Page 3 of 3 · complaints 101–141 of 141

2005 Lexus ES330 complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2005 record →

Electrical System
Filed Nov 3, 2008NY

I 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

Electrical System
Filed Oct 30, 20088,000 milesNY

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.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Oct 28, 200845,550 milesVA

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

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash1 injured
Filed Aug 13, 200824,500 milesCA

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

Electrical System
Filed Jul 28, 200858,878 milesMS

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

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 15, 200829,000 milesMA

ALMOST COLLISION. WHILE PULLING INTO TRAFFIC, CAR HESITATES, CREATING HAZARD. TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. *TR

Steering
Filed Mar 24, 2008300 milesCA

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.

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash1 injured
Filed Sep 26, 200750,000 milesTX

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

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Aug 19, 2007IN

2005 LEXUS ES330 TRANSMISSION "HUNTING" FOR PROPER GEAR WHEN SLOWING DOWN THEN WANTING TO IMMEDIATELY SPEED UP BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 11, 2007TX

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

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jun 3, 20075 milesFL

VEHICLE HESITATES TERRIBLY UPON ACCELERATION. I'VE CALLED DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND WAS TOLD "THIS IS NORMAL" UNTIL THE LAST CALL. NOW LEXUS ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM AND OFFERS A REMEDY! FORT MYERS DEALER RECALIBRATED THE ECM AND URGED USE OF NAME BRAND PREMIUM FUEL ONLY! SINCE THESE TWO CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE, IMPROVEMENT HAS BEEN MADE, BUT NOT ELIMINATED. THERE IS STILL SOMETHING NOT CORRECT ABOUT TRYING TO MERGE ONTO A HIGHWAY AND HAVING THE ENGINE BOG DOWN AS TRUCKS BEAR DOWN UPON YOU! *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Sep 7, 2006NJ

HESITATION HAS ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS. *NM

Tires
Filed Aug 14, 200611,000 milesSC

2005 LEXUS ES 330'S TIRE BLEWOUT. *KB THE BLOWOUT OCCURRED ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. THE DRIVING CONDITIONS WERE GOOD AND THERE WERE NOT OBJECT IN THE ROAD TO CAUSED THE BLOWOUT. (TOYO TUBELESS STEEL BELTED RADIAL). *NM UPDATED. *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Aug 10, 2006GA

2005 LEXUS ES330 HESITATES WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. UPON INSPECTION MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CODE IN THE TCM NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. *KB SINCE THE TCM HAS BEEN UPDATED THE HESITATION HAS BECOME MUCH WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND TOLD THAT THE MANUFACTURE IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NM

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 10, 20061 milesCA

I LEASED A 2005 ES330 FROM LEXUS A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. IMMEDIATELY AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP I NOTICED THAT THE CAR HAD A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. AT LOW SPEEDS, UNDER 30 MPH, THE CAR WOULD NOT TRANSITION THROUGH THE GEARS PROPERLY AND WOULD JERK SUDDENLY UPON ACCELERATION. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THERE WERE TIMES WHEN THE CAR WOULD HESITATE FOR A FEW SECONDS UPON ACCELERATION FROM A STOP OR LOW SPEEDS. THIS JERKING MOTION AND HESITATION OF THE TRANSMISSION IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY TYPE OF VEHICLE AND HAS BEEN KNOWN BY LEXUS TO BE A PROBLEM FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS, SINCE 2002. THIS VEHICLE IS A SAFETY HAZARD IN HIGH TRAFFIC SITUATIONS AS IT DOES NOT RESPOND APPROPRIATELY TO THE DRIVERS NEEDS, OR COMMANDS. *NM

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jun 14, 20068,000 milesFL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATES WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS INITIALLY DEPRESSED. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THIS IS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED. UPDATED 7/13/2006 - *NM

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jun 14, 20068,000 milesFL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS INITIALLY DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC. UPDATED 7/5/2006 - THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *NM

