Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | |||||
| 00503 | 08/11/2003 | 00503 | 10016159 | To improve the transmission shift feeling during specific operating modes, the engine control module (ecm) calibration has been revised. original was not received. *tt | 08/31/2005 |
| TC00503 | 08/11/2003 | 10003558 | Ecm calibration shifting enhancement. *tt | 10/23/2003 | |
| 00203 | 05/05/2003 | 10002017 | Engine control module (ecm) reset memory function whenever an automatic transmission is replaced, overhauled or individual components are replaced. 1998 - 2003 all models including the 2004 rx330. *tt | 08/11/2003 | |
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | |||||
| 00304 | 04/06/2004 | 10007095 | The proper identification of the 7 solenoids used in the u150e/u151e/u151f transmissions. *tt | 05/26/2004 | |
| POWER TRAIN - CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | |||||
| 00204 | 02/26/2004 | 10006196 | Driveline whine/hum or thump during deceleration.*mr | 04/26/2004 | |
| POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE - DIFFERENTIAL UNIT | |||||
| 5033C | 04/26/2005 | 10015650 | Repair manual correction for the differential mount cushion (4wd). *tt | 08/02/2005 | |
| POWER TRAIN - TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE) | |||||
| 00106 | 03/17/2006 | 10019656 | Transfer case extension housing seal. *tt | 04/13/2006 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | |||
| 04/15/2009 | 1 | ||
| I bought a used 2004 lexus rx in december of 2008. ever since owning the vehicle, at random times when accelerating from a stop or slow movement, it will hesitate and then revs up and thrusts forward. i told my mechanic (a certified lexus mechanic) about it and he said that i should take it to the lexus dealer to have the computer program updated. i took it to them last spring and they made me drive it with them to feel the hesitation and thrusting forward and then took it into the shop to complete the reprogramming of it. but then they looked at the car's records and it said that the car had already been reprogrammed and they told me that they couldn't reprogram it again. the mechanic said he would send notice of the problem to lexus, but i never heard anything back from the dealer or lexus. my car still does this revving up and thrusting forward. there has been no accident, but i thought you might want to know about a problem with a lexus accelerator and its computer system, that they either ignored or can't fix. do you think this could be a precursor to a serious problem and maybe an accident in the future? i am nervous now that i have heard all about the problems with lexus accelerators and accusations of cover-ups. i took it to the dealer and nothing was fixed and no one had the courtesy to let me know why not. who should i trust to take it to now? am i in danger in the future? have you had other complaints about the lexus accelerator computer system? *tr | |||
| 01/01/1901 | 1 | ||
| 1994 lexus rx330 hesitates while depressing the accelerator. *kb the vehicle has been taken to the dealer several times to alleviate the problem but they claimed that the vehicle was operating within normal specifications. the vehicle has also been plagued by other malfunctions to include squeaks, rattles, multiple malfunctions of the sunroof electronics, broken seats and liftgate alignment problems. *nm updated 08/14/06. *jb | |||
| 12/01/2005 | 30200 | 1 | 11/01/2003 |
| Low speed, single car accident. right front tire hit curb, 20-25 miles an hour. visible damage- tire ruined, rim scratched. dealer inspired- tire, rim, ball joints, lower control arm, cvt, axle, etc. drive train had pre existing condition of noise coming from right hand drive area. dealer stated no problem. since accident, dealer states need to replace all of this. obvious dealer over repair or lack of trained staff, resulting in overcharges. *nm | |||
| 01/01/1901 | 1 | ||
| Consumer has 3 major complaints on the 2004 lexus rx 330: sun glare from the dashboard obstructing visibility. the high intensity lights do not illuminate enough down the road for the consumer to see safely. there is severe hesitation after slowing the vehicle down, followed by a sudden surge of power. *mr the dealer is aware of the problem but indicated there was no way to fix them. *nm | |||
| 06/02/2004 | 4050 | 1 | 10/29/2003 |
| When attempting to accelerate into traffic vehicle would not accelerate. consumer took the vehicle to the dealership for an inspection. *ak the consumer stated that he can not believe that the vehicle meets u.s. dept of transportation national highway traffic safety administration specifications. *tc *jb | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | |||
| 12/28/2010 | 62000 | ||
| 2004 lexus rx330 transmission jumps and will accelerate when depressing brake pedal. has almost caused a few accidents. lexus will not honor any tsb's due to the age of the vehicle. there are thousands and thousands of complaints about this same issue. | |||
| 08/01/2010 | 42000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2004 lexus rx330. the contact stated that while driving approximately 30-40 mph the vehicle would jerk violently and it also stalls when trying to accelerating from a stop sign. the vehicle was inspected by a dealer who informed the contact that she needed to reset the computer and that it would take time for the vehicle to learn how she drove. the vehicle was repaired for the computer reset and the pausing and jerking still occurred after the reset. the failure mileage was approximately 42,000. tb | |||
| 04/10/2010 | 85684 | ||
| I bought my lexus in 2007. it is a 2004 rx lexus 330 it had 31,000 miles when bought. since i had the car my radiator was broken and the lexus dealership repaired it under warranty. before this i remember stopping to the dealership because felt the car was stalling and was told that nothing wrong its just i have to be consistent the way i drive with speed. now in 2010 i'm experiencing the same problem with the car stalling or lagging with the rpm and a little noise coming from the transmission. i really think they should recall this or do something about it because i read alot of reviews that this is happening and the car doesnt even have that many miles. i spent alot of money on this car and they should take this problems in consideration really. | |||
| 03/12/2010 | |||
