Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Lexus RX330 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Lexus had a recall to repair cracks rapidly developing in the dashboard. When the recall came out I was in the hospital having cancer surgery. The date for the recall had just passed. I called Lexus and was told to bring the car to9 the dealer. The dealer found the problem and wrote of an estimate to summit from headquarters for coverage. Headquarters got back to me and said I was too late to have it fixed under the recall. This was after the dealer said they would. I wrote to the ceo of Lexus USA and never even got the courtesy of a reply. Now the dashboard is cracking worse.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Lexus RX330. The contact stated that the dashboard was fractured near the passenger's side air bag housing. The dashboard fracture expanded throughout the dashboard and caused the front passenger's air bag outline to be visible. The manufacturer informed the contact that the dashboard replacement warranty had expired in 2018. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 70,000. The VIN was not available. Carfax states that according to the VIN number, the vehicle is actually a 2005 Lexus RX330 not a 2010.\
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Lexus RX330. The contact stated that water leaked onto the floorboard and flooded the vehicle. The failure caused mold to grow inside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the vehicle was operating as designed. The failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that an unknown air conditioner drain needed to be unclogged. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 142,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Lexus RX330. The contact stated that the dashboard produced a sticky substance and fractured. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the dashboard needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 8,000. The VIN was not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Lexus RX330. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the steel cable that secured the spare tire under the vehicle suddenly snapped and caused the tire to separate from the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 91,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Lexus RX330. The contact stated the dashboard was cracking. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
My vehicle has always been parked in a garage, and I have always used a shield in the front window when it is parked outside regardless of weather. I am fanatical about cleaning and used only cleaners, conditioners, etc that Lexus had recommended (basically I only buy what Lexus sells to care for my SUV). In early 2011, my daughter noticed a very large crack in the dash right above the glove compartment. (we were getting into the vehicle not moving, etc). Later that afternoon we got back into the vehicle and not only were there more cracks, but huge chunks have fallen off and literally the pieces that fell off just disintegrated when picked up. This is unacceptable as Toyota has addressed this issue, albeit ona case by case basis, but I have seen thousands of forums & posts of others having the exact same issue no matter location, mileage or care or condition of vehicle. …
1. I have always kept my car in a garage & only used products recommended & bought directly from Lexus. Upon entering my vehicle my daughter noticed a large crack in the dash running from bottom side of glove compartment to top of dash. Pieces that fall off crumble to dust the second they're touched. My local dealership told me they've had hundreds of cars coming in w the same issue and it would be $1500 for the replacement and that didn't include labor! 2. My moon(sun) roof stopped working literally just one day wouldn't close all the way. I had to have the dealership cut the cable so they could close it so rain etc didn't leak into my vehicle. Again there was no reason for this! I was told again the part wad at least $1500 not including labor..... How coincidental it's the same price as replacing my dash. 3. …
2005 RX330 dashboard started cracking over the passenger side air bag and air vent on passenger side...called dealer and didn't get anywhere. Began looking up information on google on how to repair dashboards and found many complaints listed and that the dashboards were obviously defective, but Lexus not correcting the problems. Confronted dealer who sold the car and he then admitted that it is a known problem..I could either replace the dash for around $2000 or try to patch/repair it. Called and some repair shops would not repair my dash because the damage was right where the airbag is on the passenger side and they wouldn't touch it. How can a luxury car manufacturer get away with defective dashboards? If the dashboard cracks more severely, will the airbag deploy? …
My dashboard began to show signs of cracking about a year ago. It started to crack around the radio/audio components and spread quickly like a spider web. Lexus agreed to replace the dashboard at no charge, but not the labor costs. While replacing it, they advised me that the power steering rack and pinion had severe fluid leakage on right side, boot deteriorated. The cost of this repair was $1,856.00. There was also an issue with the left front cv axle inboard joint boot, an additional $412.00. In reading all the complaints on this website and on the internet, it appears that the dashboard and the rack and pinion are a common problems that Lexus is aware of. A service representative also told me that the rx 350 has a significant problem with the rack and pinion, but Lexus is not willing to do anything about it. …
Body complaints in other RX330 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2005 Lexus RX330?
NHTSA has 32 complaints about the body & structure of the 2005 Lexus RX330, 19% of the model year's 165 complaints. The component named most often is body (11 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Lexus RX330 body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2005 Lexus RX330, though it has 3 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 2005 Lexus RX330 body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 65,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
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.