2004 Lexus RX330: engine stalls while driving

Filed Nov 8, 2016 · Airbags · 90,000 miles · FL

Parent co, toyota issued a voluntary replacement of dashboard due to cracked, sticky, shiny condition in what was an obvious attempt to stave off an official government recall and/or a class action. Parent co, toyota is now stalling by not supplying the dealers with said dashboards they promised to replace. I first brought this issue to the attention of my dealer in may of 2012. Even if the dealer was receiving the dashboards at the rate of 2 or 3 a week as originally promised, it would be another full year or more before they would replace mine. At this time, the dealers are receiving none and no dashboards are being replaced. This is not just a cosmetic issue, it's a severe safety hazard. In the case of my dash, which is completely covered with cracks, if the airbag is deployed at 200 MPH those small little pieces of plastic will shred my face and the faces of anyone riding with me into hamburger. Considering the fact that the takata air bags can be deployed even when there isn't a accident, makes it even a bigger hazard. Enough is enough, the government needs to step in and issue an official recall and force toyota to replace the dashboards immediately without any more legal stall tactics. The vehicle is essentially undriveable in it's present condition. I have health conditions that prevent me from working at this time and need the vehicle to get to my doctors. I couldn't afford to buy a new vehicle even if this one was in excellent trade-in value. It's been over 4 years for me, longer for others and will be multiple more years at this rate. I need a safe vehicle to drive, like the one I was promised when I purchased this one.

Filed Mar 12, 2015 · Acceleration, Engine · 113,000 miles · CA

I got in the car at 2 p.m. After driving 1/4 mile it would not take off from the stop sign it stalled and lunged forward due to loss of connection when stepping on the gas pedal. I depressed the brake and shifted from d to 4 and it began to shake in the front of the bumper. I pulled over, put it in neutral with the parking brake on and my emergency flashers on, and opened the hood. It stopped shaking and I removed the floor mat, which is attached with clips and with my hand, I pushed the gas pedal. It had no rev in the engine, as I would expect. I got back in the car and shifted to r and then with the brake off, I shifted to 4. The check engine light was flashing and vsc light as well. I can tell you for certain my car was not overheating when I took it to sears auto center with warning lights vsc and check engine coming on intermittently. If the vehicle overheating was the cause of the damage the temperature gauge on the dash would have indicated that when I brought it to sears. Mike, service advisor at lexus of roseville stated in an e-mail to me that his technician 'found # 5 cylinder intake valves bent and stuck. #1 cylinder intake valve sticking (will stay open till piston hits and closes it). Suspect vehicle overheated causing valve to stick in guides.my car was not overheating and I think the engine is defective. I had a lkq engine installed amd it was fine for a month before it started sounding like marbles. I think my car is damaged due to a defect. I had just had a ful synthetic oil change two weeks before this incident occurred and put four brand new tires as well. I bought the car with only 101k miles for $23,000 in august 2013 and I still owe $5,000 on my loan. My car had all the service records from lexus of rockville, proving this car was well maintained by both myself and the previous owner.

Filed Dec 20, 2010 · Electrical · 42,000 miles · CA

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 lexus rx330. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30-40 MPH the vehicle lunged forward violently and it also stalled when trying to accelerating from a stop sign. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer who informed the contact that she needed to reset the computer and that it would take time for the vehicle to learn her driving habits. The computer was reset; however, and the pausing and lunging forward continued to occur. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.

Filed Apr 11, 2010 · Engine, Transmission · 85,684 miles · FL

I bought my lexus in 2007. It is a 2004 rx lexus 330 it had 31,000 miles when bought. Since I had the car my radiator was broken and the lexus dealership repaired it under warranty. Before this I remember stopping to the dealership because felt the car was stalling and was told that nothing wrong its just I have to be consistent the way I drive with speed. Now in 2010 I'm experiencing the same problem with the car stalling or lagging with the RPM and a little noise coming from the transmission. I really think they should recall this or do something about it because I read alot of reviews that this is happening and the car doesnt even have that many miles. I spent alot of money on this car and they should take this problems in consideration really.

Filed Jun 10, 2005 · Transmission · 500 miles · CA

Engine/transmission hesitation; missed shift points; and stalls in traffic upon acceleration. Using automatic climate control causes all windows to fog up to the extent that you can not see out of the windows. Load engine noises and popping sounds.

Filed May 18, 2004 · Transmission · TX

I too have had ongoing problems with my 2004 lexus rx 330. I have had my car in the repair center three times already for hesitation and lagging between gears and vibrations noises throughout the car. I personally do not feel safe in this car because it drives inconsistently and on several occasions, I have almost been rear-ended or have stalled in an intersection because the car does not properly accelarate. I have written a letter to the dealership and have contacted lexus customer service numerous times. I am being told that this is normal. Normal to who? It is obvious, by many comments I have reviewed by other owners of this same vehicle that there is a serious issue here that lexus is choosing to ignore because they do not have a solution. I wonder how long they will continue to turn their heads. I drove an rx 300 for several years and it was completely different. I bought another lexus for safety and reliability factors and I do not feel either in the new rx 330. Please investigate this problem before someone gets seriously hurt.

Filed Mar 23, 2004 · Transmission · 7,900 miles · PA

Transmission problem: serious lag between gear shifts. If I push the accelerator down to accelerate to get out of a dangerous situation: nothing happens. The car seems to stall, slows down and then once the ecu has determined which gear to selectit accelerates violently taking the driver by surprise. Altogether the response is far too slow. Transmission is not smooth. This is a safety issue. Dealer checked transmission:"working according to specifications" ?! Also "thump" "clunk" noise when decelerating from 50 MPH to lower speeds, occasionally. Aa.

Filed Mar 5, 2004 · Transmission · 5,700 miles · KY

My 2004 lexus rx330 awd has a problem with the transmission "hanging" on the 2-3 upshift. The car hesitates then roughly shifts into the next gear. It has never shifted as smoothly in any gear as other lexus and toyota products I driven. I went to the dealer and the dealer reprogrammed the engine management control. The net result has been that the engine shifts at a higher RPM than it did before, but is still not smooth. The hesitation between gears was less frequent for a week or two after the reprogram, but has now returned and there is an increasing lag or hesitation in shifting in the 2-3 and 3-4 upshift. Last week as I was merging into expressway traffic, I pushed down the throttle and nothing happened. It almost seemed as though the engine died. I released the throttle, pushed again and the transmission engaged a lower gear and accelerated. The behavior of the transmission is unpredictable. Sometimes, but not always, the engine feels like it stalls when turning a corner. The hesitation on downshift has occurred four times now since the reprogram. The car has less than 6000 miles on it. The dealer seemed to try to be helpful, but can only pass on what the manufacturer provides them, so I think the resolution lies with toyota and lexus in developing a fix for a potentially dangerous problem.