2004 Lexus Rx problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Structure (9) · Exterior Lighting (3) · Wheels (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Lexus Rx model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
26 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder 2010-10-21 · campaign 10V499000 · 728,544 vehicles
Defect: TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 AVALON, MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 HIGHLANDER, MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 LEXUS RX, AND MODEL YEAR 2006 LEXUS GS AND IS VEHICLES. BRAKE FLUID CONTAINING POLYMERS IS USED THAT ACTS AS LUBRICANTS FOR CERTAIN BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENTS. IF REPLACEMENT BRAKE FLUID IS USED THAT DOES NOT CONTAIN SUCH POLYMERS, OR THAT CONTAINS ONLY SMALL AMOUNTS, A PART OF THE RUBBER SEAL LOCATED AT THE REAR OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER MAY BECOME DRY, AND THE SEAL MAY CURL DURING M
Risk: A LEAK OF BRAKE FLUID COULD LEAD TO A CHANGE IN BRAKE PEDAL FEEL AND OVERTIME A DEGRADATION IN BRAKING PERFORMANCE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAL WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 AND LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
Service bulletins (43)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2024-04-19 · L-SB-0023-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
to prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. the purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer.
Structure:body 2024-04-19 · L-SB-0024-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. if these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,
Structure:body 2024-04-19 · L-SB-0022-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. if these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfa
Structure:body 2024-04-19 · L-SB-0021-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
lexus vehicles are currently protected with rapgardtm protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. this material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. follow the removal procedure in this bulletin to remove the rapgardtm protective film withi
Structure:body 2024-04-19 · L-SB-0020-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. this type of contamination can be identified by the presence of small, red or brown particles on the paint surfa
Structure:body 2024-04-19 · L-SB-0023-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
to prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. the purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer.
Showing the 6 most recent of 43 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-02-28 · Unknown Or Other“odometer reading in vehicle doesn't match information on carfax, zilocar, or title reading. also sellers may have titled jumped vehicle. recieved call from owner on title i recieved and she said that she had sold vehicle on 2/4/2026 to couple. i purchased vehicle on 2/13/2026 with her name on title. odometer was correct mileage to carfax when sh…”
2025-12-02 · Unknown Or Other“dashboard crack in 2024, that started on passenger side near air vent, expanded recently causing the "passenger air bag off" alert to light up and stay on continually. if i were to have a passenger at the time of an accident, the air bag might not deploy, which would be a safety issue. this could possibly lead to a liability issue, so i have not ha…”
2023-12-18 · Vehicle Speed Control“power steering very stiff and difficult to steer vsc light on and air bags light goes on and off and unknown cause. …”
2022-02-15 · Seats · 🔥 fire“i was driving with the driver’s seat heater turned on. while i were traveling, i noticed that the seat heater was very hot, so i turned it off. i arrived at my destination and parked the vehicle for about two hours. i did not turn the seat heater back on when you returned to the vehicle. i was removing snow from the vehicle with the driver’s door o…”
2021-07-10 · Unknown Or Other“i purchased the vehicle on 17th of june 2021. i noticed the dashboard is cracked really bad. i did research on the lexus dashboards and found previous recalls on the lexus dashbaords including the 2004 rx330 models. how can i get this fixed if the recall is not listed for the vin number on my vegicle?…”
2021-05-05 · Unknown Or Other · 103,000 mi“dashboard cracking even though windshield screen used when not in garage. vehicle kept in home garage as well as garage at hospital while i worked.…”
2020-10-20 · Visibility/Wiper · 113,210 mi“was on freeway, heard a loud pop , looked around and everything looked ok, saw something fly off vehicle in rearview mirror. now there is a sound of wind rushing, check windows all closed, decided to pull of freeway to see if there was damaged to vehicle . stopped got out did not notice anything up till we looked at the roof an saw a hole. looked l…”
2020-10-05 · Service Brakes · 140,000 mi · 💥 crash“daughter was driving, conditions were dry, sunny fall weather. avg speed 45 mph, light turned yellow, vehicle in front started to slow down, daughter applied brakes, pedal went to floor, no slowing down, repeatedly pushed brake and applied full force, car did not slow down, hit other vehicle, totaling the lexus. airbags did not deploy until after m…”
2020-05-27 · Suspension“dealership inspection. disclosure-satisfactory throughout the list actual inspector-visible leaks to the naked eye when looking under the car. i was misled in this purchase as there are problems with this vehicle that were not disclosed to me before purchase. *tr…”
2020-02-04 · Structure:body · 140,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2004 lexus rx. the contact stated that the dashboard was crumbling and melting. the failure was present near the passenger side airbag housing of the dashboard. the cause of the failure was not determined. the local dealer (butler lexus located at 4025 jonesboro rd, union city ga) and the manufacturer were notified but no ass…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.