8.0

pretty bad
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
5,134 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2004 Lexus RX 330:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #2

Apr 012004

RX 330

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100 miles
I have a Lexus rx 330, 2004. Starting in April 2004 right after I purchased it on March 31, 2004 I have had brake problems with this car. It would jolt when you were applying the brakes, and pull to the side. This was reported by phone, and during its first check up at 1000 miles. Told they could not find anything. Continued problem. Told same at 5000 mile check up, but they replaced brake booster anyway. While backing out of drive brakes failed, and vehicle ran into a yard. Then brake light came on. Lexus dealer sent car carrier to pick up. Driver saw there were no brakes and light was on. Told by dealership the brakes working and light on, but replaced brake boosters again. This time supposedly with another type. I was assured each time nothing wrong with car. Kept driving it, and car would continue to jolt, and pulled to side while steadily applying brakes. Even to the point it would break traction in rain. Had car picked up again, , and they told me this time it was a chip which controlled the baffle system that controlled the brakes. I refused to let them work on it, and asked Lexus at this time to buy the car back under the ga lemon law which was very clear about major system failure such as brakes. His buy back process has been going on since February. The car has been at the dealership unable to be driven. Signed a contract with Lexus to buy it back over 45 days ago and they still have not given me my money.

- Mineral Bluff, GA, USA

problem #1

Jan 222005

RX 330

  • Automatic transmission
  • 10,169 miles
Without any prior indication of a problem, on Jan.22.05 the brakes on my 2004 Lexus rx 330 stopped working properly. Would only work with extreme foot pressure and then very difficult to control. This happened in cold weather after the car was just washed at a commercial car wash. Mileage on car about 10,500. After driving the vehicle for less than a mile, I called Lexus roadside assistance who arranged for the vehicle to be towed for service in westport ct. I was told the "brake booster" had failed. The dealer replaced it within a few days and under warranty. The dealer also indicated there were other vehicles who had experienced similar problems. His was the exact problem described in the Feb.16.05 edition of the New York times for vehicles of this model produced in Canada.

- Ridgefield, CT, USA