Exterior Lighting. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

16 crash reports1 fire reports7 injury reports

What owners actually said

165 reports

93,000 miles · Nov 5, 2010

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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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 ODI #10364788

88,000 miles · Oct 26, 2010

Exterior Lighting

2005 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RIGHT SIDE FRONT HEADLIGHT FAILED TWICE IN PAST 18 MONTHS DUE TO WATER CONDENSATION IN HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND ECU. 1ST TIME WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. SECOND FAILURE WAS AFTER WARRANTY PERIOD AND LEXUS CORPORATE STATED IT WAS A DIFFERENT ISSUE AND REFUSED TO REPLACE. ESTIMATE TO RE…

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NHTSA ODI #10362421

85,000 miles · Oct 21, 2010

Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SPUTTER ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST THREE TIMES FOR THE FAILURE AND EACH TIME, THE TECHNICIAN WOULD ADJUST THE ECU BUT THE FAILURE WOULD PERSIST. THE MANUFACTURER W…

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NHTSA ODI #10361541

61,000 miles · Oct 1, 2010

Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS RX330. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE TECHNICIANS DETECTED THAT THE POWER STEERING INTERNAL SEAL WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

NHTSA ODI #10358720

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2010

Exterior LightingService Brakes, Hydraulic

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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. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10358074

28,401 miles · Sep 26, 2010

Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

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2005 LEXUS RX330 WOULD NOT STOP NOR BRAKE AS HEADED DOWNHILL IN SLIGHTLY SNOWY WEATHER AT ABOUT 25MPH. AS ROAD CURVED, I COULD NOT SLOW VEHICLE AND THUS STARTED TO LOSE STEERING CONTROL. I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE THINKING IT WA A FORWARD SLIDE BUT THAT DIDN'T CHANGE THINGS AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. SO I HIT THE BREAKS HARD-- NO RESULT, NO ADDITIONAL CONTROL. VEHICLE CONTINUED FOR ABOUT A BLOCK, HIT CURB, THEN TREE. TOTALED VEHICLE AND INJURY TO MYSELF. ASSUMED AT THE TIME THE SPEED WAS LOWER BUT AFTER SEEING DAMAGE LATER AND GETTING PHYSICAL THERAPY, IT CLEARLY HAD ACCELERATED BEFORE HITTING THE CURB-- WHICH DID SLOW IT DOWN BEFORE HITTING THE TREE. THREE OF FOUR TIRES BLEW OUT WITH HOLES ON THE SIDES FROM FORCE OF IMPACT WITH CURB. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10357721

88,000 miles · Aug 13, 2010

Exterior Lighting

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS THAT THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS HAVE BURNED OUT BECAUSE THE RUBBER SEAL USED WAS NOT OF GOOD QUALITY. THE DEALER STATED THAT WAS THE TRIM AND IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. EACH HEAD LAMP HAD A COMPUTER AND THE LACK OF SEAL ALLOWED WATER INTO THE HEAD LAMPS AND SHORT CIRCUIT THE COMPUTER. THE PASSENGER SIDE HEAD LIGHT WAS REPLACED AND THE DRIVER SIDE HAS CONDENSATION INSIDE OF IT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96000.

NHTSA ODI #10349216

90,000 miles · May 10, 2010

Seat Belts

LEXUS REAR SEAT OVER SHOULDER BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE. BELT HAD SOMEHOW WRAPPED AROUND 11 YEAR OLD BOY THAT WAS TRYING TO LIE DOWN AND WE HAD TO CUT BELT TO RELEASE CHILD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10329736

40,000 miles · Apr 13, 2010

Exterior Lighting

MOISTURE PROBLEM IN BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHTS OF MY 2005 LEXUS RX330. ONE WAS REPLACED 2 YEARS AGO UNDER WARRANTY THE OTHER MARCH 2010 WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER THE GOODWILL WARRANTY. BRING YOUR CAR TO LEXUS FOR SERVICE ALL THE TIME AND YOU GET THE LITTLE PERKS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10325416

78,000 miles · Mar 25, 2010

Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS BOTH DRIVER/PASSENGER MOISTURE

NHTSA ODI #10322210

Official recalls

11V539000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Nov 9, 2011

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 OR 3MZ-FE ENGINE. THE AMOUNT OF ADHESIVE AGENT APPLIED BETWEEN THE OUTER RING AND THE TORSIONAL RUBBER DAMPER (INNER RING) IN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY MAY BE INADEQUATE. IF THE ADHESIVE IS INSUFFICIENT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE OUTER RING MAY BECOME MISALIGNED AND IT MAY NOT PROPERLY ROTATE WITH THE INNER RING, CAUSING NOISE AND/OR ILLUMINATION OF THE BATTERY DISCHARGE INDICATOR LIGHT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN SOME CASES, THE BELT FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE PULLEY WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND A SUDDEN INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL CHECK THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY TO IDENTIFY WHETHER IT WAS PRODUCED BY THE U.S. SUPPLIER. IF SO, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE PULLEY WITH A NEW ONE AT NO CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING EARLY JANUARY 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

11V112000 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

Feb 24, 2011

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 MAY LEAN TOWARD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY TEMPORARILY BECOME STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION RATHER THAN RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION. A STUCK ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN UNINTENDED AND SUSTAINED VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FLOOR CARPET COVER WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE FREE OR CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

06V253000 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

Jul 13, 2006

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION MAY INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TWO FLOOR CARPET COVER RETAINING CLIPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 24, 2006, AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY EARLY SEPTEMBER 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 OR 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