IllustrationDT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, THERE WAS A LIMITED RANGE OF THE HEADLIGHT BEAMS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THIS WAS THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED, AND WITHIN COMPLIANCE OF THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.
2006 Lexus ES330
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all ES330 years →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
190–25K
1025–50K
1150–75K
675–100K
3100–150K
0150K+
49 reports with mileage · 15 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 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. 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.
17 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
64 reportsTRANSMISSION LAGS DANGEROUSLY FROM A STOP AND HESITATES FOR A FEW SECONDS UPON ACCELERATION, WHICH IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS AT INTERSECTIONS, WHEN PASSING, AND ANYTIME PROMPT RESPONSE FROM ACCELERATOR IS NEEDED. ALSO EXPERIENCING FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHAT I WOULD CALL A SLING-SHOT EFFECT, WHERE THE GEARS EITHER WIND OUT EXCESSIV…
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TRANSMISSION LAGS DANGEROUSLY FROM A STOP AND HESITATES FOR A FEW SECONDS UPON ACCELERATION, WHICH IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS AT INTERSECTIONS, WHEN PASSING, AND ANYTIME PROMPT RESPONSE FROM ACCELERATOR IS NEEDED. ALSO EXPERIENCING FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHAT I WOULD CALL A SLING-SHOT EFFECT, WHERE THE GEARS EITHER WIND OUT EXCESSIVELY AND SEEM TO CATCH UP WITH ITSELF AT NORMAL ACCELERATION OR A FEELING OF NOT DOWNSHIFTING NORMALLY WHEN SLOWING DOWN, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
STARTING AT APPROX. 4,000MILIES, MY 2006 ES330 HAS VIBRATION THROUGH FLOOR AND STEERING WHEEL. DEALER HAS MADE MORE THAN 4 REPAIR ATTEMPTS, INCLUDING REPLACEMENT OF A TRANSMISSION AT APPROX. 8,500 MILES. *NM
COLLISION WITH A DEER CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE HOOD, GRILLE, RIGHT FENDER AND RIGHT HEADLIGHT (HID). IMPACT CAUSED THE HEADLIGHT TO IGNITE RESULTING IN A FIRE THAT SPREAD OVER THE HOOD TOTALLY DESTROYED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. RIGHT FRONT TIRE EXPLODED DURING THE FIRE. MY CONCERN IS THE FACT THAT HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) LIG…
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COLLISION WITH A DEER CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE HOOD, GRILLE, RIGHT FENDER AND RIGHT HEADLIGHT (HID). IMPACT CAUSED THE HEADLIGHT TO IGNITE RESULTING IN A FIRE THAT SPREAD OVER THE HOOD TOTALLY DESTROYED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. RIGHT FRONT TIRE EXPLODED DURING THE FIRE. MY CONCERN IS THE FACT THAT HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) LIGHTS IGNITE ON IMPACT. THESE LIGHTS ARE WIDELY USED TODAY EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE FIRE HAZARDS. PLEASE PROVIDE INFORMATION PERTAINING TO ANY OTHER REPORTS OF FIRES RESULTING FROM THESE HID LIGHTS. *JB
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.