Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 51 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

34 crash reports2 fire reports15 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

51 reports

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Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2010

Vehicle Speed Control

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ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECOMES HARD OFTEN. THIS CAUSES ABNORMAL RESPONSE WHILE ACCELERATING. COMPLAINED A FEW TIMES TO THE DEALER WHEN BOUGHT THIS CAR. THEY UPGRADED ECM SOFTWARE. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM DID NOT GO AWAY. DEALER SAYS THIS IS HOW ACCELERATION BY WIRE WORKS. I NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS BEHAVIOR WITH ANY OF MY CARS INCLUDING TOYOTA BEFORE. I STRONGLY BELIEVE LEXUS SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM AS IT MAY CAUSE ACCIDENT IF I'M NOT VERY AWARE DURING DRIVING WITH THIS ISSUE - LUCKILY, THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN INCIDENT SO FAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10312584

16,000 miles · Feb 16, 2010

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH, WITHOUT A WARNING THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A MEDIAN AND WHEN HE PUT PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE CONTACT WAS THEN ABLE TO DRIVE OFF NORMALLY. THERE WERE ONLY DAMAGES TO THE RIMS. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST HIM WITH THE ISSUE THAT THE VEHICLE HAD.THIS ACCELERATION PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED THREE TIMES AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE TO- DATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25003.

NHTSA ODI #10310940

18,000 miles · Feb 10, 2010

Vehicle Speed Control

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I WAS DRIVING OUR LEXUS ES330 WITH MY WIFE FROM NJ TO CT ON A HIGHWAY. AT ONE POINT DURING THE DRIVE, REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL, BUT INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN, THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING. IN PANIC I STARTED APPLYING THE BRAKES, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN AT ALL. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO OTHER CAR RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, OTHERWISE IT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A MESSY CRASH. IT WAS VERY SCARY. EVENTUALLY ACCELERATOR STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY AND THE CAR STOPPED IN LANE OF THE HIGHWAY. I CAN'T BELIEVE TOYOTA HAS NOT INCLUDED THIS MODEL IN THEIR RECALL LIST. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. AND, I CHECKED IT THEN, THE MAT ON THE DRIVER SIDE WAS NOT STUCK IN THE GAS PEDAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10308440

5,000 miles · Feb 4, 2010

Vehicle Speed Control

THE TOYOTA PROBLEM OF UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION IS A PROBLEM WITH MY 2005 LEXUS ES330, I HAVE COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA/LEXUS AND THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE FIXED IT WITH A SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING UPDATE (WHICH DID NOT HELP) I HAVE EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT IT IS DANGEROUS AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IN TRAFFIC ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THEY …

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NHTSA ODI #10306157

45,000 miles · Jan 29, 2010

Vehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AND PRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IT BECAME STUCK AND THE RPMS INCREASED RAPIDLY. HE DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER; YET, HE REMOVED THE FLOOR MAT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000. UPDATED 2/22/10 *CN

NHTSA ODI #10303133

13,000 miles · Jan 28, 2010

Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

2005 ES330. PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE READY TO STOP AND EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION INCIDENT RESULTING IN A CRASH INTO ANOTHER CAR. TW*

NHTSA ODI #10303089

1,000 miles · Jan 27, 2010

Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

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WE PURCHASED OUR LEXUS 2005 ES330 BRAND NEW. WE NOTICED THE HESITATION AND JERKING WHEN ACCELERATING IMMED AFTER BUYING THE CAR. IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP FOR THE COMPLAINT TWO OR MORE TIMES. WHEN WE RECIEVED NORMAL SERVICES, I WOULD ASK ABOUT THE ACCELERATION AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NOT ANY BULLETINS ISSUED FOR THE ISSUE IN WHICH I SPOKE OF. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE CAR WOULD ADJUST TO THE DRIVER OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. PRESENTLY THE CAR SHIFTS IMPROPERLY WHEN DRIVEN AT 20-35 MPH, UNEXPECTED UP SHIFTS THAT OCCUR TO EARLY AND DOWN SHIFTS WHILE SLOWING DOWN CAUSING THE DRIVER TO HAVE TO MODULATE THE BRAKING TO AVOID EITHER COMING UP TO CARS IN TRAFFIC AHEAD TO QUICKLY OR TRAFFIC COMING FROM BEHIND SO AS TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT FROM BEHIND AS YOU SLOW TO QUICKLY. CONSTANTLY SCARES ME WHEN I DRIVE IT BECAUSE OF THE NON RESPONSIVE AND QUICK ACCELERATION. *CW

NHTSA ODI #10302462

25,000 miles · Nov 4, 2009

Vehicle Speed Control

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2005 LEXUS ES350 LEASED NEW IN AUGUST, 2005. I OVERTOOK A SLOW MOVING VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND TRIED TO EASE OFF BACK INTO THE LANE. INSTEAD, THE CAR BEGAN ACCELERATING: 2K RPM, 3K RPM, 4K RPM, ALMOST REDLINING. I PUT ON THE BRAKES AND KEPT HOLDING THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN. PUSHING ACCELERATOR PEDAL DOWN WAS NO HELP. INSTEAD, I SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND AFTER ABOUT 10 SECONDS (FELT LIKE ETERNITY SINCE SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL DID NOT HELP) TURNED THE IGNITION KEY OFF. THE CAR STOPPED. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF COLLECTING MYSELF, I TURNED THE IGNITION KEY BACK ON AND THE VEHICLE BEHAVED NORMALLY. AFTER THAT EXPERIENCE I ALWAYS MADE SURE I DID NOT ACCELERATE QUICKLY. THE CAR WAS RETURNED BACK TO THE DEALER AFTER THE ORIGINAL LEASE EXPIRED LAST YEAR. I CAN ASSURE YOU FLOORMAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. I AM CONCERNED THAT TOYOTA ONLY ISSUED RECALL ON 2007- LEXUS ES350 MODELS. THEY SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE PREVIOUS ES330 MODEL AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10291013

39,000 miles · Nov 4, 2009

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

I OWNED A 2005 LEXUS ES330 THAT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. ON 4/29/09 THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED AFTER HER FOOT WAS OFF ACCELERATOR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH THROUGH A STOREFRONT WALL AND WINDOWS, CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO BUILDING AND TOTALING THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE D…

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NHTSA ODI #10290908

45,550 miles · Oct 28, 2008

Vehicle Speed Control

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I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN A SHOPPING CENTER WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD. THE CAR SPED UP TO A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 45MPH. I SWERVED IN AND ABOUT THE CARS IN THE PARKING LOT AND HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE SPEED, BRAKING OR STEERING. I EVENTUALLY STOPPED THE CAR AFTER ABOUT 200 YDS. BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL, TURNING OFF THE IGNITION AND BOUNCING OVER AT LEAST FOUR CURBS. NO PHYSICAL INJURIES OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE CAR IS AT THE DEALERS FOR INSPECTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10246948

Official recalls

11V539000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Nov 9, 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 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 1, 2004 THROUGH MARCH 31, 2005, EQUIPPED WITH THE 1MZ-FE OR 3MZ-FE ENGINE. THE AMOUNT OF ADHESIVE AGENT APPLIED BETWEEN THE OUTER RING AND THE TORSIONAL RUBBER DAMPER (INNER RING) IN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY MAY BE INADEQUATE. IF THE ADHESIVE IS INSUFFICIENT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE OUTER RING MAY BECOME MISALIGNED AND IT MAY NOT PROPERLY ROTATE WITH THE INNER RING, CAUSING NOISE AND/OR ILLUMINATION OF THE BATTERY DISCHARGE INDICATOR LIGHT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN SOME CASES, THE BELT FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE PULLEY WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND A SUDDEN INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

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 NEW ONE AT NO CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING EARLY JANUARY 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

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