RoadVitals

2004 Lexus RX330 Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
35
Latest Dec 15, 2018
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
12%
of 287 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
15
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
13

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Lexus RX330 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 35 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

The 25 most recent of 35, in the owner's own words

Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Dec 15, 2018

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

NHTSA ID
11161766
Incident
Dec 14, 2018
Mileage
185,000 mi
Driver assistanceSuspension
Filed Sep 16, 2017

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.

NHTSA ID
11023758
Incident
Aug 25, 2017
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 30, 2016

MY 2004 LEXUS RX330 WAS STOPPED IN A PARKING LOT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE ABOUT TO GET READY TO LET A PASSENGER LEAVE THE VEHICLE. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND NOT MOVING. WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR ACCELERATED TO FULL THROTTLE. WITHIN SECONDS THE CAR TOOK OFF AND JUMPED A CURB AND DROVE AT FULL THROTTLE. AS SOON AS I REALIZED WHAT WAS HAPPENING, I THEN PRESSED HARD ON THE BRAKE AND WAS FINALLY ABLE TO STOP THE CAR AFTER IT DROVE ABOUT 50 FT. I WAS IN SHOCK THAT THIS OCCURRED. MY HEAD HAD FLUNG BACK ALONG WITH MY PASSENGER WITH TERRIFIC FORCE. ONCE STOPPED AND I WAS COMPOSED, I DROVE THE CAR OFF THE GRASSY AREA IT WAS NOW ON AND RELUCTANTLY DROVE IT HOME. SOME DEGREE OF NECK PAIN LATER WAS NOTICED. THERE WAS NO FLOOR MAT ISSUE OR ANY NOTICEABLE OBSTRUCTIONS TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. LATER UPON INSPECTION OF THE CAR THERE APPEARED TO BE SOME BODY DAMAGE TO THE CAR. NOT SURE WHERE IT CAME FROM OR IF WE HIT ANYTHING OTHER THEN THE CURB THOUGH. THE CAR ACTED AS THOUGH IT WAS POSSESSED. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WILL BE LOOKING FOR ANOTHER CAR WITHOUT DRIVE BY WIRE IF THEY STILL EXIST.

NHTSA ID
10862369
Incident
Apr 28, 2016
Mileage
176,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Mar 29, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 11V112000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND 10V499000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD BE COMPLETED WITHIN 4 TO 6 WEEKS. THE CONTACT CALLED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME AND RECEIVED NO FOLLOW UP RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER. MONTHS LATER, THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10852270
Incident
Aug 10, 2015
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jan 27, 2016
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS RX330. WHILE BACKING UP THE VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE AND HOUSE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO IMMEDIATELY STOP WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.

NHTSA ID
10822595
Incident
Jan 15, 2016
Mileage
119,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 25, 2015
Crash reported2 injuries reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS RX330. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO TWO OTHER VEHICLES AND A CURB. THE TWO PASSENGERS IN THE OTHER VEHICLES SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR BODY REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID
10776614
Incident
Jun 16, 2015
Mileage
60,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Mar 12, 2015

I GOT IN THE CAR AT 2 P.M. AFTER DRIVING 1/4 MILE IT WOULD NOT TAKE OFF FROM THE STOP SIGN IT STALLED AND LUNGED FORWARD DUE TO LOSS OF CONNECTION WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL. I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE AND SHIFTED FROM D TO 4 AND IT BEGAN TO SHAKE IN THE FRONT OF THE BUMPER. I PULLED OVER, PUT IT IN NEUTRAL WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ON AND MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON, AND OPENED THE HOOD. IT STOPPED SHAKING AND I REMOVED THE FLOOR MAT, WHICH IS ATTACHED WITH CLIPS AND WITH MY HAND, I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL. IT HAD NO REV IN THE ENGINE, AS I WOULD EXPECT. I GOT BACK IN THE CAR AND SHIFTED TO R AND THEN WITH THE BRAKE OFF, I SHIFTED TO 4. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS FLASHING AND VSC LIGHT AS WELL. I CAN TELL YOU FOR CERTAIN MY CAR WAS NOT OVERHEATING WHEN I TOOK IT TO SEARS AUTO CENTER WITH WARNING LIGHTS VSC AND CHECK ENGINE COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. IF THE VEHICLE OVERHEATING WAS THE CAUSE OF THE DAMAGE THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE ON THE DASH WOULD HAVE INDICATED THAT WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO SEARS. MIKE, SERVICE ADVISOR AT LEXUS OF ROSEVILLE STATED IN AN E-MAIL TO ME THAT HIS TECHNICIAN 'FOUND # 5 CYLINDER INTAKE VALVES BENT AND STUCK. #1 CYLINDER INTAKE VALVE STICKING (WILL STAY OPEN TILL PISTON HITS AND CLOSES IT). SUSPECT VEHICLE OVERHEATED CAUSING VALVE TO STICK IN GUIDES.MY CAR WAS NOT OVERHEATING AND I THINK THE ENGINE IS DEFECTIVE. I HAD A LKQ ENGINE INSTALLED AMD IT WAS FINE FOR A MONTH BEFORE IT STARTED SOUNDING LIKE MARBLES. I THINK MY CAR IS DAMAGED DUE TO A DEFECT. I HAD JUST HAD A FUL SYNTHETIC OIL CHANGE TWO WEEKS BEFORE THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED AND PUT FOUR BRAND NEW TIRES AS WELL. I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH ONLY 101K MILES FOR $23,000 IN AUGUST 2013 AND I STILL OWE $5,000 ON MY LOAN. MY CAR HAD ALL THE SERVICE RECORDS FROM LEXUS OF ROCKVILLE, PROVING THIS CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED BY BOTH MYSELF AND THE PREVIOUS OWNER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10693965
Incident
Oct 16, 2014
Mileage
113,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 12, 2014

I WAS ON THE FEEDER OF THE FREEWAY AND WAS GETTING READY TO ENTER THE FREEWAY ENTRANCE RAMP. I PUSHED ON THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE, AT THIS TIME THE CAR SPED UP ON ITS OWN BEYOND THE SPEED THAT I WAS ATTEMPTING TO GO. I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE PEDAL; HOWEVER THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING. I PUSHED ON THE BRAKES AND THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING. I HAD HEARD ABOUT THE FLOOR MAT CAUSING THIS PROBLEM; SO I CHECKED THE GAS PEDAL AND THERE WAS NOTHING NEAR PEDAL. THE FLOOR MAT HAD NOT MOVED EVERYTHING WAS IN PLACE. I PUT MY FOOT UNDER THE GAS PEDAL AND ATTEMPTED TO RAISE THE PEDAL; THIS HAD NO EFFECT ON THE SPEED. I STOMPED ON THE GAS PEDAL A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THE PEDAL THEN STARTED RESPONDING NORMALLY. I TRIED TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO RESPONSE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10632627
Incident
Sep 11, 2014
Mileage
123,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 13, 2012
Crash reported

2004 LEXUS RX330. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE CRASH AND RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING FLOOR CARPET COVER AND RETENTION CLIPS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HIS FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SHATTERED THE GARAGE DOOR AND STOPPED ONLY AFTER HITTING THE OPPOSITE WALL AND STORAGE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DAY AFTER THE INCIDENT, HE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN THE MAIL, REGARDING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.

NHTSA ID
10476101
Incident
Aug 2, 2012
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 12, 2011
1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A LIGHT POLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES BUT WAS NOT TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURY BUT WAS NOT SEEN BY A PHYSICIAN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FOR REPAIRS. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

NHTSA ID
10425026
Incident
Sep 9, 2011
Mileage
111,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 28, 2010
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BACK SLOWLY OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, MY CAR WENT FROM 0 TO AT LEAST 40 MPH IN A MATTER OF SECONDS AND HIT A POLE ACROSS A PARKING LOT. ALTHOUGH I HAD MY FOOT OFF THE GAS, I WAS ATTEMPTING TO FIND THE BRAKE. THE ENTIRE INCIDENT HAPPENED IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. I REMEMBER FEELING TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE POLE BEHIND ME WAS DRIVEN THROUGH MY SUV TO THE PASSENGER'S SEAT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10357988
Incident
Aug 10, 2010
Mileage
50,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 2, 2010
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS RX 330. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 5 MPH IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS AND THE ENGINE BECAME EXTREMELY LOUD. THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED WHEN THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A STONE WALL. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER KNEE. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A MINOR INJURY TO HIS TONGUE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION FACILITY. THE DEALER ADVISED THEY WOULD NOT MAKE REPAIRS TO THE BODY DAMAGE UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS INVESTIGATED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

NHTSA ID
10346919
Incident
Aug 2, 2010
Mileage
111,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed May 18, 2010
Crash reported

I WAS PULLING INTO A CURBSIDE PARKING PLACE ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET WITH A SLIGHT UPHILL INCLINE. THE CAR SLOWED ALMOST TO A STOP BECAUSE OF THE INCLINE. I PUT MY FOOT VERY LIGHTLY ON THE GAS PEDAL SO AS TO MOVE FORWARD AND MAKE ROOM FOR ANOTHER CAR TO PARK BEHIND ME. THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR OF ITS OWN ACCORD AND THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD INTO THE PARKED CAR IN FRONT OF ME, CAUSING CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR, REVERSE AND PARK. POLICE WERE CALLED BUT DECLINED TO FILE A REPORT AS NO ONE WAS INJURED AND THE DAMAGE WAS NOT SEVERE. BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN, I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED AND HAS BEEN SERVICED. IT IS CURRENTLY BEING INSPECTED. THIS IS THE FIRST AND ONLY TIME OF SUCH AN OCCURRENCE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10331068
Incident
May 16, 2010
Mileage
66,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 15, 2010
Crash reported1 injury reported

