Structure. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

40 reports

52,345 miles · Feb 9, 2010

Vehicle Speed Control

RAPID ACCELERATION AS I RELEASED THE GAS PEDAL AS I PARKED MY CAR - TOOK OUT A 6 FOOT BUSH. I WAS INTERVIEWED ON 10NEWS SAN DIEGO CONCERNING THIS INCIDENT I TOOK THE AUTO TO MY LEXUS DEALER/A DIAGNOSTIC AND A TEST DRIVE WERE DONE AND EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT NEGATIVE. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME SIN…

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NHTSA ODI #10308169

17,000 miles · Oct 11, 2008

Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

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LEXUS HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE VIBRATION, THEY HAVE ISSUED A TSB BUT ALL THEY ARE DOING IS THROWING NEW ROTORS AND PADS. THIS IS NOT ADDRESSING THE REAL ISSUE AT HAND. BRAKE VIBRATION CAN CAUSE A CAR TO GO OFF THE ROAD WHEN THERE IS ICE OR SNOW ON THE GROUND AND ONCE THE CAR STARTS SLIPPING IN ICE OR SNOW YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. MY COMPLAINT IS REGARDING A 2004 RX 330 THAT ONLY HAS 34K ON AND I'M GOING ON MY THIRD SET OF BRAKE PADS. THE CALIPER IS HANGING UP CAUSING UNEVEN PAD WEAR, CAUSING BRAKE VIBRATION. THIS IS NOT ONLY COMPROMISING THE SAFETY OF THE PASSENGERS, BUT MY ENTIRE SUSPENSION WEAR AND TEAR, CAUSE PREMATURE WEAR. THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED MY TIRES TO FEATHER AT THE EDGE. I THINK IF LEXUS ISSUED A TSB FOR THIS ISSUE THEY NEED TO GO TO THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM RATHER THAN JUST THROWING NEW PARTS AND CALLING IT GOOD FOR ANOTHER 15 TO 20K. ALL MY SUSPENSION IS TIGHT AND I HAVE NO RUNOUT AT THE HUB, JUST ON BRAKE PADS. THE DEALER KEEPS SAYING THAT EVERYTHING IS OKAY AND THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE. MY CAR IS PROPERLY ALIGNED, BUT WE KEEP HAVING THIS PROBLEM. THIS ONGOING BRAKE VIBRATION PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT CAUSE I DON'T FEEL MY WIFE IS SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR ON BAD WEATHER. THIS VIBRATION CAN CAUSE CAR TO LOOSE CONTROL ON BAD WEATHER OR DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. PLZ LOOK AT ALL COMPLAINTS REGARDING BRAKE VIBRATION. I HAVE GOTTEN ON LEXUS WEB FORUMS AND THERE IS A GOOD NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH THIS COMPLAINT. I FEEL THAT BY LEXUS PUTTING OUT A SERVICE BULLETIN THEY KNOW THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT THEY ARE JUST COVERING UP THE PROBLEM AND NOT GOING AFTER THE ROOT CAUSE. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME ANGEL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10245160

57,000 miles · Aug 1, 2007

Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD TWO DAYS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE SENSOR LIGHT SHINES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE SHOULD BE CHECKED. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND DEAL…

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NHTSA ODI #10198126

30,000 miles · Mar 16, 2007

Fuel System, Other

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MY 2004 LEXUS RX330 HAS REPEATEDLY HAD ACCELERATION PROBLEMS WHEN I HAVE SLOWED AND NEED TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY DUE TO TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. TODAY ON THE WAY TO WORK I WAS TRYING TO MERGE ON TO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AND NEARLY GOT REAR-ENDED BECAUSE MY VEHICLE DIDN'T ACCELERATE WHEN I PRESSED THE PEDAL AS I WAS TRYING TO MERGE IN TO THE LANE. THERE HAVE BEEN COUNTLESS TIMES IN THE 2 YEARS I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED NEAR COLLISONS DUE TO THE SLUGGISH OR LACK OF ACCELERATION WHEN I DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. MY HUSBAND WON'T EVEN DRIVE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM AS HE FEELS UNSAFE ON THE ROAD IN IT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY INSTALLED A COMPUTER UPDATE OR PATCH TWICE WITH NO RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE '04 RX330 AND THAT LEXUS HAS SAID THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM ALTHOUGH THEY DID CORRECT IT IN THE 2005 MODEL. GIVEN THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF A POTENTIAL SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE RELATED TO THIS THEY ARE FOR SOME REASON NOT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE OR RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. CONSUMER PROTECTION FROM NEGLIGENT MANUFACTURERS IS THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY, ISN'T IT? WHAT CAN BE DONE TO REQUIRE LEXUS TO PROVIDE CONSUMERS WITH AN ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION TO THIS SIGNIFICANT VEHICLE SAFETY ISSUE?

