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

What owners actually said

165 reports

89,000 miles · Jun 15, 2011

Exterior Lighting

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I OWN A 2005 LEXUS RX 330. I HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE CONDENSATION BUILD UP WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. I WENT TO THE LEXUS DEALER TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM THEY CHARGED A $110.00 SERVICE CHARGE TO TELL ME THAT I NEED TO REPLACE MY HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE COST TO REPLACE IS ABOUT $2,200. THIS IS A DISGRACE. MY HEADLIGHT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE AT NIGHT FOR SOMETIME NOW. I CONTACTED LEXUS CUSTOMER CARE AND EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM AND THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. THE RESPONSE FROM LEXUS IS THAT THEY WOULD REVIEW MY CASE AND SOMEONE WOULD CALL ME BACK WITH A DECISION. SOMEONE DID CALL ME BACK OFFERING TO PAY 25% OF THE TOTAL BILL OF 2,200 FROM THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP. I WAS LIVID. LEXUS SELLS DEFECTIVE VEHICLES AND EXPECTS CUSTOMERS TO PAY THE REPAIRS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS WORLD IS COMING TO, BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS. THE MILEAGE FAILURE WAS 89,000. I WILL NEVER BY LEXUS AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10407015

60,860 miles · Jun 8, 2011

Structure

MY 2005 LEXUS RX330 DASHBOARD HAS RIPPED OPEN IN SEVERAL PLACES. ONE IS DIRECTLY OVER MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG! I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW AND IT HAS ONLY 60,000 MILES. IT HAS BEEN KEPT IN A GARAGE MOST OF THE TIME. THIS IS A DEFECT THAT HAS HAPPEN TO OTHER OWNERS. LEXUS SHOULD RECALL THESE DASH BOARDS AND REPLACE THEM. I H…

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NHTSA ODI #10405631

6,000 miles · May 31, 2011

Exterior Lighting

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER WAS ENTERING INTO THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE OWNERS MANUAL. THE HEADLIGHT EVENTUALLY FAILED COMPLETELY AFTER NOTHING WAS DONE TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED A SECOND TIME BY THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE ENTIRE UNIT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WILL REVIEW THE CASE AND CONTACT HIM AT A LATER DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000.

NHTSA ODI #10403853

92,000 miles · Apr 27, 2011

Electrical SystemPower TrainUnknown Or OtherCrash

I WAS PARKED IN A GARAGE ON A RAMP AND LEFT THE CAR IN GEAR (DRIVE) AND AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, IT ROLLED BACK INTO ANOTHER CAR. THE LEXUS 330 IS SUPPOSED TO PROHIBIT ONE FROM REMOVING THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION WHEN IN GEAR. MY CAR CONTINUES TO ALLOW ME TO REMOVE THE KEY (ENGINE OFF) WHILE IN DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI #10398950

Mileage unknown · Apr 26, 2011

Electrical System

2005 LEXUS RX 330. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $ 825.00 *TGW

NHTSA ODI #10397718

17,850 miles · Mar 31, 2011

Visibility

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS RX330. WHILE PARKED, THE SUNLIGHT WAS SHINING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR AND THE CONTACT NOTICED A BLACK GLARE ON THE MIRROR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE TECHNICIANS COULD NOT SEE THE GLARE. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER SOMETIME THE BLACK GLARE BECAME MORE NOTICEABLE AND CHANGED FROM BLACK TO YELLOW. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS UNABLE TO SEE ANYTHING IN THE MIRROR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER A SECOND TIME WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE MIRROR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,850. UPDATED 03/06/12 *BF UPDATED 03/07/12

NHTSA ODI #10393820

51,000 miles · Feb 7, 2011

Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS RX-330. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AND CRASHED. DURING THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT COULD SMELL A BURNING ODOR AND NOTICED SMOKE WAS ESCAPING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DE…

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NHTSA ODI #10380945

40,000 miles · Jan 14, 2011

Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN EXCESSIVE BUILD-UP OF CONDENSATION IN THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TWO YEARS AFTER THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FAILURE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE MECHA…

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NHTSA ODI #10376639

65,500 miles · Jan 10, 2011

Exterior Lighting

I AM DESCRIBING AN EVENT THAT OCCURS REPEATEDLY AMONG OLDER DRIVERS. THEY PUT THEIR TURN SIGNAL ON, AND IT DOES NOT SWITCH OFF AND THEY DON'T KNOW IT BECAUSE THEIR HEARING ABILITY HAS DIMINISHED. THEY THEN MAKE A TURN TO THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF WHAT THEIR TURN SIGNAL INDICATES AND EITHER CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR HAVE A CLOSE CAL…

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NHTSA ODI #10375536

96,423 miles · Nov 20, 2010

Unknown Or Other

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I TOOK MY LEXUS RX 330 IN FOR IT'S 90,000 MILE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND TOLD THEM THAT IT HAD A ROARING NOISE LIKE A WHEEL BEARING. THE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE INCLUDED REPLACING THE TIMING BELT AND THEY DID BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS, WITH SOME FLUID REPLACEMENT AND OTHER ITEMS. I HAVE OWNED NEW CARS FOR OVER 45 YEARS AND HAVE ALWAYS KEPT THEM FOR OVER 10 YEARS AND OVER 100,000 MILES AND HAVE NEVER HAD TO HAVE A TIMING BELT REPLACED. IN THAT SAME TIME PERIOD I HAVE HAD TO HAVE ONLY ONE WHEEL BEARING REPLACED AND THAT WAS ON A VEHICLE THAT WAS 17 YEARS OLD WITH 180,000 MILES ON IT. TO HAVE TO HAVE THIS DONE ON A VEHICLE THAT IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD IS UNACCEPTABLE, ESPECIALLY ON A HIGH END VEHICLE LIKE A LEXUS. THIS SUGGESTS TO ME THAT EITHER INFERIOR PARTS ARE BEING USED OR THEY WERE DEFECTIVE AT INSTALLATION. OF COURSE LEXUS WOULD NEVER ADMIT TO EITHER. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER MAINTENANCE WITH NO RESPONSE AND THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE, WHICH RESPONDED WITH AN APOLOGY FOR MY CONCERN. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE HOWEVER. IF YOU CAN BRING SOME PRESSURE ON LEXUS TO MAKE GOOD ON THEIR "ALLEGED" QUALITY I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI #10367660

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