2005 Lexus ES330 complaints

LEXUS ES330 TRANSMISSION. SURGES. *TR

2005 LEXUS ES 330 DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE HEADLAMPS. THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DO NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE ILLUMINATION, ESPECIALLY ON ROADS WITH NO STREET LIGHTS, REFLECTORS OR LANE MARKINGS. THERE IS A SHARP CUTOFF OF LIGHT ABOUT 40-50 FEET IN FRONT OF THE CAR BEYOND WHICH THERE IS LITTLE OR NO LIGHT CAST ON THE ROADWAY SURFACE. REFLECTIVE SIGNS CAN BE SEEN FARTHER AWAY BUT ONE CANNOT HELP BUT OVERDRIVE THE LIGHTS AT ANY SPEED ABOVE 20MPH BECAUSE NOTHING ON THE ROAD ITSELF IS ILLUMINATED. THE LOW BEAMS SEEM TO BE DELIBERATELY AIMED AT THE GROUND 40-50' AWAY. LIGHT IN THE 40-50' ZONE IN FRONT OF THE CAR IS ADEQUATE. BEYOND THAT IT IS NOT. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN JAN 2005 AND THE PROBLEM DID NOT ARISE UNTIL 2-3 YEARS LATER, OR AT LEAST THAT'S WHEN I FIRST NOTICED IT. THE DEALER CHECKED THE LIGHTS AND STATED THE HIGH INTENSITY LIGHTS COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED TO RAISE THE CUTOFF POINT(LIGHTS ARE SELF LEVELING) AND THAT THE LIGHTS WERE WORKING NORMALLY. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM IF THERE IS ONCOMING TRAFFIC BECAUSE THEIR LIGHTS ILLUMINATE THE ROAD BETWEEN MY CAR AND THEIRS. HOWEVER ON A DARK STREET WITH NO ONCOMING CARS IT'S LIKE DRIVING INTO A POOL OF DARKNESS PAST THE 40-50 FOOT CUTOFF OF LIGHT IN FRONT OF THE CAR. I HAVE TO USE THE HIGH BEAMS WHEN ON A PITCH BLACK ROAD, BUT THAT'S NOT A GOOD SOLUTION. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER CAR WITHOUT CHECKING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE LIGHTS ON A DARK ROAD. LEXUS NEEDS TO FIX THIS - IT IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. MIL

I WAS LEAVING A CAR WASH (AT A BUSY INTERSECTION IN PENFIELD, NY), THE "CAR WASH" LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I PUT IT IN GEAR AND LIGHTLY PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL TO APPROACH THE WORKERS FOR THEM TO DRY AND VACUUM THE CAR. THERE WAS NO FLOOR MAT IN THE DRIVERS FRONT SIDE SO THAT THEY COULD VACUUM THAT AREA. THE CAR SPEED FORWARD OUT OF CONTROL I TRIED TO STEER BETWEEN 2 STEEL SAFETY POST, MISSED THE WORKERS, CROSSED THE SIDEWALK AND 5 LANES OF TRAFFIC TOWARD A TELEPHONE POLE, HIT THE CURB, FLIPPED OVER, I LOST CONSCIOUSNESS. THE CAR STOPPED RIGHT SIDE UP POINTING TOWARD THE CAR WASH. CAR WASH EMPLOYEES (AND OTHER WITNESSES) RUSHED ACROSS THE STREET AND WHEN I WOKE UP ONE OF THE ATTENDANTS WAS REMOVING MY SEAT BELT AND PULLING ME OUT THROUGH THE BROKEN WINDOW, THERE WERE MANY WITNESSES WHO THOUGHT IT WAS A MIRACLE THAT I WAS STILL ALIVE AND THAT THE CAR DID NOT HIT ANY WORKERS, PEDESTRIANS OR DRIVERS OF OTHER VEHICLES WHICH HAD NOW ALL STOPPED . NO AIR-BAGS WERE RELEASED? I WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL . I WAS RELEASED 4 HOURS LATER STIFF, SORE, BRUISED, MINOR CONCUSSION AND TOLD TO STAY AROUND FOR A WEEK (WE WERE PLANNING TO RETURN TO FL THE NEXT DAY) TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE NO SERIOUS PROBLEMS. POLICE WERE ON SITE, DID A REPORT, FIREMAN WERE THERE TO CLEAN UP THE LEAKS. MY INSURANCE CO. HAS TOTALED THE CAR. I FEEL THAT LEXUS SHOULD EVALUATE THIS CAR TO DETERMINE THE ACTUAL CAUSE, IT WAS NOT THE FLOOR MAT, IT WAS IN THE BACK SEAT, NOR WAS IT OPERATOR ERROR, THE CAR WAS ACCELERATIN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT TOOK HER FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD CRASHING INTO A CURB. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE AN INVESTIGATOR SENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 33,000. UPDATED 01/14/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HIS/HER FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE, WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. UPDATED 04/19/11

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND JUMPED A CURVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ISSUE WOULD NEED TO BE ESCALATED TO THE MANUFACTURER DUE TO DAMAGES TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A DECISION FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES-330. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN SHIFTING GEARS, THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY JERK. WHEN ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT TO RESPOND. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY LOSE POWER AS IF IT WERE ATTEMPTING TO STALL. THE DEALER ADVISED THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE IN HIS YEAR AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000. UPDATED 10/25/10 *BF THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED IN TRAFFIC. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WOULD MOVE FORWARD ON ITS OWN AT TIMES. UPDATED 10/27/10

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330 SEDAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE VEHICLE DOWN SHIFTED INTERMITTENTLY INTO A LOWER GEAR AND BEGAN TO LUNGE FORWARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER FIVE TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD BEGUN TO OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE DEALER THEY CONFIRMED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE SERVICE MANAGER ADVISED HIM THAT OTHER CUSTOMERS HAD EXPERIENCED THE IDENTICAL FAILURE; HOWEVER, UNLESS LEXUS ADVISED HIM, THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,496. UPDATED 9/1/10 *CN UPDATED 09/02/10*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 10-15 MPH IN A PARKING LOT. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE FORWARD AND ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL THERE WAS NO POWER RESPONSE WHICH RESULTED TO THE VEHICLE CRASHING INTO THREE PARKED VEHICLES. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR PAIN IN THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BODY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A STORAGE EVIDENCE FACILITY WITH MAJOR BODY DAMAGES. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLIANT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000. UPDATED 11/16/10*BF UPDATED 11/16/10

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISED TO REMOVE THE FLOOR MAT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT REMOVE THE FLOOR MAT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,000.

MY LEXUS ES HESITATES WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE. STARTED WHEN I TOOK OWNERSHIP OF THE CAR. *TR

LEXUS ES 330, WHEN ACCELERATING, THERE IS A HESITATION. DEALER SAID IT WAS RELATED TO OCTANE OF GASOLINE, THAT I SHOULD INCREASE THE OCTANE TO 92. THIS DID NOT HELP. THEY LIE AT EVERY ANGLE... *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP OR ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE OR STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON APRIL 2, 2010 WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, STRUCK A CURB AND THEN CRASHED INTO A CINDER BLOCK WALL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR POLICE REPORT FILED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO REQUESTED THAT SHE NOT HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNTIL THEIR INVESTIGATORS INSPECTED IT. THE VEHICLE WAS AT A LOCAL BODY SHOP WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 42,000.

2005 LEXUS ES 330. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *JB

I DROVE MY MOTHER IN HER 2005 LEXUS ES330 FROM ORLANDO TO JENSEN BEACH, FL FOR A WEEKEND VISIT WITH HER SISTER. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN THE SUMMER OF 2005. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN LOCALLY AND THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME IT HAD BEEN DRIVEN ON A HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS. I DROVE THE CAR ON I-95 FOR 2 HOURS UNTIL I REACHED OUR EXIT. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I CONTINUED BRAKING AND WAS GETTING ALARMED THAT THE CAR DID NOT SLOW IMMEDIATELY. I MAINTAINED PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE AND FINALLY THE CAR SLOWED BEFORE WE REACHED THE STOP LIGHT AT THE END OF THE RAMP. MY MOTHER,AS A PASSENGER, WAS NOT AWARE THERE WAS A PROBLEM. ON THE RETURN TRIP WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT HAPPENED AGAIN. AFTER 2 HOURS OF DRIVING, I EXITED ONTO THE LOCAL ROADS AND BRAKED AS I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT. THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN. I PRESSED HARD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE CAR IN FRONT HAD STOPPED. I SCREAMED TO MY MOTHER "THE CAR IS NOT STOPPING!" SHE SCREAMED OUT THAT WE WERE GOING TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT. I CONTINUED TO PRESS ON THE BRAKES AND THE FRONT END MADE A LOUD MECHANICAL SOUND LIKE A METALLIC CLUNK AND THE CAR STOPPED. WHEN I GOT TO MY MOM'S HOUSE I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM THE BRAKES FAILED TWICE. THEY TOLD ME TO HAVE HER BRING IT IN FOR INSPECTION. MY MOM WAS 87 AT THE TIME AND I SAID SHE IS NOT DRIVING THIS VEHICLE ANYWHERE. THE DEALERSHIP PICKED UP THE CAR AND SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES.THE NEXT WEEK SHE GOT A PHONE CALL FROM TOYOTA CALIFORN