NHTSA ODI #10185280

Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2007

Child Seat

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THE TOP LATCH STRAP PROVIDED ON THIS SEAT CANNOT BE TIGHTENED FIRMLY AGAINST THE VEHICLE SEAT. RATHER THAN PROVIDE A (NORMAL) TENSIONING DEVICE FOR THE TOP STRAP, THE MANUFACTURER ELECTED TO PROVIDE A DUAL LOOP STEEL PLATE. THE STRAP IS THREADED THROUGH THIS PLATE IN A RIDICULOUSLY COMPLEX MANNER, AND NO AMOUNT OF PULLING, TUGGING, OR TRYING TO FINAGLE ENOUGH SLACK THROUGH THE MULTIPLE LAYERS THE STRAP GOES THROUGH (TO ALLOW THE WHOLE STRAP TO BE PULLED TIGHTLY) ALLOW PROPER TENSIONING TO SECURE THE CHILD SEAT BACK TO THE VEHICLE SEAT. A FEW DOLLARS SAVED IN MANUFACTURING COST BY PROVIDING THIS PLATE RATHER THAN A TENSIONING DEVICE HAVE RESULTED IN A CHILD SEAT THAT CANNOT BE USED PROPERLY. THIS IS SIMPLY INCOMPETENT ENGINEERING. I RETURNED THE SEAT TO WAL-MART FOR A REFUND, BUT THERE MAY BE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE THE SAME OPTIONS FOR RETURN, AND END UP INSTALLING THE SEAT IN AN UNSAFE AND INSECURE MANNER. NOTE THAT THE CORRECT MODEL OF SEAT WAS NOT SHOWN IN YOUR DROP-DOWN MENU, SO I HAD TO SELECT ANOTHER MODEL IN ORDER TO PROCEED. THE SEAT I'M FILING A COMPLAINT ABOUT IS A SAFETY 1ST BOOSTER SEAT MANUFACTURED BY DOREL JUVENILE GROUP. MODEL # 22-561-WAL. MANUFACTURED: P102 B 220565 09/22/06. THANK YOU. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10180946

39,959 miles · Dec 9, 2006

Electrical System

2004 LEXUS RX 330 HAD A COMPLETE BREAKDOWN ON DECEMBER 6, 2006 WITH JUST OVER 43,000 MILES. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID THAT THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN IN THIS NEWER LUXURY VEHICLE. THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY WHICH WAS UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10175670

1,400 miles · Nov 30, 2006

Power Train

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HESITATED WHEN MAKING THE SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR AND FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR AS WELL. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS INDICATING A FAILURE IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN SEVEN TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE SOFTWARE HAD BEEN RESET SEVERAL TIMES HOWEVER, THE DEFECT WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED. THE CONTACT WAS VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SATISFACTORY RESOLUTION.

NHTSA ODI #10174798

Mileage unknown · Oct 4, 2006

Power Train

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I LEASED A 2004 RX330 IN JANUARY, 04. IMMEDIATELY I BEGAN HAVING DIFFICULTY PREDICTING WHAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOING TO DO NEXT. SHIFT POINTS ALL OVER THE PLACE. THE "UPGRADE" WAS PERFORMED, PROVIDED TEMPORARY ADJUSTMENT. MERGING IS DEADLY. I THOUGHT PERHAPS I WAS SLIPPING OFF THE PEDAL, BUT NOW KNOW IT WASN'T RESPONDING. THE DRIVELINE HAS ALWAYS HAD A "CLUNK" OR "THUMP" THAT OCCURS WHEN LIFTING FROM THE THROTTLE. WE HAVE REPORTED THIS TO OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP (TOM WOOD LEXUS, INDIANAPOLIS) ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE FIRST DIAGNOSIS WAS "ROCKS UNDER THE SEAT!!!!" EACH TIME, ANOTHER SERVICE WRITER WOULD EXPERIENCE THE THUMP/CLUNK, AGREE THAT THAT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THERE, AND CLAIM "I'LL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT." IN EVERY INSTANCE WE RECEIVED THE STANDARD RESPONSE, "IT'S A NORMAL NOISE. THEY ALL DO IT." IN MID SEPTEMBER, THE VEHICLE WAS IN SERVICE FOR ANOTHER ISSUE, AND A NEW, EAGER SERVICE WRITER DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, ABSOLUTELY AGREED THAT THE NOISE WAS CAUSING WEAR ON SOMETHING AND THAT HE WOULDN'T WANT TO BUY THIS VEHICLE WHEN IT COMES OFF LEASE, IF IT DOES THAT!" AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR 10 DAYS TO FIX THE OTHER PROBLEM, THE PREVIOUSLY EAGER SERVICE WRITER TOLD US HE HAD DRIVEN OTHER RX'S ON THEIR LOT, AND APPARENTLY THE PROBLEM IS A "NORMAL" ONE. OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE BEEN DRIVING A VERY UNSAFE VEHICLE AND LEXUS/DEALER DON'T CARE. UNTIL SOMEBODY DIES, POTENTIAL LEXUS CUSTOMERS BEWARE!! *NM

