LexusRX3302004Overview/lexus/rx330/2004/base/

2004 Lexus RX330

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2004 RX330.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic (S5)

The 2004 Lexus RX330 is a five-speed automatic SUV that returns EPA figures of 17 city and 24 highway mpg for a 20 mpg combined average, with routine maintenance calling for 5 quarts of 10W-30 or 5W-30 API oil. As the inaugural model year of the RX330 generation, it also carries the heaviest reliability burden in the vehicle's 2004–2011 complaint history, logging 327 owner complaints — overwhelmingly concentrated in the Power Train category — alongside six recalls, making it the most problematic year by a wide margin when compared with the 2009 model year's single complaint. For researchers, that gap signals early-production teething issues that Lexus substantially resolved later in the cycle, so while the 2004 offers the platform's familiar refinement and efficiency, it represents the least reliable point in the model's timeline and warrants the closest pre-purchase scrutiny.

Model year200620052004

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque76 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy17/24/20 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24F · 585 CCA battery, OE oil filter 90915YZZD1. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 24F · 585 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnTAILOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter90915YZZD1
Engine air filter17801YZZ01
Fuel filter2330020130
Spark plug9008091180
Front wiper blades852120E010 alt 852220E010
Serpentine belt9008091212 alt 9008091239
Thermostat90916A3003 alt 1632562010

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S5)

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined17 / 24 / 20 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5 qt of 10W-30 / 5W-30 API engine oil, GL-5 · 80W-90 in the differential. Torque lug nuts to 76 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 29.0-30.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity3.7
Differential Gear OilGL-5 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.8 Pints
Engine Oil10W-30 · API · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity5 qt
Transfer Case FluidGL-5 · 80W-90
Transfer Case Fluid Capacity1.8 Pints

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs12 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts162 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts60.5 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts11 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts36 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug29.0-30.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs10MM

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts76 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug36.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug36.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub217 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub217 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)680 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.21-1.43 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity4.50 oz
Standard BCI Group Number24F
Standard BCI Cranking Performance585 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test17 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief11-15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-183 °F
Residual Pressure21.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance13.4-14.2 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression145-218 PSI. 14 maximum variation PSI.
Engine Oil Pressure4.3 psi @ Idle, 43-78 psi @ 3000 rpm psi
Intake Valve Lash0.006-0.010 in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket25 ft-lbs / 32 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle77 ft-lbs / 58 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.040 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in / 0.0059 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.102 in / 0.394 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.102 in / 0.394 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.024 in / 0.335 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9018 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs at 120,000 mi; coolant every 45,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 45,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miCabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Universal Vehicle Operation (road test)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Body Fasteners (torque) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash)
At 90,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 90,000 miTiming Belt (replace)
At 120,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Across this generation, federal records reveal a steep downward trend in reported defects, with complaints plummeting from 327 in 2004 to just 5 by 2007, and recalls dropping from 6 to 1 over that same timeframe. The 2004 model sits at the absolute peak of this arc, functioning as the most problematic year for the RX330 with the highest volume of complaints, recalls (6), and technical service bulletins (177). Its primary trouble areas are the Power Train (58 complaints) and Service Brakes, Hydraulic (54 complaints), followed by Structure (26) and Vehicle Speed Control (22), which also encompass 38 crash and 2 fire complaints; however, the data does not specify the root causes for these failures. Because subsequent years like 2005 and 2006 show significantly reduced complaint volumes and fewer recalls, the 2004 model clearly exhibits early-generation growing pains that were steadily engineered out. Consequently, I advise against purchasing the 2004 model, as opting for a later year in this generation provides a statistically much lower risk of encountering these powertrain, braking, and structural defects.

6
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
177
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
327
Owner complaints
38 involved a crash · 2 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 327 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train58
Service Brakes, Hydraulic54
Structure26
Vehicle Speed Control22
Exterior Lighting21
Unknown Or Other20
Air Bags11
Visibility11

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

11V539000Engine And Engine CoolingReported 09/11/2011

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… 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…

11V112000Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator PedalReported 24/02/2011

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… 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 177 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
L-SB-0020-242024-04-19StructureVehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed…
L-SB-0021-242024-04-19StructureLexus vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect…
L-SB-0022-242024-04-19StructureAcid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to…
L-SB-0024-242024-04-19StructureThe condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the…
L-SB-0023-242024-04-19StructureTo prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific RX330. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2004 RX330 take?

5 qt of ABOVE 0 F: 10W-30 API, BELOW 100 F: 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2004 RX330 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the RX330 get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 24 highway / 20 combined mpg.