28 of the 659 complaints filed about the Lexus RX330 are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 4% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2004.
28
Complaints
4%
Share of all complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
VISIBILITY/WIPER
THE SUNROOF ON OUR LEXUS RX 330 SHATTERED WHILE WE WERE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. IT WAS NOT HIT BY A ROCK OR OTHER DEBRIS, IT SHATTERED FOR NO APPARENT REASON INTO MANY SMALL PIECES. FORTUNATELY WE HAD THE SUNSHADE CLOSED, OTHERWISE WE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE BEEN INJURED BY FLYING GLASS.
NHTSA complaint #11004927 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
DASHBOARD IS CRACKING AND FALLING OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10820947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN THERE WAS A LOUD BOOM AND MY SUN ROOF EXPLODED - GLASS WENT EVERYWHERE. I AM LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT. IT TURNS OUT THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED. IT WAS NOT A HOT DAY SOME CLOUDS AND THERE WAS NO ROCKS OR DEBRIS IN THE ROOF. IT TURNS OUT THAT LEXUS AN OTHER MANUFACTURES KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM BUT LITTLE IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT. THE GLASS IS BEING MADE A LOT CHEAPER AND THINNER THESE DAYS TO CUT COST. I HAVE A 2004 LEXUS RX 330 SUV. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURE AND A RECALL NEEDS TO BE MADE AS IT IS A KNOW ISSUE BEFORE PEOPLE GET KILLED.
NHTSA complaint #10705840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN THERE WAS A LOUD BOOM AND MY SUN ROOF EXPLODED - GLASS WENT EVERYWHERE. I AM LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT. IT TURNS OUT THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED. IT WAS NOT A HOT DAY SOME CLOUDS AND THERE WAS NO ROCKS OR DEBRIS IN THE ROOF. IT TURNS OUT THAT LEXUS AN OTHER MANUFACTURES KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM BUT LITTLE IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT. THE GLASS IS BEING MADE A LOT CHEAPER AND THINNER THESE DAYS TO CUT COST. I HAVE A 2004 LEXUS RX 330 SUV. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURE AND A RECALL NEEDS TO BE MADE AS IT IS A KNOW ISSUE BEFORE PEOPLE GET KILLED.
NHTSA complaint #10705840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
I OWN 2 LEXUS 2004 RX330. BOTH OF CARS HAVE THE PASSENGER MIRROR CHANGE COLOR (CHANGE TO DARKER COLOR). ONE HAPPEN ABOUT 3 YEAR AGO. ONE HAPPEN ABOUT A YEAR AGO.
NHTSA complaint #10683945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
DASHBOARD HAS SLOWLY STARTED TO MELT BECOMING INCREASINGLY SMOOTH, STICKY AND GLARY, SEVERELY OBSTRUCTING VISION FROM SUN REFLECTION.
NHTSA complaint #10651350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THERE WAS A STARTLINGLY LOUD NOISE FROM THE BACK, UPPER LEFT PART OF THE CAR. AFTER REACHING OUR DESTINATION WE REALIZED THE TOP MOLDING ON THE QUARTER REAR DRIVER-SIDE WINDOW HAD RIPPED OFF THE CAR WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON DESIGN FLAW, BASED ON LEXUS CHATS. THIS SHOULD BE A MANUFACTURER COVERED DEFECT EVEN IF THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS DANGER IF THOSE HIT SOMEONE OR SOMETHING.
NHTSA complaint #10644851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
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.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
THE VEHICLE DASHBOARD HAS EXPERIENCED ABNORMAL CRACKING AND DECOMPOSITION THROUGHOUT. IT STARTED WITH HAIRLINE CRACKS WHICH SPREAD ALL THROUGH THE DASH. SINCE THE DASH STARTED TO TURN STICKY/GUMMY, PIECES OF THE DASH STARTED FALLING OFF NEAR THE ENDS (E.G. WHERE THE DASH MEETS THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT). OF CONCERN IS AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. FOR EXAMPLE, SINCE THE DASH HAS BEEN COMPROMISED AND HAS CRACKS, WOULD THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT CAUSE THE DASH TO SPLINTER AND SHOOT PIECES AT THE CAR'S OCCUPANTS? WOULD THE STICKINESS OF THE DASH CAUSE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT TO FAIL SINCE IT CAN STICK TO THE DASH DUE TO IT'S NEWLY ACQUIRED ADHESIVE PROPERTIES? VISIBILITY CONCERNS ARISE DUE TO THE REFLECTIONS OF THE DASH ON THE WINDSHIELD. SINCE THE DASH CAN NO LONGER BE KEPT CLEAN BECAUSE EVERYTHING STICKS TO IT, BOTHERSOME REFLECTIONS ARE CAST ON THE WINDSHIELD DURING CERTAIN LIGHTING CONDITIONS. THE LOCAL LEXUS DEALERSHIP AND LEXUS CORPORATE WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THEY SAID THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND SINCE MY VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP, THEY WOULD NOT PAY TO REPLACE THE DASH; THEY DID OFFER A 25% DISCOUNT FOR THE COST OF THE PARTS. FROM MY RESEARCH, IT APPEARS FAULTY MATERIALS MAY HAVE BEEN USED BY TOYOTA/LEXUS FOR A PERIOD OF SOME YEARS AS THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF THIS SAME CONDITION HAPPENING TO OTHER OWNERS. SINCE THERE ARE SAFETY CONCERNS INVOLVED, I BELIEVE LEXUS SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE AND REPLACE THE FAULTY DASHBOARDS.
