Your vehicle report

2005 Lexus RX330

The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.

NHTSA data through October 2026View original NHTSA data Change vehicle

Your vehicle at a glance

Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.

Owner complaints
165
Received Feb 2005 to Apr 2021
Official recalls listed
3
Naming this model year; check your VIN for applicability
BrakeNews flagged problems
0
Statistical signals, not official defect findings or recalls

Owner reports

Most reported problems

  1. 1
    Headlights dim or fail at night28 complaints · 17% of this vehicle’s complaints
  2. 2
    Dashboard cracks near passenger airbag15 complaints · 9.1% of this vehicle’s complaints
  3. 3
    Unintended acceleration despite braking15 complaints · 9.1% of this vehicle’s complaints
See all reported problems

Official NHTSA records

Recalls to check

  • Recall #11V539000Toyota 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.
  • Recall #11V112000Toyota 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.
View recall details

BrakeNews signals

Flagged complaint patterns

Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.

No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.

How flags are identified

Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 16 crashes, 1 fire, 9 people injured, 0 deaths.

Explore by system

Where do owners report problems?

Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.

Schematic car with five system shortcutsGeneric side view, with the front on the left. Numbered links explore engine, brakes, steering, electrical, and body complaints. Text controls below provide the same choices.12345FRONTSCHEMATIC VIEW

Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.

View selected problems

Showing all 12 listed problems by system.

Engine & powertrain

Brakes

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Electrical & lights

Airbags, belts & seats

Steering, suspension & tires

1 more problem

Body, doors & glass

Driver assistance

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Other

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Complaint history

When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.

Complaints received about the 2005 Lexus RX330
30
Show as a table
YearComplaints
20058
20063
20070
20082
200915
201018
201117
201210
201313
201430
201517
20168
20179
201811
20192
20201
20211
20220
20230
20240
20250
2026 (to Oct 2026)0
Total165

Problems owners report

Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.

ProblemComplaintsShareShare ratioStatus
Headlights dim or fail at night2817%–
Dashboard cracks near passenger airbag159.1%–
Unintended acceleration despite braking159.1%–NHTSA recall #06V253000, #11V112000
Power steering rack leaks fluid159.1%–
Glass shatters or cracks without impact74.2%–
Airbags fail to deploy in crashes63.6%–
Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly63.6%–
Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips53.0%–
Ignition key sticks or will not turn42.4%–
Dashboard melts, becomes sticky and glares31.8%–
Tires blow out or tread separates31.8%–
Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed31.8%–

AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.

Recalls

  • NHTSA recall #11V539000November 9, 2011420,326 vehicles affected

    engine and engine cooling

    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.

    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.

  • NHTSA recall #11V112000February 24, 2011769,379 vehicles affected

    vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal

    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.

    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.

  • NHTSA recall #06V253000July 13, 2006367,594 vehicles affected

    vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal

    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.

    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.

Other model years

About this data

NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2005 Lexus RX330.

Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.

Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN