Lexus RX330 hesitation problems

Filed Jul 13, 2015 · Engine, Transmission · 103,600 miles · CA · crash

My wife (who is not the primary driver of this vehicle) was entering a perpendicular parking space in front of a business located just off the street. The business was once a house and has now put 3 parking spaces in front of the building just over the sidewalk.the entrance is up a driveway and just beyond the sidewalk and into the parking spaces. As she was going up the driveway and turn slightly to the right to enter a parking space, the car hesitated and then accelerated, she applied the brakes and left a 5 foot skid mark before crashing into the front of the business. The car has done this before especially when turning and applying a little gas, it will hesitate and then suddenly accelerate, but never continuing after applying the brake. We have discussed this previously with the lexus dealer and they say there is no problem with the vehicle and that computers that control the engine and transmission constantly adjust to the primary driver may create this issue, but it is not a problem as far as they are concerned....updated 09/08/15*bf updated 12/3/15

Filed Feb 24, 2010 · Transmission · 130,000 miles · IL

Purchased a new 2004 lexus rx 330 in august of 2003 and repeatedly brought the car to dealerships complaining of a disconnect between the electronic accelerator and the transmission. When attempting to accelerate in an intersection or on a freeway entrance ramp, the car will hesitate for a few seconds and then catapult forward. Also, when driving at low speeds, the transmission will erratically jump between different gears, as if looking for the optimal gear. I can best describe this transmission as schizophrenic. I have contacted multiple lexus dealers over the years from minneapolis, to chicago to salt lake city and they all told me they are aware of the problem as many customers have complained. However, lexus has never offered service or a recall to fix the problem. They have reprogrammed my transmission on 2 occasions and told me to use premium fuel. None of these actions corrected the situation. I feel that in a busy intersection, the unpredictable acceleration of my vehicle provides no assurance that my car will move forward when the accelerator is pressed. This can lead to collision and injury.

Filed Feb 23, 2010 · Brakes, Transmission · 200 miles · CA · 1 injury

Someone needs to listen! I have a 2004 lexus rx330. It's had trouble from day one, and I got nowhere! They have done 5 updates on the computer. Now it only seems to have trouble at 20 MPH, instead of 40-50 and 65-80, of lurching, hesitating, then taking off like a bat out of hell. It's had a "bulletin" on the front brakes, and shimmied all over the road. I have paper work on all of this and more. You, the ntsb, can take the car and go thru it, I'll give you the repair records. I've called the toyota headquarters in 04 or 05 begging them to help me. A woman said, the car was, "performing in the manner it was designed:" I saved a long time to buy my dream car when I retired, now I have a defective car, with only 48k miles because of fear of driving it. Please please, listen to what people wrote back in 04 about this car. One man said a friend worked for lexus and told him that his boss said there will never be a recall on this car because of the amount of cars sold in the us and canada. We need help. My car is a lemon. I've mentioned numerous times of painting it yellow and putting lemon all over it. Please try to pull up records back then, all these people were writing in with the same problems. No one listened then or now! Please, I'm begging you. I've had 4 toyota's in the past, and all 4 totally, never had the trouble this 1 lexus has. They were actually toyotas. Their complete stature has gone from years of loyalty by me and others, after all the built up trust, gone in an instant! One runaway car is enough! It's now killing people. I bought it for it's comfort, looks, but mostly for safety, and trustworthiness! Gone. All gone! I have a 91 ford van I drive instead of the lexus. I call it a piece of junk, nothing but trouble, and lexus had it more than I did the first 4 yrs. Please look into this all you can. All these people can't be wrong. I can't even sell it now. Shame on you, toyota. Shame on you! Greed! That's what it is, greed.

Filed Feb 22, 2010 · Transmission · VA

I bought a used 2004 lexus rx in december of 2008. Ever since owning the vehicle, at random times when accelerating from a stop or slow movement, it will hesitate and then revs up and thrusts forward. I told my mechanic (a certified lexus mechanic) about it and he said that I should take it to the lexus dealer to have the "computer program updated". I took it to them last spring and they made me drive it with them to feel the hesitation and thrusting forward and then took it into the shop to complete the reprogramming of it. But then they looked at the car's records and it said that the car had already been reprogrammed and they told me that they couldn't reprogram it again. The mechanic said he would send notice of the problem to lexus, but I never heard anything back from the dealer or lexus. My car still does this revving up and thrusting forward. There has been no accident, but I thought you might want to know about a problem with a lexus accelerator and its computer system, that they either ignored or can't fix. Do you think this could be a precursor to a serious problem and maybe an accident in the future? I am nervous now that I have heard all about the problems with lexus accelerators and accusations of cover-ups. I took it to the dealer and nothing was fixed and no one had the courtesy to let me know why not. Who should I trust to take it to now? Am I in danger in the future? Have you had other complaints about the lexus accelerator computer system?

Filed Feb 5, 2010 · Acceleration · 15,000 miles · NC

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 lexus rx330. He stated that the vehicle hesitated and accelerated momentarily while depressing the acceleration pedal. He also stated that when the vehicle traveled around a curve or bend, it would momentarily accelerate abnormally. The dealer advised him that there were no related complaints and could not duplicate the failure. There were no repairs made to the vehicle. The current and failure mileages were under 15,000. Updated 04/16/10. *lj updated 07/13/10.

Filed Jan 28, 2010 · Transmission · 43,000 miles · TX

I own a 2005 lexus rx330. I purchased it used in september 2007. Shortly after I purchased it, I had several instances where when I pushed on the gas pedal there was a feeling of a loss of power - a hesitation. I took the vehicle in for work under work in february 2008, and the dealer said it was an improper shift in the transmission and it was recalibrated by a technician. Since that time I have again had several instances where there was a hesitation in supply power. I want to know if others have had this similar complaint and if my vehicle is under a recall for this issue. Tw*

Filed May 29, 2009 · Transmission · 49,000 miles · CA

Transmission jerk, lags and hesitates, car looses power when shifting between 2nd and 3rd gear. On going problem, had dealer perform ECM reprogramming as per technical service bulletin, condition persists, get worse. Safety issue when trying to accelerate out of traffic or avoid an object on the road. Brought car back to dealer service, they stated condition is "normal". Many many more similar complaints on several blogs and message boards on the internet. Car not safe to drive. Should have the transmission replaced.

Filed Oct 10, 2008 · Fuel system, Transmission · 2,000 miles · CA

Since we purchased this 2006 lexus rx-330. It has been returned to deals 4-5 times for major hesitation problems.. Car is unsafe to drive. Will not accelerate in a safe way.

Filed Aug 13, 2008 · Transmission · 28,000 miles · TX

We have a 2006 lexus rx330 SUV. It has a very significant hesitation when trying to accelerate to change lanes or enter highway etc. We have a 3 year old and we are very scared most of the time driving on the highway with this kind of hesitation of the transmission. I have taken the SUV to the lexus dealer and they have told me that this is a normal operation of these SUV's. We have no where to go except the federal safety agency to take action against lexus like recalling these cars before this situation causes the loss of lives. Thank you. Raif caglar

Filed May 14, 2008 · Transmission · 20,000 miles · NY

My 2005 rx330 hesitates and I feel it's dangerous. There are times that after making a turn and stepping on the accelerator that the car behind me has almost rammed me.