I just received my recall notice for model year 2004 RX330. Has anyone experienced a problem with the switch? I don't remember seeing anyone writing up this issue on the forum and it caught me by surprise.

 

I had not heard about it either, however, when I took my car in for its 10k service the dealer told me about the problem and applied the recall. Btw, I have a July 03 production RX330 built in Japan.

 

I received my recall notice on Monday. Haven't had any problems. My car was built in Canada in May '04.

 

I received a recall notice in the mail today, the same day the '05 RX 330 NAV model that I'm trading my '04 for arrived. I'll pick up the '05 tomorrow, and trade in the '04 and recall notice. Here's the '05 still in the plastic.

 

Its a very minor issue... takes maybe 15 minutes to physically do and you get a free tank of gas!!

 

What's a brake light switch and what's wrong with it?

 

Why would you get a free tank of gas? That's nice - just curious.

I got the recall notice this week and she goes in Monday to have it performed, for 10k service, and to address various small issues. (dash squeek, drivers window sometimes goes down on its own when you raise other windows, rear wiper arm replacement) I had a bad experience and I'm trying a different dealer.

For the 5k service, I took it where I bought the car and the service was terrible. They kept me waiting over 2 hours to drop off the car and get in the (Chevy) loaner and then over an hour when I came to pick it up - a day later than promised. When I got there, they told me it was being road tested etc but it was never entered in the hour I sat there. They left the paperwork with the receptionist and went home, so I never discussed it. When I got home, I was surprised to see half the things weren't done - or just dismissed/blown off. ex: I showed them that if the sun hits the dash or i go over a bump the dash makes a loud noise. Touching the dash causes the problem anywhere, and I physically showed them. (car was turned off) On the phone they lied and said it would be delayed a day because they had the dash all apart and had fixed it. I marked the dash secretly and it was never pulled. The slip said it was a normal noise because of Fuel Injectors (with the car off and after supposedly pulling the dash to fix it) I really don't like being lied to.

I was so turned off by the experience that I contacted a local Toyota dealer and they would be glad to service the RX. We bought a Rav4 from the local dealer the same week as the RX330 and the car has been absolutely flawless. Not a single manufacturing or quality problem. Their service dept is honest and up front about everything.

After doing a followup survey and getting a call from Lexus, we agreed to try a different Lexus dealer. Hopefully it'll be a positive experience and I can regain trust in the company.

Mike

 

About the brake light switch...
It's a small switch that detects if you're pressing the brake pedal. I believe it's mounted in such a way that the if you are not pressing the pedal, the switch is actually pushed in. When you press the pedal, the switch is able to spring out. This switch operates the brake lights, and it also tells the computer that it's OK to let you shift out of park.
The switch is being recalled because in Japan they're finding that the switch is corroding on the inside, and it could stop working. There have been no reports of accidents in the U.S. as a result of this potential problem.
The recall affects the RX330 and the Prius.

About service at a Toyota dealer...
Sorry to hear about your experience, rhody401. Car dealers are still car dealers, no matter which brand they sell.
A Toyota dealer is perfectly capable of performing maintenance work on a Lexus. They can order any parts they need without any problem. Obviously, they don't stock anything that's specific to Lexus, so it's best to plan ahead if you would like them to do any work that's more involved than fluid changes. The V6 Highlander and Sienna have the same powertrain, so they know what they're doing with preventive maintenance.
However, a Toyota dealer can't perform any warranty work if you live within a certain distance of a Lexus dealer unless it's an emergency and Toyota is closest. (I forget the distance... 100 or 150 miles, I think.) That means they can't do TSIB's, fix rattles, etc., for free under warranty. They might not touch such an issue at all, or else they may have to charge for their time - you'll have to ask the dealer.

 

I just had the brake switch recall service performed today(service campaign 4LH) , with my 10k service.

They also eliminated a squeek in the dash and applied noise kit 08231-00801.

They replaced the rear wiper with the new stronger arm (TSB BO008-04, Part 85242-0e030)

The service was great at the new dealership and i'll be back. The dealership itself wasnt as nice (no warm towels and plants in bathroom, muffins, coffee, plasma tv, leather chairs etc like the other dealership), but the SERVICE is what it's all about.

The dealer I visited today was Inskip Lexus of Warwick, RI

Mike

 

Yeah i got a letter about that too. So it's across the board then.

 

I personally haven't gotten that letter yet. If it matters, my RX330 was bought in April 2003 so the manufacture date is early 2003 and built in Japan.

 

Lexus is sending out letters gradually in order to avoid overloading the dealers.

The recall affects 2004 RX330's made before 9/2004 with these serial #'s:

Japan 2WD - up to 42379
Japan AWD - up to 72005

Canada 2WD - up to C019006
Canada AWD - up to C039897

 

Cool. You would think though after nearly 2 years of ownership and over 30K miles they would send me my letter first

 

Haven't received mine either... so what kind of loaner do you want?

 

Speaking of loaners, what do you guys usually get? for My 04 RX i usually get the IS200 though i did get a GS once... and for my IS300 it's usually another 300 or a IS200