2005 Lexus RX

27 complaints on file, page 1 of 2.

1. Filed Nov 20, 2025Failure Sep 7, 2025Petaluma, CAElectrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemFire

   My vehicle caught fire a few days after being repaired by a licensed repair shop in California.
The repair was performed by: Brodie's Tire & Automotive
Address: 1276 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma, CA 94952
Phone: [XXX] After the fire, the repair shop admitted in writing that: • The intake manifold melted after the fire
• The engine became “not repairable”
• The fire occurred shortly after their repair
• They offered to “fix it for free,” which indicates awareness of responsibility The fire caused severe heat damage to the engine compartment, electrical wiring, and surrounding components. The vehicle became unsafe to drive, and the engine can no longer operate. This incident presents a serious safety hazard because the fire happened shortly after a repair that involved components near the engine and fuel system. Improper or unsafe repair work may cause similar fires for other consumers. This incident is already under active investigation by: • California Department of Insurance (CDI) – Complaint #XXX• California Bureau of Automotive Repair (DCA/BAR) – Case No: XXX I am reporting this to NHTSA because the fire and melted engine components indicate a dangerous defect tied to improper repair work, which may pose a risk to other drivers. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

   NHTSA complaint 11700694
2. Filed Oct 4, 2025Failure Sep 1, 2025Ellicott City, MDSpare tire mount/rack, Temporary/emergency spare tire

   Unexpectedly found steel cable has snapped off & the spare tire was gone Like to report this could be a safety issue leading to an accident for fellow driver.

   NHTSA complaint 11691409
3. Filed Sep 5, 2025Failure Sep 1, 202580,000 milesDeerfield Beach, FLAir bags, Dashboard

   The contact owns a 2005 Lexus RX 330. The contact stated that there were horizontal and vertical cracks on the dashboard near the passenger’s side air bag housing. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was concerned about the safety of the driver’s and passenger’s side air bags. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall for the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

   NHTSA complaint 11685317
4. Filed Jan 31, 2024Failure Jan 1, 2024Canton, OHAir bags

   Over past month Dashboard where airbag is under has become discolored and is CRACKING as if AIRBAG wants out. Other 2005 Toyota vehicles have been recalled bc of Dangerous AIRBAG issues. Should the AIRBAGS in 2005 Lexus’ be too? Afraid to drive now.

   NHTSA complaint 11569166
5. Filed Nov 30, 2023Failure Jul 1, 2023Alpharetta, GAService brakes, Master cylinder

   An AutoZone, Durlast brand brake master cylinder failed in less than one year. The piston in the master cylinder dislodged, preventing proper braking in at least two of the four disc brake calipers. The Duralast master cylinder has been retained for inspection. The safety of the driver, passengers, other motorists and pedestrians were placed at risk due to the malfunction of the shoddily manufactured brake component. Braking distance and stopping efficiency were adversely affected. The problem was confirmed by the automobile repair center. The manufacturer has, so far, failed to contact me about the defective brake component. No warning lamps or messages were associated with the master cylinder failure.

   NHTSA complaint 11557604
6. Filed Nov 30, 2023Failure Jun 1, 2023210,000 milesAlpharetta, GAService brakes, Master cylinder

   The contact owns a 2005 Lexus RX330. The contact stated while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle was slow to respond. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the Duralast brake master cylinder was inoperable. The contact was informed that the piston in the brake master cylinder had become dislodged, causing the braking system to become less efficient. The mechanic replaced the part. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 210,000.

   NHTSA complaint 11557603
7. Filed Jan 20, 2022Failure Oct 1, 2021West Linn, ORUnknown or other

   FRONT DASHBOARD CRACKING AND PEELING OFF - HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RECALL NOTICES BUT HAVE SEEN THIS ISSUE APPEAR ON OTHERS COMPLAINTS. WE HAVE HEARD THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS BUT HAVE RECEIVED NO NOTICES TO DATE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE REPAIRED

   NHTSA complaint 11448271
8. Filed Oct 19, 2021Failure Jan 8, 2021Summerfield, FLStructure, Unknown or other

   2005 LEXUS RX 330 Vin# [XXX] Problem: Dashboard crack and peel all over the surface happened on January 2021.I might be eligible for Lexus to cover this approximate $ 800.00 repair at no charge to me. This is WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT NOTIFICATION. Letter I never get from LEXUS. List of Models Lexus IS covering under this warranty Enhancement 2007-2008 ES 350 2003-2008 GX 470 2004-2006 RX330 2007-2009 RX 350 2005-2008 RX 400h My warranty expire on august 2017 The Dash start cracking and peeling on 2021. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

   NHTSA complaint 11437356
9. Filed May 6, 2020Failure May 6, 2020100,000 milesEstes Park, COFuel/propulsion system, Service brakes, Vehicle speed controlCrash

   PULLING IN TO A PARKING SLOT AT DENTAL OFFICE, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR SUDDENLY REVVED AND ACCELERATED FORWARD AT A HIGH SPEED. WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR DID NOT STOP UNTIL HITTING THE ROCK WALL SIDE OF THE BUILDING. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 11323597
10. Filed Apr 18, 2020Failure Apr 17, 2020215,216 milesSAN Diego, CAService brakes

    BRAKE PEDAL GOES SOFT WHILE HOLDING BRAKES ON AT A STOP. THE CAR WILL START TO ROLL FORWARD UNLESS MORE BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE IS APPLIED. BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. PUMPING THE BRAKES RESTORES PRESSURE. MY SHOP BLED THE BRAKES TWICE AND FOUND NO AIR IN THE SYSTEM. BLEEDING DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE. THEY SAID THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE MASTER CYLINDER AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED... *TR

    NHTSA complaint 11321516
11. Filed Nov 10, 2019Failure Jun 30, 2015121,000 milesFletcher, NCSteering

    THE RX330 WAS SEEN AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AROUND 121,000 MILES FOR BRAKE PADS AND GENERAL MAINTENANCE & INSPECTION. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THERE WAS A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK AND IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE RACK/PINION TO A TUNE OF AROUND $2,000! THE SERVICE WAS DECLINED AND THE OWNER WAS INFORMED IT MIGHT BE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE STEERING COULD LOCK UP, MAKING IT MORE PROBABLE FOR AN ACCIDENT TO OCCUR. AT PRESENT, THE OWNER IS ADDING PS FLUID TO THE VEHICLE WHEN IT RUNS LOW AND HOPING FOR THE BEST. A FEW MECHANICS HAVE COMMENTED THIS MIGHT BE THE LESS EXPENSIVE OPTION. HOWEVER, WITH A BROKEN RACK/PINION, IT MAKES THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO RESALE. MECHANICS ARE BECOMING MORE AND MORE AWARE OF THIS COSTLY MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE 2005 LEXUS. ONE MECHANIC COMMENTED THERE IS A WEAK SPOT IN THE R&P WHICH GIVES, CAUSING THIS PROBLEM.

    NHTSA complaint 11279267
12. Filed Aug 11, 2019Failure Aug 2, 201915,000 milesPlainville, CTAir bags, Seat belts

    ERROR MESSAGE HAS APPEARED REGARDING PASSENGER AIR BAG. AIRBAG ON/OFF INDICATOR GOES ON AND OFF WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING ON FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. SEATBELT WARNING SIGNAL STARTING RINGING WHEN PASSENGER REMOVED SEATBELT AND EXITED THE CAR. STOPED WHEN I PRESSED DOWN ON PASSENGER SEAT.

    NHTSA complaint 11243064
13. Filed May 16, 2018Failure Apr 20, 2018117,000 milesTullahoma, TNAir bags, Unknown or other

    MY COMPLAINT IS NOT ABOUT THE AIRBAG BUT RATHER ABOUT THE DASHBOARD PROTECTING THE AIRBAG! LEXUS IS AWARE OF CRACKING DASHBOARDS IN THE RX SINCE THEY ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO REPLACE THESE DASHBOARDS THAT EXPIRED 05/31/2017! MY DASHBOARD DID NOT START CRACKING UNTIL APRIL 2018 AND HAS NOW STARTED CRACKING IN 5 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS IN JUST THE LAST MONTH, THREE OF WHICH ARE IN PROXIMITY TO THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC FOR AN ESTIMATE TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG HE MENTIONED THE SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE DASHBOARD DEVELOPING CRACKS IN THE AREA THAT PROTECTS THE AIRBAG. HE SAID IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND RECOMMENDED THAT I CONTACT NHTSA WITH A COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. I PURCHASED THIS 2005 MODEL IN DEC 2004 AND IT HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT THE WHOLE TIME SO THESE CRACKS ARE AGE RELATED NOT WEATHER RELATED.

    NHTSA complaint 11094165
14. Filed Apr 24, 2017Failure Aug 28, 2016194,583 milesSAN Diego, CAUnknown or other

    OBDII MONITOR READS "NOT READY" FOR THE CATALYST INSPECTION CATEGORY DURING SMOG CHECK. CAR WILL NOT PASS SMOG.

    NHTSA complaint 10980320
15. Filed Jan 30, 2017Failure Jan 18, 2017104,000 milesSAN Francisco, CAExterior lighting

    HEADLIGHT LOWBEAM FAILURE DUE TO EXCESS WATER CONDENSATION INSIDE LIGHT ASSEMBLY. IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT LEXUS HAS KEPT SECRET THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. INSTEAD IF ISSUING AN EXPENSIVE RECALL ON ALL THE YEARS AFFECTED, THEY SIMPLY FIXED AS THE CARS CAME IN WITH THE PROBLEM. THEY KNOW THAT IT IS CHEAPER FOR THEM TO DO SO IN THAT MANNER BECAUSE MOST LEXUS OWNERS GARAGE THEIR VEHICLES AND WONT HAVE THE FAILURE UNTILL IT IS TOO LATE. THEIR PROGRAM TO FIX THE PROBLEM ENDS WITHIN A 10 YEAR PERIOD. CAN YOU INVESTIGATE AND FORCE LEXUS TO ISSUE A RECALL ON ALL CARS AFFECTED REGARDLESS AGE OR OWNERSHIP. MY LIGHTS FAILED DURING THE RAIN AT NIGHTWHILE GOING HOME. IT REALLY IS A VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE.

    NHTSA complaint 10948468
16. Filed Aug 22, 2016Failure Jul 27, 2016Waldorf, MDUnknown or other

    TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES WERE SEVERELY CORRODED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. FLUID LEAKING. TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES ARE STATIONED ON THE BOTTOM FRAME OF THE VEHICLE - IN A PLACE WHERE THE EFFECTS FROM ROAD SALT AND WATER ARE THE MOST EXTREME.

    NHTSA complaint 10897610
17. Filed Oct 14, 2014Failure Jun 1, 201045,000 milesFort Lauderdale, FLStructure

    THE DASHBOARD IS STICKY AND CRACKING. IT STARTED BACK IN 2009-2010 WHEN MY FINGERNAIL WOULD CATCH IN THE PLASTIC WHEN TURNING KEY IGNITION. NOW THERE ARE CRACKS COMPLETELY ACROSS THE DASH AND PIECES HAVE FALLEN OFF. IT IS ALSO STICKY TO THE TOUCH. HAVE BROUGHT BACK TO LEXUS DEALER AND TWICE THEY HAVE NOT COME BACK TO ME WITH A RESOLUTION FROM CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE. HAVE SEEN PROBLEM WITH OTHER LEXUS AND TOYOTA VEHICLES AND HAVE HAD OTHER CARS IN FL THAT HAVE NOT HAD NEVER HAD ISSUES WITH THE HEAT SUCH AS THIS. I AM THE SOLE OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE SINCE 2005. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10644413
18. Filed Sep 11, 2014Failure Sep 2, 201486,422 milesKendall Park, NJSteering

    I WAS TOLD BY THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP THAT I HAVE A POWER STEERING RACK LEAK ON MY 2005 LEXUS RX330. TO REPAIR THE LEAK WILL COST APPROXIMATE $1700. I HAVE CONTACTED THE LEXUS MANUFACTURER DIRECTLY ABOUT THE FAILURE AND WAS INFORMED THAT WAS A RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING BACK IN 2011 BUT UNFORTUNATELY MY CAR IS NOT PART OF RECALL. I HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT MOST LEXUS OWNERS WERE HAVING. THIS CONFIRMS THAT THE POWER STEERING LEAK IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THEIR POWER STEERING RECALL. I HOPE NHTSA CAN INVESTIGATE INTO THIS PROBLEM FURTHER AND REQUEST LEXUS TO INCLUDE THE POWER STEERING RACK LEAK AS PART OF THE RECALL. YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10632536
19. Filed May 23, 2014Failure Apr 8, 2013Bayamon, PRAir bags, Structure

    THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKING AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THE AIRBAG WAS DESIGNED WITH A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF RESISTANCE FROM THE DASHBOARD. MAJOR CONCERN WITH AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT SPEED WITH LESS RESISTANCE FROM DASHBOARD. ALSO CONCERN ABOUT FRAGMENTATION OF DASHBOARD DURING DEPLOYMENT. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10593808
20. Filed Aug 4, 2012Failure Aug 3, 201273,000 milesHoffman Estates, ILExterior lighting

    LEXUS RX 330 HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS DEFECTIVE. EVERYTIME I WASH MY RX330 OR IF IT RAINS, WATER LEAK IN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY CREATES MOISTURE INSIDE THE HEADLIGHTS. THIS CAUSES LESS VISIBILITY AT NIGHTS AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THERE ARE SEVERAL HUNDRED COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUE ON THE WEB; HOWEVER, LEXUS/TOYOTA WILL NOT RECALL THEIR DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. THEY ARE EVEN RELUCTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE. WILL APPRECIATE IF NHTSA INVESTIGATES THIS ISSUE AND TAKE NECESSARY ACTION AGAINST LEXUS ASAP. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10469162