KnownCarProblems2005 Lexus ES330 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 141 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Lexus ES330, most often about the speed control (36% of complaints, typically around 24,500 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about ES330 model year since 2000 and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2005 Lexus ES330 problems
Speed control
51 complaints · 36%Half of these problems showed up before 24,500 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
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…
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…
Transmission
43 complaints · 31%Half of these problems showed up before 22,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
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 contact owns a 2005 Lexus ES330. The contact was driving 25 MPH when the transmission shifted extremely hard, causing the passengers to be thrown forward. The failure recurred numerous times and became worse with each incident. The failure was reported to the dealer and the contact was told that there was a remedy…
Air bags
17 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles. Parts named most often: sensor.
This is similar to the complain another car owner has filed. My car was purchased new from the Lexus of pleasonton,ca dealership. I have had no major accident or no airbag deployment. Car has been lightly used with 80k miles on the odometer currently. The airbag container on the passenger dash has progressively…
Front passenger airbag cover appears to be separated along the seam near windshield on dashboard and there is a wider gap on that side vs the side closest passenger. I've not seen this before in any of my other Lexus vehicles and it's cause for concern of safety as a result.
Engine
12 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 35,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
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.
The contact owns a 2005 Lexus ES330. The contact stated that the battery discharge warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 11v539000 (engine and engine cooling), however the failure recurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The…
Brakes
12 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 37,500 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
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…
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…
Electrical
8 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 8,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring.
Tl 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…
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.…
Fuel system
5 complaints · 4%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…
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…
Other or unspecified
5 complaints · 4%Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6) 2005 Lexus model ES330(VIN#[] ). 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…
Shrinking dashboard airbag cover - this is a common problem for Lexus owners - - Lexus says this is not a safety hazard and does not warrant repair - only cosmetic. They are repairing some dashboards for cracks on other models. I noticed the problem approximately january 2013.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2005 Lexus ES330 recalls
Engine: engine and engine cooling
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Seat belts: buckle assembly
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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..
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Vehicle speed control
Summary
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
Questions about the 2005 Lexus ES330
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Lexus ES330?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: speed control (51 complaints, typically around 24,500 miles); transmission (43 complaints, typically around 22,500 miles); air bags (17 complaints, typically around 80,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2005 Lexus ES330 have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from November 9, 2011 (engine). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2005 a bad year for the Lexus ES330?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about ES330 model year since 2000, with 141 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.