NHTSA recalls & complaints · 2004–2011

Lexus RX 330 recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns and 526 owner complaints for the Lexus RX 330, covering model years 2004 to 2011. The 2004 model year drew the most complaints (287), and Power Train is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Lexus RX 330 VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

5 recall campaigns on file
526 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
6 model years with data (2004–2011)

most complaints: 2004 (287 for that model year)
top component: Power Train (90 complaints)
latest recall 11V539000 (reported Nov 9, 2011)

58 complaints reporting a crash (11.0%)
2 complaints reporting a fire (0.4%)
29 complaints reporting an injury (5.5%)
3 complaints reporting a death (0.6%)

Lexus RX 330 complaints by model year

6 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 2004 model year has the most complaints: 287 of 526, or 54.6%. Next come 2005 (165) and 2006 (67). The fewest are for 2011, with 1 complaint.

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years

Lexus RX 330 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death

Lexus RX 330 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model year	Complaints	Reporting a crash	Reporting a fire	Reporting an injury	Reporting a death
2004	287	37	1	20	3
2005	165	16	1	7	0
2006	67	4	0	1	0
2007	5	0	0	0	0
2009	1	0	0	0	0
2011	1	1	0	1	0
All model years	526	58	2	29	3

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Lexus RX 330 components

top 15 · NHTSA categories

Power Train is the component named most often, in 90 complaints (17.1% of all 526), followed by Structure (83) and Service Brakes, Hydraulic (66).

Components named most often in Lexus RX 330 complaints (top 15)

Components named most often in Lexus RX 330 complaints (top 15)
Component	Complaints	Share of complaints
Power Train	90	17.1%
Structure	83	15.8%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	66	12.5%
Exterior Lighting	63	12.0%
Vehicle Speed Control	60	11.4%
Steering	46	8.7%
Unknown or Other	43	8.2%
Air Bags	40	7.6%
Visibility	23	4.4%
Engine and Engine Cooling	22	4.2%
Engine	19	3.6%
Electrical System	17	3.2%
Service Brakes	9	1.7%
Suspension	9	1.7%
Equipment	8	1.5%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Lexus RX 330 recalls

5 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name RX 330, newest first. The 5 campaigns cover model years 2004 to 2007. The 2004 model year appears in the most campaigns (5).

5 recall campaigns

Lexus RX 330 recall campaigns covering each model year
2004: 5 campaigns	2005: 3 campaigns	2006: 1 campaign	2007: 1 campaign

Highlighted: the model year with the most campaigns.

NHTSA campaign 11V539000
Reported Nov 9, 2011
Engine and Engine Cooling
Model years 2004–2005
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:
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.
Filed by Toyota Motor Corporation
NHTSA campaign 11V112000
Reported Feb 24, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Model years 2004–2007
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:
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.
Filed by Toyota Motor Corporation
NHTSA campaign 06V253000
Reported Jul 13, 2006
Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Model years 2004–2005
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:
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.
Filed by Toyota Motor Corporation
NHTSA campaign 06V023000
Reported Jan 27, 2006
Seat Belts › Rear/Other
Model year 2004
Certain sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 210, "seat belt assembly anchorages." The anchor bolt for the rear, left-hand side seat belt buckle directly behind the driver's seat does not have sufficient strength.
Consequence:
The rear seat occupant may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash.
Remedy:
Dealers will replace free of charge the rear, left-hand side seat belt buckle anchor bolt with an improved one. The recall began on February 3, 2006. Owners may contact Lexus at 800-255-3987.
Filed by Toyota Motor Corporation
NHTSA campaign 04V558000
Reported Nov 22, 2004
Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights › Switch
Model year 2004
Certain passenger vehicles may be equipped with an improperly designed brake light switch. A silicon oxide build-up occurs on the contacts inside the brake light switch, which can make it inoperable.
Consequence:
If the switch is inoperable, the brake lights will not illuminate and can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy:
Dealers will replace the brake light switch. The recall began during December 2004. Owners should contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Filed by Toyota Motor Corporation

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means

What each recall field means
Field	What it tells you
Campaign number	NHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
Component	The system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
Summary	What the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
Consequence	The safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
Remedy	What the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.

Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Lexus RX 330 questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Lexus RX 330 have?

NHTSA lists 5 vehicle recall campaigns for the Lexus RX 330, covering model years 2004 to 2011. The most recent, 11V539000, was reported on November 9, 2011 and is filed under “Engine and engine cooling”. The 2004 model year is covered by the most campaigns (5).

Which Lexus RX 330 model year has the most complaints?

The 2004 model year, with 287 of the 526 complaints in NHTSA’s file (54.6%). The next are 2005 (165) and 2006 (67). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common Lexus RX 330 complaint?

Power Train is the component named most often: 90 complaints, or 17.1% of all 526. Structure (83) and Service Brakes, Hydraulic (66) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Lexus RX 330?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Lexus dealer.

How many Lexus RX 330 complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 526 complaints, 58 report a crash, 2 a fire, 29 at least one injury and 3 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

8 models · most complaints first

The Lexus models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Lexus VIN decoder with every Lexus model page, WMI code and VIN note.

Lexus ES 350 2007–2023 · 11 recalls · 1,451 complaints
Lexus RX 1999–2026 · 10 recalls · 947 complaints
Lexus RX 350 2004–2023 · 13 recalls · 838 complaints
Lexus RX 300 1998–2003 · 2 recalls · 722 complaints
Lexus IS 250 2006–2016 · 8 recalls · 719 complaints
Lexus ES 1996–2025 · 4 recalls · 666 complaints
Lexus IS 1999–2026 · 8 recalls · 595 complaints
Lexus ES 300 1995–2013 · 4 recalls · 562 complaints

All Lexus models and WMI codes Look up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.