NHTSA Complaint #10411605 — 2004 LEXUS RX330

MY KEY TO MY 2004 LEXUS 330SUV HAS BROKEN 3 TIMES. ONCE IT BROKE IN THE IGNITION. I HAVE USED MY KEY IN AN ORDINARY WAY. LEXUS HAS REPLACED THE KEYS BUT AT MY EXPENSE. I BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING FAULTY WITH THE IGNITION AND/OR THE KEY ITSELF. THOUGH I HAVE NOT BEEN INJURED, IT IS POSSIBLE THE KEY COULD BREAK WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSE INJURY. I REPLACED THE KEY IN 2006, 2008 AND MOST RECENTLY IN JUNE 2011. I HAVE PAID $220 EACH TIME IN 2006 AND 2008. IN 2011, I CONTACTED LEXUS INTERNATIONAL AND WAS REIMBURSED $95 FOR THE $110 PLASTIC CASING I GOT FOR THE NEW KEY AS THEY TRANSFERRED THE WIRELESS PORTION INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE ENTIRE KEY. I THINK THAT THEIR KEY AND LOCK MECHANISM SHOULD BE EXAMINED, THAT DEALERSHIPS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO INDICATE HOW MANY OF THESE TYPES OF REPAIRS ON THIS VEHICLE HAVE BEEN MADE (WHICH ARE EXPENSIVE AND TIME CONSUMING FOR THE CONSUMER YET PERHAPS ISSUES THAT SHOULD BE REMEDIED BY THE MANUFACTURER) AND THAT A RECALL MAY NEED TO BE INITIATED. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MY DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THERE ARE THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRENT ISSUES WITH THESE CARS FOR MANY PEOPLE AND MY TAKE ON IT (WHICH HE DIDN'T CONFIRM) IS THAT IT IS A MANUFACTURER'S ISSUE THAT MAY NEED A RECALL TO ADDRESS IT. BECAUSE I COMPLAINED TO LEXUS INTERNATIONAL THIS LAST TIME, THEY MADE ME A NEW KEY AND WAIVED THE $65 PROGRAMMING FEE WHICH WAS CONSIDERATE. HOWEVER, I STILL THINK THE MATTER NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO BY A NEUTRAL THIRD PARTY. *TR