blackphantom

Mine is one of the complaints on the NHSTA website. Have a 2004 AWD. With less than 4000 miles, transmission would hang between 2-3 upshift, then abruptly engage with a jolt. Having had a 2000 GS 400, I couldn't belive how poorly the RX330 transmission performed. Also expericed abrupt downshifting under full throttle followed by immediate upshift to highest gear. Dealer reprogrammed the engine management chip with latest upgrade. Car now has around 9000 miles. Still experiencing the same problem, but now, car seems to shift into neutral when slowing to make a turn or upon throttle application after slowing. Nothing happens, then abrupt engagement. Recently, I was passing another car on a two lane highway. The transmission downshifted to third gear, then immediately to fifth, with abrupt drop in power and acceleration. The problem is sporadic and unpredictable. My wife's Honda Accord's transmission if far superior to the RX330. I have a meeting with the regional factory rep on Friday to discuss.

I just went to the NHTSA site provided above. There are several complaints similar to ours listed on the site. I added a complaint and encourage any of you having a similar problem to do so as well. Obviously this is not an isolated problem and only by adding our concerns to those of others will this get any serious consideration by Lexus.

kevinclee, regarding the clicking noise from the engine. From inside the car, the noise reminds me of the clicking sound a diesel engine makes at idle. Sort of a rapid tick, tick, tick. When I mentioned it to the shop foreman at the dealership, he said the sound was coming from the fuel injectors because the engine was set back on the chassis close enough to the firewall for the sound to come through. Regarding the engine management programming. The problem with the original programming was a sporadic tendency for the transmission to "hang"; to start to shift, to hesitate, then sharply engage the gear on the 2-3 upshift. The dealer checked and said my car didn't have the latest update and that they would re-program the engine management system, which essentially raises the rpm at which the transmission shifts into the next gear. To my mind, it hasn't made the transmission shift any smoother, although the "hanging" problem is less frequent, but still there. I was merging onto the interstate yesterday, floored the gas to get up to speed to blend into traffic and nothing happened! I released the gas pedal and floored it again and it finally kicked down to a lower gear. Unreal.

I think I had the update you mentioned. The shop foreman said once they changed the programming you can't go back. It raises the shift points so the car stays in a given gear longer than in the original programming. Didn't do much for smoothness. I rode in a co-workers Highlander today and it shifts much smoother than the RX330. I haven't heard the noise in the driveline you mentioned, although I do have a lot of tire and wind noise. The ticking apparently is common and I was told by the dealer it was from the fuel injectors. The engine is set back close enough to the fire wall that the noise is apparent particularly at idle. Sounds kind of like a diesel engine idling. The back wiper does not clean the top of its arc. Had the blade replaced but didn't help. I am very surprised at these problems in a car with such a good reputation and high price.

I have a RX330 with less than 6000 miles on it. Transmission never shifted smoothly and sometimes it would "hang" between the 2-3 upshift. Dealer reprogrammed the control module and it seemed better for a couple of weeks. Now having the same problem again on intermittant basis. A new problem is the engine seems to stall when turning a corner. Anyone else having this problem and were to able to repair? All in all disappointing. Had a 2000 GS 400 with a great engine and transmission, but my wife's Honda Accord shifts smoother than this Lexus. This plus dash rattles, wind noise, poor mileage. What was I thinking?

Have dash noise, sounds like plastic snapping, when crossing tar strips, frost heaves, etc. Dealer had the car two days. Noise not as bad, but still there. Also have considerable wind and tire noise. Not quite at all, despite magazine tests to the contrary.