Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Lexus RX330 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My wife had pulled routinely out of our driveway on a clear morning with no obstructions on the road, she turned out of the driveway onto our private road and SUV then suddenly and violently accelerated out of control, rocketing her into a tree and stone wall. The air/knee bags and active seat belt restraint were deployed, saving my wife's life. The investigation by the Lexus front office in torrance revealed that vehicle was performing according to specs. I had noticed a revving noise on day one of purchase and mentioned it to the salesman who said he would look into it. With no further information the dealer suggested mentioning the problem at the 1000 mile check-up. Nothing abnormal was detected, though my complaint was recorded (April '04). The revving noise continued intermittently but without incident until June 30, 2004, the date of the crash. …
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 automobile has a latent defect and is inherently dangerous. In November 2003, I attempted to back up in a crowded parking lot, and while in reverse, I pressed the accelerator - there was a lag and the vehicle then accelerated backward very rapidly, striking another vehicle. I assumed the fault was my own (since in moving my foot from the accelerator to the brake, my foot was caught under the brake because the pedals are close together, but that is another item) and after the vehicle was repaired (approximately $7,000 worth of damage) I resumed driving the vehicle. On June 29, 2004, again I was attempting to back up and again the vehicle was in reverse and again when I pressed on the accelerator, there was a lag and then again the vehicle accelerated rapidly backwards, striking a building. …
I own a 2004 Lexus RX330. Since I have owned it, there has been a power "fade" when I make sudden speed changes usually from a slow down to quick acceleration--say a lane change to avoid slower traffic. There is approximately 2 or 3 seconds when there is no response from pressing the accelerator. It feels like all power falls away. I am left like a sitting duck until the vehicle decides what to do with my command. If I am crossing a median, I must allow for this delay. However, if I have to change lanes to avoid another vehicle making an unsignaled turn or sudden stop, I am putting myself and others in danger because I cannot count on having the power to avoid the vehicle in front of me by changing lanes and then I risk an incident in trying to match the speed of the vehicle that is now behind me. …
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. …
Transmission hesitation on 2004 Lexus RX330 nearly resulted in high speed accident on several occasions. On July 14, 2007 while merging from I-75 in tampa on ramp into rush hour traffic, the Lexus at first failed to slow (to match speeds) when gas pedal was released, then when the pedal was depressed to accelerate after the merge (traffic flow was erratic), it failed to accelerate for about 2 seconds, and we had to drive off the pavement to avoid a rear end collision. We have reported the transmission hesitation problem to Lexus 5 or more times so far, and they say it is operating as designed. This situation is hazardous under certain common traffic conditions. The July 14, 2007 incident was one of several where we nearly had a serious accident because of the transmission delay. Updated 01/09/08. The consumer stated in heavy rain defogger turned to keep windows clear. …
I am leasing a 2004 Lexus rx 330 FWD with about 20,000 miles on it. When I try to apply the throttle after slowing down there is a severe hesitation, usually followed by a sudden surge in power. At times there is an additional hesitation while the transmission is deciding what gear it should be in. This is especially noticeable while making a turn at an intersection, and especially dangerous if there are pedestrians in the intersection. I have had it to the leasing dealer (longo Lexus) and they reprogrammed the transmission, which provided a temporary and partial fix. After a few weeks, aparently the transmission reprogrammed itself and the problem returned. I took the car to a second dealer and he said that they had many similar complaints about that driveline, but there was no factory fix. I called Lexus customer service and they said the same. …
This has been a continuing problem since purchased new in dec 2003. As has been reported numerous times, my car acceleration hesitates from a stop or from low speeds. Also my vehicle has extensive pause or lag between gears. This has created numerous dangerous situations where I was stuck while other vehicles had to take action to avoid hitting my RX330. Often, while making left turns against oncoming traffic, this lag is so long as to be dangerous. In the past, I have accelerated harder than I feel necessary in order to compensate for this lag. This results in a sudden downshift and forward lurch that is very dangerous. I have reported this to my dealer on 3 or more occasions and their response is that this is normal for my model. They say there is nothing they can do to correct this problem. The dealer did document this complaint on my service record the last time I visited on 8/13/04.
Our Lexus RX330 was purchased in August of 2003. For the last several months, the vehicle hesitates to shift gears with a lag causing the vehicle to jerk forward. We have trouble merging onto the highway as well as accelerating from a stop and while turning due to this dangerous condition. Dealer keeps performing the TSB tc005-03 "poor shift quality" and reprograms the computer with no improvement. We are told there is nothing more that can be done. After multiple attempts with Lexus customer service, they deny a problem exists and states that the vehicle performs within specifications. Customer service even fails to document my complaints by not entering it in the ir computer systems in an attempt to hide the defect. Many owners report this problem on internet message boards. This is a dangerous and unacceptable design flaw that needs to be corrected with a recall.
2004 Lexus rx-330 AWD. Vehicle hesitates when attempting to accelerate. There is a delay, especially when going from a dead stop such as pulling out into traffic. Also, if you attempt to quickly speed up as when merging or an evasive maneuver, the engine lags. Will also happen when turning a corner, then accelerating. I have been told by Lexus that this is a known problem with the "throttle by wire" and "intelligent transmission". I currently pull the ECU fuse monthly to reset the processors and that appears to help for a while. That is the "fix" suggested by the Lexus rx-330 forums. Now that 2006 models are coming, I know this is no longer on the Lexus engineers' minds, but there are those of us that feel this is a safety issue as you never know if the car will respond reliably, especially when pulling into traffic, creating a real hazard.
Transmission complaints in other RX330 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2004 Lexus RX330?
NHTSA has 69 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2004 Lexus RX330, 24% of the model year's 287 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (54 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Lexus RX330 transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2004 Lexus RX330, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2004 Lexus RX330 transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 6,000 miles, and 63% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 3 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.