Independent · Not affiliated with NHTSA or any automaker MethodologyData sourcesData refreshed Oct 6, 2026

2005 Lexus RX330: Problems, Recalls and MPG

What this means

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2005 Lexus RX330, most recently filed November 2011. Owners have filed 165 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the exterior lighting.

Data summary generated from official records. Methodology Data: NHTSA, DOT, EPA · Refreshed Oct 6, 2026
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Recalls (3)

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2005 Lexus RX330. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗

Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.

Check on NHTSA ↗
Listed for 2005 Lexus RX330. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 11V539000 Filed Nov 9, 2011

CRANKSHAFT PULLEY

Engine and engine cooling
Official NHTSA text
Summary
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AVALON VEHICLES; 2004 AND 2005 CAMRY, CAMRY SOLARA, HIGHLANDER, AND SIENNA VEHICLES, 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID; 2004 AND 2005 LEXUS ES330 AND RX330; AND 2006 LEXUS RX400H VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 1, 2004 THROUGH MARCH 31, 2005, EQUIPPED WITH THE 1MZ-FE OR 3MZ-FE ENGINE. THE AMOUNT OF ADHESIVE AGENT APPLIED BETWEEN THE OUTER RING AND THE TORSIONAL RUBBER DAMPER (INNER RING) IN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY MAY BE INADEQUATE. IF THE ADHESIVE IS INSUFFICIENT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE OUTER RING MAY BECOME MISALIGNED AND IT MAY NOT PROPERLY ROTATE WITH THE INNER RING, CAUSING NOISE AND/OR ILLUMINATION OF THE BATTERY DISCHARGE INDICATOR LIGHT.
Consequence
IN SOME CASES, THE BELT FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE PULLEY WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND A SUDDEN INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL CHECK THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY TO IDENTIFY WHETHER IT WAS PRODUCED BY THE U.S. SUPPLIER. IF SO, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE PULLEY WITH A NEW ONE AT NO CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING EARLY JANUARY 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Repair progress not yet reported420,326 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 11V539000
Listed for 2005 Lexus RX330. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 11V112000 Filed Feb 24, 2011

FLOOR CARPET COVER AND RETENTION CLIPS

Vehicle speed control · accelerator pedal
Official NHTSA text
Summary
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
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.
Repair progress not yet reported769,379 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 11V112000
Listed for 2005 Lexus RX330. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 06V253000 Filed Jul 13, 2006

CARPET INTERFERENCE WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL

Vehicle speed control · accelerator pedal
Official NHTSA text
Summary
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY AND HYBRID VEHICLES, THE TWO RETAINING CLIPS FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE FORWARD CENTER CONSOLE CAN BECOME LOOSE. IF BOTH CLIPS SEPARATE FROM THE FLOOR CARPET COVER, THE COVER MAY LEAN TOWARD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSING INTERFERENCE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ROD.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION MAY INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TWO FLOOR CARPET COVER RETAINING CLIPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 24, 2006, AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY EARLY SEPTEMBER 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 OR LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
Repair progress not yet reported367,594 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 06V253000

PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.

Owner complaints (165)

165 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The exterior lighting is mentioned most often.

16involved a crash
1involved a fire
9injuries reported
0deaths reported

As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.

Most-reported components

Complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2005 Lexus RX330, by component (top 10). One complaint can list several components, so these add up to more than 165.Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints · Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 · Report a data error

How 2005 compares with other RX330 years

Best and worst RX330 years →
200420052006200720092011
This year (2005)Other yearsStill collecting reports

Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Fuel economy: up to 20 mpg combined

20
mpg combined
17
city
23
highway
EPA annual fuel cost
$3,350
CO₂ tailpipe
444 g/mi
EPA class
Sport Utility Vehicle -

What it costs you to run

$3,266per year
$272per month
750gallons a year

Miles ÷ 20 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.

EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.

Specs by configuration

2005 Lexus RX330 configurations with EPA data
Engine · transmissionDriveCity / Hwy / CombEPA $/yrCO₂ g/mi
3.3 L 6-cyl · 5-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive17 / 23 / 20$3,350444
3.3 L 6-cyl · 5-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive17 / 23 / 19$3,550468
3.3 L 6-cyl · 5-speed automatic4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive16 / 22 / 19$3,550468
3.3 L 6-cyl · 5-speed automatic4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive16 / 22 / 18$3,700494

Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.

Used blue SUV on a sunny dealer lot with its hood open and a clipboard on the fender

Looking at a 2005 RX330 for sale?

Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.

All RX330 years

Where to next

2005 Lexus RX330 FAQ

How many recalls does the 2005 Lexus RX330 have?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 11V539000 (engine), 11V112000 (vehicle speed control), 06V253000 (vehicle speed control). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.

What are the most common 2005 Lexus RX330 problems?

Owners filed 165 complaints with NHTSA. Exterior lighting (32), Structure (32), Steering (29) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.

What mpg does the 2005 Lexus RX330 get?

EPA rates the 3.3 L 6-cyl · 5-speed automatic version at 17 city, 23 highway and 20 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.

How does the 2005 RX330 compare with other years?

Among the 2004–2011 Lexus RX330 model years at least five years old, the 2009 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 2004 the most (287). The 2005 drew 165. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.

How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes

Processing

  • Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
  • Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.

Limitations

  • Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
  • Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
  • Recent model years are still collecting reports.

Review

Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.

Changelog

  • 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
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