| Vehicle periodically (approx. weekly) surges between 2nd and 3rd gear (automatic transmission). has been doing this since purchase in oct. 2003, as a brand new vehicle, up through the present date. for years i complained verbally, and wrote letters and e-mails to lexus. they first denied there was a problem, then changed tactics and blamed it on me, then said they didn't know what the problem was or if there was a problem, then lexus finally admitted there was a problem--off the record, but didn't know how to fix it. every time i brought the car in for routine service, they would install computer updates to see if that would fix the problem--which it did not. years ago, i researched through government records and found numerous complaints of the same kind with 2004 lexus rx 330s. in light of recent recalls of toyota vehicles, i am concerned that this may someday turn into the same unintended acceleration problem that is happening with other toyotas. i do not feel safe in my car! | |||
| 01/02/2004 | 200 | 2 | |
| Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6) i have my dream car, 2004 lexus rx330. i have had same trouble. i am afraid of the car. i have an old ford rv, i drive instead of my beautiful lexus. people ask why, i tell them i'm afraid of it. it lurches forward, and also jumps back and forth between gears @ 20mph. this is after 5 updates in the computer of the car. i have put 200k miles on my other 5 toyotas, and all went beautifully! then the demon car as i refer to it. i reported it repeatedly, and was told by everyone, including long beach toyota headquarters, that it was working in the manner it was designed, it was learning how i drive. horse pucky. i am a retiree of att. i had defensive driving every year to drive their co. vehicles. i know how to drive and am very experienced. i also know when there is a bad problem. i have 48k miles on my runaway car. it's only tried to really run away twice, but somehow i got it stopped, i stuck it in neutral, for some unknown reason. back then no one heard of this mess. i never complained to toyota about my cars, because they were wonderful. then, after saving for 10 yrs, bought my dream car. the killer. i hate it, i am beginning to hate toyota. it's very disheartening to me, to have the car company i thought so very highly of, is trying to save their [xxx] , by giving america these defective cars. when our hwy patrol officer and his family, was killed, i cried. all these years of saying they will get caught, they will see. who is they? toyota, and when they heard about it in 04, hushed it up. i know, if a hwy patrolman can't stop a runaway car, how the [xxx] can the normal guy driving it? someone please listen, someone, please help fix this mess. shame on you, toyota! shame on you! dealers, headquarters, employees that lied all these years to us. shame on you! man up, and tell the truth. *tr | |||
| 08/15/2003 | 130000 | 1 | |
| Purchased a new 2004 lexus rx 330 in august of 2003 and repeatedly brought the car to dealerships complaining of a disconnect between the electronic accelerator and the transmission. when attempting to accelerate in an intersection or on a freeway entrance ramp, the car will hesitate for a few seconds and then catapult forward. also, when driving at low speeds, the transmission will erratically jump between different gears, as if looking for the optimal gear. i can best describe this transmission as schizophrenic. i have contacted multiple lexus dealers over the years from minneapolis, to chicago to salt lake city and they all told me they are aware of the problem as many customers have complained. however, lexus has never offered service or a recall to fix the problem. they have reprogrammed my transmission on 2 occasions and told me to use premium fuel. none of these actions corrected the situation. i feel that in a busy intersection, the unpredictable acceleration of my vehicle provides no assurance that my car will move forward when the accelerator is pressed. this can lead to collision and injury. *tr | |||
| 01/02/2004 | 200 | 1 | |
| Someone needs to listen! i have a 2004 lexus rx330. it's had trouble from day one, and i got nowhere! they have done 5 updates on the computer. now it only seems to have trouble at 20 mph, instead of 40-50 and 65-80, of lurching, hesitating, then taking off like a bat out of hell. it's had a bulletin on the front brakes, and shimmied all over the road. i have paper work on all of this and more. you, the ntsb, can take the car and go thru it, i'll give you the repair records. i've called the toyota headquarters in 04 or 05 begging them to help me. a woman said, the car was, performing in the manner it was designed: i saved a long time to buy my dream car when i retired, now i have a defective car, with only 48k miles because of fear of driving it. please please, listen to what people wrote back in 04 about this car. one man said a friend worked for lexus and told him that his boss said there will never be a recall on this car because of the amount of cars sold in the us and canada. we need help. my car is a lemon. i've mentioned numerous times of painting it yellow and putting lemon all over it. please try to pull up records back then, all these people were writing in with the same problems. no one listened then or now! please, i'm begging you. i've had 4 toyota's in the past, and all 4 totally, never had the trouble this 1 lexus has. they were actually toyotas. their complete stature has gone from years of loyalty by me and others, after all the built up trust, gone in an instant! one runaway car is enough! it's now killing people. i bought it for it's comfort, looks, but mostly for safety, and trustworthiness! gone. all gone! i have a 91 ford van i drive instead of the lexus. i call it a piece of junk, nothing but trouble, and lexus had it more than i did the first 4 yrs. please look into this all you can. all these people can't be wrong. i can't even sell it now. shame on you, toyota. shame on you! greed! that's what it is, greed. *tr | |||
| 09/15/2009 | 47000 | 1 | |
| Transmission initially fails to engage in gear causing driver to increase acceleration upon which gears suddenly (and sometimes dangerously) engage & jerk vehicle forward. *tr | |||
| 06/18/2009 | 82151 | 1 | |
| I was traveling south bound doing the speed of 70 on the expressway when all of a sudden my power was lost it dropped to zero, it could have been a very bad accident, but i thank god it was not, i had to coast and try to get off the freeway onto the side of the freeway.*tr | |||
| 05/24/2009 | 49000 | 1 | |
| Transmission jerk, lags and hesitates, car looses power when shifting between 2nd and 3rd gear. on going problem, had dealer perform ecm reprogramming as per technical service bulletin, condition persists, get worse. safety issue when trying to accelerate out of traffic or avoid an object on the road. brought car back to dealer service, they stated condition is normal. many many more similar complaints on several blogs and message boards on the internet. car not safe to drive. should have the transmission replaced. *tr | |||
| 09/01/2008 | 68000 | 1 | |
