2004 Lexus RX330 Engine Problems

HAVE HAD TO REPLACE RADIATOR 3 TIMES & WILL NEED A 4TH AT THIS TIME, SINCE 2015, WAS BOUGHT USED IN 2014. !ST REPLACEMENT 2015 2ND) 2016, 3RD) 2017, AND NOW NEEDS AGAIN. MANY WEBSITES STATE MANY DIFFERENT PROBLEMS RELATED TO MY VEHICLE, AS WELL AS OTHERS OF A NEW YEAR IE; 2005, 2006. LEXUS CLAIMS VIN IS THE ONLY SOURCE TO VERIFY IF NEEDS FIXING STATED TO ME, YET A WEBSOURCE CLUBLEXUS.COM/FORUM SHOWS A STATEMENT BY LEXUS STATING THE ISSUE IS NOT BY VIN ALONE BUT BY MAKE MODEL & YEAR. A LOCAL RADIATOR SHOP IN WESTERN STATED TO ME VIA PHONE THAT LEXUS DEALERSHIP SERVICE FOR A WHILE IN PAST HAD ORDERED MANY, MANY RADIATORS BECAUSE AS IT WAS STATED SOME KIND OF ELECTRICAL ISSUE WAS CAUSING THE ANTIFREEZE TO BECOME ACIDIC AND DESTROYING RADIATOR FROM WITHIN. THIS IS ANOTHER NOT WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL THAT SEEMS TO HAVE NOT BEEN MADE PUBLIC THAT I CAN FIND. MY RADIATOR MECHANIC THAT REPLACED MINE 2 OF THE 3 TIMES STATED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING COULD NOT FIND ANY OTHER ISSUES IN 2015, & 2017. THIS IMPLIES THAT THE ISSUE STATED FROM PREVIOUS STATED WEBSITE ISN'T EVEN THE ISSUE THAT I'M EXPERIENCING. MY CLOSEST LEXUS DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE ACIDIC PROBLEM BASED ON STATEMENT GIVEN TO ME BY THE LOCAL RADIATOR SHIP REP THAT I TALKED TO.

NHTSA ID

11234872

Incident

Jul 15, 2019

Mileage

158,000 mi

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

2004 LEXUS RX330. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO WARRANTY COVERAGE ENHANCEMENT. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED A RADIATOR LEAK WAS DISCOVERED DURING AN OIL CHANGE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE INDICATOR LIGHT, NEVER ILLUMINATED TO ALERT HER THERE WAS A PROBLEM.*JB

NHTSA ID

10644070

Incident

Sep 8, 2014

MY STEERING STARTED GETTING STIFF AND MAKING A GRINDING SOUND WITHOUT WARNING. IT WOULD THEN DISAPPEAR AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. I NOTICED THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AT THE 90,000 MARK. I BOUGHT A LEXUS BECAUSE I THOUGHT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE SOLID BUT IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING IS STARTING TO GO. I HAD TO REPLACE THE SUNROOF, AIR CONDITIONING PUMP, RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION AFTER HITTING 80,000. I DON'T WANT TO PUT ANY MORE $$$ INTO THE CAR AT THIS POINT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SEEM WORTH. ONE PROBLEM AFTER THE NEXT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10615711

Incident

Jul 14, 2014

Mileage

87,000 mi

FRONT END COLLISION IN 2004 LEXUS RX 330 WITH 206,000 MILES GOING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. CAR IS TOTALED PER INSURANCE ADJUSTER. DRIVER AND THREE CHILDREN IN CAR. NO SERIOUS INJURIES. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. HAVE CONTACTED LEXUS AND AM AWAITING ANSWER. CAR HAS BEEN TO DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES SINCE PURCHASED AND NOTHING MENTIONED ABOUT AIRBAG ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10514249

