THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND THE CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO THE DEALER. IT WAS DISCOVERED THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO BRAKE FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR. THE BRAKE CYLINDER AND BRAKE BOOSTER WERE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10370250 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON OCTOBER 17, 2010 I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 LEXUS RX330 INTO MY GARAGE AT LESS THAN 10 MPH. ON MY WAY UP THE DRIVEWAY, I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR MADE A NOISE AND ACCELERATED FORWARD. I PUMPED THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES AND EVENTUALLY FORCED THE CAR TO STOP RIGHT BEFORE HITTING THE GARAGE CABINETS. LATER MY HUSBAND STARTED THE VEHICLE IN THE PARK POSITION. WHEN HE STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, THE RPM'S ZOOMED FROM 1,000 RPM TO 3000 RPM (RACING THE ENGINE). MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THIS DANGEROUS PHENOMENON FOUR CONSECUTIVE TIMES. SIMPLY STATED, THE BRAKE WAS ACTING AS AN ACCELERATOR. WE ATTEMPTED TO VIDEOTAPE THE PROBLEM, BUT COULDN'T RECREATE THE SITUATION. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND DOZENS OF OTHER INCIDENTS FILED THROUGH THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION ADMINISTRATION OF THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL AS MY VEHICLE. MANY OF THESE VEHICLES WERE ALSO ENGAGED IN THE PARKING PROCESS. AFTER CONSIDERABLE COERCION WITH LEXUS, WE CONVINCED THEM TO TOW VEHICLE INTO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE LEXUS DESCRIBED 'NATIONAL INSPECTOR' EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND 'FOUND NOTHING WRONG.' THERE IS UNEQUIVOCALLY A DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AND YET, THE TOYOTA CORPORATION REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE OCCURRENCES OR ATTEMPT ANY SORT OF REPAIR. THE FACT THAT LEXUS COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM DOESN'T ABSOLVE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR FAMILY AND THE AMERICAN PUBLIC. WE CONSIDER OURSELVES CREDIBLE WITNESSES TO THE PROBLEM, CONSIDERING BOTH MY HUSBAND AND I EXPERIENCED THE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS MECHANICAL ANOMALY AND ARE NOT ATTEMPTING TO SUE FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE OR PERSONAL INJURY.
NHTSA complaint #10364788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CONDENSATION IN THE HEADLIGHTS STARTED EARLY ON AND IS ONLY GETTING WORSE ON MY 2005 RX 330. ALSO, I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO SWITCH THE FRONT BRAKE PADS OUT AND NOW HAVE TO SWITCH THE REAR BRAKE PADS OUT AS WELL AS THEY STARTED TO SQUEAL AND THE ROTORS WERE ALREADY RESURFACED BEFORE. THE CAR DOESN'T FULLY BRAKE UNTIL I PRESS DOWN EXTREMELY HARD ON THE BRAKES AND EVEN THEN IT SLIGHTLY ROLLS FORWARD AND THEN STOPS. ALSO, WHEN I ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE, THERE IS A DELAYED ACCELERATION. IT TAKES AT LEAST 2 SECONDS BEFORE IT ACTUALLY BEGINS TO ACCELERATE AND EVEN THEN IT IS NOT A INSTANT ACCELERATION BUT A SLOW ONE.
NHTSA complaint #10358074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON THE DATE OF THE ACCIDENT I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 LEXUS RX300 APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION WITH CARS STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME WAITING FOR THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TO CHANGE TO GREEN. ALTHOUGH I KEPT PRESSING ON THE BRAKES NOTHING HAPPENED AND I ENDED UP CRASHING INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF ME AND CAUSING A CHAIN REACTION INVOLVING FOUR (4) OTHER CARS, THEN SWERVING ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND FINALLY COMING TO A STOP BY HITTING THE TRAFFIC LIGHT POLE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. STILL VISIBLY IN SHOCK, I WAS HELPED OUT OF MY VEHICLE BY OTHERS WHO HAD STOPPED TO HELP INCLUDING THOSE INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT. THE POLICE ARRIVED SHORTLY AFTER ON THE SCENE AND BEGAN AN INVESTIGATION BY ASKING OTHER DRIVERS WHO HAD WITNESSED THE ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORTS, THE DRIVERS BEHIND ME CLEARLY SAW THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON THOUGH THE VEHICLE OBVIOUSLY CONTINUED MOVING. SINCE THE ACCIDENT WE HAVE TRIED TO WORK WITH OUR INSURANCE PROVIDER (METLIFE) TO DO A THOROUGH INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT, BUT IT HAS BEEN ALL WITH NO AVAIL. WE HAVE BEEN KEPT IN THE DARK AS TO WHAT HAS EXACTLY BEEN DONE IF ANYTHING. THE VEHICLE IN THE MEAN TIME WAS DEEMED 'TOTALED' BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY WHO HAS SENT A CHECK. WE'D LIKE TO CLEARLY UNDERSTAND WHAT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT SINCE IT WAS NOT AN OPERATOR ERROR. PLEASE ADVISE ON HOW TO PROCEED.
NHTSA complaint #10348464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE 2004 LEXUS RX330. YESTERDAY, APRIL 26TH, 2010 WHILE DRIVING TO LOCAL BANK, I NEEDED TO APPLY THE BRAKES. I PUSHED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT MADE SOME WEIRD SOUND AND PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE HAD HARD TIME STOPPING. SOMEHOW I MANAGED TO COME BACK HOME SAFELY. THE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR AND VEHICLE BARELY STOPS. I DO NOT SEE ANY LEAKS IN MY GARAGE WHERE VEHICLE IS ALWAYS PARKED. I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND HE SAYS MASTER CYLINDER HAS INTERNAL LEAK AND NEED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH BRAKE PADS BOTH FRONT AND BACK.
NHTSA complaint #10327709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS ON INTERSTATE 5 ON MAY 25, 2009 (MEMORIAL DAY) AT THE SPEED OF 75-80 MPH WITH MY WHOLE FAMILY IN THE CAR. THE CAR'S MODEL IS LEXUS RX330,2006 MODEL. WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE LEFTMOST LANE, MY LEFT WHEEL WENT A LITTLE BIT ON THE RUMBLE STRIP. I TRIED TO PULL MY CAR BACK ON THE LANE. IT IS HERE THAT THE PROBLEM STARTED. MY STEERING STARTED TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE AND THE CAR STOPPED TO ACCELERATE. WHEN ALL THE CARS WERE GOING AT SUCH A HIGH SPEED THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO. I WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR AS WELL AS ACCELERATE OR EVEN BRAKE FOR QUITE A WHILE. THEN I TRIED BRAKING MANY TIMES AND COULD FINALLY PARK THE CAR IN THE EMERGENCY IN THE LEFT LANE SHOULDER. AFTER THAT WE TRIED CALLING ALL THE NUMBERS GIVEN IN THE LEXUS HANDBOOK BUT NO ONE PICKED UP THE PHONE TO HELP US. AFTER WAITING FOR HALF AN HOUR OR SO, MY HUSBAND COLLECTED ALL HIS GUTS AND DROVE THE CAR TO NEAREST GAS STATION. WE CHECK THE TIRES AND ALL THE PRESSURES ETC. BUT EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE.
NHTSA complaint #10314572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.