NHTSA complaint #10588943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
I WAS DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON THE 405 IN LOS ANGELES. I WAS BEGINNING TO CHANGE LANES AND WAS LOOKING INTO MY DRIVER'S SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR WHEN I OBSERVED THE MOLDING COME OFF OF THE LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL WINDOW AND STRIKE THE HOOD AND WINDSHIELD OF THE CAR BEHIND ME. IT OCCURRED TO ME HOW DANGEROUS THIS COULD HAVE BEEN IF A MOTORCYCLIST HAD BEEN FOLLOWING ME. IT COULD HAVE EASILY HIT HIM OR HER DIRECTLY IN THE FACE. IN RESEARCHING THE INTERNET FOR A PRICE ON THE MOLDING, I HAVE SINCE LEARNED A LARGE NUMBER OF RX330 OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE LEARNED THAT LEXUS DOES NOT SELL THE MOLDING SEPARATELY. INSTEAD, THEY SELL THE ENTIRE WINDOW ASSEMBLY, AND I HAVE SEEN POSTINGS OF SOME OWNERS PAYING AS MUCH AS $400.00 TO HAVE A DEALER REPLACE THE WINDOW. THIS ITEM SHOULD NOT BE REGULARLY LAUNCHING ITSELF OFF OF THESE VEHICLES ENDANGERING OTHERS ON THE ROADWAY. LEXUS SHOULD BE RETROFITTING THESE VEHICLES WITH IMPROVED MOUNTING FOR THIS MOLDING INSTEAD OF CHARGING OWNERS FOR THE COMPANY'S MISTAKE. WITH THE NUMBER OF THESE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD, IT SEEMS IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE FOLLOWING ONE OF THESE VEHICLES IS INJURED OR WORSE.
NHTSA complaint #10543842 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 RX330 LEXUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REARVIEW MIRROR EXPLODED FROM THE CASING. IN ADDITION, AN UNKNOWN LIQUID LEAKED FROM THE MIRROR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO HAVE STRUCK SOMETHING IN ORDER TO CAUSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND WAS ADVISED THAT IT APPEARED AS IF THE MIRROR EXPLODED INDEPENDENTLY, WHICH WAS HANGING FROM THE VEHICLE BY SEVERAL WIRES. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
NHTSA complaint #10457904 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
MY 6 YEAR OLD LEXUS WINDOW MOLDING FLEW OFF ON BOTH QUARTER SIZE BACK WINDOWS IN THE LAST MONTH. THIS IS A HAZARD AS IT WENT FLYING OFF IN THE HIGHWAY, ONE DAY AND NOT EVEN A MONTH LATER, THE OTHER ONE FLEW OFF AND ALMOST HIT A PEDESTRIAN. THEY SAID I WILL NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE WINDOW FOR THE MOLDING. THIS SOUNDS LIKE THE WINDOW COULD POSSIBLY FLY OFF AS WELL IF THE MOLDING ISN'T SOMETHING YOU CAN JUST CLIP BACK ON. THERE ARE SEVERAL WEBSITES OF THIS COMPLAINT, BUT LEXUS IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. I HAVE A MESSAGE FROM LEXUS HEADQUARTERS STATING SINCE OUT OF WARRANTY THEY WILL NOT REPLACE. I FEEL THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND CHEAP OF LEXUS. BELOW ARE THE WEBSITES OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS MATTER: HTTP://WWW.CLUBLEXUS.COM/FORUMS/RX-SECOND-GENERATION/478653-REAR-QUARTER-WINDOW-EXTERIOR-MOLDING-FELL-OFF-RX330.HTML HTTP://WWW.CLUBLEXUS.COM/FORUMS/RX-SECOND-GENERATION/478653-REAR-QUARTER-WINDOW-EXTERIOR-MOLDING-FELL-OFF-RX330-9.HTML HTTP://BOARDREADER.COM/THREAD/REAR_QUARTER_WINDOW_EXTERIOR_MOLDING_FEL_QKFFXA9BX.HTML HTTP://US.LEXUSOWNERSCLUB.COM/FORUMS/INDEX.PHP?SHOWTOPIC=64391 [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10444069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
LIKE MANY OTHER PEOPLE, I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT THE HEADLIGHT CONDENSATION ON MY LEXUS RX330. THE PASSENGER SEAT HEADLIGHT FOGS UP SO THAT IT IS VERY CLOUDY. THIS AFFECTS THE QUALITY OF THE LIGHT BEAM AT NIGHT AS IT MAKES THE LIGHT DIMMER. I'VE ASKED LEXUS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND THEY QUOTED ME CLOSE TO $2000 FOR SOMETHING THAT REALLY SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE IS CURRENTLY A LAWSUIT GOING ON ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY.
NHTSA complaint #10441378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
2005 LEXUS RX330 WHILE I AM DRIVING ON FREEWAY A DRIVER REAR QUARTER WINDOW'S MOLDING FELT OUT OFF. I CONTACTED LEXUS HEADQUARTER RISE AN ISSUE, I DO RESEACH ONLINE FORUMS TO FIND DOWN ALOT OF SAME PROBLEMS. I TALKED TO LEXUS HEADQUARTER PERSONNEL I THINK ITS A MANUFACTURE DEFECTIVE, BUT THEY DENIED THAT. SINCE MY CAR OUT OF WARRANTY LEXUS JUST PAY HALF OF REPLACEMENT COST. I THINK IT UNFAIR SHOULD BE REPLACED BY LEXUS CORP COST.
NHTSA complaint #10422882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS RX330. WHILE PARKED, THE SUNLIGHT WAS SHINING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR AND THE CONTACT NOTICED A BLACK GLARE ON THE MIRROR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE TECHNICIANS COULD NOT SEE THE GLARE. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER SOMETIME THE BLACK GLARE BECAME MORE NOTICEABLE AND CHANGED FROM BLACK TO YELLOW. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS UNABLE TO SEE ANYTHING IN THE MIRROR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER A SECOND TIME WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE MIRROR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,850. UPDATED 03/06/12 *BF UPDATED 03/07/12
NHTSA complaint #10393820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS RX330. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH HE NOTICED THAT BOTH SIDE VIEW MIRRORS WERE LOOSE AND WHENEVER HE DROVE OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD THE MIRRORS TRAJECTORY CHANGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT BOTH SIDE MIRRORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR COST WAS OVER $1,000. THE FAILURE HAD BEEN ON GOING SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 2005. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO ANSWER HIM REGARDING THE FAILURE. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE ROOF RACK WAS CORRODING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
NHTSA complaint #10378726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
AUTO DIMMING SIDE MIRRORS FAIL CAUSING THE MIRROR TO SHOW DOUBLE HEADLIGHTS. THIS MAKES THE MIRROR EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO USE. SEEING 4 HEADLIGHTS INSTEAD OF TWO CAUSES THE DRIVER TO SPEND EXCESSIVE TIME LOOKING INTO THE MIRROR TO DETERMINE IF IT IS SAFE TO CHANGE LANES. RESEARCH ON CAR FORUMS INDICATES THE FAILURE OF THESE AUTODIMMING MIRRORS IS THE RESULT OF HEATED SIDE MIRRORS. EXCESSIVE HEAT CAUSES THE GEL IN BETWEEN THE GLASS TO LEAK, CAUSING THE DOUBLE HEAD LIGHT EFFECT.
NHTSA complaint #10373643 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
IN HEAVY RAIN, WITH DEFOGGER TURNED ON TO KEEP WINDOWS CLEAR, IF THE CAR HITS A LARGE PUDDLE, THE AC SHUTS DOWN AND THE DEFROSTER STARTS BLOWING HOT, MOIST AIR. ALL WINDOWS FOG OVER IMMEDIATELY. NO WAY TO CONTINUE DRIVING. AC CAN ONLY BE RESTARTED BY TURNING IGNITION OFF THEN BACK ON. THIS HAPPENED ON LOCAL ROADS SEVERAL TIMES, THEN IN MID AUGUST 2007, IT HAPPENED ON THE INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE GRASS MEDIAN BY ROLLING DOWN THE DRIVERS WINDOW AND STICKING MY HEAD OUT INTO THE RAIN. AFTER TURNING IGNITION OFF AND ON, THE DEFROSTER WORKS AGAIN. LEXUS DEALER REPORTS THAT THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE ENGINE IN CASE THE AC COMPRESSOR LOCKS UP. THEY REFUSE TO CORRECT THE SITUATION. I NO LONGER DRIVE THE CAR IN THE RAIN. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #10208879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
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.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
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.