Exterior Lighting. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

16 crash reports1 fire reports7 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

32 reports

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Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 2009

Exterior Lighting

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THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLAMP OF THE RX330 CEASED OPERATION DUE TO A BUILDUP OF MOISTURE. CONDENSATION HAS BEEN PRESENT IN THE HEADLAMP FOR SOME TIME, BUT THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS THAT IT WOULD LEAD TO HEADLAMP FAILURE. THE SUV IS MAINTAINED BY THE DEALERSHIP EXCLUSIVELY, AND AT NO POINT DID THEY MENTION THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE CONDENSATION COULD CAUSE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT NIGHT IN A DARK SECTION OF HIGHWAY AND COULD HAVE LED TO SERIOUS BODILY HARM OR DEATH. LEXUS HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE RX330 HEADLAMPS SINCE 2005 AND HAS FAILED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE MOISTURE ISSUES COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN SERIOUS HARM TO THE DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS OF THE LEXUS OR OTHER MOTORISTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10295854

46,203 miles · Nov 18, 2009

Exterior Lighting

WE OWN A 2005 LEXUS RX330. MOISTURE ACCUMULATED IN ONE OF OUR HEADLIGHTS CAUSING IT TO FAIL. COST OF REPLACEMENT WAS $1800,00 WHICH AFTER MUCH ADO WAS PAID FOR BY LEXUS. NOW OUR OTHER HEADLIGHT IS DOING THE SAME AND LEXUS WILL ONLY PAY FOR HALF, WHICH WOULD BE VERY GENEROUS EXCEPT THAT THIS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SHOULD N…

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NHTSA ODI #10292748

63,000 miles · Nov 13, 2009

Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS RX330. WATER ENTERS THROUGH THE HEAD-LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND HE WAS ADVISED THAT IT COST $1000 TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

NHTSA ODI #10292107

16,000 miles · Sep 15, 2009

Exterior Lighting

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS RX330. HE STATED THAT THERE WAS A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF CONDENSATION IN THE DRIVER SIDE HEAD LAMP WHICH CAUSED THE LIGHT BULB. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE REPAIR WAS MADE; HOWEVER, HE NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE LIGHTS INTENSITY WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LIGHTS WERE ALIGNED CORRECTLY AND SHOULD NOT AFFECT THE INTENSITY. THE CONTACT PROVIDED PHOTOS TO PROVE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE LIGHTS. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE BOTH OF THE LIGHTS PER THE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53000. UPDATED 10/13/09. *LJ UPDATED 10/15/09

NHTSA ODI #10284077

62,700 miles · Sep 3, 2009

Exterior Lighting

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CONDENSATION IN HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY CAUSING HEADLIGHT TO BLOW. HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY COSTS $1,900 EA. TO REPLACE. LEXUS RX330. VEHICLE HAS BEEN OFF WARRANTY FOR ALMOST 2 MOS. 62,700 MILES ON VEHICLE. LEXUS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SAYS THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR. LEXUS DEALERSHIP WILL GIVE US A DISCOUNT (FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS). CANNOT DRIVE VEHICLE WITH NO HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT. RESEARCH SHOWS A NUMBER OF LEXUS RX330 HEADLAMP PROBLEMS. VEHICLE CANNOT BE REPAIRED BY ANYONE OTHER THAN LEXUS AS THIS IS A COMPUTER ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT. RAIN HEAVY, CONDENSATION BUILDS UP INSIDE ASSEMBLY CAUSING SHORT AND BLOWING OUT HEADLIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10282738

65,000 miles · Mar 23, 2009

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS RX330. MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF CONDENSATION IN THE HEADLAMPS CAUSED THE COMPUTER TO FAIL. THE COMPUTER OPERATES THE HEADLIGHTS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED ABOUT THE TSB. THEY ALSO VOLUNTEERED TO PAY $1,000 TOWARDS THE COST OF THE REPAIR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES …

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NHTSA ODI #10262775

58,000 miles · Mar 10, 2009

Exterior Lighting

CERTIFIED 2005 LEXUS RX 330 HAS HEADLIGHT CONDENSATION ONE WEEK AFTER I BROUGHT IT HOME. NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT ITS NOT COVERED UNDER THE CERTIFIED WARRANTY. I HAVE THE HID HEADLIGHTS THAT TURN WITH YOU AROUND CORNERS, WHICH WILL COST $1800 TO REPLACE! FROM WHAT THE DEALER TOLD ME, THEY USED TO HONOR THIS DE…

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NHTSA ODI #10261490

25,000 miles · Mar 9, 2009

Exterior Lighting

I HAVE A 2005 LEXUS RX330 IN WHICH WHEN RAINING, HEADLIGHT CONDENSATION OCCURS. I'M SURE AS THE CONDENSATION WORSENS, THE CLEAR LENS WILL START TO YELLOW IMPAIRING VISIBILITY AND ULTIMATELY HID LAMP FAILURE. WHENEVER IT RAINS OR I GET A CAR WASH IT IS MOST OBVIOUS AND ANNOYING. LEXUS OF BAY RIDGE REPLACED ONLY 1 LIGHT AND NOW…

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NHTSA ODI #10261274

Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 2005

Exterior Lighting

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I HAVE A LEXUS RX330 AWD (2005) WITH HIDS IN NJ. THE VEHICLE IS REALLY GOOD AND SO IS THE HEADLIGHTS. NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE RIDE AND LUXURY. BUT ITS DISAPPOINTING TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCES AND THE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS I AM HAVING FOR THE LAST 2 MONTHS. THE HID HEADLIGHTS WERE STOLEN TWICE AND I AM HAVING SCARY NIGHTS AFTER SPENDING 40K ON THIS LUXURY SUV. ONE OF THE BIG REASON WHY I WENT FOR RX 330 FROM THE OTHER BRANDS WAS THE KNOWN QUALITY OF SERVICE AND RELIABILITY OF THE LEXUS BRAND. BUT NOW I AM TOTALLY DISAPPOINTED. LEXUS SHOULD NOTIFY EVERYONE WHO HAS THE XENON HEADLIGHTS TO DO THE ENHANCED SECURITY FOR HEADLIGHTS. BUT THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL I CONTACTED THEM. MEANWHILE I CONTACTED LEXUS AFTER THE 2 THEFTS AND THEY INSTALLED THE DATA DOTS AND ANTI THEFT BRACKETS WHICH THEY SAY MAY PREVENT THEFTS. IT HAS BEEN DONE A WEEK BACK AND HOPE THIEVES MAY NOT STEAL IT AGAIN SEEING THE DATA DOTS. THESE DATADOTS WONT PREVENT THEFT BUT THEY JUST WARN THE THIEF. EXTRA BRACKETS MAKES THEIR JOB A BIT HARD, BUT THEY CAN EASILY TAKE IT BY DOING MORE DAMAGE TO THE HOOD. FIRST THEFT - 5000 K LOSS SECOND THEFT - 6000 K LOSS I HAVE ONLY THIS SUGGESTION. 1)NO ONE CAN PREVENT THEFTS. MY ONLY SUGGESTION IS LEXUS OR DEALERS SHOULD WARN THE CUSTOMERS IN NJ AND NY ABOUT THE POTENTIAL HEADLIGHT THEFTS OR THEY SHOULD NOTIFY ALL OWNERS TO INSTALL SOME SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS FOR THESE HEADLIGHTS. 2)WHY CUSTOMERS RISK THEIR LIFE AND PEACEFUL NIGHTS BY SPENDING 40K FOR LUXURY VEHICLES AND AGAIN RISK TO SPEND 250-500K FOR DEDUCTIBLES EVERY MONTH. I REALLY WORRY THAT NEXT TIME INSURANCE COMPANY MAY BE UNWILLING TO GIVE INSURANCE TO MY VEHICLE TELLING THE AREA IS A HIGH RISK AREA. 3)REMOVING A LIVE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FROM AN ADVANCED MICRO COMPUTER CONTROLLED VEHICLE AND THE THEFT ALARMS JUST SITS DUMB. I CANNOT BELIEVE WHY THIS VEHICLE AND THE HEADLIGHTS WAS DESIGNED LIKE THIS. 4)THE ENHANCED BRACKETS SHOULD BE SOME STRONG METALLIC STUFFS(NOW I GUESS ITS PLASTIC). *NM

NHTSA ODI #10139135

Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 2005

Exterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE NORMAL AT LOW BEAM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB WHEN DRIVING IN THE HILLS THE HEADLIGHTS ONLY ILLUMINATE TO 20 TO 25 FEET. THE ILLUMINATED PORTION IS VERY BRIGHT AND THE NON-ILLUMINATED PORTION IS PITCH BLACK. *EH *JB

NHTSA ODI #10103466

Official recalls

11V539000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Nov 9, 2011

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AVALON VEHICLES; 2004 AND 2005 CAMRY, CAMRY SOLARA, HIGHLANDER, AND SIENNA VEHICLES, 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID; 2004 AND 2005 LEXUS ES330 AND RX330; AND 2006 LEXUS RX400H VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 1, 2004 THROUGH MARCH 31, 2005, EQUIPPED WITH THE 1MZ-FE OR 3MZ-FE ENGINE. THE AMOUNT OF ADHESIVE AGENT APPLIED BETWEEN THE OUTER RING AND THE TORSIONAL RUBBER DAMPER (INNER RING) IN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY MAY BE INADEQUATE. IF THE ADHESIVE IS INSUFFICIENT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE OUTER RING MAY BECOME MISALIGNED AND IT MAY NOT PROPERLY ROTATE WITH THE INNER RING, CAUSING NOISE AND/OR ILLUMINATION OF THE BATTERY DISCHARGE INDICATOR LIGHT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN SOME CASES, THE BELT FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE PULLEY WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND A SUDDEN INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL CHECK THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY TO IDENTIFY WHETHER IT WAS PRODUCED BY THE U.S. SUPPLIER. IF SO, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE PULLEY WITH A NEW ONE AT NO CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING EARLY JANUARY 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

11V112000 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

Feb 24, 2011

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 HIGHLANDER, HIGHLANDER HYBRID, AND MODEL YEAR 2004-2007 LEXUS RX330, RX350, AND RX400H VEHICLES. IF THE FORWARD RETENTION CLIP USED TO SECURE THE FLOOR CARPET COVER, WHICH IS LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE CENTER CONSOLE, IS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY THE COVER MAY LEAN TOWARD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY TEMPORARILY BECOME STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION RATHER THAN RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION. A STUCK ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN UNINTENDED AND SUSTAINED VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FLOOR CARPET COVER WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE FREE OR CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

06V253000 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

Jul 13, 2006

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY AND HYBRID VEHICLES, THE TWO RETAINING CLIPS FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE FORWARD CENTER CONSOLE CAN BECOME LOOSE. IF BOTH CLIPS SEPARATE FROM THE FLOOR CARPET COVER, THE COVER MAY LEAN TOWARD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSING INTERFERENCE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ROD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION MAY INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TWO FLOOR CARPET COVER RETAINING CLIPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 24, 2006, AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY EARLY SEPTEMBER 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 OR LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

RQ10003 · Unintended And Uncontrolled Acceleration

Opened Feb 16, 2010 · Closed Mar 1, 2011

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:software; Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

On February 16, 2010, NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened RQ10-003 to determine whether the scope of prior Toyota recalls relating to potential unintended acceleration were sufficiently broad, including, among others, Toyota recalls 07E-082, 09V-388, 10V-017, and 10V-023.NHTSA also requested information regarding potential electronic causes of unintended acceleration in Toyota and Lexus vehicles.I. Pedal Interference from Floor mats, Carpet Covers and Plastic Pads in Carpets.During the RQ10-003 investigation, ODI reviewed a large volume of documents to assess whether additional vehicles should be recalled.Following the agency's analysis, NHTSA requested that Toyota recall additional vehicles.Toyota complied with the agency's request.The details of these recalls are set forth more fully in Toyota's reports to NHTSA pursuant to 49 CFR Part 573.These recalls are as follows:Recall 11V-112: (1) model year (MY) 2004-2006 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid; and, (2) MY 2004-2007 Lexus RX330,RX350, and RX400h (hybrid model). The total estimated population under this recall is 769,379 vehicles.This recall remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment caused by a loose floor carpet cover (trim panel). Recall 11V-113: (1) MY 2003-2009 through 2009 Toyota 4Runner; (2) MY 2006-2010 Toyota RAV4; and, (3) MY 2008-2011 Lexus LX570.The total estimated population under this recall is 1,381,000 vehicles.This recall supplements recall 09V-388 and remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment by an unsecured floor mat.Recall 11V-115: (1) MY 2006-2007 Lexus GS300 (all wheel drive vehicles); and, (2) MY 2006-2007 Lexus GS350 (all wheel drive vehicles). The total estimated population under this recall is 19,647 vehicles.This recall remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment caused by inadequate clearance between the pedal linkage and a plastic pad embedded in the vehicle's carpet.II. Potential Electronic Causes of Unintended Acceleration.After NHTSA opened RQ10-003, NHTSA launched a ten-month study of potential electronic causes of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles.NHTSA launched the study in the spring of 2010 in light of concerns aired in Congressional hearings.NHTSA enlisted engineers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) with expertise in areas such as computer controlled electronic systems, electromagnetic interference and software integrity to assess whether electronic systems or electromagnetic interference played a role in incidents of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles.That study has concluded.Two reports are associated with the study and are available on NHTSA's website.NASA's report is entitled Technical Support to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on the Reported Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Unintended Acceleration (UA) Investigation, NESC Assessment No. TI-10-00618 (Jan. 18, 2011).NHTSA's report is entitled Technical Assessment of Toyota Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) Systems (Feb. 2011).Both reports should be read in conjunction with each other. As stated in its report, NASA did not find an electronic cause of large throttle openings that can result in unintended acceleration incidents. NHTSA did not find a vehicle-based cause of unintended acceleration incidents other than the physical pedal interference causes that are being addressed by Toyota's recalls. This RQ is closed.

Additional source detail variants (6)

Electrical System:software

Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal