2005 Lexus RX330 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other RX330 years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 6 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 165 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Lexus RX330. That ranks 2nd out of 6 RX330 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is exterior lighting (32 complaints, 19%), typically at around 65,500 miles. Complaints mention 16 crashes, 1 fire, 9 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 165owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 16complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2005 Lexus RX330 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 32 | 19% | 65,500 | — | — |
| Structure | 32 | 19% | 65,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 29 | 18% | 108,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 18 | 11% | 78,950 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 15 | 9% | 91,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 14 | 8% | 77,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14 | 8% | 51,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 11 | 7% | 85,300 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 7 | 4% | 65,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 6 | 4% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 5 | 3% | 108,449 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 4 | 2% | 101,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 4 | 2% | 76,925 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 3 | 2% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 3 | 2% | 128,828 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 1% | 55,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 1% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 1% | 61,359 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 1% | 68,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1% | 89,979 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2005 Lexus RX330 recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Engine and engine cooling
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal
Problem: 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.
Risk: This condition may interfere with the accelerator pedal returning to the idle position increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Unintended and Uncontrolled Acceleration (RQ10003) — opened Feb 16, 2010, closed Mar 1, 2011, led to recall 11V112000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 lexus rx330. The contact stated the dashboard was cracking. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 lexus rx330. The contact stated that the dashboard was fractured near the passenger's side air bag housing. The dashboard fracture expanded throughout the dashboard and caused the front passenger's air bag outline to be visible. The manufacturer informed the contact that…
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 lexus rx330. The contact stated that the vsc indicator illuminated intermittently. Also, while the vehicle was at a complete stop, the steering wheel would vibrate uncontrollably. In cold weather, the steering wheel would become difficult to maneuver. The dealer and…
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.
Hello, this complaint is not of lexus vehicle i own. I am filing the compliant about the firestone destination le 2 tires i purchased from local firestone store couple years again. I purchase 5 tires including a full size spare. I did first tire rotation this month at the same store location. This…
Other Lexus RX330 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 RX330 | 1 | 0 |
| 2009 RX330 | 1 | 0 |
| 2007 RX330 | 5 | 1 |
| 2006 RX330 | 67 | 1 |
| 2005 | 165 | 3 |
| 2004 RX330 | 287 | 5 |
See all Lexus RX330 problems by year, every Lexus model, or the Lexus VIN decoder.
Similar Lexus models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Lexus RX330?
Owners most often report exterior lighting, structure, steering problems. The top one, exterior lighting, accounts for 32 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2005 Lexus RX330?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2005 Lexus RX330 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other RX330 model years, the 2005 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.