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Lexus RX330 2003 Problems

Are you having problems with your 2003 Lexus RX330? Let our team of motoring experts keep you up to date with all of the latest 2003 Lexus RX330 issues & faults. We have gathered all of the most frequently asked questions and problems relating to the 2003 Lexus RX330 in one spot to help you decide if it's a smart buy.

Used Lexus RX review: 2003-2015

Lexus RX has been a huge success for the upmarket Japanese marque since its launch in Australia in April 2003. More a high riding station wagon than a 4WD it has mild to medium off-road ability in its AWD versions, though very few owners ever take advantage of it.

The introduction of the fourth generation RX series in November 2015 has created a lot of interest and many owners have traded up to one. Thus creating a rush on secondhand ones which are taking up too much space in the used car lots. If you're quick you might be able to pick up one of these at a lower than usual price. No promises, though...

By the way, though this is the fourth generation RX, the first-generation was only sold in the USA. 

As the gen-four is still too new to comment on in this used-car piece we won't cover it here, other than to say it's on a longer wheelbase than the third series so legroom in the back is better than in previous models.

Lexus is famed for its refinement and quiet, smooth running. Upmarket materials and the quality of fit and finish inside was good right from the start, yet has reached even higher levels in subsequent models.

Interior room is good for two adults and three kids in the first RXs sold here, but the next model was significantly better and two adults in the rear works nicely. Three preteen children will fit in comfort.

Boot space is reasonable, but the stylish slope of the rear window means bulky items often won't fit.. The back seat has a 40/20/40 split to improve matters.

The third generation Lexus RX was introduced in February 2009 and was virtually all-new. It received a modest facelift in July 2012. It saw the introduction of a four-cylinder engine as well as 2WD (the front wheels) for the first time.

Most Lexus RXs are powered by a twin-cam V6 petrol engine, with a capacity of 3.0 litres in the 330 and 3.5 litres in the RX350. The engine sat beside a five-speed automatic transmission in the gen-two car. The all-new 2009 model saw it lifted to six-speed unit.

Lexus has long been strong in the petrol-electric hybrid field with all of its models. The RX is certainly no exception and since October 2006 an electric motor has been offered in combination with the petrol. Look for a lower-case ‘h' in the model name, for example Lexus RX400h. Note that it doesn't have a 4.0-litre petrol engine, it's actually 3.3 litres, but Lexus calculates it has the performance of a 4.0-litre petrol engine.

Lexus dealers are mainly in metropolitan areas of capital cities and major regional and country locations. Should you need work done in other areas some top Toyota mechanics have been trained in Lexus work.

Service and repair costs are about average for an SUV in this upmarket class and we have heard of no real complaints about cost or availability of routine spare parts.

Insurance charges don't vary significantly between major companies, but it may be worth shopping around.

High build quality means that troubles are unusual, but these are complex machines and we recommend a professional inspection after you've completed your initial once over.

Look for a smoking exhaust on a high-mileage engine. It will be at its worst when the engine is worked hard.

Check the automatic transmission is all but unnoticed in its actions unless you're accelerating hard.

Look over the interior and boot carefully because the RX is popular in the Mums' taxi cohort.

Body damage indicating mild to moderate off-road use is most likely to be on the bumper corners, sill panels and scratches on the doors.

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Best SUV for metro driving

A Mazda CX-5 would be the best bet, and gets The Tick, but also look at a Subaru Forester which is more car-like and will be better around town when you're not towing.

Used Lexus RX Series review: 2003-2012

...and what to watch for when you are buying it.

Lexus cars are about comfort and refinement and the Lexus RX SUV leans very much in that direction and well away from the rugged off-road nature of its big brother the LandCruiser-based Lexus LX Series.

The Lexus RX350 has significantly less ground clearance than the typical crossover. Which gives it road holding almost on par with that of a sedan or station wagon. While the Lexus RX350 does have all-wheel drive and can travel on dirt roads, forest trails and the like, taking it to the beach could leave it beached on its belly.

Interior room is good for two adults and three junior travellers, but three adults in the back seats starts to stretch their friendship. It goes without saying that the choice of materials and the quality of fit and finish of cabin is immaculate in all models, and has been taken to even higher levels over the years. Boot space is reasonable considering the steep slope of the rear window, but most SUVs of this size give you more versatility when it comes to carrying boxy items. The rear seat has a handy 40/20/40 split to give you loading options.

Australian buyers weren’t offered the chance to buy the first-generation Lexus RX300 as it was only sold in the USA. The second generation went on sale in this country in April 2003 as the RX330 (the numbers refer to the engine size in decilitres in most models, more about that later) and was a hit pretty well from the start.

The third generation Lexus was introduced in February 2009 and, with a moderate facelift and the introduction of several new variants remains on sale today. The gen-three was virtually all-new, being longer and wider in the body than its predecessors and sitting on a longer wheelbase and wider track. The new model was designed to provide more interior space and even higher levels of interior comfort than before. It truly is a luxury wagon and the great majority of buyers use it that way.

The twin-cam petrol engine V6 has a capacity of 3.0 litres in the 330 and 3.5 litres in the RX350. The third generation cars have noticeably lower fuel consumption without any loss of performance. The petrol engine was mated to a five-speed automatic transmission until the arrival of the all-new 2009 model saw it lifted to six-speed unit, which partly explains its lower fuel use.

An interesting model is the petrol-electric hybrid RX. Sold since October 2006, it uses a 3.3-litre engine and an electric motor in combination. The hybrid’s model name breaks with convention by being tagged RX400h, that’s because Lexus reckons it has the performance that would be offered by a 4.0-litre petrol engine.

A mid-life upgrade in July 2012 saw the introduction of an RX 2WD, four-cylinder model badged RX 270. Until then all RXs used 4WD and a V6 engine. The lighter weight of the 2WD model (which drives through the front wheels) means there is less loss in performance than you might expect. Naturally, it’s still a rarity on the used market but if you never plan any unsealed road driving its lower price may make it worth a wait.

Lexus dealers are mainly in metropolitan areas of capital cities and major regional and country locations. Should you need work done in other areas some top Toyota mechanics have been trained in Lexus work. Service and repair costs are about average for an SUV in this upmarket class and we have heard of no real complaints about cost or availability of routine spare parts. Insurance charges don’t seem to vary significantly between major companies, but it may be worth shopping around.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Very high build quality means that troubles are rare, but these are relatively complex machines and we highly recommend a professional inspection after you've completed yours to the best of your ability. If you find body damage indicating off-road use, a rarity, it’s most likely to be on the bumper corners, under the sill panels and in the form of scratches on the doors. Unless the price is right we suggest going for another RX instead.

Look for a smoking exhaust on a high-mileage engine. It will be at its worst when the engine is worked hard. Check the automatic transmission is all but unnoticed in its actions unless you’re accelerating hard. Look over the interior and boot carefully because the RX is popular in the Mums’ taxi cohort.

CAR BUYING TIP

Faded paint on any vehicle, particularly those with strong colours, is likely to indicate it hasn’t been garaged very often. This can be hard on the interior as well as the body.

 

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Used Lexus RX330 review: 2003-2006

The Lexus RX330 was an SUV with the lot aimed not at those who want to blunder through the bush, but was instead aimed at those with a taste for luxury.

It arrived in 2003 and was widely hailed as the best luxury SUV on the market. It was a high-riding, five-seat medium-sized wagon that was well equipped with heaps of luxury features, comfortable and quiet, as befits a luxury brand.

The smooth 3.3-litre engine was a willing worker, doing its best stuff at higher revs, but if there was a criticism it was that it lacked a little grunt down low. Despite that the performance was good. Reflecting its position in the market there was just the one transmission option, a five-speed automatic with sequential shift. 

There was no manual transmission on offer, but the sequential shift function allowed the driver to change gears manually. Final drive was through all four wheels all the time, which came into its own on wet or loose surfaces.

The Lexus didn't have a low-range crawler gear and its ground clearance was somewhat limited, so it was not an off-roader capable of climbing rocks or ploughing through sand.

On the road the steering was light, the ride comfortable and the handling safe and sound without being sporting. Inside it had leather trim, climate controlled air, cruise, remote central locking, power front seats, power windows, and six-speaker CD sound.

IN THE SHOP

Lexus came into the market on a promise of above average build quality and has generally lived up to that boast. While that has generally translated into enviable reliability and durability it's always a good idea to conduct a thorough check of any car you're thinking of buying. Ask for a service record to ensure the maintenance has been kept up as recommended. The cam timing belt change is due at 150,000 km, which means early examples are coming up to that service.

Most, if not all RX330s, will have been confined to family duties around town, but it's a must that you get underneath and check for evidence of off-road use. If you think a car has been used off the beaten track continue shopping. The RX330 came packed with features, all of which should be operated to make sure they still work. Fixing them later on can be expensive.

IN A CRASH

The RX330 is well equipped to handle a crash with seven airbags, ABS brakes and stability control. All up it was good enough to win a four- star tick from ANCAP.

UNDER THE PUMP

Size, weight and all-wheel drive all work against the RX330 when it comes to fuel consumption. The official claim was 12.3 L/100 km on average, which gives a bit of a hint to what you could expect in real life. Regular unleaded fuel made life a little easier, and E10 was approved to open up further savings.

AT A GLANCE

Price new: $69,990 to $78,500
Engine: 3.3-litre V6; 172 kW/328 Nm
Transmission: 5-speed automatic, 4WD
Economy: 12.3 L/100 km Body: 5-doos wagon
Variants: Sports, Sports Luxury
Safety: 4-star ANCAP

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