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 22, 2006MN

WE PURCHASED A 2005 LEXUS ES330 IN MARCH OF 2005. AFTER ABOUT A MONTH OF DRIVING IT, WE NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION LAGGED WHEN STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR. THE TRANSMISSION JERKS REALLY BAD WHEN IT'S SHIFTING GEARS. THIS CAUSES YOUR HEAD TO JERK BACK. IT'S ALSO VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IF YOU ARE IN TRAFFIC AND ARE SLOWING DOWN TO STOP AND THEN KEEP GOING, THE CAR DOESN'T REACT AND YOU ALMOST GET REAR ENDED BY CARS FOLLOWING BEHIND YOU BECAUSE THEY ARE EXPECTING YOU TO GO. WE HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO LEXUS MANY TIMES. WE HAVE TALKED TO A LEXUS REP AND THEY ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. THIS CAR IS NOT THE CAR WE SIGNED UP TO BUY. I THINK LEXUS NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THEIR FAULTY TRANSMISSION, AS IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE A CAR THAT DOES NOT RESPOND THE WAY IT SHOULD. *JB

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed May 11, 20064,100 milesNY

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, FOUR TIMES, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE AFTER SLOWING THE VEHICLE, THERE IS NO POWER. AFTER RELEASING AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE REACTS. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS IN FOR REPAIRS, A FUSE WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 4, 200614,000 milesNJ

SINCE NOV 2005 I NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION-A HESITATION DURING ACCELERATION THAT OCCURS OVER 50% OF THE TIME. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED 3 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THE LEXUS REPRESENTATIVE ON THE PHONE JUST TOLD ME IT IS NOT FIXABLE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.*JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 21, 2006CA

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN THE CONSUMER'S 2005 LEXUS ES330 WOULD NOT RESPOND AT LOWER SPEEDS. *NM THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN ACCELERATING WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL. THE MANUFACTURER ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND IS TRYING TO FIND A SOLUTION. *NM

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 17, 2006CA

SINCE OBTAINING THE VEHICLE IN OCTOBER OF 2004, THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WHEN THE CAR IS TRAVELING AROUND 20 MPH AFTER SLOWING DOWN. WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS, THE CAR DOES NOT IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATE. THEREFORE, I HAVE TO PRESS HARDER ON THE GAS SO THAT I AM NOT IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN THREE TIMES AND TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS. I WAS INITIALLY TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THE SECOND TIME AND NEW DEALER SAID THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE THIRD TIME I WAS TOLD LEXUS IS WORKING ON THE PROBLEM AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. IF I MUST ACCELERATE TO GET OUT OF A CRITICAL AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION, THE CAR DOES NOT RESPOND AND AN ACCIDENT MAY OCCUR. I DON'T WANT TO WAIT FOR LEXUS TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. CAN YOU HELP? *JB

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator PedalCrash
Filed Feb 1, 2006100 milesCA

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO BACK UP, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THEN LURCHED FORWARD CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HIT THE GARAGE DOOR. THE DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEATBELT AND RECEIVED NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AND THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Dec 21, 2005FL

LEXUS ES 330 AUTO TRANSMISSION HESITATES WHEN NEEDED THE MOST. THE PROBLEM CAUSES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. THE DRIVER IS NOT IN CONTROL OF THE CAR DURING CRITICAL TIMES OF NORMAL OPERATION. THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT RESPOND TO THE DRIVER COMMANDS PROPERLY. DEALER (LEXUS) HAS TOLD ME TO LEARN HOW TO DRIVE WITH IT. *NM

Fuel System, GasolineCrash1 injured
Filed Nov 22, 2005300 milesCT

DT: THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TWO DIFFERENT PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE RECENTLY. WHEN PLACING VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. SHE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT DID NOT DISCOVER ANY LEAKAGE. SHE DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. LATER WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN SHE APPLIED BRAKE PRESSURE AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED PAST THE STOP SIGN AND THROUGH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AFTER STRIKING THE FRONT PORCH STEPS OF A NEARBY HOUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. *AK UPDATED 12/27/05. *JB

Power Train
Filed Nov 2, 2005MA

CONSUMER 2005 LEXUS ES 330 TRANSMISSION HESITATES WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT 3-4 MPH. * TS THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WHEN SLOWING TO 3-4 MPH OR DOING A ROLL STOP, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HESITATE ON ACCELERATION THEN LURCH FORWARD WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO JERK THE OCCUPANT HEADS. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. *NM

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Sep 29, 2005TX

DT: 2005 LEXIS ES 330. THE CAR WAS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY OR ACCELERATE UPON PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL AND WHEN IT DID ACCELERATE IT LURCHED FORWARD. WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND THEN TRYING TO SPEED UP WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE COMPUTER COULD NOT READ FAST ENOUGH TO KNOW WHAT TO DO. THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN EVERY TIME, IN AN HOUR OF DRIVING I HAPPENED AT LEAST 8 TIMES. THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND CHANGING LANES, NOTHING HAPPENED. IT TOOK 3 SECONDS FOR THE VEHICLE TO REACT TO THE ACCELERATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. *AK

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Sep 19, 2005AZ

2005 LEXUS ES 330 DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE HIGH DENSITY DISCHARGE HEADLAMPS.*MR THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE ILLUMINATION ESPECIALLY ON SAND OR GRAVEL ROADS WITH NO STREET LIGHTS, REFLECTORS OR LANE MARKINGS. *JB

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Aug 29, 20051 milesNY

DT: THE CAR IS 2005 LEXUS ES 330. WHEN ENTERING THE EXPRESSWAY AT LOW SPEEDS UNDER 10 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO MERGE WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC THERE WAS A HESITATION OF ONE SECOND OR MORE WHERE NOTHING HAPPENS. THEN SUDDENLY THE CAR SURGED OUT OF CONTROL. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER,E AND DEALER SAID THIS WAS NORMAL, AND WAS FUNCTIONING THE WAY IT SHOULD FUNCTION. THE DEALER MADE AN ADJUSTMENT, BUT CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW ON WHAT THE ADJUSTMENT WAS PERFORMED ON. NO REPLACEMENTS, BUT AFTERWARDS, THE ADJUSTMENT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED LEXUS AT THIS TIME. *AK

Interior Lighting
Filed Jul 19, 20051,000 milesCA

DT: CALLER SAYS VEHICLE HAS SEVERAL PROBLEMS., BRAKES VIBRATED, AND SHE HAD TO PUMP THEM. ALSO, REAR SUSPENSION PROBLEMS, TRACTION CONTROL PROBLEMS, AND COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEMS IN THE ENGINE.. VEHICLE WAS AT DEALER FOR 4 DAYS THE FIRST TIME AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO GIVE HER ANY INFORMATION ON THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST. MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE CALLER WITH ANY INFORMATION BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER YET. CALLER IS WAITING FOR MANUFACTURER TO CALL HER BACK. ALSO, CALLER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE LIGHTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND DASH LIGHTS. . *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 15, 2005AL

ENGINE HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP OR A ROLLING STOP. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE LEXUS ES'S FOR 3-4 YEARS. OTHER LEXUS MODELS DO NOT PERFORM LIKE THIS. WHY DOES THIS MODEL AND WHY HASN'T IT BEEN CORRECTED AFTER THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AROUND THE COUNTRY??

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 6, 2005IL

WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, VEHICLE JERKED WHEN TRANSMISSION SHIFTED GEARS. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK *BF *NM

Seat Belts › Rear/Other
Filed Apr 25, 20052,000 milesNY

REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLE IN THE SEAT CANNOT BE FASTENED WITHOUT HOLDING THE BUCKLE TO SNAP IN PLACE. TO KEEP THE SEAT BUCKLE FROM RECLINING BACK INTO THE REAR SEAT PASSENGERS HAS TO USE BOTH HAND TO FASTEN THE SEAT BELT.*AK WHEN PASSENGER'S SIT IN THE REAR SEATS THEY FIND IT DIFFICULT TO FASTEN THE SEAT BELT. THEY HAVE DIFFICULTY IN LOCKING THE BUCKLE. *BF

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Apr 6, 2005FL

WHEN SLOWING TO A NEAR STOP (LESS THAN 10 MPH) AND THEN ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE LAGS AND THEN LURCHES TO OVERCOMPENSATE. IT DOES THIS VIRTUALLY EVERYTIME, MAKING IT UNSAFE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. *DSY

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 6, 20051,200 milesCA

I BOUGHT A NEW 2005 LEXUS ES330 IN DECEMBER 2004. I CURRENTLY HAVE ABOUT 3,900 MILES ON IT. BEGINNING AT AROUND 1,000 MILES AND CONTINUING TO TODAY, I REGULARLY EXPERIENCE A SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WHEN I AM IN STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC AND PRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DOWN SMOOTHLY TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR DOES NOTHING FOR ABOUT 1-2 SECONDS. THEN THE CAR SURGES FORWARD UNCONTROLLABLY. I HAVE NEARLY REAR-ENDED OTHER CARS BECAUSE I CANNOT PREDICT OR CONTROL THIS TRANSMISSION HESITATION/SURGE PROBLEM. I EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM WHEN I AM MERGING ONTO A FREEWAY AND NEED TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY. IF I PRESS DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL, NOTHING HAPPENS FOR 1-2 SECONDS, THEN THE CAR LEAPS FORWARD UNCONTROLLABLY. I HAVE COME CLOSE TO CRASHING INTO OTHER CARS BECAUSE MY CAR JERKS FORWARD SO UNPREDICTABLY. TWO MONTHS AGO, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT (LEXUS KEARNY MESA IN SAN DIEGO) AND WAS TOLD BY TWO DIFFERENT SERVICE STAFF THAT "THE CAR IS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED" AND "YOU'LL GET USED TO IT SOON". THIS PROBLEM IS NEITHER NORMAL NOR SAFE. EVERY SECOND COUNTS WHEN IT COMES TO TRAFFIC SAFETY. TWO WEEKS AGO, I CALLED THE LEXUS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION DEPT. AT 1-800-255-3987 AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY GET COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TRANSMISSION HESITATION/SURGE "DAILY". I ALSO WENT BACK TO LEXUS KEARNY MESA AND SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE DEPT. MANAGER. HE ADMITTED THAT SOME ES OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM AND THAT HE UNDERSTANDS THAT IT CAN BE A SAFETY HAZARD.*AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Mar 8, 2005CA

LEXUS ES330 2005 ECTI TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE NOTICED ON THE FIRST DAY OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A DISTINCT HESITATION UPON ACCELERATING, FOLLOWED BY A LURCH. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AT THE DEALERSHIP, BECAUSE IT WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM RELATED TO THE ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED TRANSMISSION WITH INTELLIGENCE AND THE FACTORY WAS WORKING ON A REMEDY. *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Feb 8, 20055,000 milesCA

AFTER DECELERATING TO A RANGE OF 5-15 MPH AND UPON TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE CAR EXHIBITS A SIGNIFICANT LAG BEFORE IT ACCELERATES. DEALER STATES PER A TEST DRIVE THAT THIS BEHAVIOR IS PER DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS, AND RECOMMENDED THE USE OF PREMIUM FUEL (PER LEXUS OWNER'S MANUAL, REGULAR UNLEADED FUEL IS RECOMMENDED). THE PROBLEM IS 100% REPRODUCIBLE AT ANY TIME WITHIN THE SPEED RANGES AND SCENARIO DESCRIBED.*AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Control Module (tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
Filed Dec 8, 2004200 milesFL

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH HESITATION WITH MY 2005 LEXUS ES 330. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS THERE IS A LAG BEFORE THE ENGINE RESPONDS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS AUTOMOBILE. LEXUS SAID THE VEHICLE CHECKS OUT FINE. I DISAGREE AND FROM WHAT I READ ON THE NET THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN PAST YEARS WITH LEXUS AUTOMOBILES.*AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Nov 23, 200415 milesVA

I PURCHASED A NEW LEXUS ES330, AND IT HAS 3 PROBLEMS: (I) BUMPY RIDE AT LOW AND HIGH SPEEDS, (II) ACCELERATION LAG AFTER COASTING, (III) HIGH IDLE WHEN COLD (15,000RPMS). *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Nov 8, 2004FL

VEHICLE HESITATED UPON ACCELERATION AND PERFORMED ERRATICALLY. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THIS WAS NORMAL PERFORMANCE. CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF COMPLAINTS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator PedalCrash
Filed Oct 25, 2004100 milesMA

(1) CAR WAS NEARLY NEW, ONLY 100 MILES, NO ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR UP TO THAT POINT. (2) WHILE SHIFTING INTO PARK AS PART OF THE PROCESS OF PARKING, AND WITH NO PRESSURE ON ACCELLERATOR, CAR SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD, STRIKING CONCRETE STANCHEON OF PARKING LOT LIGHT POLE. THIS RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE FRONT BUMPER, FRAME, RIGHT QUARTER-PANEL, RIGHT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, CAUSING OVER $4,000 IN REPAIR COSTS. (3) ABOVE PROBLEMS WERE REPAIRED BY A DEALER-APPROVED AUTO BODY SHOP. *AK

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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