LEXUS RX330 · model year

2004 LEXUS RX330

353 NHTSA complaints, 49 crash reports, and 5 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2004LEXUSRX330 carries 353 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 49 crashes, 1 fire, 32 injuries, and 5 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2004 RX330 is power train:automatic transmission with 54 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (30) and service brakes, hydraulic (23). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 5 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 2004 RX330. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

353
Complaints
49
Crashes
1
Fires
32
Injuries
5
Deaths

Total Complaints

353 filings

Crashes Reported

49 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION54
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL30
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC23
UNKNOWN OR OTHER20
STRUCTURE18
AIR BAGS18
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST17
STRUCTURE:BODY13
EXTERIOR LIGHTING12
POWER TRAIN9
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP9
STEERING9
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS8
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING6

Recalls (5)

06V02300027/01/2006

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES." THE ANCHOR BOLT FOR THE REAR, LEFT-HAND SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE DIRECTLY BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT DOES NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT STRENGTH.

11V11200024/02/2011

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 HIGHLANDER, HIGHLANDER HYBRID, AND MODEL YEAR 2004-2007 LEXUS RX330, RX350, AND RX400H VEHICLES. IF THE FORWARD RETENTION CLIP USED TO SECURE THE FLOOR CARPET COVER, WHICH IS LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE CENTER CONSOLE, IS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY THE COVER

04V55800022/11/2004

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH AN IMPROPERLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. A SILICON OXIDE BUILD-UP OCCURS ON THE CONTACTS INSIDE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, WHICH CAN MAKE IT INOPERABLE.

06V25300013/07/2006

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY AND HYBRID VEHICLES, THE TWO RETAINING CLIPS FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE FORWARD CENTER CONSOLE CAN BECOME LOOSE. IF BOTH CLIPS SEPARATE FROM THE FLOOR CARPET COVER, THE COVER MAY LEAN TOWARD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSING INTERFERENCE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ROD.

11V53900009/11/2011

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AVALON VEHICLES; 2004 AND 2005 CAMRY, CAMRY SOLARA, HIGHLANDER, AND SIENNA VEHICLES, 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID; 2004 AND 2005 LEXUS ES330 AND RX330; AND 2006 LEXUS RX400H VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 1, 2004 THROUGH MARCH 31, 2005, EQUIPPED WITH THE 1MZ-FE

Recent Complaints

20210331STRUCTURE:INTERIOR PANELS:DASHBOARD

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.

Mileage: 103,000

20190725ENGINE

HAVE HAD TO REPLACE RADIATOR 3 TIMES & WILL NEED A 4TH AT THIS TIME, SINCE 2015, WAS BOUGHT USED IN 2014. !ST REPLACEMENT 2015 2ND) 2016, 3RD) 2017, AND NOW NEEDS AGAIN. MANY WEBSITES STATE MANY DIFFERENT PROBLEMS RELATED TO MY VEHICLE, AS WELL AS OTHERS OF A NEW YEAR IE; 2005, 2006. LEXUS CLAIMS VIN IS THE ONLY SOURCE TO VERIFY IF NEEDS FIXING STATED TO ME, YET A WEBSOURCE CLUBLEXUS.COM/FORUM SHOWS A STATEMENT BY LEXUS STATING THE ISSUE IS NOT BY VIN ALONE BUT BY MAKE MODEL & YEAR. A LOCAL RADIATOR SHOP IN WESTERN STATED TO ME VIA PHONE THAT LEXUS DEALERSHIP SERVICE FOR A WHILE IN PAST HAD ORDERED MANY, MANY RADIATORS BECAUSE AS IT WAS STATED SOME KIND OF ELECTRICAL ISSUE WAS CAUSING THE ANTIFREEZE TO BECOME ACIDIC AND DESTROYING RADIATOR FROM WITHIN. THIS IS ANOTHER NOT WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL THAT SEEMS TO HAVE NOT BEEN MADE PUBLIC THAT I CAN FIND. MY RADIATOR MECHANIC THAT REPLACED MINE 2 OF THE 3 TIMES STATED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING COULD NOT FIND ANY OTHER ISSUES I

Mileage: 158,000

20190612STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR AN UNKNOWN RECALL. THE CONTACT REFERENCED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: POL14-03 (CRACKED DASHBOARD). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. WEST SIDE LEXUS (12000 KATY FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77079, (281) 558-3030) WAS CONTACTED 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 STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V112000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

20190612STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR AN UNKNOWN RECALL. THE CONTACT REFERENCED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: POL14-03 (CRACKED DASHBOARD). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. WEST SIDE LEXUS (12000 KATY FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77079, (281) 558-3030) WAS CONTACTED 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 STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V112000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

20190318EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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

20190313UNKNOWN OR OTHER

SUNROOF EXPLODED ON HIGHWAY GOING 60 MPH TEMPERATURE AT 35 DEGREES.

