2004 Lexus RX330 Visibility Problems

I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN THERE WAS A LOUD BOOM AND MY SUN ROOF EXPLODED - GLASS WENT EVERYWHERE. I AM LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT. IT TURNS OUT THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED. IT WAS NOT A HOT DAY SOME CLOUDS AND THERE WAS NO ROCKS OR DEBRIS IN THE ROOF. IT TURNS OUT THAT LEXUS AN OTHER MANUFACTURES KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM BUT LITTLE IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT. THE GLASS IS BEING MADE A LOT CHEAPER AND THINNER THESE DAYS TO CUT COST. I HAVE A 2004 LEXUS RX 330 SUV. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURE AND A RECALL NEEDS TO BE MADE AS IT IS A KNOW ISSUE BEFORE PEOPLE GET KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10705840

Incident

Apr 13, 2015

Mileage

130,396 mi

I OWN 2 LEXUS 2004 RX330. BOTH OF CARS HAVE THE PASSENGER MIRROR CHANGE COLOR (CHANGE TO DARKER COLOR). ONE HAPPEN ABOUT 3 YEAR AGO. ONE HAPPEN ABOUT A YEAR AGO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10683945

Incident

Jun 29, 2012

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

THE VEHICLE DASHBOARD HAS EXPERIENCED ABNORMAL CRACKING AND DECOMPOSITION THROUGHOUT. IT STARTED WITH HAIRLINE CRACKS WHICH SPREAD ALL THROUGH THE DASH. SINCE THE DASH STARTED TO TURN STICKY/GUMMY, PIECES OF THE DASH STARTED FALLING OFF NEAR THE ENDS (E.G. WHERE THE DASH MEETS THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT). OF CONCERN IS AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. FOR EXAMPLE, SINCE THE DASH HAS BEEN COMPROMISED AND HAS CRACKS, WOULD THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT CAUSE THE DASH TO SPLINTER AND SHOOT PIECES AT THE CAR'S OCCUPANTS? WOULD THE STICKINESS OF THE DASH CAUSE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT TO FAIL SINCE IT CAN STICK TO THE DASH DUE TO IT'S NEWLY ACQUIRED ADHESIVE PROPERTIES? VISIBILITY CONCERNS ARISE DUE TO THE REFLECTIONS OF THE DASH ON THE WINDSHIELD. SINCE THE DASH CAN NO LONGER BE KEPT CLEAN BECAUSE EVERYTHING STICKS TO IT, BOTHERSOME REFLECTIONS ARE CAST ON THE WINDSHIELD DURING CERTAIN LIGHTING CONDITIONS. THE LOCAL LEXUS DEALERSHIP AND LEXUS CORPORATE WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THEY SAID THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND SINCE MY VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP, THEY WOULD NOT PAY TO REPLACE THE DASH; THEY DID OFFER A 25% DISCOUNT FOR THE COST OF THE PARTS. FROM MY RESEARCH, IT APPEARS FAULTY MATERIALS MAY HAVE BEEN USED BY TOYOTA/LEXUS FOR A PERIOD OF SOME YEARS AS THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF THIS SAME CONDITION HAPPENING TO OTHER OWNERS. SINCE THERE ARE SAFETY CONCERNS INVOLVED, I BELIEVE LEXUS SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE AND REPLACE THE FAULTY DASHBOARDS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10588943

