There are 3 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2005 Lexus RXin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
UPON SLOWING FROM 40MPH TO A STOP OR ALMOST A STOP, TO MAKE A TURN, THE CAR HESITATES BEFORE ACCELERATING. THIS HESITATION HAS CAUSED BOTH ME AND MY WIFE TO ABRUPTLY ABORT LEFT TURNS. THIS BEHAVIOR IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS FOR DRIVERS IN THE CONGESTED NY METROPOLITAN AREA. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME FRIGHTENING CLOSE CALLS WHEN THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE, CAUSING AN EMERGENCY ABORT OF A TURN. THIS HESITATION ALSO MANIFESTS ITSELF WHEN YOU LIFT FROM THE ACCELERATOR TO SLOW DOWN AND THEN GET BACK ON THE GAS. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. THE DEALER HAD A FIELD SERVICE ENGINEER CHECK THE CAR: HE SAID ITHE CAR PERFORMED AS DESIGNED. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 40 MPH. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT ENGAGE GEARS AUTOMATICALLY. THE PROBLEM WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND REFUSED FURTHER SERVICE TO THE VEHICLE.
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS (HUNTING FOR GEARS, JERKING AND HESITATION) ON A 2005 LEXUS RX330 - AWD. HAVE EXPERIENCED NEAR ACCIDENTS DUE TO VEHICLE HESITATION WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC, CROSSING INTERSECTIONS, OR MAKING TURNS. WHEN DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR, VEHICLES HESITATES FOR 3-5 SECONDS. HAVE HAD "FLASH" SERVICE DONE TO ECU. SAME ISSUES STILL EXIST. *NM
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026