Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
430–25K
1825–50K
2050–75K
875–100K
12100–150K
3150K+
104 reports with mileage · 37 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.
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
What owners actually said
141 reports
61,500 miles · Feb 9, 2012
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT THE SPEEDS OF 30 MPH APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT GEARS , BUT THE SPEED WOULD NOT INCREASE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT THE SPEEDS OF 30 MPH APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT GEARS , BUT THE SPEED WOULD NOT INCREASE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,500 THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
NHTSA ODI #10447314
50,000 miles · Jan 17, 2012
Air BagsCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC STOP, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF HIS VEHICLE, CAUSING HIM TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF A PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT AND A PASSENGER WERE INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. AN AUTHORIZED DEA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC STOP, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF HIS VEHICLE, CAUSING HIM TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF A PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT AND A PASSENGER WERE INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS CONTACTED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
NHTSA ODI #10444055
56,000 miles · Oct 12, 2011
Air Bags
THE END OF JULY 2011 I HAD NOTICED A DASHBOARD LIGHT GO ON. WARNING THAT THE AIR BAG WAS NOT ACTIVE. I HAD A SICKNESS IN THE FAMILY AND COULD NOT BRING THIS VEHICLE IN TO EDISON LEXUS UNTIL 8/23/2011 TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND FIXED. LEXUS OF EDISON SAID IF I REPLACE THE ORIGINAL BATTERY ES 330 IT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH …
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THE END OF JULY 2011 I HAD NOTICED A DASHBOARD LIGHT GO ON. WARNING THAT THE AIR BAG WAS NOT ACTIVE. I HAD A SICKNESS IN THE FAMILY AND COULD NOT BRING THIS VEHICLE IN TO EDISON LEXUS UNTIL 8/23/2011 TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND FIXED. LEXUS OF EDISON SAID IF I REPLACE THE ORIGINAL BATTERY ES 330 IT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SEAT SENSOR. I DID THAT FOR ABOUT $160.00 THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM! LEXUS OF EDISON SAID THAT SENSOR IS PART OF THE SEAT FRAME AND IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND IT WOULD COST TO ME OF $ 3,359.50 . I CALLED LEXUS DIRECTLY AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD HELP PAY HALF . I SAID TO LEXUS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THIS PART SHOULD NEVER FAIL. THIS SHOULD BE THE MANUFACTURERS RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE LEXUS FEDERAL SAFETY COMPONENTS US WARRANTY FOR 96 MONTHS AND 80,000 MILES,AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS IS 72 MONTHS AND 70,000 MILES . AND WHEN I HAD TAKEN THE ES330 TO THEM IT WAS IN THE ABOVE TIMEFRAME. I HAD ONLY APPROXIMATELY 56,224 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. *KB
NHTSA ODI #10429632
Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2011
Unknown Or Other
TRANSMISSION JERKING AND HESITATION. PROBLEM INCREASING STEADILY FOR THE PAST YEAR. WE ARE EXPERIENCING HESITATION WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC AND JUST WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 35-40 MPH. UPDATED 09/16/11 *BF
NHTSA ODI #10424908
83,000 miles · Sep 6, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK GEAR AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK GEAR AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
NHTSA ODI #10423944
1,000 miles · Aug 5, 2011
Power Train
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY ROUGH, UP-SHIFT AND DOWN-SHIFT SINCE VEHICLE WAS NEW. DOCUMENTED/REPORTED PROBLEM AT EVERY SERVICE CHECK. WAS TOLD SOFTWARE HAD BEEN 'ADJUSTED/RESET' AND THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE CAR. AS THE CAR IS AGING PROBLEM IS BECOMING MORE PRONOUNCED AND ROUGH/HARD SHIFTING IS ESCALATING. *TT
NHTSA ODI #10417197
91,000 miles · Jun 17, 2011
Structure
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAG WAS SEPARATING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE FRONTAL PASSENGER AIR BAG AND FOUND THE AIR BAG WAS SEPARATING FROM THE ENCLOSED DASHBOARD. THE DEALER STATED THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WAR…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAG WAS SEPARATING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE FRONTAL PASSENGER AIR BAG AND FOUND THE AIR BAG WAS SEPARATING FROM THE ENCLOSED DASHBOARD. THE DEALER STATED THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD ASSIST WITH SOME OF THE REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,100. UPDATED 07/26/11 *BF UPDATED 08/19/11
NHTSA ODI #10407280
132,000 miles · Mar 17, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control
LEXUS ACCELERATED FROM 70 TO 85 MPH. ON FREEWAY BRAKE AND EMERGENCY BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK OR SLOW THE CAR DOWN. PUT THE CAN IN NEUTRAL AND WENT UP ELEVATED A FREEWAY TRANSITION ROAD. CAR WAS AT 4RPMS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10390520
105,000 miles · Jan 28, 2011
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT WAS REVERSING5 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING CRASHING INTO A STEEL POLE AND DAMAGING THE ENTIRE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT SHE WO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT WAS REVERSING5 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING CRASHING INTO A STEEL POLE AND DAMAGING THE ENTIRE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT SHE WOULD BE NOTIFIED AT A LATER DATE OF THE RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
NHTSA ODI #10379385
Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 2010
Electrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. A MECHANIC ARRIVED TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY IN COLD WEATHER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000.
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.
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
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
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