Incident

Jan 8, 2010

I WAS DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON THE 405 IN LOS ANGELES. I WAS BEGINNING TO CHANGE LANES AND WAS LOOKING INTO MY DRIVER'S SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR WHEN I OBSERVED THE MOLDING COME OFF OF THE LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL WINDOW AND STRIKE THE HOOD AND WINDSHIELD OF THE CAR BEHIND ME. IT OCCURRED TO ME HOW DANGEROUS THIS COULD HAVE BEEN IF A MOTORCYCLIST HAD BEEN FOLLOWING ME. IT COULD HAVE EASILY HIT HIM OR HER DIRECTLY IN THE FACE. IN RESEARCHING THE INTERNET FOR A PRICE ON THE MOLDING, I HAVE SINCE LEARNED A LARGE NUMBER OF RX330 OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE LEARNED THAT LEXUS DOES NOT SELL THE MOLDING SEPARATELY. INSTEAD, THEY SELL THE ENTIRE WINDOW ASSEMBLY, AND I HAVE SEEN POSTINGS OF SOME OWNERS PAYING AS MUCH AS $400.00 TO HAVE A DEALER REPLACE THE WINDOW. THIS ITEM SHOULD NOT BE REGULARLY LAUNCHING ITSELF OFF OF THESE VEHICLES ENDANGERING OTHERS ON THE ROADWAY. LEXUS SHOULD BE RETROFITTING THESE VEHICLES WITH IMPROVED MOUNTING FOR THIS MOLDING INSTEAD OF CHARGING OWNERS FOR THE COMPANY'S MISTAKE. WITH THE NUMBER OF THESE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD, IT SEEMS IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE FOLLOWING ONE OF THESE VEHICLES IS INJURED OR WORSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10543842

Incident

Aug 18, 2013

Mileage

104,800 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 RX330 LEXUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REARVIEW MIRROR EXPLODED FROM THE CASING. IN ADDITION, AN UNKNOWN LIQUID LEAKED FROM THE MIRROR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO HAVE STRUCK SOMETHING IN ORDER TO CAUSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND WAS ADVISED THAT IT APPEARED AS IF THE MIRROR EXPLODED INDEPENDENTLY, WHICH WAS HANGING FROM THE VEHICLE BY SEVERAL WIRES. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

NHTSA ID

10457904

Incident

May 7, 2012

Mileage

77,000 mi

LIKE MANY OTHER PEOPLE, I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT THE HEADLIGHT CONDENSATION ON MY LEXUS RX330. THE PASSENGER SEAT HEADLIGHT FOGS UP SO THAT IT IS VERY CLOUDY. THIS AFFECTS THE QUALITY OF THE LIGHT BEAM AT NIGHT AS IT MAKES THE LIGHT DIMMER. I'VE ASKED LEXUS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND THEY QUOTED ME CLOSE TO $2000 FOR SOMETHING THAT REALLY SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE IS CURRENTLY A LAWSUIT GOING ON ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10441378

Incident

Dec 20, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS RX330. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH HE NOTICED THAT BOTH SIDE VIEW MIRRORS WERE LOOSE AND WHENEVER HE DROVE OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD THE MIRRORS TRAJECTORY CHANGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT BOTH SIDE MIRRORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR COST WAS OVER $1,000. THE FAILURE HAD BEEN ON GOING SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 2005. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO ANSWER HIM REGARDING THE FAILURE. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE ROOF RACK WAS CORRODING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ID

10378726

Incident

Sep 15, 2005

Mileage

60,000 mi

AUTO DIMMING SIDE MIRRORS FAIL CAUSING THE MIRROR TO SHOW DOUBLE HEADLIGHTS. THIS MAKES THE MIRROR EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO USE. SEEING 4 HEADLIGHTS INSTEAD OF TWO CAUSES THE DRIVER TO SPEND EXCESSIVE TIME LOOKING INTO THE MIRROR TO DETERMINE IF IT IS SAFE TO CHANGE LANES. RESEARCH ON CAR FORUMS INDICATES THE FAILURE OF THESE AUTODIMMING MIRRORS IS THE RESULT OF HEATED SIDE MIRRORS. EXCESSIVE HEAT CAUSES THE GEL IN BETWEEN THE GLASS TO LEAK, CAUSING THE DOUBLE HEAD LIGHT EFFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10373643