Mileage: 105,000

20181215ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

Mileage: 185,000

20181215VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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

Mileage: 185,000

20181120UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKING UP BAD AND WHEN I'M DRIVING I BE HERRING POPING SOUND COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD AND WHEN THE HEAT IS ON IT BE MAKING LOAD SOUND

20181106STRUCTURE:BODY

THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKING UP VERY BAD

20180923AIR BAGS

RECENTLY THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON AND WAS STATIONARY. IT RESULTED IN CRACKS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS I DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. IS THERE A LEXUS RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM?

Mileage: 140,500

20180911STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD EXPERIENCED SEVERE CRACKING. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE DEBRIS FROM THE CRACKING COULD POTENTIALLY BECOME SHRAPNEL THAT COULD CAUSE INJURY IN THE EVENT OF AN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST SINCE IT WAS CONSIDERED A COSMETIC FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

Mileage: 116,000

20180814UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WE LATELY HAVE HAD DASHBOARD CRACKS OR MELTING ALTHOUGH WE HAVE GARAGE MAINTAINED OUR CAR VERY CAREFULLY WITH VERY LOW MILEAGE OF 70,000 ONLY. THIS IS NOT HEALTHY AND VERY HARMFUL TO OUR LEXUS EXPERIENCE. BY THE WAY, WE HAVEN'T HAD SUCH CRACKS UNTIL NOW DUE TO OUR WELL MAINTENANCE SO THAT WE MISSED DASHBOARD RECALL WHICH WAS EXPIRED ON MAY 31 2017.

Mileage: 70,000

20180626FireSTRUCTURE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD EXPERIENCED MELTING AND CRACKING. ALSO, SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE DASHBOARD SEPARATED AND FELL OFF. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING, A GLARE FROM THE SUNLIGHT WAS PRESENT ON THE MELTED DASHBOARD, WHICH CAUSED A VISIBILITY HAZARD. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER( LEXUS OF COOL SPRINGS, 1636 WESTGATE CIR, BRENTWOOD, TN) WERE BOTH NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

Mileage: 92,000

20180618SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILED. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE MOTOR THAT REGULATED THE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

Mileage: 170,000

20180618SUSPENSION:REAR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILED. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE MOTOR THAT REGULATED THE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

Mileage: 170,000

20180301UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DASHBOARD CRACKED

Mileage: 100,000

20180216UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR OVER 2 YEARS NOW FOR THE DASHBOARD REPLACEMENT RECALL AND WOULD LIKE TO SELL THE CAR BUT THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKING AND UNSIGHTLY.

Mileage: 90,000

20171122UNKNOWN OR OTHER

BACKING UP MY SPARE TIRE FELL RIGHT ON THE GROUND I THOUGHT I HIT SOMEONE LOOKS LIKE THE CABLE ROTTED I WAS LUCKY WAS ON MY WAY TO GO ON HIGHWAY WITH MY GRAND DAUGHTER AND IF IT HAPPENED ON HIGHWAY SOMEONE COULD OF CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT

20170916ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

MY 2004 LEXUS RX330 IS JUMPING ALL OVER THE ROAD, REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSTICS SHOW THE RIDE HEIGHT CONTROL AND AIR RIDE STRUTS HAVE FAILED CAUSING AN UNSAFE CONDITION, APPARENTLY LEXUS WAS FULLY AWARE OF THE ISSUE ONLY MAKING THIS MODEL YEAR WITH THE AIR RIDE CONTROL AND KNOWING THE SYSTEM WILL ONLY LAST TEN YEARS BEFORE FAILURE. I GUESS THEY FIGURED AFTER TEN YEARS MOST VEHICLES WOULD HAVE EITHER INSTALLED THE CONVERSION KIT OR HAVE BEEN SOLD FORWARD SO MANY TIMES THAT NEW OWNERS WOULD NOT PURSUE A SAFETY RECALL. AN ENTIRE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN CREATED TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE RETAILING CONVERSION KITS SO MUCH SO THAT MY TOYOTA REPAIR SHOP HAS SUGGESTED INSTALLING THE CONVERSION KIT WHICH THEY OFFER. MY VEHICLE BOUNCES WHEN NAVIGATING TURNS AND BUMPS, WHILE SITTING STILL THE VEHICLE RAISES AND LOWERS INDEPENDENT OF ANYTHING MANUALLY INITIATED AND SIDE TO SIDE LIFTS AND LOWERS.

Compare 2004LEXUSRX330 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2004 LEXUS RX330 have?
The 2004 LEXUS RX330 has 353 NHTSA complaints, 49 crashes, 1 fires, 32 injuries, and 5 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2004 LEXUS RX330?
Yes, the 2004 LEXUS RX330 has 5 recall(s). The most common affected component is SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 LEXUS RX330?
The most-complained component for the 2004 LEXUS RX330 is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 54 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.
Is the 2004 LEXUS RX330 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.