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2005 Lexus Es

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

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There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

35 reports with mileage · 23 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports0 fire reports9 injury reports

What owners actually said

58 reports
3,000 miles · Jul 3, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING. IT STALLED DURING START UP AND BACKING OUT AS WELL AS DURING CRUISING WITHOUT ACCELERATION. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS HOWEVER THE ARE UNABLE TO FIX IT. UPDATED *JB

NHTSA ODI #10161321

1 miles · Jul 1, 2006
Power Train

I OWN AND PURCHASED NEW A 2005 LEXUS ES 330 OVER A YEAR AGO AND HAVE CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH A LAGGING TRANSMISSION WHICH CAN NOT BE FIXED PER LEXUS BUT POSES A DEFINITE SAFETY PROBLEM AS REPORTED BY MANY LEXUS OWNERS OVER THE PAST YEAR OR SO. I FEEL LEXUS SHOULD BE MADE TO REPLACE THESE TRANSMISSIONS WITH ACCEPTABLE PERFORMIN…

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I OWN AND PURCHASED NEW A 2005 LEXUS ES 330 OVER A YEAR AGO AND HAVE CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH A LAGGING TRANSMISSION WHICH CAN NOT BE FIXED PER LEXUS BUT POSES A DEFINITE SAFETY PROBLEM AS REPORTED BY MANY LEXUS OWNERS OVER THE PAST YEAR OR SO. I FEEL LEXUS SHOULD BE MADE TO REPLACE THESE TRANSMISSIONS WITH ACCEPTABLE PERFORMING TRANSMISSIONS FOR ALL OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10161193

9,700 miles · Apr 19, 2006
Vehicle Speed Control

SUDDEN, UNINTENDED ACCELERATION DUE TO SIGNIFICANT THROTTLE LAG. PEDAL IS ALMOST TO THE FLOOR BEFORE CAR MOVES, AND THEN DOES SO AS IF YOU HAD DELIBERATELY PUSHED IT THAT FAR. ALSO, UPON ACCELERATION, CAR STALLS FOR ONE TO TWO SECONDS BEFORE ENGAGING. THIS HAS CAUSED SEVERAL NEAR COLLISIONS, ONE WITH A DUMP TRUCK. LEXUS CLAI…

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SUDDEN, UNINTENDED ACCELERATION DUE TO SIGNIFICANT THROTTLE LAG. PEDAL IS ALMOST TO THE FLOOR BEFORE CAR MOVES, AND THEN DOES SO AS IF YOU HAD DELIBERATELY PUSHED IT THAT FAR. ALSO, UPON ACCELERATION, CAR STALLS FOR ONE TO TWO SECONDS BEFORE ENGAGING. THIS HAS CAUSED SEVERAL NEAR COLLISIONS, ONE WITH A DUMP TRUCK. LEXUS CLAIMS THIS IS "OPERATING AS DESIGNED." *JB

NHTSA ODI #10155719

6,000 miles · Mar 12, 2006
Power Train

THROTTLE DOES NOT RESPOND TO COMMANDS FOR MORE RPM AND SPEED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10152515

27,000 miles · Feb 25, 2006
Exterior Lighting

I OWN A 2005 LEXUS RX 330 WITH APPROXIMATELY 27,000 MILES ON IT.--MY RIGHT REAR BREAK LIGHT DOES NOT WORK CONSISTENTLY. LINDSAY LEXUS, ALEXANDRIA, VA, WAS TOLD OF THE PROBLEM, CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. SUBSEQUENTLY, I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER BY A POLICE OFFICER AT NIGHT, AS WELL AS BEING TOLD BY FO…

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I OWN A 2005 LEXUS RX 330 WITH APPROXIMATELY 27,000 MILES ON IT.--MY RIGHT REAR BREAK LIGHT DOES NOT WORK CONSISTENTLY. LINDSAY LEXUS, ALEXANDRIA, VA, WAS TOLD OF THE PROBLEM, CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. SUBSEQUENTLY, I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER BY A POLICE OFFICER AT NIGHT, AS WELL AS BEING TOLD BY FOLKS WHO FOLLOWED ME AT NIGHT, THAT THE LIGHT WAS NOT OPERATIONAL. I AGAIN, TOLD LINDSAY LEXUS WHAT WAS OCCURRING AND WAS TOLD THAT UNLESS IT DID NOT WORK WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. HOWEVER, THEY OFFERED THAT I COULD PURCHASE A NEW BULB FOR $300.00. ADDITIONALLY, THEY SAID IF IT WAS NOT WORKING WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY. I CONTACTED THE LEXUS HEADQUARTERS IN CA, AND THEY OFFERED NO SOLUTION AS WELL. I WOULD SPECULATE THAT I WILL BE PULLED OVER AGAIN BY AN OFFICER, AS THE FIRST OFFICER TOLD ME IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT SINCE IT OCCASIONALLY WORKS, IT MIGHT BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY LINDSAY LEXUS DOES NOT HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THE HAVE PLACED THE ONUS ON THE CUSTOMER. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10151210

Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 2006
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION OF MY ES 330 IS ERRATIC DURING BOTH UPSHIFT AND DOWNSHIFT. INITIALLY THE DEALER RIVERSIDE LEXUS, COVINGTON,KY, SAID THAT IT WOULD WORK ITSELF OUT IN A FEW THOUSAND MILES. THAT DID NOT HAPPEN. A FEW WEEKS AGO THE DEALER THEN CHANGED THEIR STORY TO ONE THAT LEXUS KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM. . I DID SEE A NUMBER OF…

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THE TRANSMISSION OF MY ES 330 IS ERRATIC DURING BOTH UPSHIFT AND DOWNSHIFT. INITIALLY THE DEALER RIVERSIDE LEXUS, COVINGTON,KY, SAID THAT IT WOULD WORK ITSELF OUT IN A FEW THOUSAND MILES. THAT DID NOT HAPPEN. A FEW WEEKS AGO THE DEALER THEN CHANGED THEIR STORY TO ONE THAT LEXUS KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM. . I DID SEE A NUMBER OF OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ES 330 TRANSMISSION ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. THE OTHER COMPLAINANTS SEEMED TO GET THE SAME TWO STAGE RESPONSE FROM LEXUS THAT WE DID. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10151110

50 miles · Jan 22, 2006
Power Train

MY 2005 LEXUS ES330 HAS TRANSMISSION HESITATION WHEN AFTER SLOWING TO ABOUT 5 MPH, I ACCELERATE. IT TAKES 1 TO 2 SECONDS FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO DOWNSHIFT AND THEN THE CAR LURCHES DANGEROUSLY FORWARD. THE DEALERSHIP INSTALLED A SOFTWARD FIX TO THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10148317

Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 2006
Power TrainCrashInjury

MY NEW 2005 LEXUS ES330 HAS A MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. IT HESITATES WHEN NEEDING TO ACCELERATE. FIRST IT DELAYS UPON ACCELERATION AND THEN IT JERKS AHEAD QUICKLY CAUSING WHIPLASH AND I EVEN CRASHED INTO MY GARAGE BECAUSE IT JERKED AHEAD WITHOUT ME BEING ABLE TO CONTROL IT. THE DEALER SAID TO JUST USE BETTER GAS AND COMPLAIN…

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MY NEW 2005 LEXUS ES330 HAS A MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. IT HESITATES WHEN NEEDING TO ACCELERATE. FIRST IT DELAYS UPON ACCELERATION AND THEN IT JERKS AHEAD QUICKLY CAUSING WHIPLASH AND I EVEN CRASHED INTO MY GARAGE BECAUSE IT JERKED AHEAD WITHOUT ME BEING ABLE TO CONTROL IT. THE DEALER SAID TO JUST USE BETTER GAS AND COMPLAIN TO CUSTOMER SERVICE AT LEXUS BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS. BASICALLY, I WAS TOLD THE COMPUTER CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION AND THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH IT BUT NO RECALL AS OF YET. WELL THIS IS AN OUTRAGE. I HAVE A NEW LEXUS THAT DRIVES WORSE THAN AN OLD CAR AND THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10148262

3,700 miles · Jan 15, 2006
Power Train

HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION OF 1-3 SECONDS. AT CRUCIAL DRIVING POINTS (E.G., THROUGH INTERSECTIONS), THE HESITATION IS DANGEROUS FOR THE DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS. THE PROBLEM NOW OCCURS REGULARLY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10147821

100 miles · Jan 6, 2006
Power Train

I PURCHASED MY 2005 LEXUS ES330 IN AUGUST OF 2004 AND HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION ACCELERATION / DECELERATION PROBLEMS CITED HERE IN SINCE THE PURCHASE DATE. I HAVE HAD MY CAR TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES FOR REPAIR, PLUS A FIFTH VISIT WITH THE LEXUS MANUFACTURERS REPRESENTATIVE. THEY HAVE UPGRADED THE SOFTWARE AND RESET THE ECM MEMORY…

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I PURCHASED MY 2005 LEXUS ES330 IN AUGUST OF 2004 AND HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION ACCELERATION / DECELERATION PROBLEMS CITED HERE IN SINCE THE PURCHASE DATE. I HAVE HAD MY CAR TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES FOR REPAIR, PLUS A FIFTH VISIT WITH THE LEXUS MANUFACTURERS REPRESENTATIVE. THEY HAVE UPGRADED THE SOFTWARE AND RESET THE ECM MEMORY EACH TIME, AND STATE THAT THERE IS NOTHING MECHANICAL WRONG WITH THE CAR. I CONCUR THAT THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, DUE TO THE DELAY AND LUNGING THAT CAN CAUSE YOU TO BE REAR ENDED OR TO REAR-END SOMEONE ELSE. LUCKILY, I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT - HOWEVER GIVEN THAT THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN REPORTED ON THE LEXUS ES SINCE THE 2002 MODEL, I WOULD EXPECT LEXUS OR THE NHTSA TO HAVE DONE SOMETHING BY NOW. NOTE THAT I HAVE ALSO DRIVEN THE 2006 ES AS A LOANER WHILE MY CAR WAS BEING REPAIRED, AND IT TOO HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I ESTIMATE THE NUMBER OF FAILURES AT 300, AS THAT IS THE ESTIMATED NUMBER OF DAYS I HAVE DRIVEN MY CAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT. *NM *NM

NHTSA ODI #10141859

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

1

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