PULLING INTO MY GARAGE. 2005 LEXUS ES330 SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND WENT THRU THE BACK BRICK WALL. ONE-TIME OCCURRENCE. COST $10,000. INSURANCE PAID TO FIX CAR, FIX GARAGE. THEN DROPPED ME. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 LEXUS E330 AND HAVE THE SIMILAR ISSUES AS OTHERS ON THIS POST. IT IS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING BUT AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS, THE CAR ACCELERATES (SURGES) ALMOST ON DEMAND. I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER DUE TO THE COSTS THAT MAY BE INVOLVED. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) 2005 LEXUS MODEL ES330(VIN#[XXX] ). AFTER ENTERING A PARKING SPACE AT A SHOPPING MALL AT VERY SLOW SPEED. MY LEXUS ACCELERATED FORWARD WITH MY FOOT HARD PRESSED ON THE BRAKE, JUMPING AN ISLAND IMPACTING HEAD ON WITH THE CAR PARKED IN FRONT. THIS ACCIDENT CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE ON BOTH CARS. REPLACED THE HOOD, GRID, BOTH HEAD LAMPS, AND FRONT BUMPER ON MY CAR. THE PASSENGER OF THE OTHER CAR WAS NOT IN THE CAR AND WAS SHOPPING IN THE MALL. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. I CALLED MY LEXUS DEALER (LEXUS OF SILVER SPRING, MD AND WAS TOLD THAT THE 2005 LEXUS ES330 WAS NOT COVERED BY TOYOTA'S RECALL FOR BRAKING OR ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS. SINCE THEN, I CAREFULLY PULL THE CARPET BACK WHEN START DRIVING. HOPE YOUR INVESTIGATION WILL INCLUDE THE 2005 LEXUS ES330 MODEL. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) MY 2005 LEXUS ES 330 HAD A SUDDEN ACCELERATION EVENT WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN MULTI-LANE TRAFFIC IN PENSACOLA, FLORIDA. I PUT ON BRAKES WITH BOTH FEET, BUT THE ENGINE KEPT WINDING UP. I TURNED OFF THE KEY AND BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A STOP IN TRAFFIC. I PLACED THE CAR IN PARK, RE-STARTED THE ENGINE, AND IT CONTINUED TO INCREASE IN RPMS. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND THEN STARTED IT AGAIN. THAT TIME, THE ENGINE WAS AT NORMALL RPMS. I PULLED OUT OF THE TRAFFIC INTO A PARKING LOT AND CALLED THE MOBILE LEXUS NUMBER. THEY SENT A TRUCK AND TRAILERED IT TO MOBILE WHERE THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY EVENT RECORDED ON THE COMPUTER AND THAT IT WAS PROBABLY A FLOOR-MAT ISSUE. I MADE NO ADJUSTMENTS TO THE FLOOR MAT OR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DURING MY EVENT. I THINK IT WAS SOMETHING ELECTRICAL. FORTUNATELY, I HAVE NOT HAD ANOTHER SUDDEN ACCELERATION EVENT, BUT I AM NOT REALLY COMFORTABLE WITH THE CAR. THIS EVENT IS RECORDED IN MY LEXUS SERVICE RECORD, CASE #[XXX] . *TR

WHILE DRIVING, I TOO EXPERIENCED SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE. I OVERTOOK A SLOW MOVING VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME ON OTHERWISE AN EMPTY ONE-LANE STRAIGHT ROAD. AS I EASED BACK INTO THE LANE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO RACE. I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE CAR REALLY WANTED TO GO FASTER AND FASTER. AS I WAS REACHING SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 50MPH, I THEN SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL BUT TO NO AVAIL AS THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. LUCKILY, THE BRAKE WORKED AT ALL TIMES. I KEPT IT PRESSED DOWN REAL HARD WHILE THE RPMS WERE GOING WELL ABOVE 6K. THE VEHICLE BEHAVED AS IF BOTH THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS WERE PUSHED DOWN ALL THE WAY. FINALLY, THE BRAKES DID THEIR JOB AND AS I SLOWED TO A STOP AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF WITH A KEY. AFTER COLLECTING MYSELF I TURNED ON THE IGNITION AND CONTINUED WITH MY TRIP. NEXT DAY, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HIGHLAND PARK LEXUS IN NORTHBROOK, IL AT WHICH POINT THE SERVICE MANAGER JUST SHRUGGED HIS SHOULDERS IN DISBELIEF. I LONG RETURNED THE VEHICLE AFTER THE LEASE EXPIRED BUT CAN PROVIDE ME INFO SO THAT YOU GUYS CAN LOCATE THE VEHICLE AND TEST IT IF IT STILL ON THE ROAD SOMEWHERE. *TR

CAR OUT OF CONTROL ON RESIDENTIAL STREET NEAR MY HOME. SUDDEN ACCELERATION; BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP CAR AND I COULD NOT CONTROL STEERING. HIT TELEPHONE POLE THEN A PARKED CAR. THAT CAR AND MY 1905 LEXUS ES 330 WERE TOTALED. *TR

ON DEC. 9, 2006, OUR '05 LEXUS ES330 ACCELERATED SPONTANEOUSLY IN REVERSE DOWN OUR (FORTUNATELY LONG) DRIVEWAY. BRAKING DID NOT STOP THE CAR. IN FACT, THE TIRES SQUEALED LOUDLY AS I BRAKED. I PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP IT. WE IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO A LEXUS REPAIR SHOP. THEY, OF COURSE, COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THEY MENTIONED HAVING RECEIVED SOME REPORTS OF FLOOR-MAT PROBLEMS CAUSING ACCELERATION, BUT COULDN'T TELL ME MORE. THE FLOOR-MAT ON THIS LEXUS WAS FIXED, SO THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. THIS INCIDENT ONLY HAPPENED ONE TIME. I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE CRUISE CONTROL, BECAUSE MY BROTHER-IN-LAW HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM (GOING FORWARD THOUGH) THAT WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE CRUISE CONTROL CAUSING ACCELERATION. EVEN THOUGH LEXUS SAID MY CRUISE CONTROL CHECKED O.K., I NEVER USED IT AGAIN. WE DECIDED TO SELL THE CAR, & DID SO WITHIN 6 MONTHS. *TR

I OWN A 2005 LEXUS ES 330. LAST JUNE AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK ON THE 3RD LEVEL OF A PARKING GARAGE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. I WAS ACTUALLY AT A STANDSTILL AND THE VEHICLE ENGINE ROARED AND PROCEEDED FORWARD ON ITS OWN. I PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK. THE ENGINE THEN DIED DOWN. I CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FLOOR MAT WAS NOT OBSTRUCTING THE ACCELERATOR AND IT WAS NOT. AT THE TIME, I CHALKED IT UP TO "A FLUKE"; HOWEVER, IN LIGHT OF THE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE TOYOTA VEHICLES, I FELT I SHOULD REPORT THIS OCCURRENCE. I PERSONALLY DO NOT THINK THIS WAS RELATED TO THE ACCELERATOR, I THINK IT HAD TO DO WITH THE ELECTRONICS. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY FURTHER OCCURRENCES; HOWEVER, IT IS WORTH A NOTATION. *TR

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT MY 2005 LEXUS 330 SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND WENT THROUGH A FENCE AND DID $1784 IN DAMAGE TO THE CAR. I DO NOT BELIEVE I PUSHED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT PUSHED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. SINCE THEN I HAVE NOT HAD A PROBLEM AND HAVE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. *TR

WE PURCHASED A 2005 330 LEXUS, SEPT, 2004. WE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE AUTO DE-ACCELERATING DURING LEFT TURNS. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM BUILT INTO THE SYSTEM AND COULDN'T BE FIXED. MY HUSBAND THOUGHT IT WASN'T SAFE SO LESS THAN 8 MONTHS LATER WE TRADED IT IN FOR A 2005 430 LEXUS WHICH HAS GIVEN US NO PROBLEM. THERE WAS SOMETHING DEFINITELY WRONG WITH THE SYSTEM. IT ALMOST STOPPED MAKING TURNS. *TR

HELLO: I DRIVE A 2005 LEXUS ES330. WHILE I HAVE NOT HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM, THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE IS A DIFFERENT STORY. IF YOU ARE ENTERING AN ON RAMP TO A FREEWAY THEN RELEASE THE THROTTLE, THEN ALMOST IMMEDIATELY REAPPLY THE THROTTLE THE CAR WILL NOT RESPOND. IT TAKES 2 SECONDS OR SO BEFORE THE ENGINE STARTS TO REV UP AND THE CAR IS DEFINITELY UNHAPPY ABOUT THIS. THIS PROCESS OF ACCELERATION, THE COASTING, THEN ACCELERATING AGAIN YIELDS THIS SAME RESULT WITH ALMOST 100% REPEATABILITY. THE INTERNET FORUMS ARE LOADED WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. DEFINITELY SOMETHING IN THE ELECTRONICS IS NOT RIGHT! *TR

2005 LEXUS ES330. HESITATION & STUMBLING ON ACCELERATION. ALSO TRANSMISSION WILL NOT DOWNSHIFT. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH THE 2005 MODEL YEAR ES330. THERE WAS ONE REVISION OF TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE/FIRMWARE PROVIDED BUT IT DID NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM. AFTER SEVERAL COMPLAINTS THE LEXUS DEALER STATED "THERE'S NOTHING MORE WE CAN DO." SEVERAL INTERNET POSTINGS SUGGEST THAT THIS "DELAY" OR HESITATION IS DESIGNED IN. ALSO, IF WHILE ENTERING A HIGHWAY, FOR EXAMPLE, THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, RELEASED AND DEPRESSED AGAIN THERE IS A MUCH LONGER 2-3 SECOND DELAY UNTIL POWER IS DELIVERED AND TO GET PROPER UPSHIFTS AND DOWNSHIFTS I HAVE TO SHIFT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MANUALLY. THE LEXUS DEALER WAS/IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM BUT HAS NO FIX BEYOND WHAT WAS PROVIDED FOR BACK IN 2005 BY LEXUS. THIS SHOULD BE FURTHER INVESTIGATED ALONG WITH THE CURRENT CROP OF TOYOTA/LEXUS THROTTLE PROBLEMS. THANKS! *TR

2005 LEXUS ES330 WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION. CONSUMER STATED ON TWO INCIDENTS HER VEHICLE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED. IN ONE INCIDENT THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED IF FELT AS THOUGH THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD AND TOOK OFF FROM A PARKING LOT, DOWN A SLOPE, INTO TRAFFIC AND INTO AN ONCOMING CAR. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG AND THAT THE FLOOR MATS HAD POSSIBLY BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE ACCELERATION. *JB

I HAVE THE INFAMOUS ES330 HESITATION PROBLEM WHICH IS PART OF THE SUB-STANDARD OPERATING PARAMETERS OF THE CAR. WHEN PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER NEW IN 2005, I WAS ADVISED AFTER TAKING THE CAR BACK SEVERAL TIMES, THAT UPDATING ECC MODULE PROBABLY WOULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND IT DIDN'T. THE DEALERSHIP WAS VERY AWARE AND BLAMED THE LAG ON TOYOTA'S "DRIVE BY WIRE? DESIGN USED ON THIS CAR. FURTHER, THEY SAID LEXUS NEW ABOUT AND PROBABLY WOULDN'T CORRECT THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE NEXT MODEL YEAR. THE HESITATION IS ESPECIALLY APPARENT WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM A FULL STOP OR WHEN POWER IS REQUIRED TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. TO COMPENSATE, THE DRIVER HAS TO KEEP PUSHING DOWN ON THE GAS UNTIL THE CAR DECIDES TO ACCELERATE -- THEN THE DRIVER HAS TO QUICKLY EASE UP ON THE GAS TO KEEP THE CAR FROM OVER ACCELERATING. *TR

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

I DRIVE A 2005 ESS330 LEXUS. ON SATURDAY, FEB 13 I DROVE UP A RAMP IN A PARKING STRUCTURE AND UPON REACHING THE 2ND LEVEL IT FELT AS THOUGH I WAS DRIVING WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON. UPON PARKING, THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BECAME LOCKED PREVENTING ME FROM MOVING FORWARD OR BACKWARD WITHOUT GREAT EFFORT. AFTER CHECKING ALL FOUR WHEELS, I CONCLUDED THAT THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WAS QUITE OVERHEATED TO THE POINT THAT IT MADE CLICKING SOUNDS COMMON WHEN CARS ARE HOT. IN THE TIME IT TOOK A TOW TRUCK DRIVER TO ARRIVE, THE WHEEL HAD COOLED AND I COULD DRIVE IT OUT OF THE STRUCTURE. THE TOW TRUCK COULD NOT FIT IN THE SECOND LEVEL. MY CAR DROVE PERFECTLY! I HAD IT TOWED TO MY AUTO MECHANIC AND THEY AREN'T HAVING LUCK GETTING THE CAR TO REPEAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND THEY ARE HESISTANT TO RELEASE IT BACK TO ME DUE TO THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE BRAKE LOCKING UP AGAIN ON THE ROAD INSTEAD OF JUST IN A PARKING STRUCTURE. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR

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.

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

TRANSMISSION HESITATES FROM A STOPPED POSITION ON MY 2005 LEXUS ES330 CAUSING A FEELING THAT THE CAR MAY STALL OR LUNGE FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. I PURCHASED THE CAR A FEW MONTHS AGO WITH 22,500 MILES. I BROUGHT THIS PROBLEM TO THE DEALER'S ATTENTION AND READ ABOUT IT ONLINE. APPARENTLY, LEXUS PROVIDES A "FLASH" FIX TO THE SOFTWARE. BUT, MY LOCAL LEXUS SERVICE MANAGER SUGGESTED NOT USING THE FIX BECAUSE, ACCORDING TO HIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, THE FIX CAN CAUSE DAMAGE SOMEHOW TO THE CAR'S COMPUTER THAT IS IRREPARABLE. APPARENTLY, THE FIX IS NOT ALWAYS A GOOD FIX. I WAS TOLD THE FIX CANNOT BE SET BACK ONCE IT IS BEEN ADDRESSED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THOUSANDS OF LEXUS DEALERS HAVE BEEN EFFECTED. ALSO, OCCASIONALLY I FEEL LIKE MY CAR LUNGES FORWARD SUDDENLY AND BRIEFLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON. ANY GUIDANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE ABOUT THESE MATTERS WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *TR

ACCELERATION PROBLEM WITH LEXUS ES 330 (YEAR 2005). HAVING BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM FOR SOME TIME (HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO DEALER SHIP NUMEROUS TIMES AND FILED LAW SUIT THROUGH THE LEMON LAW) AND LEXUS CONTINUALLY ADVISING THAT CAR IS WORKING PROPERLY. I WAS ALMOST IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT LAST NIGHT AS A RESULT OF THE ACCELERATION HESITATION PROBLEM. *TR

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 CLAIM IT IS NOT A FAULT AND HAVE REFUSED TO FIX THE SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING PROBLEM.*JB

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

NOKIAN 215/55 R17 98V XL TIRES PURCHASED JAN. '09 FOR 2005 LEXUS ES330 DO NOT HOLD AIR. FACTORY TIRES THEY REPLACED HELD AIR W/O PROBLEMS. TIRE DEALER, BORST TIRE CENTERS, 3361 SO. THOMPSON ST., SCHENECTADY, NY 12306, ATTEMPTED 3 TIMES TO CORRECT, BLAMING LOSS OF AIR ON CORROSION OF THE RIMS. ON 3RD ATTEMPT GROUND OFF THE "CORROSION" BUT LITTLE OR NO IMPROVEMENT RESULTED. MUST ADD AIR 2X WEEKLY. *TR

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

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

I HAD PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2005 LEXUS ES330 IN 2005. THE CAR STARTED EXHIBITING TRANSMISSION HESITATION PROBLEMS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. I BROUGHT IT TO THE LEXUS DEALER IN CERRITOS, CA MANY TIMES, AND ASKED THEM ABOUT THIS BEHAVIOR AS SOMETHING THEY SHOULD LOOK AT AND FIX. I WAS TOLD IT IS HOW THE COMPUTERS ARE IN THE CAR AND THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR HESITATES TO PICK UP SPEED WHILE YOU AR ON STOP SIGN OR MORE IMPORTANTLY WHEN CHANGING LANES ON FREEWAY OR AT TIMES YOU NEED TO ACCELERATE THE CAR SUDDENLY. YOU WILL GET A JOLT AND LACK OF POWER FOR A SECOND AND THEN QUICK SPEED. NOW WITH ALL OF THE PROBLEMS COMING OUT OF THIS COMPANY, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO BRING THIS ISSUE AND I AM SURE THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT. I USE THIS CAR BUT TRY TO USE SPARINGLY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. *CN