2004 LEXUS RX 330. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION BACKWARDS CAUSING A CRASH. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF PARKING WHEN SHE PUT THE GEAR INTO REVERSE, WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AT A HIGH SPEED, WENT OVER A LANDSCAPE AND ROLLED OVER TWO PARKED VEHICLES. *JB

NHTSA ID
10318622
Incident
Oct 21, 2009
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Mar 18, 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! *TR

NHTSA ID
10320707
Incident
Mar 12, 2010
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Mar 15, 2010
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WITH EXTREME FORCE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REDUCE SPEED AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INTENSE PAIN TO THE ANKLE WITH OTHER MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND REPAIRED FOR DAMAGES. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERN OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. UPDATED 05/11/10. *JB

NHTSA ID
10319852
Incident
Oct 24, 2005
Mileage
15,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 11, 2010

VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION THREE TIMES DURING THE TWO YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED IT.. THIS HAPPENED ON OCCASIONS WHEN I HAD SLOWED DOWN AND THEN SLIGHTLY DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO RESUME SPEED. WITH THE GAS PEDAL SLIGHTLY DEPRESSED, I FELT THE PEDAL GO FURTHER DOWN BY ITSELF, LEAVING MY FOOT AND THE CAR GOING FASTER. I SAID, "WHOA! WHAT WAS THAT?, AND THEN ASSUMED THAT THE CAR HAD SOME SORT OF OVERDRIVE THAT CAUSED IT TO DO THAT. ON TWO OF THE OCCASIONS THIS OCCURRED WHEN I HAD SLOWED TO EXIT A FREEWAY, AND THEN SLIGHTLY DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO RESUME SPEED AND GET ONTO AN ACCESS ROAD. I HAVE CALLED THE LEXUS DEALER AND AM TAKING IT IN TO BE CHECKED.*TR

NHTSA ID
10318874
Incident
Nov 22, 2009
Mileage
49,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 9, 2010

SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR FROM JM LEXUS IN MARGATE, FL IN 2005, IT HAS HAD THE CONSTANT PROBLEM OF SUDDEN SHORT BURSTS OF ACCELERATION. ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE CAR IS THAT OFTEN TIMES, WHEN I TRY TO SPEED UP, THE CAR CONTINUES TO DRIVE AT THE SAME SPEED, AND DOESN'T ACCELERATE. I AM AFRAID EITHER ONE OF THESE PROBLEMS CAN CAUSE ME TO HIT SOMEONE OR BE HIT BY ANOTHER CAR. I HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INSPECTED IT AND WAS TOLD NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. I WORKED AT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA WHEN I TOLD ONE OF THE EMPLOYEES ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND HE SAID IT WAS IN THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM AND THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. I DID NOT BELIEVE THERE WAS NO FIX FOR THIS THEN AND I ESPECIALLY DON'T BELIEVE IT NOW, IN LIGHT OF ALL THE REPORTS OF MALFUNCTIONING TOYOTAS AND LEXUSES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10318271
Incident
Mar 2, 2010
Mileage
30,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 4, 2010
Crash reported1 death reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS RX330. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UP TO 100 MPH. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OFF OF THE ROAD, OVER THE MEDIAN AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS KILLED IN THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT DOES NOT HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON WHAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH. THE CONTACT FEELS THE CRASH WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY COMPUTER IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000. UPDATED 11/16/10. *LJUPDATED 9/29/2011*CW

NHTSA ID
10316652
Incident
Sep 9, 2006
Mileage
23,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Mar 4, 2010
Crash reported1 death reported

MY FRIEND (26 YEAR OLD MALE) WAS DRIVING MY 2004 LEXUS RX330 AT AROUND 9AM ON CHRISTMAS EVE MORNING. WITNESSES STATE THAT HE WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND CROSSED A BUSY 6-LANE DIVIDED ROADWAY AT 80 MPH. HE CONTINUED ON THE RESIDENTIAL STREET AT WHICH TIME HE LEFT THE ROADWAY AND VAULTED ACROSS AN EMBANKMENT HITTING A BLOCK WALL. HE WAS KILLED INSTANTLY. PIMA COUNTY SHERIFF AND MEDICAL EXAMINER INVESTIGATED AND COULD FIND NO REASON FOR THE EXCESSIVE SPEED OR THE COLLISION. NO DRUGS OR ALCOHOL WERE FOUND IN HIS SYSTEM AND HE HAD NO MEDICAL PROBLEMS. I HAVE NO DOUBT NOW THAT I HAVE READ OTHER REPORTS THAT SOMETHING WAS MECHANICALLY WRONG WITH THE LEXUS AND THAT CAUSED THIS FATAL ACCIDENT; UPDATED 003/30/10 *BF *TR UPDATED 06/30/10.*JB UPDATED 9/29/11*CW

NHTSA ID
10316651
Incident
Dec 24, 2005
Mileage
18,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 4, 2010
Crash reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS RX330. THE DRIVER STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED ON A REGULAR BASIS FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE FLOOR MAT CLIP WHICH WAS RECALLED. THE VEHICLE HAS ACCELERATED FOR QUITE SOME TIME. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, SHE ENGAGED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE AND IT ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR IT SINCE THE VIN DOES NOT APPLY TO THE RECALL. A CRASH ALSO OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. TWO PASSENGERS WERE IN THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID
10316637
Incident
Sep 1, 2007
Mileage
30,000 mi
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Feb 24, 2010
1 injury reported

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

NHTSA ID
10313915
Incident
Jan 2, 2004
Mileage
200 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 24, 2010
Crash reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS RX330. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACTS GARAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 2 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SURGE FORWARD. THE FAILURE HAS ONLY OCCURRED ONE TIME. THE MECHANIC THAT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ID
10313887
Incident
Nov 24, 2009
Mileage
100,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 24, 2010
Crash reported

MY LEXUS ACCELERATED WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AND HIT AND DESTROYED 2 PARKED UNATTENDED CARS. DAMAGE TO MY CAR WAS IN EXCESS OF $6000. I WAS CITED AND I APPEALED TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS, AND FOUND INNOCENT AND HAD MY CASE VACATED. I WROTE LEXUS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON 2-14-10 SINCE IT IS A TOYOTA PRODUCT AND NO CAUSE HAS BEEN FOUND FOR MY MALFUNCTION, AND THEY HAVE NOT ANSWERED ME AS YET. I WANT COMPENSATION AND AM WILLING TO COME TO A MUTUALLY AGREEABLE CONCLUSION, BUT AS YET, NO RESPONSE FROM LEXUS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10313799
Incident
Jan 14, 2006
Mileage
43,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 23, 2010
Crash reported

I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT WORK AND MY 2004 LEXUS RX330 SUDDENLY MADE A REVVING NOISE AND ACCELERATED INTO A TREE IN THE MEDIAN AND THEN SMASHED HEAD ON INTO THE CAR IN THE OPPOSITE SPACE. THE BMW THAT MY CAR HIT WAS COMPLETELY TOTALED. MY FORWARD MOMENTUM WAS STOPPED BY THE BMW BECAUSE MY CAR CLIMBED ON THE TREE AND ENDED UP ON TOP OF THE BMW. I WAS NOT ON THE PHONE AND HAD NO ALCOHOL OR DRUGS IN MY SYSTEM AND THERE WAS NO PASSENGER IN THE CAR TO DISTRACT ME. I AM A 58 YEAR OLD HEALTHY WOMAN WHO HAS BEEN DRIVING FOR 42 YEARS. I TOOK THE CAR INTO MY LEXUS DEALER AND THEY CHECKED THE COMPUTER AND CLAIMED THERE WERE NO DEFECTS. THEY TOLD ME I HAD PROBABLY STEPPED ON THE GAS INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE OR THE FLOOR MAT HAD GOTTEN STUCK ON TOP OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I CHECKED THE PEDAL (AS DID A CO-WORKER) RIGHT AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND THE MAT WAS NOT ON OR NEAR THE PEDAL. IN ADDITION, I DO NOT BELIEVE I HIT THE GAS INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE AS THE PARKING SPOT HAD AN UPHILL GRADE AND I MOST LIKELY WAS NOT YET READY TO BRAKE WHEN THE ACCELERATION OCCURRED. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND SUNNY. MY BROTHER, WHO IS AN AIRLINE PILOT, SUGGESTED THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN THE DRIVE-BY-WIRE ELECTRONICS MALFUNCTIONING BUT THE LEXUS DEALER ASSURED ME THAT COULD NOT POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN THE CASE. NOW, HEARING ABOUT ALL OF THE OTHER ACCELERATION PROBLEMS I BELIEVE MY COMPLAINT SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE LIST OF LEXUS/TOYOTA UNEXPLAINED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. IF SOMEONE HAD BEEN IN FRONT OF ME OR IN THE CAR I HIT THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN BADLY INJURED OR KILLED. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEEM THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10313412
Incident
Jun 1, 2009
Mileage
72,000 mi

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