Incident

Dec 23, 2010

Mileage

106,000 mi

IN HEAVY RAIN, WITH DEFOGGER TURNED ON TO KEEP WINDOWS CLEAR, IF THE CAR HITS A LARGE PUDDLE, THE AC SHUTS DOWN AND THE DEFROSTER STARTS BLOWING HOT, MOIST AIR. ALL WINDOWS FOG OVER IMMEDIATELY. NO WAY TO CONTINUE DRIVING. AC CAN ONLY BE RESTARTED BY TURNING IGNITION OFF THEN BACK ON. THIS HAPPENED ON LOCAL ROADS SEVERAL TIMES, THEN IN MID AUGUST 2007, IT HAPPENED ON THE INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE GRASS MEDIAN BY ROLLING DOWN THE DRIVERS WINDOW AND STICKING MY HEAD OUT INTO THE RAIN. AFTER TURNING IGNITION OFF AND ON, THE DEFROSTER WORKS AGAIN. LEXUS DEALER REPORTS THAT THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE ENGINE IN CASE THE AC COMPRESSOR LOCKS UP. THEY REFUSE TO CORRECT THE SITUATION. I NO LONGER DRIVE THE CAR IN THE RAIN. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10208879

Incident

Aug 15, 2007

Mileage

48,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10197882

Incident

Jul 14, 2007

Mileage

47,500 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10165853

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

ON JULY 10,2004 I PICKED UP MY NEW VEHICLE, A LEXUS RX 330 FROM THE BAYRIDGE LEXUS DEALER IN NYS. WITHIN A 1/2 HOUR, WHILE TESTING THE SAFETY FEATURES OF VEHICLE, I HAD PLACED A LARGE STUFFED ANIMAL (IN PLACE OF A HUMAN BODY PART OF A ADULT OR CHILD). ALTHOUGH ALL THE WINDOWS AND REMOTE REAR DOOR AUTOMATICALLY OPENED WHEN COMING INTO CONTACT WITH FOREIGN OBJECT ( STUFFED BEAR), THE SUNROOF JAMMED THE BEAR BETWEEN THE CLOSING GLASS AND FRAME I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE STUFFED ANIMAL STILL JAMMED IN THE SUNROOF BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN WERE UNABLE TO DISLODGE THE STUFFED ANIMAL'S HEAD FROM THE JAMMED SUNROOF (IMAGINE IF THIS WAS A CHILD'S BODY PART???) AND HAD TO DISMANTLE THE SUNROOF TO REMOVE THE STUFFED ANIMAL AND HAD ME RETURN ON THE 12TH DETERMINE THE CAUSE AND TO FIX THE SUNROOF. SINCE THAT TIME, THIS SAME VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED BY THE SAME LEXUS DEALERSHIP A MINIMUM OF 6 TIMES FOR PROBLEMS WITH THE SUNROOF. ALL THE WHILE I WAS RETURNING WITH THE VEHICLE TO BE GET SUNROOF REPAIRED, I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY HAD REPORTED THIS OBVEROUS SAFETY DEFECT THAT A FOREIGN OBJECT (STUFFED BEAR OVER 2 1/2' IN LENGTH AND AS SOFT AS A CHILD'S HAND) WOULD GET JAMMED BETWEEN THE CLOSING GLASS AND THE FRAME OF THE SUNROOF WITHOUT A SAFETY FEATURE TO AUTOMATICALLY OPEN THE WINDOW IF A FOREIGN OBJECT GETS IN WAY OF CLOSING AS WITH THE REMOTE TRUCK CLOSING SYSTEM AND THE AUTOMATIC WINDOWS THIS VEHICLE IS FACTORY EQUIPPED WITH. NYS HAS THE LEMON LAWS FOR NEW VEHICLES SOLD THAT ARE DEFECTIVE. IT WAS DURING THIS PROCESS IN COLLECTING MY SERVICE RECORDS FROM BAYRIDGE LEXUS THAT I DISCOVERED THAT THEY NEVER LOOKED INTO THIS MATTER AS A SAFETY DEFECT, NOR WAS IT REPORTED (TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE) TO ANY OFFICIAL AGENCY THAT CAR MANUFACTURES ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT POSSIBLE SAFELTY DEFECTS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10142681

Incident

Jul 10, 2004

THE OUTSIDE REAR-VIEW MIRRORS ON THE LEXUS 2004 RX330 ARE HAZARDOUS. IF THE MIRROR ADJUSTMENT SWITCH ON THE DASH IS NOT IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION, THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS ROTATE DOWNWARD WHEN THE GEAR LEVER IS PLACED IN REVERSE. IN THEORY, THIS WOULD BE HELPFUL IF THE CURBSIDE MIRROR ROTATED ENOUGH SO THAT THE DRIVER COULD VIEW THE CURB WHEN PARKING. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE ENGINEER WHO DESIGNED THE SYSTEM THOUGHT THE CURB WOULD BE ON THE LEFT SIDE--WHICH IT WOULD BE IF YOU WERE DRIVING THE CAR IN JAPAN. ANYWAY, THAT LEFT-SIDE MIRROR ROTATES SO FAR DOWNWARD THAT THE DRIVER IS LOOKING AT THE PAVEMENT BESIDE THE CAR, AND THAT PAVEMENT CAN EASILY BE MISTAKEN FOR A BLANK HORIZON. THE DRIVER IS THUS PREVENTED FROM SEEING A PEDESTRIAN OR OBSTRUCTION ON THE LEFT-REAR SIDE OF THE CAR. THE DEALER REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM, SAYING THERE IS NO FIX. OF COURSE THERE IS A FIX--LEXUS JUST DOES NOT WANT TO PAY FOR IT. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THIS FIXED IS FOR NHTSA TO FORCE A RECALL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10132866

Incident

Sep 15, 2003

CONSUMER'S SUNROOF DID NOT RETRACT ON THE 2004 LEXUS RX330 WHEN HER 8 YEAR OLD NIECE PLACED HER HAND IN THE WAY OF THE CLOSING GLASS.*MR THE GLASS PINCHED THE POINTER AND MIDDLE FINGER OF THE CHILD'S RIGHT HAND. *JB

NHTSA ID

10131300

Incident

Jul 14, 2005

BACK-UP CAMERA (WHEN GEAR IS PUT IN REVERSE) DOES NOT DISPLAY ANY IMAGE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10116797

Incident

Apr 7, 2005

Mileage

35,250 mi

SUN GLARE FROM DASHBOARD REFLECTS IN THE WINDSHIELD OBSTRUCTING VISIBILITY. LEXUS RX330. DEALER SAYS OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED BUT NO FIX OTHER THAN DASH COVER. TRIED DASH COVER BUT ONLY BLACK WORKS TO SOME EXTENT. BLACK DOES NOT MATCH THE TAN LEATHER INTERIOR OF THIS LUXURY VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM IS ESPECIALLY BAD WHEN TRAVELING A TREE LINED STREET INTO THE SUN WHERE THERE IS ALTERNATING BRIGHT SUN AND SHADE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10098155

Incident

Oct 20, 2004

REAR WINDOW SHATTERED WITHOUT PROBABLE CAUSE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE WINDOW BROKE DUE TO EXTREME HEAT. *AK THE CONSUMER PURCHASED ANOTHER 2004 LEXUS (MODEL/RX330) AND THE SAME WINDOW SHATTERED. THE SERVICE MANAGER SUGGESTED THAT THIS HAPPENED DUE TO HEAT. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10089220

Incident

Jul 26, 2004

Mileage

100 mi

THIS CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC WIPER SYSTEM. WHEN THE AUTOMATIC MODE IS USED THE WIPERS FAIL TO KEEP THE WINDSHIELD CLEAR. IN A LIGHT RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD CAN GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU MUST TAKE MANUAL ACTION TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ISOLATED TO MY CAR BUT OCCURS IN OTHER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE AUTOMATIC WIPER SYSTEM MANUFACTURED BY TOYOTA. I'VE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO LEXUS HQ. *JB

NHTSA ID

10060527

Incident

Mar 5, 2004

Mileage

1 mi

VIBRATION WHEN AIR CONDITIONER ON. 2004 LEXUS RX330.*AK

NHTSA ID

10055048

Incident

Jan 1, 2004