Automatic Transmission Problems of Lexus RX330 - part 2

Transmission shifting erratic at low speeds. "clunk or muted "clank" heard and felt under closed throttle dowshifts while slowing to a stop. Most noticeable during the 5-4 downshift (37 mph) and the 4-3 downshift (25 mph). Service manager claims it's a normal operating condition for Lexus. Technician who rode with me disagreed. Vehicle only has 5100 miles. Problem began at 2000 mile mark.

See all problems of the 2004 Lexus RX330 🔎.

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.

When I drive my 2004 Lexus Rx330 manual on 4th, speed is around 40 mph, and left off the throttle, I can hear a whining noise from rear. Once I push the gas paddle, the noise is gone. It can be duplicated on d when I slow down from 50 mph. This also happens to the other three Rx330s (two loaner cars and one brand new car).

The Rx330 has a transmission problem that affects the safety of the vehicle. There is a serious lag between gear shifts. The engine will rev up but the car doesn't move. This happens when starting from a stopped position and also when merging into traffic, changing lanes, and passing traffic. I have narrowly avoided being hit in the rear twice because of this behavior. When slowing down the car doesn't downshift into the proper gear at times and it is very difficult to stop. I am very concerned about my safety driving this vehicle. I have had the vehicle to the dealer 3 times and was told that it is "operating as designed". The dealer acknowledges the complaints that I have but tell me that Lexus has not come up with a fix yet. I have contacted Lexus customer service about this issue only to be told that it is "operating as designed". This vehicle is dangerous to drive and I fear a serious accident because of the transmission behavior. Is there no recourse for a consumer who has been sold an unsafe vehicle?.

Since I have owned this vehicle, I have had trouble with rough shifting and a lag associated with a delay in low speed acceleration. Returned vehicle to the dealer and was told it was adjusted. Problem persists. Eventually, someone will be injured or killed by this problem due to unexpected hesitation in acceleration.

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.

Since we purchased the vehicle, the transmission has acted strange. The vehicle does not shift smoothly when changing from one gear to the next. We have taken the vehicle back to the dealer. Was told the first time that is the way the vehicle shifts. After the problem got worse, we took it back again. Dealer confirmed that we were not the only owner that has complained to them about the problem. Was told to bring the vehicle in and they would re calibrate the chip that controls the shifting. Got the vehicle back after they worked on it and it did improve, but still not working properly. I am concerned that this problem will only get worse again like it did the first time. This should not be happening to a 2004 vehicle. Please register my complaint and I'm sure based on what the dealer told us that others are having the same problem.

This car has a intermittent problem between 2nd and 3rd gear. The engine revs up in between gears and finally shifts into gear. The transmission is very sluggish between all gears. I have had it to the dealership twice and service manager says that this is as good as it is going to be. When the car is between 2 & 3 I sometimes feel that it will let go entirely and might cause a very serious accident.

I have a 2004 Rx330. The transmission hesitates terribly, to the point this car is unsafe. I have had it in 3 times, and they tell me that's the way it is supposed to operate. They said, "I'ts trying to learn how you drive" give it time, they say, now I have 10k miles, still same problem. I waited my whole life to get a Lexus, and not they are proving to be lemons, and Lexus of all the companies, should stand behind their product. They are not doing anything. It's going to get someone killed. When are they going to help me and the others that are having trouble? it seems to be when you start from a stop, in the lower gears. Lexus said this car doesn't need the "update".

2004 Lexus RX 330 has intermittant, erratic automatic transmission. Dealer says it is a "hesitatiion issue", but rfeuses to confirm in writing because manufacturer says it's the way the car is designed. Even though countless others have complained, nothing has been done.

Many owners of 2004 Rx330 have reported problems with the 5-speed automatic transmission. There is a substantial "lag" in shifting at low speeds around 20 mph with occasional reports of the car revving to "redline" without the transmission engaging. This results in the vehible becoming immobile in intersections or when exiting toolbooths. There is a similar problem at around 40 mph. It has happened to our vehicle at least 6 times, two of which nearly resulted in an accident from being "rear-ended. " Lexus has released a software upgrade but this reportedly has not corrected the problem. After denying that there waa a TSB for the problem, the dealer said that it could not "recommend" the upgrade.

Hesitation on 2004 Lexus RX 330 transmission. It's unsafe to pull out in traffic with this car. You don't know if the car will proceed or if it will hesitate while in traffic. Lexus says it's a design issue, with no fix. Lexus told us to use premium gas - then did an ecm reflash - then said it's a design issue. This car does this every time I drive it. It's great on the freeway at 60 mph, but from a starting position or a low speed position in the city - it's terrible - more importantly it doesn't feel safe. Today - it even surged when I pulled away from a light.

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.

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 problem began shortly after I got the car in April 2003 and still exists. If Lexus truly wanted to fix this problem, it would have already been done. They need a push.

Lexus 2004 RX 330 - transmission. Shifting hesitation, Lexus has addressed the problem with a change in computer shifting points but it has not fixed the problem. They now refuse to help further saying only that it is within design standards. Many complaints on this problem in Lexus owners forum web site, but no help from Lexus.

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.