Power Train. Review the 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

28 crash reports2 fire reports12 injury reports

Power Train complaints

61 reports

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100 miles · Sep 7, 2005

Power Train

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TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH MY 2004 ES330 I AM BECOMING VERY CONCERNED WITH MY NEW 2004 LEXUS. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SERVICE CENTER FOUR (4) TIMES NOW WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE SERVICE CENTER KEEPS TELLING ME THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT IT IS THE WAY I DRIVE... MY 1999 LEXUS DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND I AM PERPLEXED ON WHY I AM BEING TOLD IT IS ME AND NOT THE CAR. THIS LAST SERVICE CALL ON AUGUST 22ND I WAS TOLD TO USE A HIGHER GRADE OF GASOLINE. I HAVE NOW GONE THROUGH A TANK OF THE HIGH GRADE GAS AND MY TRANSMISSION IS STILL SLIPPING. I NOTICE IT WHEN I SLOW TO NEGOTIATE A TURN, WHEN I AM DRIVING BETWEEN 15 AND 20 MILES PER HOUR, ALSO NOW WHEN I AM MERGING INTO TRAFFIC EITHER SLOW OR FROM A STOP THE CAR HESITATES AND THEN LURCHES FORWARD WITH A KICK.. I AM BEGINNING TO BE AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR NOT KNOWING WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT. I HAVE 3 CHILDREN THAT NEED TO BE SHUTTLED AROUND EVERY DAY AND I AM CONCERNED FOR THEIR SAFETY AS WELL.. I WANT TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE SERVICE CENTER BUT THE FEELING I AM GETTING IS THAT THEY THINK I AM CRAZY. THIS IS DUE TO THEY SAY THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. ALSO, I DON'T NEED EXTRA HORSE POWER WITH THE HIGHER GRADE OF GAS, THE LEXUS HAS PLENTY OF POWER... CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME IN THIS MATTER? THIS TRANSMISSION IS JUNK... I HAVE HAD MY HUSBAND DRIVE THE CAR AND HE CONCURS THAT THE TRANSMISSION DOES SLIP AND HE FEELS IT MUST BE SOME TYPE OF MODULATOR THAT IS NOT GETTING THE FLUID TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.. I HAVE LESS THAN 15,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND WITH THIS PROBLEM IT FEELS LIKE I AM DRIVING A CAR WITH 150,000 MILES ON IT... I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE NOR SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR... PLEASE HELP... I HAVE CALLED LEXUS 2 DAYS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF MY CAR WHEN I FIRST FELT THE IRREGULAR SHIFTING PATTERNS.. THINKING IT WOULD GET BETTER I WAITED UNTIL MY 1000 MILE SERVICE CHECK TO BRING IT UP A AGAIN.. IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10135696

50 miles · Aug 17, 2005

Power Train

THE CAR HESITATES WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED AND THEN IT LURCHES INTO GEAR. IT HAS ALSO PULLED TO THE LEFT SINCE WE BOUGHT IT DESPITES NUMEROUS REPAIR ATTEMPTS. WE ARE CURRENTLY ENAGED IN A LEMON LAWSUIT REGARDING THIS ISSUE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10133241

8,000 miles · Jun 29, 2005

Power TrainService Brakes, AirSteering

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I NOT LONGER HAVE CONFIDENCE IN DRIVING MY LEXUS 2004 ES330 WITH 12,500 MILES DUE TO 2 MAIN REASONS. (A) THIS CAR CONTINUE TO PULL TO THE LEFT TO THE POINT THAT I MUST CONTINUALLY PUT PRESSURE TO THE STEERING WHEEL SO THE CAR WONT MOVE TO THE LEFT. THIS IS HAPPENING EVEN AFTER THE DEALER HAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED ISSUE. (B) THE VERY WELL KNOWN TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN MANY INSTANCES WHERE YOU NEED TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC AND THE CAR DOES NOT RESPONDED TO THE GAS PEDAL. THE SYMPTOM IS VERY NOTICEABLE WHEN YOU ARE ON STOP AND GO TRAFFIC OR IN SLOW TRAFFIC. I URGE YOUR AGENCY TO INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER BEFORE ANY CASUALTY OCCURS. LEXUS NORMAL RESPONSE IS THAT THE CAR IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE DEALER MUST HAVE BEEN TOLD TO EXPRESS THE SAME LINE AS THEY ALWAYS HAVE THE SAME ANSWER FOR ANYTHING THEY DO NOT HAVE A SOLUTION FOR.