Incident

May 17, 2013

Mileage

206,000 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10324986

Incident

Apr 10, 2010

Mileage

85,684 mi

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

DEAR SIR/MADAM: I AM WRITING YOU BECAUSE I AM BEING IGNORED BY A LARGE PRODUCT MANUFACTURER. LEXUS/TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO HEAR MY CLAIM OR EVEN CONSIDER MY SITUATION ON THE CAR. I HAVE NOT HAD MY CLAIM DENIED BY LEXUS BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY WILL NOT EVEN CONSIDER MY ISSUE. I AM THE OWNER OF A 2004 LEXUS RX 330 THAT HAS A FAILED ENGINE DUE TO OIL SLUDGE. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD MY VEHICLE MAINTAINED AT A LEXUS DEALERSHIP AND I GET THE OIL CHANGED IN A TIMELY MANNER. MY CAR HAS 110,000 MILES ON IT AND LAST SUNDAY THE ENGINE FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. IT NOW REQUIRES A NEW ENGINE THAT IS ESTIMATED TO COST ME $3,600 . THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED ON A SUNDAY (1/9/10) SO I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO USE THE ONE TOWING OPPORTUNITY THAT MY INSURANCE COMPANY GAVE ME TO TOW MY CAR TO A NON-LEXUS/TOYOTA BRAND DEALERSHIP. THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY OIL SLUDGE. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD MY CAR SERVICED PROPERLY AND I REFUSED TO BE DENIED MY RIGHT TO BE HEARD. TOYOTA/LEXUS SETTLED A CASE FOR THE VERY SAME PROBLEM IN FEBRUARY 2007. THIS SETTLEMENT EFFECTED 7.8 MILLION UNITS MODEL YEARS 1997 TO 2003, HOWEVER I REFUSE TO GIVE UP THE FIGHT, MY CAR IS ONE GENERATION OUT OF THE SETTLEMENT. I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT ALL ISSUES HAVE BEEN SOLVE THE VERY NEXT YEAR. I WANT TO FILE A CLAIM FOR MY CAR. HERE IS THE WEBSITE WITH THE DETAILS FOR THE SETTLEMENT: HTTP://WWW.OILGELSETTLEMENT.COM/ I CALLED LEXUS AND THEY BRUSHED ME OFF SAYING THAT I HAD TO GET THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP AND EVEN THEN THEY WEREN'T OFFERING ANY TYPE OF MAINTENANCE CREDIT AT ALL. I CAN'T AFFORD TO CONTINUE TO HAUL MY CAR ALL OVER TOWN TO MEET THE SPECIFICATIONS OF THIS COMPANY. I WANT TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIRS WHICH BY ALL ESTIMATES WILL COST THEM LESS THAN WHAT IT WILL COST THEM AT A DEALERSHIP. WHAT REALLY UPSETS ME IS THAT CLEARLY THIS COMPANY HAS HAD AN ISSUE WITH SLUDGE, I LIVE IN ATLANTA WHERE TEMPERATURES HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY COLD WHICH IS A CAUSE OF SLUDGE AND THEY WON'T HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10300289

Incident

Jan 12, 2009

Mileage

110,000 mi

2004 LEXUS RX 330: I WAS A VICTIM OF SUDDEN UNATTENDED ACCELERATION. THIS OCCURRED ON DRIVE PAVEMENT ON A STREET WITH AN UPHILL GRADE. I WAS ABOUT TO PARK MY VEHICLE BEHIND A PARKED CAR. AS I WAS COASTING TO STOP, MY FOOT WAS BARELY TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL - I WAS WITHIN A FEW FEET OF THE PARKED VEHICLE. SUDDENLY I HEARD A "CLICKING" SOUND AND IMMEDIATELY I FELT THE PEDAL LEAVE MY FOOT. THE CAR ENGINE REVVED TO THE HIGHEST RPM. THE LEXUS SLAMMED INTO THE PARKED CAR. I TRIED BRAKING AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. MY VEHICLE KEPT ON SLAMMING INTO THE PARKED VEHICLE WITH SUCH FORCE THAT THE PARKED CAR WAS PUSHED OVER THE CURB ON TO THE SIDEWALK. AT THAT POINT, I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO PULL AWAY FROM THE PARKED VEHICLE. THE LEXUS KEPT ON TRAVELING ON THE UPHILL GRADE FOR OVER 100 FT UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO RESUME CONTROL. I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL AND BRAKING DID NOT WORK. I SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES AND EMOTIONAL TRAUMA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10300143

Incident

Dec 26, 2009

Mileage

75,000 mi

DRIVING CONSERVATIVELY THROUGH A PHARMACY PARKING LOT; ABRUPTLY TOOK A RIGHT HAND TURN INTO AN AVAILABLE PARKING SPACE ( HABITUALLY PREFER A LEFT-HANDED PARKING ENTRY); ENGINE ROARED, TIRES SQUEALED AND AUTO JUMPED OVER THE CONCRETE PARKING BARRIER/ OVER THE CURB/ AND PROCEEDED TO STRIKE NEAR THE DOOR ENTRANCE AND A SUPPORT WALL. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10293968

Incident

Oct 15, 2009

Mileage

66,688 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10133137

Incident

Apr 10, 2005

Mileage

1,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10091268

Incident

Jun 1, 2004

THE CONSUMER SMELLED A ROTTEN EGG SMELL, THE PROBLEM WAS THAT WHEN DRIVING THE CAR, THE EXHAUST SMELL ENTERED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE EVEN WITH THE WINDOW UP. IT WAS WORSE WITH THEM DOWN. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER TO CHANGED GAS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10092412

Incident

Sep 16, 2004

VEHICLE HESITATES AND ACCELERATES ERRACTICALLY CAUSING A HAZARD WHEN ENTERING TRAFFIC. DEALER TECH STATES VEHICLE IS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED". *JB

NHTSA ID

10082200

Incident

Jul 17, 2004