NHTSA Complaint #10314023 — 2004 LEXUS RX330

FAILURE OF 2004 LEXUS RX 330 AIR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS CAUSING THE AIR SUSPENSION TO POSITION CAR IN AN ELEVATED POSITION, HIGHER THAN THE HIGHEST NORMAL SETTING. OWNER'S MANUAL CLAIMS THAT THE VEHICLE CAN BE DRIVEN WITH THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM IN FAILURE MODE. CAR RODE EXTREMELY ROUGH AND NOT AS SECURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VEHICLE REQUIRED ALMOST $5000 IN REPAIR COSTS. PARTS FAILED AT 41,000 MILES AND 5 MONTHS AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRATION. THIS PARTICULAR MODEL WITH AIR SUSPENSION WAS RARE AND ONLY A FEW SOLD PER DEALER IN 2004. THERE ARE SEVERAL REPORTS ON THE INTERNET OF SIMILAR FAILURES. MY ORIGINAL SYSTEM WAS NOISY FROM DAY ONE, THE REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE QUIET. MOST LIKELY THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE ORIGINAL PARTS. *TR