NHTSA ODI #10126975

1,000 miles · May 21, 2005

Power Train

SEVERE HESITATION WHEN MERGING ON TO A HIGWAY AT BETWEEN 20 AND 30 MPH. DEALER SERVICE HAS CHECKED VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY AND "ITS NORMAL FOR A LEXUS"

NHTSA ODI #10121789

500 miles · May 18, 2005

Power Train

AT LOW SPEED ABOUT 20-25 MPH LETTING GO OF THE GAS PEDAL AND PRESS ON AGAIN CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO HESITATE FOR AT LEAST 1-2 SECOND LIKE IT IS SEARCHING FOR THE RIGHT GEAR. THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10121334

200 miles · Apr 18, 2005

Power Train

WHEN DRIVING, THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE COMPUTER SETTINGS WERE CHANGED, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HESITATE. *AK THERE WERE SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONSUMER WOULD ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE. LEXUS DID NOT SEEM TO HAVE A CONCER…

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NHTSA ODI #10115534

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2005

Power Train

THIS COMPLAINT IS ABOUT MY 2004 LEXUS ES 330 BOUGHT IN AUGUST 2004. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE TRANSMISSION WHICH HESITATES VERY OFTEN WHEN IT SHIFTS DOWN FROM 2ND GEAR TO 1ST GEAR AND THEN BACK UP. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM MANY TIMES IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS. EVEN THOUGH IT HAS NOT CAUSED ANY ACCIDENT, LEXUS SHOULD ADMIT IT IS…

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NHTSA ODI #10114292

Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2005

Power Train

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I OWN A 2004 LEXUS ES 330 AND THE TRANSMISSION JERKS AND HESITATES UPON ACCELERATION. THIS DEFECT HAS PUT ME AT RISK NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED; THE RISK BEING THAT THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES AND UPON GIVING IT MORE GAS IT DECIDES TO OVERCOMPENSATE, CAUSING NEAR COLLISIONS WITH THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. THE LEXUS DEALER HAS DISMISSED THE PROBLEM AND HAS NOT INCLUDE IT IN THE SERVICE REPORTS, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE REQUESTED IT BE EXAMINED. THEY STATE THAT THE CAR IS LEARNING MY DRIVING HABITS. THIS IS A SMOKESCREEN AND UNACCEPTABLE; I AM CERTAIN THIS COMPLAINT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE NHSTA BEFORE. LEXUS REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED ON NUMEROUS WEB SITES. THANK YOU! *AK

NHTSA ODI #10112425

7,000 miles · Jan 6, 2005

Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

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VEHICLE SURGED WHEN CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED AT 60 MPH. IT SURGED UP TO 80 MPH. IT FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING DOWN HILL. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ALSO, TRANSMISSION HESITATED AT 0-20 MPH, IT ALSO JERKED. *AK.......LEXUS HAS ADMITTED THE PROBLEM, BUT MAINTAINED THAT VEHICLE DROVE AS DESIGNED. HESITATION PROBLEM EXPERIENCED BY MANY LEXUS ES330 CAR VEHICLE HESITATION, THEN WILL LURCH FORWARD WHEN ACCELERATING A TLOW SPEEDS. LEXUS HAS ADMITTED THE PROBLEM, BUT INSISTED VEHICLE DROVE AS DESIGNED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10106940

10 miles · Dec 22, 2004

Power Train

THE CAR RAPIDLY DECREASES SPEED WHEN ONE LETS UP ON THE ACCELERATOR. CARS FOLLOWING HAVE NO WARNING OF THIS AS THE BRAKE IS NOT APPLIED. I HAVE HAD THREE VERY CLOSE CALLS OF A REAR END COLLISION. THE ACTION DOES NOT TAKE PLACE ALL THE TIME, SO IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCOUNT FOR IT BY DIFFERENT DRIVING. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10104290

Official recalls

04V595000 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly

Dec 15, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A FRONT PASSENGER POWER SEAT, WHEN INSTALLING CERTAIN REAR-FACING INFANT CHILD SEAT BASES ONTO THE SEAT WITH AN EXCESSIVELY HIGH SEATBELT TENSION, IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO UNSEAT A COMPONENT CALLED THE BUCKLE STATUS SWITCH FROM THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE SWITCH BECOMES UNSEATED, THE FRONT PASSENGER OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM MAY MISTAKE THE REAR-FACING CHILD RESTRAINT FOR AN UNBELTED ADULT OCCUPANT, AND MAY NOT SUPPRESS THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT BUCKLE STATUS SWITCH. THIS SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN (SSC 40M) BEGAN ON DECEMBER 20, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 OR LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987..