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO PRESENCE OF OIL SLUDGE DESPITE PROPER MAINTENANCE. *TR

I PURCHASED MY 2005 LEXUS ES330 AS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWN IN SEPTEMBER 2007. AFTER DRIVING IT FOR A MONTH OR TWO. I EXPERIENCE A CONSISTENT HESITATION ISSUE. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD RESET SOMETHING IN THE COMPUTER TO ADJUST TO MY DRIVING STYLE. IT DID NOT APPEAR TO HELP. SO I'VE TAKEN IT BACK 2 TIMES SINCE AND THEY SAY IT'S THE NORMAL FUNCTION OF THE DRIVE BY WIRE AND NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THE PROBLEM IS THE TRANSMISSION IN MY LEXUS ES330 APPEARS NOT TO SHIFT DOWN NORMALLY UNLESS THE VEHICLE IS BROUGHT TO A FULL STOP. WHEN SLOWING DOWN FOR TRAFFIC THEN ACCELERATING AND/OR SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE TURNS AT INTERSECTIONS OR CORNERS RESULTS IN GEAR HESITATION AND LURCHING FORWARD. AT INTERSECTIONS WHEN MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS IT APPEARS TO SLIP [NO POWER FOR A BRIEF MOMENT). I FEEL THE CAR IS NOW UNSAFE TO MAKE LEFT TURNS BECAUSE THE CAR MAY NOT HAVE ACCELERATION WHEN NEEDED. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE CAR REPAIRED FOR THIS TYPE OF ISSUE WHEN THE LEXUS ES330 LOST ALL POWER. AND SINCE THE REPAIRS I AM STILL HAVING THE HESITATION ISSUES AND BRIEF LOSS OF POWER. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE HENDRIX LEXUS SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THIS "HESITATION" ISSUE IS A NORMAL FUNCTION OF THE DRIVE BY WIRE SYSTEM. I CANNOT AGREE WITH THAT CONCLUSION. THERE IS A DEFINITE PROBLEM WITH THE ES330 AND A POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE. IF I WAS TO BRING MY CAR IN FOR THIS ISSUE, IT WOULD BE THE 3RD OR 4TH TIME AT THAT SHOP FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A DAILY OCCURRENCE FOR MY LEXUS ES300. PLEA

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 DID NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM NOR DID I, UNTIL HEARING THIS RECENT REPORT ON THE NEWS. *TR

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

MY 2005 LEXUS ES330 HAS HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS SINCE WE BOUGHT IT ON 9/22/2008 WITH 30,057 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION WILL AT TIMES HESITATE AND/OR SEEM TO BE UNABLE TO FIND THE CORRECT GEAR TO BE IN FOR THE SITUATION.IT SHOWS UP MOST OF THE TIME IN THE 30-45MPH RANGE BUT IT ALSO HESITATES FROM A STANDING START. AT TIMES IT "LOOKS" FOR A GEAR TO BE IN AND HESITATES THEN HARD SHIFTS IN TO A GEAR. I ALSO OWN A 2000 CAMRY AND A 2008 COROLLA AND THEIR TRANSMISSIONS WORK JUST FINE. THE LEXUS TRANSMISSION JUST WILL NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY FOR THE SPEED AND THROTTLE INPUT. I SEE THIS HAS BEEN QUITE A PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF LEXUS CARS. THE LEXUS DEALER SAYS IT IS "NORMAL". THIS CAN NOT BE NORMAL. SINCE I GET TO DRIVE TWO OTHER TOYOTA CARS WITH AUTO TRANSMISSIONS AND THEY WORK JUST FINE I CAN TELL QUITE EASILY THERE IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. IT NEEDS TO BE RECOGNIZED BY LEXUS BEFORE THEIR IS A FATALITY DUE TO THE EXTREME LAG AT START FROM STOP CONDITIONS. I HAVE HAD THE GAS PEDAL ONE QUARTER OF THE WAY DEPRESSED BEFORE THE CAR EVEN RECOGNIZED I HAD APPLIED THE THROTTLE. THIS COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT EITHER STARTING FROM A STOP SIGN WITH TRAFFIC CROSSING YOUR ROUTE OR THE VEHICLE "JUMPING" AT A START BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE PEDAL PART WAY DOWN BEFORE THE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION GETS THE SIGNAL AND YOU ACCELERATE RAPIDLY FROM A DEAD STOP. CORPORATE TOYOTA NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE THIS PROBLEM AND COME UP WITH A FIX. IT MAY HAVE TO BE A RECALL OR PERHAPS JUST

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330. THE VEHICLE HESITATES ABNORMALLY WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, SHE DID NOT NOTICE ANY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000. UPDATED 12/08/09. *LJ UPDATED 12/10/09.*JB

LEXUS ES330 2005 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. HAPPENS ONLY ABOUT 20% OF THE TIME BUT FORCES THE DRIVER TO BE VIGILANT CONSTANTLY TO AVOID PROBLEMS. *TR

MY 2005 LEXUS ES 330 CAUSED THE MOST HORRIBLE ACCIDENT YESTERDAY. I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE! I STARTED MY CAR AND PUT THE GEAR IN REVERSE AND PROCEEDED TO PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL AND IT ACCELERATED TO SUCH AT HIGH SPEED BACKWARDS, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE PEDAL AND THE CAR STILL PROCEEDED TO ACCELERATE, I HIT THE BRAKES AND IT STILL WOULDN'T STOP UNTIL I SLAMMED INTO A TREE. I WAS COMPLETELY HELPLESS. IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE TREE, I WOULD HAVE GONE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON THE MAIN ROAD. I WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL AND AM PRETTY BANGED UP. MY NECK & BACK ARE IN EXCRUCIATING PAIN AND MY HAND MUST HAVE SLAMMED INTO MY SIDE WINDOW AND IS CUT, BRUISED, AND SWOLLEN TO 5 TIMES THE SIZE OF MY OTHER HAND. THE POLICE HAD MY CAR TOWED AND THE WHOLE BACK OF THE CAR WAS CRUSHED ALMOST TO THE BACK SEAT WITH THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED. I HOPE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. THE NEXT PERSON MAY NOT HAVE A TREE TO STOP THE CAR AND MAY NOT SURVIVE. *TR

RE: LEXUS ES330('05)DELAYS IN ACCELERATION,LURCHING WITH STOPS AND STARTS,UNPREDICTABLE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS,WHEN BRAKING CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS SLIPPING FORWARD. LEXUS FIRST DENIED PROBLEM BUT I SHOWED THEM INTERNET BLOG AND NHTSA COMPLAINTS,THEN ADMITTED TO SOFTWARE PROBLEMS. 3 OR 4 ATTEMPTS TO CHANGE SOFTWARE HELPED TEMPORARILY. I WAS TOLD I WOULD GET USED TO THIS. AFTER 2 AND HALF YEARS OF ERRATIC SHIFTING AND SEVERAL NEAR MISSES ON LANE CHANGES (CAR REFUSED TO ACCELERATE) I THREATENED LEGAL ACTION. LEXUS RELUCTANTLY CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION. I COULD NOT BELIEVE THE DIFFERENCE,THOUGHT THEY CHANGED THE CAR!IT FINALLY DROVE THE WAY THE DEMO CAR DID. MORE CONSISTENT ACCELERATION,ALBEIT STILL HAD SOMEWHAT OF A DELAY. I NO LONGER FELT EVERY GEAR SHIFT. STOPS AND STARTS MUCH SMOOTHER. THE INTERNET DISCUSSIONS ARE RIGHT. SOME OF THE LEXUS ES330 MODELS HAVE A SERIOUS TRANSMISSION DEFECT,BUT IT APPEARS TO BE A MECHANICAL,NOT A SOFTWARE PROBLEM. I READ THE NHTSA RESPONSE TO A COMPLAINT LODGED AGAINST THIS SAME VEHICLE IN 2005. THE CONCLUSION WAS THAT THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO LAUNCH AN INVESTIGATION. I WOULD HOPE THE NHTSA WOULD RETHINK THIS POSITION. THERE ARE ALOT OF COMPLAINTS REGISTERED ON THE INTERNET (I.E. EDMUNDS.COM).I WORRIED EVERY TIME I GOT BEHIND THE WHEEL. WHEN LEXUS FINALLY CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION, I FELT IT WAS FINALLY SAFE TO GET RID OF THE CAR. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT LEXUS DOES KNOW ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND HOW TO FIX IT BUT WILL NOT VOLUNTARILY F