IllustrationI OWN A LEXUS ES 330, 2005 YEAR MODEL. THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY FAILS TO START AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM MIGHT BE DUE TO THE MANY GADGETS IN THE CAR. IN ANY CASE SUCH AN EXPENSIVE VEHICLE IS NOT A RELIABLE ONE. *TR
2005 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
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 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 (NA) LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD RANDOMLY FAIL TO START AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO SO MANY GADGETS BEING IN THE VEHICLE. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 (NA) LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD RANDOMLY FAIL TO START AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO SO MANY GADGETS BEING IN THE VEHICLE. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 8,000.
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 Y…
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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
ON AUGUST 6, 2008, I WAS DRIVING HOME, WHEN I WAS MAYBE A FEW MINUTES FROM MY HOUSE, COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP,WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN TO ALMOST 100MPH, WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM STOPPED, THE RESULT WAS THAT THE VEHICLE CROSSED OVER FOUR LANES JUMPED A CUR…
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ON AUGUST 6, 2008, I WAS DRIVING HOME, WHEN I WAS MAYBE A FEW MINUTES FROM MY HOUSE, COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP,WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN TO ALMOST 100MPH, WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM STOPPED, THE RESULT WAS THAT THE VEHICLE CROSSED OVER FOUR LANES JUMPED A CURB AND I ENDED UP CRASHING INTO A NEARBY HOUSE. I SPENT DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL, AND NOW I HAVE A FRACTURED KNEE, BROKEN THUMB, AND MAY CUTS AND BRUISES. THIS WAS THE MOST FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE, AND AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE, SOMETHING MUST BE DONE ABOUT THIS, PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE AT RISK!!!! *TR
THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR THE AIR CONDITIONER SHUTS DOWN, AND I CAN SMELL A BURNING COMING THROUGH THE VENTS ; THE CAR ALSO JERKS WHILE IN MOVEMENT. *TR
ALMOST COLLISION. WHILE PULLING INTO TRAFFIC, CAR HESITATES, CREATING HAZARD. TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING ANY RATE SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE DEALER ALIGNED AND BALANCED THE WHEELS ON TWO OCCASIONS. APPROXIMATELY TWO DAYS LATER THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 37,200 AND THE FAILURE 300.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 90 MPH ACROSS FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A METAL POLE. THE POLICE, AMBULANCE, AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARRIVED AT THE SCENE. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MULTIPLE INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPO…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 90 MPH ACROSS FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A METAL POLE. THE POLICE, AMBULANCE, AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARRIVED AT THE SCENE. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MULTIPLE INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO, THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL FAILED AND CAUSED A CRASH WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,000. *UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
2005 LEXUS ES330 TRANSMISSION "HUNTING" FOR PROPER GEAR WHEN SLOWING DOWN THEN WANTING TO IMMEDIATELY SPEED UP BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. *TR
LEASED LEXUS 2005 MODEL ES330, THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION WHERE THEREWAS A DELAY IN SHIFTING AND THE ENGINE RACED AT 4000 RPM S BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED VERY HARD. THIS ACTED LIKE A MAJOR TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE AND A HARD SHIFT, THE CAR HESITATES AS YOU ARE PULLING INTO TRAFFIC AND IN A SPLIT SECOND I H…
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LEASED LEXUS 2005 MODEL ES330, THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION WHERE THEREWAS A DELAY IN SHIFTING AND THE ENGINE RACED AT 4000 RPM S BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED VERY HARD. THIS ACTED LIKE A MAJOR TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE AND A HARD SHIFT, THE CAR HESITATES AS YOU ARE PULLING INTO TRAFFIC AND IN A SPLIT SECOND I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND BECAUSE THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND NORMALLY. LEXUS ADMITTED THAT THEY HAVE THIS PROBLEM IN THE 2004, 2005 AND 2006 MODELS. DEALER HAD A SERVICE REP LOOK AT IT AND STATE THEY CANNOT PUT ANYMORE COMPUTER PROGRAMS ON THE CAR AND IT'S DRIVING AS IT WAS DESIGNED. *AK
Official recalls
211V539000 · 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
1DP05002 · 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