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

DP05002 · Vehicle Speed Control

Opened Aug 5, 2005 · Closed Jan 5, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control

IN A LETTER DATED JULY 8, 2005, AND AFTER EXPERIENCING TWO INCIDENTS (AND ONE CRASH) WHERE HE ALLEGES HIS MODEL YEAR (MY) 2002 CAMRY ACCELERATED WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT, MR. JORDAN ZIPRIN PETITIONED THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION?S (NHTSA) OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) TO COMMENCE A PROCEEDING TO DETERMINE THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT WITHIN THE ETC SYSTEM IN MY 2002 TO 2005 TOYOTA AND LEXUS VEHICLES, OR TO REOPEN A PRIOR INVESTIGATION PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE) 04-021.IN A LETTER DATED AUGUST 18, 2005, MR. ZIPRIN AMENDED HIS PETITION TO INCLUDE ALLEGATIONS OF INTERRELATED BRAKE AND ACCELERATION PROBLEMS THAT ALLEGEDLY RESULT IN INAPPROPRIATE AND UNCONTROLLABLE VEHICLE ACCELERATIONS.THE 1172 VEHICLE OWNER QUESTIONNAIRE REPORTS CITED BY THE PETITIONER INVOLVE 4 LEXUS AND 15 TOYOTA MODELS DEFINING A POPULATION OF 7 MILLION VEHICLES.THE REPORTS TYPICALLY ALLEGED A DEFECT IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM, THE THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM, OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH SYSTEMS.IN ITS REVIEW OF THE REPORTS, ODI A) FAILED TO FIND EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE EXISTENCE OF A BRAKE RELATED DEFECT IN THE CITED MODELS, AND B) DETERMINED THAT MANY CITED PRODUCTS WERE NOT EQUIPPED WITH ETC.ACCORDINGLY, ODI RESTRICTED ITS ANALYSIS TO THE 432 PETITIONER REPORTS INVOLVING MY 2002 TO 2005 CAMRY, SOLARA, AND ES MODELS (ALL EQUIPPED WITH ETC) THAT ALLEGED AN ABNORMAL THROTTLE CONTROL EVENT (SEE THE JANUARY 3, 2006 FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE FOR FURTHER DETAILS).ABOUT 40% OF THE 432 REPORTS INVOLVE A DRIVEABILITY CONCERN WHERE THE OPERATOR INTENTIONALLY APPLIES THE THROTTLE PEDAL, IN EXPECTATION THAT THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE, AND THEN EXPERIENCES A DELAY OR HESITATION IN VEHICLE RESPONSE.THESE REPORTS INVOLVE VEHICLE RESPONSE TO INTENTIONAL DRIVER COMMANDS WHICH ODI CONSIDERS UNRELATED TO THE ALLEGATIONS RAISED BY THE PETITIONER.THEREFORE, THE REPORTS DO NOT PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED.ABOUT 20% OF THE REPORTS INVOLVE INCIDENTS WHERE OPERATORS ALLEGE VEHICLE ACCELERATION WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT AND AN INABILITY OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHEN APPLIED.NEITHER THE REPORTS, NOR THE INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED BY ODI, IDENTIFIED ANY VEHICLE-BASED CAUSE TO EXPLAIN THE INCIDENTS OR DISCLOSED EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THAT A FAILURE OF THE BRAKE OR THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM HAD OCCURRED.BECAUSE THESE REPORTS DO NOT INDICATE A DISTINCT SAFETY DEFECT FOR INVESTIGATION, THE REPORTS DO NOT PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED BY THE PETITIONERTHE REMAINING REPORTS (~ 40%, SIMILAR TO THE PETITIONER?S AND THOSE OF PE04-021) TYPICALLY DESCRIBE INCIDENTS WHERE A VEHICLE IS BEING MANEUVERED AT SLOW SPEED IN A CLOSE QUARTER SITUATION AT WHICH POINT THE OPERATOR ALLEGES THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT AND CRASHES.IN THE AFTERMATH, OPERATORS ARE UNSURE OF WHETHER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED OR NOT, SOMETIMES STATING THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT TIME TO USE THE BRAKE; A CRASH OCCURRED AND THE OPERATOR BELIEVES AN UNCOMMANDED ACCELERATION CAUSED IT.IN SPITE OF THE EFFORT EXPENDED DURING PE04-021 AND DURING THIS ANALYSIS, ODI HAS NOT IDENTIFIED ANY VEHICLE-BASED CAUSE TO EXPLAIN THE REPORTS, OR UNCOVERED ANY EVIDENCE TO INDICATE THAT A THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE OCCURRED.THEREFORE, THE REPORTS HAVE AMBIGUOUS SIGNIFICANCE AND DO NOT CONSTITUTE A BASIS ON WHICH ANY FURTHER INVESTIGATIVE ACTION IS WARRANTED.BASED ON THE ANALYSIS CONDUCTED, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THE NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.CONSEQUENTLY, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES T