Problems · NHTSA complaints

2004 Lexus RX330 problems

Owners filed 327 complaints about the 2004 Lexus RX330 with NHTSA between Jun 2003 and Feb 2026. The most-cited component is power train (74).

Complaints
327
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
38
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
28
People reported injured
Deaths
3
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train74
  2. Service brakes, hydraulic59
  3. Structure46
  4. Vehicle speed control36
  5. Air bags27
  6. Exterior lighting26
  7. Visibility19
  8. Engine and engine cooling12
  9. Steering10
  10. Suspension9
  11. Electrical system8
  12. Service brakes5
  13. Engine5
  14. Equipment5

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20036
200454
200568
200615
200711
20088
20097
201037
201110
20127
201310
201433
201516
20168
20178
201810
20198
20204
20213
20221
20231
20240
20251
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

74 reports2 crashes
“DEALERSHIP INSPECTION. DISCLOSURE-SATISFACTORY THROUGHOUT THE LIST ACTUAL INSPECTOR-VISIBLE LEAKS TO THE NAKED EYE WHEN LOOKING UNDER THE CAR. I WAS MISLED IN THIS PURCHASE AS THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT WERE NOT DISCLOSED TO ME BEFORE PURCHASE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 27, 2020Suspension, Power train, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11326107

Service brakes, hydraulic

59 reports8 crashes
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 26, 2011Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10397915

Structure

46 reports1 crash1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE INSPECTING THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD ON THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG ENCLOSURE AREA WAS CRACKED. POHANKA LEXUS (13909 LEE JACKSON MEMORIAL HIGHWAY, CHANTILLY, VA 20151, (703) 968-9100) WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 103,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 31, 2021StructureODI 11405774

Vehicle speed control

36 reports15 crashes2 related recalls
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 30, 2016Vehicle speed controlODI 10862369

Air bags

27 reports11 crashes
“Dashboard crack in 2024, that started on passenger side near air vent, expanded recently causing the "passenger air bag off" alert to light up and stay on continually. If I were to have a passenger at the time of an accident, the air bag might not deploy, which would be a safety issue. This could possibly lead to a liability issue, so I have not had any passengers but that isn't sustainable, so I contacted the dealer. I was told that the previous recall for cracked dashboards ended in 2017 and that it was cosmetic only, not safety related, but that the part was available for $964.50, not including labor, tax, etc. I feel that a safety related recall should be issued, the previously known dash cracking problem didn't end when their recall did, the fact that my vehicle is primarily garaged preserved the interior integrity, I don't believe I should be penalized for my dash not cracking 8 years earlier. Thank you for your consideration.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 2, 2025Air bags, Unknown or otherODI 11702447

Exterior lighting

26 reports1 related recall
“THE RED PLASTIC HOUSING THAT THE TAILLIGHT IS IN IS MELTED, THE LIGHTS ARE STILL WORKING, BUT THE RED PLASTIC AROUND THE BULB HAS MELTED ON BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT REAR BRAKE LIGHTS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 18, 2019Exterior lightingODI 11189791
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.