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

Steering complaints

8 reports

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50,000 miles · Dec 11, 2016

Air BagsSteeringStructure

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IN APRIL 2014, MY MOM WAS CONTACTED BY LEXUS ABOUT THE MELTING DASHBOARD ISSUE THAT HAS PLAGUED ALMOST 5 MILLION LEXUS VEHICLES. SHE WAS TOLD SHE WOULD HAVE TO "WAIT IN LINE" FOR HER CUSTOMER NUMBER TO POP UP IN THE SYSTEM IN ORDER TO FIX THE MELTING DASHBOARD, WHICH HAS AFFECTED HER VISIBILITY WHEN IT IS SUNNY OUTSIDE AS WELL AS HER STEERING MECHANISM. WE DO NOT KNOW IF THERE IS DAMAGE TO THE AIRBAGS, BUT WITH A CONTINUOUSLY MELTING DASHBOARD WE CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE DAMAGE AND DANGER THAT LURKS UNDERNEATH. THE STEERING HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY MORE DIFFICULT AS THE DASH CRACKS AND MELTS MORE. THERE ARE MULTIPLE CRACKS THROUGHOUT THE DASH THAT HAVE GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND INTERFERE WITH THE INTEGRITY OF THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. SOON, THE PARTS ATTACHED TO THE DASH MAY DISASSEMBLE WHILE SHE IS DRIVING, WHICH CAN POTENTIALLY KILL OTHER PASSENGERS ON THE ROAD AND HERSELF. WE REACHED OUT TO LEXUS CORPORATE AND IN MARCH 2016, AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO GO THROUGH THE LOCAL DEALER BOTH HERE AND IN NORTH FLORIDA, LEXUS REFUSES TO FIX HER DASHBOARD AND CONTINUES TO IGNORE OUR PLEAS AND DEMANDS FOR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. PLEASE REFER TO ATTACHED PHOTOS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10934553

146,425 miles · Jun 1, 2015

Steering

THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A WHINING NOISE UPON ACCELERATION AND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION AT SLOW SPEEDS THE NOISE CONTINUES. WHEN PUTTING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IT MAKES A BUZZING NOISE.

NHTSA ODI #10722585

149,000 miles · May 7, 2015

Electrical SystemSteering

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CAME TO A STOP WITH MY WHEELS SLIGHTLY TURNED TO THE LEFT. I TURNED MY CAR OFF, AND TOOK MY KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART MY CAR WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, IT WOULD NOT TURN ON. I CALLED THE DEALER IN BELLEVUE AND THEY SAID THAT IT MIGHT BE JUST STUCK SO TURN THE WHEEL HARD TO THE LEFT AND SEE IF THAT WOULD RELIEVE THE PRESSURE AND THE KEY MIGHT TURN. NO LUCK WIGGLED AND WIGGLED AND ALL IT DID WAS LOCK MY STEERING IN THAT PLACE SO NOW THE WHEEL WOULD ONLY TURN ABOUT A INCH. I CALLED ANOTHER DEALER IN FIFE AND HE SAID ABOUT THE SAME THING, KEEP WIGGLING IT AND MAYBE ROCK THE CAR, DID NOTHING. I TURNED THE KEY AND PRESSED HARD AND MUST HAVE PUSHED IN THE UNLOCK BUTTON AND DOWN WENT MY WINDOWS AND MY SUNROOF OPENED GREAT. NOW I COULD NOT GET THE WINDOWS UP OR UNLOCK MY STEERING. I CALLED THREE DEALERS AND THEY WANTED TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH, BUT I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED IN. I CALLED A LOCK SMITH AN THEY SAID TO TRY SOME LUBRICATION IN THE IGNITION. OK I USED SOME WD40 AND IT WORKED. I COULD TURN THE IGNITION KEY AND UP WENT MY WINDOWS AND MY CAR STARTED. I MIGHT CHECK INTO GETTING THE STEERING REPLACED. I WILL CHECK ON THE RECALLS ONLINE THEIR SEAMS TO BE LOTS OF PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10715247

67,397 miles · Mar 26, 2015

Steering

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WENT TO CHARLES BARKER LEXUS IN VA. BEACH, VA. FOR A STATE INSPECTION FOR OUR 2006 RX330 WITH LESS THAN 70K MILES AND WAS TOLD THEY HAD TO FAIL IT FOR INSPECTION BECAUSE THE BOOT ON THE RACK AND PINION WAS LEAKING. THE SERVICE ADVISER KNOWING THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM SAID THAT THERE ARE 3 OPTIONS. REPLACE IT AT $1,800.00 OR THEY COULD BUT A BOOT ON IT (BAND-AID) AND IT WILL PASS INSPECTION FOR $450.00 AND LAST MAYBE A YEAR OR 2 OR HE CAN TRY AND GET THE NEW PARTS APPROVED UNDER THEIR GOOD FAITH PROGRAM AND IT WILL ONLY COST US $780.00 FOR LABOR. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND THEY ADMIT IT BUT WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR INFERIOR PARTS UNLESS THE CONSUMER PAYS THEIR OUTRAGEOUS LABOR COSTS. THIS IS A COMPLETE INJUSTICE AND THE NHTSA NEEDS TO MAKE THEM ISSUE A RECALL!!! DON'T WAIT UNTIL A DEATH OCCURS THAT CAN FINALLY BE DIRECTLY LINKED TO THIS ISSUE. THIS IS SERIOUS! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10702012

100,000 miles · Feb 11, 2014

Steering

I WAS TOLD THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY WAS LEAKING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OUTER SEAL AND THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563870

78,500 miles · May 1, 2013

Steering

TOOK VEHICLE TO LEXUS DEALERSHIP FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND WAS TOLD STEERING RACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A FLUID LEAK. OVER TIME THIS COULD LEAD TO DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED LESS THAN A YEAR AGO AND THIS LEAK ISSUE SEEMS TO BE VERY COMMON ACCORDING TO VARIOUS WEBSITES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10510238

61,083 miles · Jul 28, 2011

Steering

I SENT MY RX330 TO DEALERSHIP FOR OIL CHANGE, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A LEAK IN POWER RACK & PINION ASSEMBLY, THE TOTAL COST FOR REPLACEMENT IS $1800. MY CAR IS 2006, ONLY HAS 61K MILES AND HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY AT LEXUS DEALERSHIP ACCORDING TO LEXUS MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. THIS IS A RESULT OF FAULTY ENGINEERING NOT ABUSE SIN…

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NHTSA ODI #10416068

35,000 miles · Feb 26, 2010

Service Brakes, HydraulicSteeringVehicle Speed Control

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I WAS ON INTERSTATE 5 ON MAY 25, 2009 (MEMORIAL DAY) AT THE SPEED OF 75-80 MPH WITH MY WHOLE FAMILY IN THE CAR. THE CAR'S MODEL IS LEXUS RX330,2006 MODEL. WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE LEFTMOST LANE, MY LEFT WHEEL WENT A LITTLE BIT ON THE RUMBLE STRIP. I TRIED TO PULL MY CAR BACK ON THE LANE. IT IS HERE THAT THE PROBLEM STARTED. MY STEERING STARTED TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE AND THE CAR STOPPED TO ACCELERATE. WHEN ALL THE CARS WERE GOING AT SUCH A HIGH SPEED THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO. I WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR AS WELL AS ACCELERATE OR EVEN BRAKE FOR QUITE A WHILE. THEN I TRIED BRAKING MANY TIMES AND COULD FINALLY PARK THE CAR IN THE EMERGENCY IN THE LEFT LANE SHOULDER. AFTER THAT WE TRIED CALLING ALL THE NUMBERS GIVEN IN THE LEXUS HANDBOOK BUT NO ONE PICKED UP THE PHONE TO HELP US. AFTER WAITING FOR HALF AN HOUR OR SO, MY HUSBAND COLLECTED ALL HIS GUTS AND DROVE THE CAR TO NEAREST GAS STATION. WE CHECK THE TIRES AND ALL THE PRESSURES ETC. BUT EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10314572

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