Structure. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Exterior Lighting. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

9 reports

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66,000 miles · Mar 12, 2013

Exterior Lighting

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ON THE ABOVE DATE NOTICED HEADLIGHT OUT AND WATER IN DRIVERS SIDE HEADLAMP, REPLACED BULB HEADLAMP DRY OUT ON ITS OWN. ON 03/12/2013 BROUGHT MY LEXUS TO DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL ON MAT/ACCELERATION PROBLEM. SERVICE DEPT NOTICED HEADLIGHT WAS OUT AND IT SHOULD BE REPLACED, I ADVISED THEM OF THE CONDENSATION IN HEADLAMP AND THEY STATED THAT TO FIX PROBLEM WOULD COST ABOUT 2 THOUSAND DOLLARS I ADVISED THEM THAT NOT TO FIX PROBLEM, AND IF THEY COULD NOTIFY LEXUS CORP ABOUT POSSIBLE GOOD WILL AND THEY STATED NO, CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10502549

54,800 miles · Apr 28, 2012

Exterior Lighting

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THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE LEXUS RX MODELS CAUSED BY MOISTURE AND CONDENSATION FORMING INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT THERE HAS BEEN A LEXUS TSB REGARDING THIS HOWEVER DEALERS APPARENTLY ARE FREE TO DECIDE IF THEY RECTIFIED IT OR NOT. THE COMPUTER MODULE IN THE HEADLIGHT IS DAMAGED BY THE CONDENSATION LEADING TO A REPAIR COSTING ALMOST $3,000 THE PART ALONE BEING $1,900. MINE ULTIMATELY FAILED AT ABOUT 54800 MILES THOUGH IT WAS REPORTED TO DEALER AS A CONDENSATION WHEN THE DEALER CHOSE TO DO NOTHING ABOUT. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE LEXUS RX SO MUCH SO IT HAS CREATED A WHOLE SUB-MARKET IN BUYING THE FAULTY ONES REMOVED BY LEXUS REFURBISHING AND RESELLING EVEN THOSE ARE SELLING FOR $1,100 IF YOU CAN EVEN FIND ONE. KNOWN MANUFACTURING DEFECT, TSB ISSUED BY LEXUS, LEXUS WILL NOT ADDRESS IF FAILURE ULTIMATELY OCCURS AT 48,000 MILES IF AT ALL, HEADLIGHT FAILS, CONSUMER SAFETY AT RISK, REPAIR REQUIRES TOTAL REPLACEMENT OF HEADLIGHT, SEAL FAILS, BALLUST COMPUTER FAILS, HEADLIGHT DOES NOT FUNCTION, NO LIGHTING WHEN DRIVING, LEXUS HAD COMPLETE KNOWLEDGE OF THE DEFECT, LEXUS DID NOT UNIFORMLY CORRECT THE MANUFACTURING DEFECT TO DATE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10456760

72,000 miles · Mar 31, 2012

Exterior Lighting

LARGE AMOUNT OF CONDENSATION WITH WATER DROPLETS IN DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. HID BULBS ARE OUT. REPAIR QUOTES ARE FOR $1684.00 PER HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, WITH ADDITIONAL LABOR COSTS OF $315.00. ACCORDING TO REPAIR SHOP THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH LEXUS RX 330 2006 MODELS. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10453675

55,000 miles · Sep 20, 2011

Exterior Lighting

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGERS LOW BEAM LIGHT WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. UPON EXAMINING THE HEADLIGHT, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT MOISTURE ACCUMULATED INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING, DISABLING THE LOW BEAM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. NOTE: AUTO WAS TAKEN TO LEXUS DEALER 9/22/2011- EST $ 705.00 FOR REPAIR PARTS ARE ON ORDER. UPDATED 10/18/2011 *LN *TR