NHTSA ODI #10169938

100 miles · Aug 2, 2006

Power Train

I'M ENCOUNTERING THE SAME TRANSMISSION HESITATION , JUMPING AND REVVING WHEN SHIFTING IN THE LOWER GEARS AS MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED. I HAVE HAD THE SOFTWARE UPDATE WITHOUT EFFECT. THE DEALER NOW IS INSULTING ME BY CLAIMING THE USE OF REGULAR GAS MAY BE THE CAUSE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10164230

Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 2006

Exterior Lighting

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE FAR ENOUGH WHILE DRIVING IN THE EVENING AT A SPEED OF 70 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERS WHO ADJUSTED THE HEADLIGHTS BUT WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI #10162417

Official recalls

10V499000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder

Oct 21, 2010

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 AVALON, MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 HIGHLANDER, MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 LEXUS RX, AND MODEL YEAR 2006 LEXUS GS AND IS VEHICLES. BRAKE FLUID CONTAINING POLYMERS IS USED THAT ACTS AS LUBRICANTS FOR CERTAIN BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENTS. IF REPLACEMENT BRAKE FLUID IS USED THAT DOES NOT CONTAIN SUCH POLYMERS, OR THAT CONTAINS ONLY SMALL AMOUNTS, A PART OF THE RUBBER SEAL LOCATED AT THE REAR OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER MAY BECOME DRY, AND THE SEAL MAY CURL DURING MOVEMENT OF THE PISTON. IF THIS OCCURS, A SMALL AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID COULD SLOWLY LEAK FROM THE SEAL INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A LEAK OF BRAKE FLUID COULD LEAD TO A CHANGE IN BRAKE PEDAL FEEL AND OVERTIME A DEGRADATION IN BRAKING PERFORMANCE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAL WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 AND LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

RQ10003 · Unintended And Uncontrolled Acceleration

Opened Feb 16, 2010 · Closed Mar 1, 2011

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:software; Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

On February 16, 2010, NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened RQ10-003 to determine whether the scope of prior Toyota recalls relating to potential unintended acceleration were sufficiently broad, including, among others, Toyota recalls 07E-082, 09V-388, 10V-017, and 10V-023.NHTSA also requested information regarding potential electronic causes of unintended acceleration in Toyota and Lexus vehicles.I. Pedal Interference from Floor mats, Carpet Covers and Plastic Pads in Carpets.During the RQ10-003 investigation, ODI reviewed a large volume of documents to assess whether additional vehicles should be recalled.Following the agency's analysis, NHTSA requested that Toyota recall additional vehicles.Toyota complied with the agency's request.The details of these recalls are set forth more fully in Toyota's reports to NHTSA pursuant to 49 CFR Part 573.These recalls are as follows:Recall 11V-112: (1) model year (MY) 2004-2006 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid; and, (2) MY 2004-2007 Lexus RX330,RX350, and RX400h (hybrid model). The total estimated population under this recall is 769,379 vehicles.This recall remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment caused by a loose floor carpet cover (trim panel). Recall 11V-113: (1) MY 2003-2009 through 2009 Toyota 4Runner; (2) MY 2006-2010 Toyota RAV4; and, (3) MY 2008-2011 Lexus LX570.The total estimated population under this recall is 1,381,000 vehicles.This recall supplements recall 09V-388 and remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment by an unsecured floor mat.Recall 11V-115: (1) MY 2006-2007 Lexus GS300 (all wheel drive vehicles); and, (2) MY 2006-2007 Lexus GS350 (all wheel drive vehicles). The total estimated population under this recall is 19,647 vehicles.This recall remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment caused by inadequate clearance between the pedal linkage and a plastic pad embedded in the vehicle's carpet.II. Potential Electronic Causes of Unintended Acceleration.After NHTSA opened RQ10-003, NHTSA launched a ten-month study of potential electronic causes of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles.NHTSA launched the study in the spring of 2010 in light of concerns aired in Congressional hearings.NHTSA enlisted engineers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) with expertise in areas such as computer controlled electronic systems, electromagnetic interference and software integrity to assess whether electronic systems or electromagnetic interference played a role in incidents of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles.That study has concluded.Two reports are associated with the study and are available on NHTSA's website.NASA's report is entitled Technical Support to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on the Reported Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Unintended Acceleration (UA) Investigation, NESC Assessment No. TI-10-00618 (Jan. 18, 2011).NHTSA's report is entitled Technical Assessment of Toyota Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) Systems (Feb. 2011).Both reports should be read in conjunction with each other. As stated in its report, NASA did not find an electronic cause of large throttle openings that can result in unintended acceleration incidents. NHTSA did not find a vehicle-based cause of unintended acceleration incidents other than the physical pedal interference causes that are being addressed by Toyota's recalls. This RQ is closed.

Additional source detail variants (6)

Electrical System:software

Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal