Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Lexus RX330 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
TIMING BELT BROKE ON THE EXPRESSWAY DRIVING 65 MPH CAUSING ME TO LOOSE POWER AND ALMOST CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING CAUSING THE CAR TO HEAT UP. THE TIMING BELT BROKE AND THE MECHANIC SAID THE CAR HAD EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE MOTOR AND IS NOT WORTH FIXING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS RX330. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE RADIATOR FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO INDICATION ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT THE VEHICLE HAD OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED COOLANT LEAKING FROM THE RADIATOR ONTO THE GROUND. CROWN LEXUS (1125 SOUTH KETTERING DRIVE, ONTARIO, CALIFORNIA 91761, (909) 480-4095) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TAKATA RECALL, I CALLED ABOUT THE RECALL FOR THE ENGINE COOLING AND THE BRAKES HYDRULIC AND THEY SAY MY CAR IS NOT IN THE RECALL BUT I AM HAVING PROBLEM WITH MY COOLING
THE CAR HAS VARIOUS ISSUES, ALL OF MY LIGHTS ARE ON THE CAR AND HAVE BEEN SINCE IVE PURCHED THE CAR. ITS SHUT OFF AS IVE BEEN DRIVING SEVERAL TIMES, IT WONT REACH ITS SPEED LIMIT FROM ACCELERATOR, IT KNOCK AND MAKES SOUNDS AND HAD AN ODOR COMING THROUGH VENTS. THE COMPANY ISN'T CONSISTENT WITH REPAIR AND PAYMENT PROMISES AND IS TRYING TO REPO FOR RESALE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 11V539000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 11V112000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AT: LEXUS OF WEST KENDALL, MIAMI, FLORIDA AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS RX330. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED, WATER LEAKED FROM THE AIR VENTS INTO THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE CARPET. AS A RESULT, THERE WAS MOISTURE BUILD UP THAT CAUSED MOLD AND MILDEW. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
MY WIFE (WHO IS NOT THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE) WAS ENTERING A PERPENDICULAR PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF A BUSINESS LOCATED JUST OFF THE STREET. THE BUSINESS WAS ONCE A HOUSE AND HAS NOW PUT 3 PARKING SPACES IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING JUST OVER THE SIDEWALK.THE ENTRANCE IS UP A DRIVEWAY AND JUST BEYOND THE SIDEWALK AND INTO THE PARKING SPACES. AS SHE WAS GOING UP THE DRIVEWAY AND TURN SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT TO ENTER A PARKING SPACE, THE CAR HESITATED AND THEN ACCELERATED, SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND LEFT A 5 FOOT SKID MARK BEFORE CRASHING INTO THE FRONT OF THE BUSINESS. THE CAR HAS DONE THIS BEFORE ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING AND APPLYING A LITTLE GAS, IT WILL HESITATE AND THEN SUDDENLY ACCELERATE, BUT NEVER CONTINUING AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKE. WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS PREVIOUSLY WITH THE LEXUS DEALER AND THEY SAY THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AND THAT COMPUTERS THAT CONTROL THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION CONSTANTLY ADJUST TO THE PRIMARY DRIVER MAY CREATE THIS ISSUE, BUT IT IS NOT A PROBLEM AS FAR AS THEY ARE CONCERNED....UPDATED 09/08/15*BF UPDATED 12/3/15 *JS
MY AIR VENTS CONSTANTLY EMIT A WHITE POWDERY SUBSTANCE THAT COLLECTS ON THE DASHBOARD AND WITHIN THE VENTS. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH CONCERNS OF WHAT I AM INHALING INTO MY LUNGS AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CALCIUM COATING IS COMING OFF OF A TUBE OR WIRE AND THE CALCIUM THEN GETS BLOWN OUT OF THE AIR VENTS INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE SUBSTANCE IS NOT HARMFUL IF INHALED BUT I AM NOT SURE I BELIEVE THAT. THE REPAIR COST WOULD BE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO REMOVE MY ENTIRE DASHBOARD TO REACH THE FAULTY PART. LEXUS STATED THEY OFFERED TO PAY 50% OF REPAIR/REPLACEMENT COSTS AND I DO NOT FEEL THAT I SHOULD PAY A PENNY AS I HAVE DONE NOTHING TO CAUSE THE PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT WATER COOLANT LEAKED ONTO THE TIMING BELT AND BOTH THE WATER PUMP AND THE TIMING BELT WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
MY VEHICLE IS A 2005 LEXUS RX 330. I PURCHASED IT CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED IN 2007. I WAS COMING OFF THE HIGHWAY AND STOPPED AT A LIGHT. AS I PROCEEDED TO TAKE A LEFT HAND TURN THE CAR STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE. IT WAS JUMPING AND SHIFTING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL IT AND PULL INTO A NEARBY GAS STATION. I COULDN'T DRIVE IT AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST LEXUS SERVICE CENTER. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THE TRANSFER CASE ON THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL WENT. THEY OPENED UP THE CASE BOX AND METAL SHAVINGS FELL OUT! I GUESS THERE WAS NO TRANSFER CASE FLUID! SHOULDN'T A MAINTENANCE REQUIRED LIGHT POP ON OR A WARNING? IF I HAD CONTINUED ON THE HIGHWAY RATHER THAN GET OFF THE EXIT, IT WOULD HAVE ENDED BADLY! THE BACK END OF THE CAR COMPLETELY LOCKED ON ME. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT THE TRANSFER CASE IS RUNNING OUT OF FLUID? THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THIS IS NOT NORMAL. THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $2700 FOR THE PART AND $1500 FOR LABOR! I ENDED UP HAVING THE CAR TOWED BACK TO MY HOUSE UNTIL I CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO. I HAVE A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING AND HAD I BEEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED, I COULD HAVE FLIPPED THE CAR AND ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL OR DEAD. I WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR LEXUS/TOYOTA TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS! *TR
MY 2005 LEXUS RX 330 WITH ONLY 39459 MILEAGE WAS TOLD THE WATER PUMP IS LEAKS, WHEN I REPLACED THE BATTERY AT INDEPENDENT SHOP. WHEN FOR A RECALL (ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY) DONE BY DEALER THAT COUPLE MONTH AGO ON MILEAGE 39152, DEALER ALSO PERFORMED MULTI POINT INSPECTION DID NOT SPOT ANY WATER PUMP LEAKS. HOWEVER, I BROUGHT CAR BACK TO DEALER TO DIAGNOSTIC, INSPECTED STATES THAT FOR POSSIBLE COOLANT LEAKS - WATER PUMP TIMING BELT PACKAGE COST $1,995.00 FOR REPLACEMENT. THAT IS OUTRAGEOUS, I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THE WATER PUMP IS FAILING AT THE CAR ONLY HAS UNDER 40K MILES. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE FOR SAFETY AS AN ENGINE WITH FAILED WATER PUMP MIGHT BE CAUSE A VERY SERIOUS DAMAGES AND INJURY WHEN DRIVING. IN THIS CASE HEREBY, I'M SENDING THIS COMPLIANT TO NHTSA, I HOPE ODI OFFICE WOULD START TO INVESTIGATION FOR THIS ISSUE. LEXUS SHOULD MAKE RECALL FOR THIS LOW QUALITY PARTS INSTEAD OF PUT OTHER PEOPLES LIFE IN DANGERS WHEN DRIVING. TO EMPHASIZE THAT I HAVE FOUND OUT ON YOUR WEBSITE THERE ARE SAME COMPLAINTS FOR FAILED WATER PUMP AS WELL. AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE LOTS OF CAR OWNER HAVE SAME PROBLEMS JUST WERE NOT AWARE OF WHERE THEY COULD MAKE COMPLAINTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION IN THIS MATTER. *JS
TOOK MY 2005 RX330 IN FOR A RECALL (CRANKSHAFT PULLEY). I WAS TOLD THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING AND SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF ALONG WITH THE TIMING BELT. I WAS TOLD I WOULD SAVE A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS IN LABOR BECAUSE OF THE RECALL IF I HAD IT TAKEN CARE OF RIGHT NOW AT A COST OF $876.96. OUCH! ONLY 50K MILES! AT LEAST IT DIDN'T HAPPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING, BUT COME ON 50K MILES. I HOPE THIS ISN'T AN ISSUE AMONG OTHER 05 RX330 OWNERS. MIGHT HAVE THE TUNE OF RECALL. I'M DRIVING A LEXUS NOT A HUGO.................. *TR
MY LEXUS RX330 BROKE DOWN AT THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD ONLY AT 65K MILES. THE WATER PUMP HAD A LEAK, AND AS A RESULT, THERE WAS NO COOLANT AND THE ENGINE WAS HEATING UP TO A LEVEL WHERE I COULD HAVE FIRE IN THE ENGINE. I WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND IT HAD TO BE TOWED. LATER I PAID $1100+ TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP AND TIMING BELT. I CONTACTED LEXUS HQ REGARDING SERIOUS QUALITY ISSUES WITH THEIR VEHICLE AS THE WATER PUMP AND TIMING BELT SHOULD LAST UP TO 90K MILES. LEXUS REFUSED TO HELP OR EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE. I AM REACHING OUT TO NHTSA AND REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION OF THIS QUALITY PROBLEM WITH LEXUS VEHICLE AND KEY ENGINE PARTS LIKE WATER PUMP. TOYOTA/LEXUS HAS BEEN USING LOW QUALITY PARTS TO INCREASE PROFIT MARGIN AND AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE IS FAILING AT ONLY 65K MILES. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE FOR SAFETY AS AN ENGINE WITH A FAILED WATER PUMP CAN HEAT UP AND CAUSE FIRE AND FAIL AT THE MIDDLE OF BUSY INTERSECTION OR ON THE HIGHWAY. WILL APPRECIATE IF YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE ASAP AND REQUIRE LEXUS TO DO A RECALL ON THEIR WATER PUMP FOR ALL 2005 RX 330S. *TR
I PURCHASED A USED 2005 RX 330 3 WEEKS AGO (I ALSO PURCHASED WHAT I WAS TOLD WAS AN EXTENDED ROAD HAZARD COVERAGE). I DECIDED TO TAKE MY DAUGHTER AND GRANDDAUGHTER TO DISNEY WORLD (A 200 MILE TRIP THIS WEEKEND. JUST AS WE ARRIVED IN ORLANDO MY DAUGHTER SAID THAT SHE HEARD A POP (IT WAS NOT LOUD AS I DID NOT EVEN NOTICE IT)AND WE NOTICED STEAM COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE SUV WAS TOWED INTO LEXUS OF ORLANDO AND ALTHOUGH ON VACATION I WAS LEFT WITHOUT A CAR AND STILL HAVE NONE. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, I WAS CALLED BY LEXUS OF ORLANDO AND TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $1000 TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED BECAUSE ALLEGEDLY THE ISSUE IS DAMAGE TO THE A/C COMPRESSOR CAUSED BY A 'ROAD HAZARD'. THE 'ROAD HAZARD' WAS A PIECE OF REFLECTOR USED TO SEPARATE THE LANES. LEXUS HAS REFUSED OT REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH I WAS SOLD A 3 MONTH, 3,000 MILE EVERYTHING WARRANTY (IN ADDITION TO THE LEXUS CERTIFIED WARRANTY) AND THE EVERYTHING WARRANTY HAS NO EXCLUSIONS WAS TO COVER ANY DAMAGE. I SPOKE TO A MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT FOR A ROAD REFLECTOR TO CAUSE THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE, THERE MUST BE A DESIGN FLAW IN THE PROTECTIONS AFFORDED BY THE GRILL OR OTHERWISE TO THE A/C RADIATOR AREA. IN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE I NOTED THAT OTHERS HAVE FILE IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS, INCLUDING ON THIS SITE. *JB
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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