NHTSA ODI #10426409

Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 2011

Exterior Lighting

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MY LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT HAD CONDENSATION DUE TO THE MANUFACTURER NOT SEALING THE LIGHT CORRECTLY, LEXUS WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND FIXED THE LEFT ONE WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. NOW MY RIGHT ONE HAS RUST INSIDE OF IT WHICH HAS BLOWN OUT ONE BULB..I CONTACTED LEXUS CORPORATE WHO AGREED TO PAY HALF OF THE $1800.00 IT COST TO REPAIR IT. IN ADDITION TO THE FRONT LIGHTS, NOW MY REAR LIGHTS ACTUALLY HAVE BUGS INSIDE OF THEM WHICH IN TURN WILL CAUSE THE BULBS TO BLOW AS WELL. I SPOKE WITH A DEALERSHIP WHO ACKNOWLEDGED LEXUS IS AWARE THAT THIS MODEL HAD THE PROBLEM THAT IS WHY THEY NO LONGER MAKE THOSE LIGHTS. THIS IS NOT ONLY A SAFETY HAZARD, BUT A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND ONE THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED. LEXUS WILL DO NOTHING BECAUSE MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. DOES SOMEONE NEED TO GET HURT, HIT A DEER,CHILD, PEDESTRIAN OR CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BEFORE LEXUS TAKES CARE OF AN ISSUE THAT THEY ARE VERY AWARE OF? WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT LEXUS CHARGES FOR THEIR VEHICLES ONE WOULD ASSUME THAT THEY WOULD RECTIFY THIS SITUATION..

NHTSA ODI #10394729

Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2011

Exterior Lighting

PURCHASED A CERTIFIED USED RX330 AND ONE WEEK LATER NOTICED CONDENSATION INSIDE HEADLIGHT LENSES AFTER DRIVING IN RAIN OR WASHING THE VEHICLE THAT TAKES SEVERAL DAYS TO CLEAR OUT CAUSING SEVERE REDUCED VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE CONDENSATION IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM BUT THE LEXUS DEALER SAID IT IS NOT COVERED UNDE…

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NHTSA ODI #10385968

71,185 miles · Feb 26, 2009

Exterior Lighting

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AND STATED THAT THEY HAVE REPLACED THIS COMPONENT NUMEROUS TIMES ON OTHER IDENTICAL VEHICLES OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL. THE BRAKE LIGHT MALFUNCTION PREVENTS THE DRIVER FROM SIGNALING INTENT, WHICH INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH. SHE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 71,185. UPDATED 03/17/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/18/09. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10260001

Mileage unknown · Dec 20, 2006

Exterior Lighting

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THOSE FOCUSED HEADLIGHTS, OFTEN WITH A BLUE TINT, ARE DANGEROUS TO DRIVERS WHO CAN BE TEMPORARILY BLINDED BY THEIR EXTREME BRIGHTNESS. THE SITUATION IS MADE WORSE IN WET CONDITIONS WHEN REFLECTIONS INTENSIFY THE PROBLEM. ALSO, DRIVERS WHO WEAR EYEGLASSES (INCLUDING ME), HAVE EVEN MORE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS IN REGAINING VISION AFTER BEING BLINDED BY ONCOMING VEHICLE WITH THESE FOCUSED HEADLIGHTS. GROWING USE OF THE HEADLIGHTS BY AUTOMAKERS IS QUICKLY SPREADING THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS IS NOT A COMPLAINT ABOUT MY VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THE VEHICLE INFO PROVIDED BELOW IS THE TYPE THAT USES THESE HEADLIGHTS. A NUMBER A MANUFACTURERS USE THESE HEADLIGHTS NOW, ALSO BMW, CADILLAC, INFINITI AMONG OTHERS.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10176636

Mileage unknown · Dec 17, 2006

Exterior Lighting

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> HI I HAVE LOOKED AT THE TAIL LIGHTS OF LEXUS RX 330 > AND 300 AND I BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE ILLEGAL. THEY ARE > CLEAR LENS WITH NO RED REFLECTION OR AMBER > REFLECTION. > THE BULB IS RED AND THE TURN IS AMBER BUT THE LENS > ARE > NOT COLORED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IF THE VEHICLE > IS > ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I DON'T KNOW IF ITS THE > FRONT > OR REAR AT NIGHT TIME. ALL THE OTHER CARS FOLLOW THE > RED AND AMBER LENS FOR ALL YEARS. PLEASE LOOK INTO > THIS AS AN OLD TRUCK DRIVER WITH MANY MILES UNDER ME > I > DO NOT WANT TO SEE A CHANGE IN THE LIGHT SYSTEM AND > I > BELIEVE LEXUS IS TRYING TO DO THAT, ALONG WITH THE > AFTER MARKET PEOPLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME GEORGE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10176319

Official recalls

11V112000 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

Feb 24, 2011

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 HIGHLANDER, HIGHLANDER HYBRID, AND MODEL YEAR 2004-2007 LEXUS RX330, RX350, AND RX400H VEHICLES. IF THE FORWARD RETENTION CLIP USED TO SECURE THE FLOOR CARPET COVER, WHICH IS LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE CENTER CONSOLE, IS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY THE COVER MAY LEAN TOWARD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY TEMPORARILY BECOME STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION RATHER THAN RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION. A STUCK ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN UNINTENDED AND SUSTAINED VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FLOOR CARPET COVER WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE FREE OR CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

RQ10003 · Unintended And Uncontrolled Acceleration

Opened Feb 16, 2010 · Closed Mar 1, 2011

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:software; Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

On February 16, 2010, NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened RQ10-003 to determine whether the scope of prior Toyota recalls relating to potential unintended acceleration were sufficiently broad, including, among others, Toyota recalls 07E-082, 09V-388, 10V-017, and 10V-023.NHTSA also requested information regarding potential electronic causes of unintended acceleration in Toyota and Lexus vehicles.I. Pedal Interference from Floor mats, Carpet Covers and Plastic Pads in Carpets.During the RQ10-003 investigation, ODI reviewed a large volume of documents to assess whether additional vehicles should be recalled.Following the agency's analysis, NHTSA requested that Toyota recall additional vehicles.Toyota complied with the agency's request.The details of these recalls are set forth more fully in Toyota's reports to NHTSA pursuant to 49 CFR Part 573.These recalls are as follows:Recall 11V-112: (1) model year (MY) 2004-2006 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid; and, (2) MY 2004-2007 Lexus RX330,RX350, and RX400h (hybrid model). The total estimated population under this recall is 769,379 vehicles.This recall remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment caused by a loose floor carpet cover (trim panel). Recall 11V-113: (1) MY 2003-2009 through 2009 Toyota 4Runner; (2) MY 2006-2010 Toyota RAV4; and, (3) MY 2008-2011 Lexus LX570.The total estimated population under this recall is 1,381,000 vehicles.This recall supplements recall 09V-388 and remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment by an unsecured floor mat.Recall 11V-115: (1) MY 2006-2007 Lexus GS300 (all wheel drive vehicles); and, (2) MY 2006-2007 Lexus GS350 (all wheel drive vehicles). The total estimated population under this recall is 19,647 vehicles.This recall remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment caused by inadequate clearance between the pedal linkage and a plastic pad embedded in the vehicle's carpet.II. Potential Electronic Causes of Unintended Acceleration.After NHTSA opened RQ10-003, NHTSA launched a ten-month study of potential electronic causes of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles.NHTSA launched the study in the spring of 2010 in light of concerns aired in Congressional hearings.NHTSA enlisted engineers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) with expertise in areas such as computer controlled electronic systems, electromagnetic interference and software integrity to assess whether electronic systems or electromagnetic interference played a role in incidents of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles.That study has concluded.Two reports are associated with the study and are available on NHTSA's website.NASA's report is entitled Technical Support to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on the Reported Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Unintended Acceleration (UA) Investigation, NESC Assessment No. TI-10-00618 (Jan. 18, 2011).NHTSA's report is entitled Technical Assessment of Toyota Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) Systems (Feb. 2011).Both reports should be read in conjunction with each other. As stated in its report, NASA did not find an electronic cause of large throttle openings that can result in unintended acceleration incidents. NHTSA did not find a vehicle-based cause of unintended acceleration incidents other than the physical pedal interference causes that are being addressed by Toyota's recalls. This RQ is closed.

Additional source detail variants (6)

Electrical System:software

Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal