2004 Lexus RX330 problems

What is wrong

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.

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.

Recall number 11V539000 · Recall details

What is wrong

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.

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.

Recall number 11V112000 · Recall details

What is wrong

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.

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.

Recall number 06V253000 · Recall details

What is wrong

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.

Risk

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.

Recall number 06V023000 · Recall details

What is wrong

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.

Risk

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.

Recall number 04V558000 · Recall details

On February 16, 2010, the federal safety agency'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.the federal safety agency 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, the federal safety agency 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 the federal safety agency 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 the federal safety agency opened RQ10-003, the federal safety agency launched a ten-month study of potential electronic causes of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles.the federal safety agency launched the study in the spring of 2010 in light of concerns aired in Congressional hearings.the federal safety agency 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 the federal safety agency's website.NASA's report is entitled Technical Support to the federal safety agency on the Reported Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Unintended Acceleration (UA) Investigation, NESC Assessment No. TI-10-00618 (Jan. 18, 2011).the federal safety agency'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. the federal safety agency 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.

RQ10003

On february 10, 2005, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation to investigate alleged loss of brake power-assist in certain 2004 model year (my) lexus rx330 vehicles built through approximately june 30, 2004.the subject vehicles were manufactured at toyota motor manufacturing canada, inc.?s cambridge, ontario assembly plant and were equipped with vacuum brake booster assemblies sourced from aisin seiki co., ltd (aisin) subsidiary advics north america, inc. (advics-na).to date, odi is aware of 146 non-duplicative reports that allege loss of brake power-assist and 6 crashes allegedly caused by loss of brake power-assist (resulting in 1 minor injury) on the subject vehicles.the subject vehicles use a conventional brake booster assembly that contains a rubber diaphragm to separate the fore and aft pressure chambers.the outer edge of the rubber diaphragm is held in place via a retaining groove on the brake booster body.if the booster loses vacuum (e.g., operator depletes the vacuum by pressing the brake pedal several times while the engine is off), it may cause the diaphragm to deform in the area of the retaining groove to the point that insufficient seal exists between diaphragm and booster body, thus causing a momentary loss of brake power-assist.the advics-na supplied diaphragm has slightly different material properties compared to the diaphragm inside brake boosters supplied by advics japan, corp. (advics-j) and used on 2004my lexus rx330 vehicles manufactured at toyota motor kyushu, inc.?s assembly plant.the softer rubber used in the advics-na diaphragm allows greater deformation and is less resilient when compared to the advics-j diaphragm.loss of brake power-assist most often occurs at vehicle start-up and appears to be more prevalent in colder temperatures.most owners report that brake system operation returns to normal within a few seconds after vehicle start-up.testing conducted by the manufacturer indicates that the advics-na diaphragm?s reduced ability to return to shape is exacerbated by colder temperatures and that loss of brake power-assist at start-up may last for a maximum of 95 seconds at temperatures below ?20 degrees celsius.however, the subject vehicles have a back-up system that can sense a loss of brake power-assist and enable the ABS actuator for brake hydraulic pressure support (I.e., brake pedal force assist).the manufacturer will conduct a service campaign (lexus special service campaign #5la) to replace the vacuum brake booster assembly on all affected subject vehicles.the action taken by the manufacturer is sufficient to resolve the issues raised by this investigation.accordingly, this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety-related defect does not exist.the agency will take further action if warranted by the circumstances.

PE05009