| Vehicle keeps making noises at around 30 mph. root cause is that a transmission cooling line on my 2004 when under pressure bangs against the body of the vehicle. lexus was well aware of this issue, so they re-designed the line on newer vehicle. lexus is willing to replace the part but at owner cost. i believe this is a defect and lexus need to replace the part under their own cost. *tr | |||
| 09/13/2007 | 61000 | 100 | 05/30/2004 |
| Upon acelleration, this vehicle sometimes hesitates and at times almost causing an accident. i have taken this to the lexus dealership and they are aware of it. they say there is no fix. i was told to use premium gas, and i havebeen told that the new software is in and that is all they could do. | |||
| 08/16/2007 | 1 | 10/09/2003 | |
| On several occasions, i get a lot of hesitation in the transmission during high speed driving on the freeway and also driving in the city. there has been times when i try to accelerate and the transmission struggles to increase in speed and chokes up but it doesn't cut off. i've noticed that when i drive on the freeway at speeds of 55 or 60 and try to increase the acceleration, the vehicle will not accelerate when you press on the gas pedal. it will take 5-10 seconds to think about increasing and then it revvs up in rpms and then just kicks in. you can hear the engine making all of hesitation noise and also seeing the hesitation on the rpm and speedometer reading. i've taken this issue into the dealership several times and they told me that is operating per the design specifications and that it is not out of specs. they then tell me that there is an update to the transmission software so they supposedly update it to operate better. i have never seen a difference after the update. *jb | |||
| 07/14/2007 | 47500 | 1 | 06/24/2004 |
| Transmission hesitation on 2004 lexus rx330 nearly resulted in high speed accident on several occasions. on july 14, 2007 while merging from i-75 in tampa on ramp into rush hour traffic, the lexus at first failed to slow (to match speeds) when gas pedal was released, then when the pedal was depressed to accelerate after the merge (traffic flow was erratic), it failed to accelerate for about 2 seconds, and we had to drive off the pavement to avoid a rear end collision. we have reported the transmission hesitation problem to lexus 5 or more times so far, and they say it is operating as designed. this situation is hazardous under certain common traffic conditions. the july 14, 2007 incident was one of several where we nearly had a serious accident because of the transmission delay. *tr updated 01/09/08. *lj the consumer stated in heavy rain defogger turned to keep windows clear. while driving if vehicle hits a large puddle a/c will turn off and no way to restart the a/c other than to turn the ignition off. updated 12/12/07 *tr | |||
| 02/25/2007 | 59489 | 1 | 09/23/2005 |
| I own a 2004 lexus rx330. since i have owned it, there has been a power fade when i make sudden speed changes usually from a slow down to quick acceleration--say a lane change to avoid slower traffic. there is approximately 2 or 3 seconds when there is no response from pressing the accelerator. it feels like all power falls away. i am left like a sitting duck until the vehicle decides what to do with my command. if i am crossing a median, i must allow for this delay. however, if i have to change lanes to avoid another vehicle making an unsignaled turn or sudden stop, i am putting myself and others in danger because i cannot count on having the power to avoid the vehicle in front of me by changing lanes and then i risk an incident in trying to match the speed of the vehicle that is now behind me. i have addressed this with lexus on several occasions including one trip where i demanded that the master mechanic ride with me. he explained that lexus is aware and that it is a computer problem for which there is no patch available. as of today, there is still no cure. the last update my vehicle received was in sept 2006. *nm | |||
| 09/22/2006 | 10 | 267 | |
| 2004 rx 330, still having trouble from day 1. i almost got slammed into by a truck 2 days ago. the have flashed the computer, for transmission hesitation, but insist it is performing the way it was intended. it is a design flaw, and lexus won't do anything about it! someone is going to be killed! this is very serious, it happens at about 20 mph, when you need to accelerate to get on freeway, etc, it will hesitate, and act like it died, or revs up, and does nothing. then you let off pedal and hit it again, and it hesitates a sec then goes. i already have been to the dealer 6 times for this, and called 80025lexus twice, and they are not doing a recall they say. it is performing to the specs of the transmission. *nm | |||
| 08/11/2006 | 19000 | 1 | |
| Hesitation, jerky when shifting. took to dealers 3 times and unable to resolve issue. they stated that vehicle is operating within parameters. now it is jerky when shifting most of the time. *nm | |||
| 03/05/2005 | 10 | 652 | 10/10/2003 |
| Transmission is hesitant, switches up and down in rapid jumps, is very unpredictable!! almost caused several accidents. been doing it since i bought it 2 yrs. dealer claims known problem, and no fix yet!!!*jb | |||
| 12/01/2005 | 27000 | 20 | 03/03/2005 |
| The automatic transmission has a lag in it at low speeds. this is apparent when releasing the accelerator to slow down and then accelerating again. in this situation the transmission does on engage or it lags causing an unsafe condition by its unpredictable behavior. this situation happens on a frequent basis. i have seen many complaints about this transmission problem. is nhtsa going to hold lexus accountable for putting a defective transmission on the road? i have read that lexus' repeated reply is to state this behavior is normal. lexus can not win this argument on repetition, it is defective. if this lag is *normal* why didn't lexus design this nice lag into all of their cars? i'm sure this would be a feature they would want to run an ad campaign on. *jb | |||
| 10/02/2004 | 03/02/2004 | ||
| Around 11,000 miles my 2004 rx330 started having a thumping sound that occurred intermittently while decelerating especially around 29 mph and then again around 19 mph. i took it to the dealer and they informed me that it was my trans cooler line assembly and oil cooler hose which were replaced and the problem was resolved for about one week that was back in oct. 2004. i have taken the vehicle back about 4 more times for the thumping noise that continues to occur intermittently and now they tell me the noise is normal and that the vehicle is operating as designed. i questioned how can it be considered abnormal back in october but now that the thumping noise can't be fixed they consider it a design flaw. they apparently upgraded it and that should have eliminated the noise but if it didn't there is nothing else to do because this is how the vehicle was designed... i fear everyday that this thumping noise is only the beginning of what is yet to follow as i read all the other transmission problems that have been occuring and some have exhibited the thump sound...lexus needs to fix the problems and not just put a band-aid on each one that occurs until the next major incident ... take this vehicles off the road if so many consumers are putting their life in jeopardy driving a vehicle that was apparently not manufactured properly and should not be considered safe to drive. | |||
| 04/07/2005 | 500 | 12 | 04/21/2003 |
| Engine/transmission hesitation; missed shift points; and stalls in traffic upon acceleration. using automatic climate control causes all windows to fog up to the extent that you can not see out of the windows. load engine noises and popping sounds. | |||
| 04/01/2005 | 1 | 07/01/2003 | |
| 2004 lexus rx330 has problems with transmission shift.*mr the transmission hesitates when pulling out into traffic. the consumer believes that simply upgrading the computer chip would correct the problem. *nm | |||
| 10/10/2003 | 10 | 400 | 10/10/2003 |
| I have a 2004 rx330. the transmission hesitates terribly, to the point this car is unsafe. i have had it in 3 times, and they tell me that's the way it is supposed to operate. they said, i'ts trying to learn how you drive give it time, they say, now i have 10k miles, still same problem. i waited my whole life to get a lexus, and not they are proving to be lemons, and lexus of all the companies, should stand behind their product. they are not doing anything. it's going to get someone killed. when are they going to help me and the others that are having trouble? it seems to be when you start from a stop, in the lower gears. lexus said this car doesn't need the update.*jb | |||
| 07/29/2004 | 1725 | 50 | 06/16/2004 |
| Hesitation problems with my 2004 lexus rx330. at low speeds of 10-15 mph to up to around 40-50 mph. let off of the gas pedal to slow down & press the gas pedal there is a hesitation. this has happen changing lanes on a highway or turning around a corner. this hesitation has happen many times since the i leased this lexus from the dealership. i have taken this rx330 back to the dealership 3 times for this problem. the lexus dealership has called it a situation not a problem. but there is nothing they can do about it. i have voiced my complaint at the lexus customer relations in california. i have repeatedly called. they tell me how sorry they are when i tell them someone is going to die or be seriously injured in this vechicle i have but there is nothing they can do. i have had at least 4 near accidents with this lexus rx330 since july of 2004. *ak | |||
| 07/01/2003 | 5000 | 2 | 04/25/2003 |
| I am leasing a 2004 lexus rx 330 fwd with about 20,000 miles on it. when i try to apply the throttle after slowing down there is a severe hesitation, usually followed by a sudden surge in power. at times there is an additional hesitation while the transmission is deciding what gear it should be in. this is especially noticeable while making a turn at an intersection, and especially dangerous if there are pedestrians in the intersection. i have had it to the leasing dealer (longo lexus) and they reprogrammed the transmission, which provided a temporary and partial fix. after a few weeks, aparently the transmission reprogrammed itself and the problem returned. i took the car to a second dealer and he said that they had many similar complaints about that driveline, but there was no factory fix. i called lexus customer service and they said the same. this problem began shortly after i got the car in april 2003 and still exists. if lexus truly wanted to fix this problem, it would have already been done. they need a push. *ak | |||
| 11/20/2004 | 1 | 100 | 04/15/2003 |
| Toyota/lexus needs to address their power train problem on the 2004 rx 330 instead of seemingly ignoring it. the reprogramming does not work. i've had it done. seemed to be a band aid fix for a major problem. will it have to be a death before they recall these lousy transmissions. i have been in several near miss situations because of this awful transmission since purchasing this suv brand new april 15, 2003. and after paying cash ($45,000) for their supposed great product i want to sue for my money back. the lag between gears, the high revs before getting into a gear is utterly insane. can you say recallllllllll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*jb | |||
| 09/01/2003 | 2500 | 8 | 08/15/2003 |
| Hesitation on 2004 lexus rx 330 transmission. it's unsafe to pull out in traffic with this car. you don't know if the car will proceed or if it will hesitate while in traffic. lexus says it's a design issue, with no fix. lexus told us to use premium gas - then did an ecm reflash - then said it's a design issue. this car does this every time i drive it. it's great on the freeway at 60 mph, but from a starting position or a low speed position in the city - it's terrible - more importantly it doesn't feel safe. today - it even surged when i pulled away from a light.*ak | |||
| 06/01/2004 | 2 | ||
| Re: supplement to consumer complaint #10091268 lexus rx 330 transmission/throttle problems. *bf automatic transmission hestiates, hunts, shifts inconsistently, hangs in between gears, delayes, etc. the throttle delays at the first application of gas and the rate of acceleration surges up and down unevenly. dealer could not find a problem. *tt | |||
| 09/05/2004 | 1 | 08/31/2004 | |
| Transmission problems rendered the vehicle completely unsafe, prone to potential accidents. *bf the consumer described the problem as lag or hesitation when the transmission shifted from first to second and or second to third, sometimes the vehicle revved up to the redline with out the transmission engaging. the dealer reset a computer chip that was involved in regulating the power train system. the dealer informed the consumer there was else that could be done. the transmission was the result of the design of the vehicle. (lawyer ira newman on behalf of client, peter janczuk)*jb | |||
| 08/31/2004 | 1 | 08/31/2004 | |
| Since i have bought my car the transmission has not been shifting properly. it hesitates in low gears when the car accelerates . the most bothersome is the lack of proper response when the driver needs to slow down and then accelerate (such as turning left or changing lanes to avoid obstacles or double parked cars). in these cases transmission seems to go into neutral, and after about a second goes into third or fourth gear with a rapid , jerky movement of the whole car, which i would compare to being rear ended by another car. it happened to me and my wife 4 times and resulted in neck pain and headache, and almost being hit by another car. lexus dealer and customer care state that the car was designed to work this way and there is nothing they can do.*ak | |||
| 09/21/2004 | 1200 | 40 | 12/12/2003 |
| This has been a continuing problem since purchased new in dec 2003. as has been reported numerous times, my car acceleration hesitates from a stop or from low speeds. also my vehicle has extensive pause or lag between gears. this has created numerous dangerous situations where i was stuck while other vehicles had to take action to avoid hitting my rx330. often, while making left turns against oncoming traffic, this lag is so long as to be dangerous. in the past, i have accelerated harder than i feel necessary in order to compensate for this lag. this results in a sudden downshift and forward lurch that is very dangerous. i have reported this to my dealer on 3 or more occasions and their response is that this is normal for my model. they say there is nothing they can do to correct this problem. the dealer did document this complaint on my service record the last time i visited on 8/13/04.*ak | |||
| 07/16/2004 | 1 | 06/19/2003 | |
| Just left my lexus dealer for my 20,000 service. finally the service mgr acknowledged my transmission woes. see my previous post. he said lexus is aware of the concern nation wide. they changed? the tranny for 2005!!! they are also postponing the hybrid for 6 months due to the concerns of the 2004 rx transmission though we know that's a totally different application. the kicker is though it's still an open case, lexus at this time does not have a fix. so 20,000 miles later i have a 40,0000 suv that has a transmission of a yugo. no offense to the yugo. i was told how frustrated they are with this. i believe my frustration is greater, seeing how i make the payments and drive this car daily. also not much they can do right now until lexus makes a move. aaaaaarrrrrggggghhhhh. not happy in the twin cities.*ak | |||
| 06/01/2004 | 0 | 20 | 04/15/2004 |
| My lexus rx 330 has had repeated transmission and throttle problems. the automatic transmission hesitates, hunts, shifts inconsistently, hangs in between gears, delays, etc. the throttle delays at the first application of gas and the rate of accelleration surges up and down unevenly. the result is that the car often cannot avoid hazard situations. if one is trying to pull into traffic the delays create hazards. if one anticipates and applies the throttle early to compensate, one sometimes lurches into traffic. when you attempt a lane change the same problems cause the same troubles: delays and a hazard. the delay also has caused me to be almost rear ended at stop lights. i have repeatedly reported this problem or package of problems to my local servicing dealer and have been told that lexus knows of the widespread nature of the complaints but that there is nothing that lexus will do for it (other than one reflash that did not work for the issues). amazingly, when i raised these issues in writing, the written response on my service records showed no problems. when i pushed the service personnel on this, they admitted that all of my complaints were found but that lexus claims these problems are normal to the design, therefore, they have been told by lexus to simply respond that there are no problems because the transmission is performing as designed. a bad design is just that. local service people simply throw their collective hands up and say the they know about the gravity of the problem but that lexus will do nothing about it. i have been told to expect no solution and to just live with it. significantly, this is the largest selling lexus model. therefore, these problems and the hazards that they create affect thousands of motorists.*ak | |||
| 08/24/2004 | 5 | 09/25/2003 | |
| Transmission has a serious delay in downshifting when trying to accelerate suddenly. this has caused more than one instance where a collision could have occurred due to inability to avoid faster traffic. *ak *tc | |||
| 07/08/2004 | 7200 | 50 | 12/27/2003 |
| Acceleration with this suv is not positive and you never know if you are going to move when you depress the accelerator. this suv uses drive by wire technology so there is no physical link between the gas pedal and the engine. when you depress the gas, there is a delay in the reponse which can cause you to end up in some other driver's path. this car is very unsafe to drive and needs to be recalled and fixed by the manufacturer before someone is killed. i took my suv to the dealer and he reset my on-board computer and the computer that communicates to the transmission .......... this did nothing! i plan to take my suv back to the dealer again and if he cannot repair the problem i am going to terminate my lease!*ak | |||
| 10/10/2003 | 100 | 100 | 09/25/2003 |
| 2004 lexus rx 330 has intermittant, erratic automatic transmission. dealer says it is a hesitatiion issue, but rfeuses to confirm in writing because manufacturer says it's the way the car is designed. even though countless others have complained, nothing has been done.*ak | |||
| 08/13/2004 | 500 | 100 | 09/15/2003 |
| Our 2004 lexus rx330 (now about 15,000 miles) continues to have terrible shifting problems with the automatic transmission. in particular, two major issues -- (1) doesn't upshift correctly, usually between 2nd and 3rd gears, but the real concern is (2) when slowing down, coasting anything above 0 mph (even 1), then hitting the gas pedal, the car simply doesn't respond for 3-5 seconds, then slowly accelerates. we've almost been hit 5 times because of the 2nd problem. we've taken the car to the dealer four times to have it looked at. the first time the dealer denied the problem existed. the second time they recognized it (after a test drive with me) and reset the software/driving chip, telling me the car learns our driving habits after about 300 miles, so to get the car to respond [the way it should], i should floor the gas all the time for the first 300 miles or so, which i did from every stoplight for 350 miles. it didn't work. now during my third and fourth visits lexus has declined to reset the chip or do anything about it. the lead mechanic told me they simply don't have a fix, and he knows it's an issue. in fact, a month ago (service appt #4) they said i would have to pay about $300 to have them reset the chip again (which likely wouldn't work anyway, as described above). i've been told by the service advisor he's heard compaints from many new rx330 owners about the same problem, but short of a recall from lexus, that's the way the transmission works on the rx330 and we can't do anything about it. it's terribly frustrating that lexus denies there's a problem, even though many have reported it, and we've almost been hit by another automobile because of the problem. i just hope it doesn't take a major accident or worse for lexus or the nhtsa to do something about it.*ak | |||
| 07/25/2004 | 10 | 1 | 02/24/2004 |
| 1. there were no events that led up to the problem that i have been having. . the transmission on my brand new lexus rx 330 doesn't shift properly. it kicks when steping on the the gas pedal, there is a hesitation when accelerating from a stop, & between 20 - 40 mph, as the transmission shifts, the transmission has trouble up shifting and engine revs up and down several times before shifting 3. the dealer has tried to reprogram the transmission computer, and has tried switching to high octane fuel. neither has worked. the dealer is trying to correct the problem, however, i know of several rx 330 owners who are all experienceing simmilar problems with their transmissions. it seems apparent that there is a manufacturing defect in some part of the transmissions used in the rx 330. *ak | |||
| 11/06/2003 | 1 | 10/06/2003 | |
| I have owned my 2004 lexus rx330 since october. i have had the vehicle into the dealership on (4) separate occasions complaining about the problem with the transmission. upon acceleration after slowing down the vehicle and returning to the pedal to reaccelerate the transmission does not engage. the car has a dead pedal at times i have even pressed the accelerator to the floor with no reaction. when you let up on it and repress then it will react. also the transmission has a lag in shifting at low speeds. on several occasions especially when yeilding and starting to proceed, i have almost hit a vehicle from the lag time from when i actually started to accelerate and the vehicle actually beginning to move. i feel this extremely dangerous, as i have come close to hitting a vehicle on several occasions from this. i feel very unsafe in this vehicle even with the overwhelming safety features of the vehicle. i do not trust that when i engage the accelerater to get out of the way that i will actually move. the dealer told me the first time when the car went in for it's mandatory 1,000 mile checkup that the computer needs to learn the driver and this could take the first 5,000 miles. when i returned at the 5,000 mile checkup and it was still doing it. i was told they reflashed the computer to attempt to correct the problem. then after another 1,000 miles when it still did the same thing, the service manager took the car out and said he flew the memory in the computer and retaught the car to drive again and to drive it very cautiously for the next 48 hours and that would cure the problem. when it got worse and continued to still do the same thing i took it in again and was told it was my car mat interferring with the reaction of the pedal and the transmission and told to remove the car mat. at this point i don't know what to do. the car is going in again for the 5th time to be looked at??????? someone needs to seriously address this matter.*ak | |||
| 06/29/2004 | 20000 | 2 | 05/01/2003 |
| The automobile has a latent defect and is inherently dangerous. in november 2003, i attempted to back up in a crowded parking lot, and while in reverse, i pressed the accelerator - there was a lag and the vehicle then accelerated backward very rapidly, striking another vehicle. i assumed the fault was my own (since in moving my foot from the accelerator to the brake, my foot was caught under the brake because the pedals are close together, but that is another item) and after the vehicle was repaired (approximately $7,000 worth of damage) i resumed driving the vehicle. on june 29, 2004, again i was attempting to back up and again the vehicle was in reverse and again when i pressed on the accelerator, there was a lag and then again the vehicle accelerated rapidly backwards, striking a building. it is estimated that the damage to the vehicle is over $10,000, and i do not know what the cost of the damage to the building is. interestingly, as well, in neither case did the airbags deploy. the second incident received some local press coverage, and on july 8, 2004 i received a call from a visitor to massachusetts from florida who had heard about the second incident and who reported that on july 1, 2004 that driver while in a parking lot had also had sudden rapid acceleration and had struck a building, damaging the driver's lexus rx 330. that driver also stated that she had heard of a third incident in massachusetts of a lexus rx 330 striking a building following sudden acceleration. the faulty transmission, coupled with the power and torque of the vehicle and the resulting sudden acceleration, is a serious defect; i will not drive the vehicle again. the response of the lexus dealer when the incidents were reported to it was silence. *la | |||
| 07/08/2004 | 10 | ||
| Our 2004 lexus 330 automatic transmission has never worked properly. the transmission hesitates and seems to bounce between 3rd and 4th gears. we have returned the vehicle twice to the dealership to no avail. this seems to be a design problem. *ak | |||
| 01/02/2004 | 0 | 1 | 09/19/2003 |
| Since i have owned this vehicle, i have had trouble with rough shifting and a lag associated with a delay in low speed acceleration. returned vehicle to the dealer and was told it was adjusted. problem persists. eventually, someone will be injured or killed by this problem due to unexpected hesitation in acceleration.*ak | |||
| 05/17/2004 | 1 | 05/03/2004 | |
| When making a left turn or a right turn, the vehicle dropped out of gear then surged intermittently. the dealership inspected the vehicle and determined the transmission performed erratically. *jb the transmission also failed intermittently while driving straight. the manufacturere claimed that this was a charaxteristic of the vehicle. *nm | |||
| 04/14/2003 | 01/26/2004 | ||
| I too have had ongoing problems with my 2004 lexus rx 330. i have had my car in the repair center three times already for hesitation and lagging between gears and vibrations noises throughout the car. i personally do not feel safe in this car because it drives inconsistently and on several occasions, i have almost been rear-ended or have stalled in an intersection because the car does not properly accelarate. i have written a letter to the dealership and have contacted lexus customer service numerous times. i am being told that this is normal. normal to who? it is obvious, by many comments i have reviewed by other owners of this same vehicle that there is a serious issue here that lexus is choosing to ignore because they do not have a solution. i wonder how long they will continue to turn their heads. i drove an rx 300 for several years and it was completely different. i bought another lexus for safety and reliability factors and i do not feel either in the new rx 330. please investigate this problem before someone gets seriously hurt.*ak | |||
| 04/09/2004 | 30 | 01/21/2004 | |
| My rx 330 has a transmission lag at 20-25mph. the car just doesnt go and it is extremly dangerous in intersections. someone is going to get killed and i hope it is not me.*ak | |||
| 04/02/2004 | 2000 | 1 | 10/13/2003 |
| Transmission shifting erratic at low speeds. clunk or muted clank heard and felt under closed throttle dowshifts while slowing to a stop. most noticeable during the 5-4 downshift (37 mph) and the 4-3 downshift (25 mph). service manager claims it's a normal operating condition for lexus. technician who rode with me disagreed. vehicle only has 5100 miles. problem began at 2000 mile mark. *jb | |||
| 03/23/2004 | 7900 | 1 | 10/30/2004 |
| Transmission problem: serious lag between gear shifts. if i push the accelerator down to accelerate to get out of a dangerous situation: nothing happens. the car seems to stall, slows down and then once the ecu has determined which gear to selectit accelerates violently taking the driver by surprise. altogether the response is far too slow. transmission is not smooth. this is a safety issue. dealer checked transmission:working according to specifications ?! also thump clunk noise when decelerating from 50 mph to lower speeds, occasionally. aa. *ak | |||
| 03/02/2004 | 5700 | 1 | 09/05/2004 |
| My 2004 lexus rx330 awd has a problem with the transmission hanging on the 2-3 upshift. the car hesitates then roughly shifts into the next gear. it has never shifted as smoothly in any gear as other lexus and toyota products i driven. i went to the dealer and the dealer reprogrammed the engine management control. the net result has been that the engine shifts at a higher rpm than it did before, but is still not smooth. the hesitation between gears was less frequent for a week or two after the reprogram, but has now returned and there is an increasing lag or hesitation in shifting in the 2-3 and 3-4 upshift. last week as i was merging into expressway traffic, i pushed down the throttle and nothing happened. it almost seemed as though the engine died. i released the throttle, pushed again and the transmission engaged a lower gear and accelerated. the behavior of the transmission is unpredictable. sometimes, but not always, the engine feels like it stalls when turning a corner. the hesitation on downshift has occurred four times now since the reprogram. the car has less than 6000 miles on it. the dealer seemed to try to be helpful, but can only pass on what the manufacturer provides them, so i think the resolution lies with toyota and lexus in developing a fix for a potentially dangerous problem. *jb | |||
| 07/01/2003 | 1 | 07/01/2003 | |
| Lexus 2004 rx 330 - transmission. shifting hesitation, lexus has addressed the problem with a change in computer shifting points but it has not fixed the problem. they now refuse to help further saying only that it is within design standards. many complaints on this problem in lexus owners forum web site, but no help from lexus.*jb | |||
| 02/20/2004 | 1 | 12/20/2003 | |
| When i drive my 2004 lexus rx330 manual on 4th, speed is around 40 mph, and left off the throttle, i can hear a whining noise from rear. once i push the gas paddle, the noise is gone. it can be duplicated on d when i slow down from 50 mph. this also happens to the other three rx330s (two loaner cars and one brand new car).*ak | |||
| 01/26/2004 | 1 | 09/27/2003 | |
| The rx330 has a transmission problem that affects the safety of the vehicle. there is a serious lag between gear shifts. the engine will rev up but the car doesn't move. this happens when starting from a stopped position and also when merging into traffic, changing lanes, and passing traffic. i have narrowly avoided being hit in the rear twice because of this behavior. when slowing down the car doesn't downshift into the proper gear at times and it is very difficult to stop. i am very concerned about my safety driving this vehicle. i have had the vehicle to the dealer 3 times and was told that it is operating as designed. the dealer acknowledges the complaints that i have but tell me that lexus has not come up with a fix yet. i have contacted lexus customer service about this issue only to be told that it is operating as designed. this vehicle is dangerous to drive and i fear a serious accident because of the transmission behavior. is there no recourse for a consumer who has been sold an unsafe vehicle? *la | |||
| 01/03/2004 | 1 | 07/22/2003 | |
| My rx330 has just come out of the dealer service for the second time due to a complete failure to downshift when necessary. especially as i slow down to about 20 mph, and the try to re-accelerate, the rpm's go to 5500 but the vehicle does not move and the clutch never engages. you have to let off the gas pedal and let the rpm's come back down and try it again. this has almost got me hit by another vehicle at least 3 times. on the first service call they tried to do a transmission reset i have driven the vehicle 2500 miles since then and it might even be worse. this time it went to the shop and two technicians, one manager, and one customer service rep all told me that they have been able to simulate the problem on test drives but that it is normal for this vehicle, however, they are still going to report it to the manufacturer. my response is that this may be normal for this vehicle, but it is not normal for a vehicle. they all agreed but said that lexus does not have a fix. this is currently elevated to the lexus company customer service and they said they would get back to me. until then i am stuck in a dangerous vehicle. *la | |||
| 11/10/2003 | 25 | 07/01/2003 | |
| This car has a intermittent problem between 2nd and 3rd gear. the engine revs up in between gears and finally shifts into gear. the transmission is very sluggish between all gears. i have had it to the dealership twice and service manager says that this is as good as it is going to be. when the car is between 2 & 3 i sometimes feel that it will let go entirely and might cause a very serious accident. *la | |||
| 11/17/2003 | 3 | ||
| Since we purchased the vehicle, the transmission has acted strange. the vehicle does not shift smoothly when changing from one gear to the next. we have taken the vehicle back to the dealer. was told the first time that is the way the vehicle shifts. after the problem got worse, we took it back again. dealer confirmed that we were not the only owner that has complained to them about the problem. was told to bring the vehicle in and they would re calibrate the chip that controls the shifting. got the vehicle back after they worked on it and it did improve, but still not working properly. i am concerned that this problem will only get worse again like it did the first time. this should not be happening to a 2004 vehicle. please register my complaint and i'm sure based on what the dealer told us that others are having the same problem. *la | |||
| 09/25/2003 | 0 | ||
| Many owners of 2004 rx330 have reported problems with the 5-speed automatic transmission. there is a substantial lag in shifting at low speeds around 20 mph with occasional reports of the car revving to redline without the transmission engaging. this results in the vehible becoming immobile in intersections or when exiting toolbooths. there is a similar problem at around 40 mph. it has happened to our vehicle at least 6 times, two of which nearly resulted in an accident from being rear-ended. lexus has released a software upgrade but this reportedly has not corrected the problem. after denying that there waa a tsb for the problem, the dealer said that it could not recommend the upgrade. | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM) | |||
| 09/13/2007 | 61000 | 100 | 05/30/2004 |
| Upon acelleration, this vehicle sometimes hesitates and at times almost causing an accident. i have taken this to the lexus dealership and they are aware of it. they say there is no fix. i was told to use premium gas, and i havebeen told that the new software is in and that is all they could do. | |||
| 04/10/2005 | 1000 | 50 | 04/16/2004 |
| 2004 lexus rx-330 awd. vehicle hesitates when attempting to accelerate. there is a delay, especially when going from a dead stop such as pulling out into traffic. also, if you attempt to quickly speed up as when merging or an evasive maneuver, the engine lags. will also happen when turning a corner, then accelerating. i have been told by lexus that this is a known problem with the throttle by wire and intelligent transmission. i currently pull the ecu fuse monthly to reset the processors and that appears to help for a while. that is the fix suggested by the lexus rx-330 forums. now that 2006 models are coming, i know this is no longer on the lexus engineers' minds, but there are those of us that feel this is a safety issue as you never know if the car will respond reliably, especially when pulling into traffic, creating a real hazard. *jb | |||
| 03/25/2005 | 24977 | 0 | 08/06/2003 |
| Our lexus rx330 was purchased in august of 2003. for the last several months, the vehicle hesitates to shift gears with a lag causing the vehicle to jerk forward. we have trouble merging onto the highway as well as accelerating from a stop and while turning due to this dangerous condition. dealer keeps performing the tsb tc005-03 poor shift quality and reprograms the computer with no improvement. we are told there is nothing more that can be done. after multiple attempts with lexus customer service, they deny a problem exists and states that the vehicle performs within specifications. customer service even fails to document my complaints by not entering it in the ir computer systems in an attempt to hide the defect. many owners report this problem on internet message boards. this is a dangerous and unacceptable design flaw that needs to be corrected with a recall. | |||
| 08/08/2004 | 100 | 30 | 02/06/2004 |
| 1.2004 rx 330 transmission slips when accelerating ,passing(most dangerous when going up an incline),and from a dead start(ie: light or stop sign).car seems to shift into neutral and hesatates while tachometer revs to 5-6000 rpm.*ak 2. dangerious when entering freeway on ramp and almost got rearended due to delay. 3. reported 3 times to dealer, they said it is within specs.had a loaner lexus rx 330 when mine was in for service and the transmission wes perfect. constant problem. | |||
| 10/10/2003 | 100 | 100 | 09/25/2003 |
| 2004 lexus rx 330 has intermittant, erratic automatic transmission. dealer says it is a hesitatiion issue, but rfeuses to confirm in writing because manufacturer says it's the way the car is designed. even though countless others have complained, nothing has been done.*ak | |||
| 04/15/2004 | 10 | 1 | 01/26/2004 |
| I purchased a 2004 lexus rx330 in january of 2004 and there is a consistent lag of the drivetrain when accelerating from a standing start and when accelerating to pass. from a standing start the vehicle hesitates and then abruptly lurches forward. at highway speed there is a deceleration which pitches one forward and then an engagement which lurches the occupant back with a snapping motion. the ecm was reprogramed at 1000 mile check. when a print out of tsb was presented service manager reacted like a snake was placed on counter and then advised that reprogaming ecm would not necessarily improve problem. he was right. this is a safety concern as pulling out to pass could cause an accident.*ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - LEVER AND LINKAGE - FLOOR SHIFT | |||
| 06/30/2004 | 3025 | 1 | 03/20/2004 |
| My wife had pulled routinely out of our driveway on a clear morning with no obstructions on the road, she turned out of the driveway onto our private road and suv then suddenly and violently accelerated out of control, rocketing her into a tree and stone wall. the air/knee bags and active seat belt restraint were deployed, saving my wife's life. the investigation by the lexus front office in torrance revealed that vehicle was performing according to specs. i had noticed a revving noise on day one of purchase and mentioned it to the salesman who said he would look into it. with no further information the dealer suggested mentioning the problem at the 1000 mile check-up. nothing abnormal was detected, though my complaint was recorded (april '04). the revving noise continued intermittently but without incident until june 30, 2004, the date of the crash. upon hearing of a lexus suv incident in my town, i decided to check the ntsb database. i was astounded by the concensus of complaints involving the power-train. i have been a lexus owner since 1995 (sc 300 coupe) and have driven a number of rx 300's and one other rx 330 (as loaner vehicles). i believe in the product so much so, that i would entrust the safety of my wife and children in a lexus. how many fatalities will result before a recall is issued?? the malfunction apparently defies diagnostic detection. *ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION | |||
| 08/27/2004 | 0 | 100 | 06/04/2004 |
| Since new the vehicle has both transmission hesitation shifting problems noted by many others. around 40 mph, asking for acceleration with about 3/4 throtle causes the trnasmission to come out of gear and hunt for about two seconds. this is very dangerous - don't plan on passing anyone. coasting around 10 mph, mild throtle causes the tranmission to shift hard and lurch the vehicle. lexus acknowledges the condition, but states it is not a problem.*ak | |||