76 of the
282 complaints filed about the Lexus ES330
are about the throttle and cruise control —
27% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2005.
76
Complaints
27%
Share of all complaints
40
Crashes
1
Fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR TO PICK-UP OUR GRANDDAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL ON 10-22-2018. SHE MADE A FULL STOP AT THE CORNER AND TOOK HER FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND STARTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. WHEN SHE STARTED TO PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL LIGHTLY, THE ENGINE REVVED UP TO FULL THROTTLE AND THE CAR ACCELERATED AND LUNGED UNCONTROLLABLY FORWARD. HER STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. BECAUSE OF THIS ACCELERATION, SHE HIT THE CAR IN FRONT WITH GREAT FORCE AND SEVERELY DAMAGING OUR FRONT END AND THE CAR BUMPER IN FRONT OF HER. SHE WAS GETTING GET IN LINE TO WAIT FOR THE SCHOOL CHILDREN TO LET OUT. HAD HER THE CAR ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL WHEN CHILDREN WERE CROSSING THE STREET, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A GREAT CATASTROPHE AND DEAD CHILDREN. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE TO ALERT THE PUBLIC. ANOTHER SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURRED WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. BUT THE DEALER SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. OUR CAR HAS A LITTLE OVER 60,000. EACH TIME I TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE, THEY REMOVED THE FLOOR MAT. THEY SAY THE FLOOR MAT CAN GET IN THE WAY OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I DON'T THINK SO, BUT WE KEEP THE FLOOR MAT IN THE TRUNK. I HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO A LEXUS HEADQUARTER IN TEXAS, (800) 255-3987. THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID A CASE MANAGER WILL BE CONTACTING ME. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THEY WILL DO. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE TO PREVENT RUNNING OVER PEOPLE. THERE WILL BE DEATHS IF NOTHING IS DONE!
NHTSA complaint #11141988 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CAR WAS REVERSED AND DRIVEN FORWARD, SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD. APPLYING BRAKES WERE NOT HELPING AS ACCELERATION STILL CONTINUED. THERE IS NO FLOOR MAT ON THE DRIVER SEAT SIDE TO BLAME IT ON FOR GAS PEDAL GETTING STUCK TO THE MAT.. THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS WERE ADJUSTED TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL FROM THE FLOOR. HAPPENED A WEEK AGO AND HAPPENED AGAIN ON 17/02/2018. FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS ON FOUR LANE CITY STREET. SECOND TIME ON TWO LANE CITY STREET. IT CAN HAPPEN ANY TIME ANY WHERE. I ASKED THE DEALER. NO RECALL YET I SEE LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM ON THIS SITE. HTTPS://WWW.VEHICLEHISTORY.COM/LEXUS/ES-330/2006
NHTSA complaint #11073586 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE AUTOMOBILE SEEMS ACCELLERATE JUST A LITTLE BIT.WHEN YOU ARE STEPPING ON THE GAS IT, KIND OF JUMPS FORWARD SOME, WITHOUT PUTTING MORE PRESSURE TO THE PEDAL.IN MOTION AT ANY SPEED.
NHTSA complaint #10876227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 LEXUS ES330. WHILE REVERSING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, THE VEHICLE SURGED BACKWARDS AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, DROVE OVER A CURB, AND THEN ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A RESTAURANT AND THREE PARKED VEHICLES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOW YARD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10853397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AS CAR IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON BRAKES TO AVOID TWO TEENAGERS RUNNING ACROSS IN FRONT OF HER, I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES AND THE CAR ACCELERATED FROM 20-30. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY NOR DID THE SEAT BELT ENGAGE AND LOCK TO PREVENT ME FROM SLAMMING INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE ABS BRAKES WERE SLAMMED AND IT FELT LIKE THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK LIKE THERE WAS AN AIR BUBBLE IN THE SYSTEM. I CRASHED INTO THE HYUNDAI. TOTALED MY CAR AND THE FRONT OF THE CAR FRAME WAS BENT. CALLED THE POLICE, BUT DID NOT TAKE A REPORT SINCE NO ONE WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE. WENT DO MY DOCTOR AND REPORTED THIS TO LEXUS-INCIDENT NUMBER 150922-00272 ON 9/22/15. LEXUS WILL INSPECT THE CAR ON 10/9/15...UPDATED 10/15/15 *BF ...UPDATED 12/03/15 *BF, UPDATED 4/9/18*JB
NHTSA complaint #10777818 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS RIDING THE BRAKE INTO A PARKING SPACE AND WAS ALMOST FINISHED PARKING (MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE) WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND TRAVELED THROUGH A SHORT WOODED AREA THEN OVER A 12 FOOT DROP TO A ROAD WITH TRAFFIC BELOW. THE FRONT OF THE CAR CRASHED INTO A STONE WALL, CRASHED BACK INTO THE STONE WALL THAT THE CAR FLEW OVER, AND CAME TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET FROM WHERE IT FLEW OVER THE DROP. AIRBAG DEPLOYED, SEATBELT WAS ON. I WAS TAKEN TO THE ER VIA AMBULANCE WITH A BROKEN NOSE, CONCUSSION, BRUISING... AND HAVE ONGOING SORENESS, STIFFNESS, DIZZINESS...
NHTSA complaint #10632826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS PARKING MY CAR IN THE PARKING LOT OF A GARAGE WHEN MY CAR LEXUS 330 SUDDENLY PICKED UP HIGH SPEED (FULL THROTTLE) UNINTENTIONALLY. THE VEHICLE WENT FORWARD AND FELL APPROXIMATELY ABOUT 5 FEET TO THE OTHER PARKING LEVEL AND VIOLENTLY HIT THE BACK OF A PICKUP TRUCK WHICH WAS PARKED. I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON. MY BODY WENT FORWARD AND BACKWARD VIOLENTLY. FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS I HAD EXPERIENCED MUSCLE PAIN, STIFFNESS AND POOR NIGHT SLEEP. THE ACCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO THE POLICE.
NHTSA complaint #10627254 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THE VEHICLE TRAVELED OVER THE SIDE WALK AND WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,528.
NHTSA complaint #10607526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING INTO A GARAGE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED THROUGH THE REAR OF THE GARAGE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE AGENCY, WHO DEEMED THE VEHICLE AS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND RULED THAT THE CONTACT HAD ERRONEOUSLY ENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR AS OPPOSED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, CAUSING THE ACCELERATION FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.
NHTSA complaint #10578377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. DUE TO THE FAILURE THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PROCEEDING VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE INTERFERENCE OF THE FLOOR MAT THAT WAS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED AND SECURED BY THE DESIGNED HOOKS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,575. UPDATED 5/27/14*CN CONSUMER HANDWRITING IS ILLEGIBLE. UPDATED 06/12/14 UPDATED 8/15/17
NHTSA complaint #10577991 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF APPLYING AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT NO CAUSE FOR FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,907.
NHTSA complaint #10537301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 15 MPH TWO BLOCKS AWAY FROM HOME. WHILE APPROACHING AND PREPARING TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN, NOTICED THE INABILITY OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM WHEN APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PADDLE, VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. AT THIS POINT, VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE UNINTENDED (WITHOUT INPUT ON ACCELERATOR), CAUSING TO RAPIDLY SURGE AND LAUNCH STRAIGHT AHEAD UNCONTROLLABLE AT A HIGH SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 55 TO 60 MPH, WHICH RESULTED THE CONTACT TO CRASH THOUGH A CUL-DE-SAC BLOCK (BRICK) WALL, BRICKS EXPLODED AND LANDED ON TOP OF ANOTHER PARTY?S PARKED VEHICLE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO FENDER. AIRBAG WAS DEPLOYED. CONTACT WAS TAKEN VIA AMBULANCE TO LOCAL HOSPITAL FOR EXAMINATION OF INJURIES, RELEASED SAME DAY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED ON THE INCIDENT. FOR VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A STORAGE FACILITY. INSURANCE COMPANY DETERMINED VEHICLE TO BE TOTALED DUE TO MAJOR BODY DAMAGES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,557.
NHTSA complaint #10495985 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON DECEMBER 5TH, 2012 AROUND 1:50 PM IN THE AFTERNOON, I DROVE THE CAR TO PICK UP OUR NEPHEW FROM SCHOOL. WHILE I WAS SLOWING DOWN AND LOOKING FOR A PARKING PLACE SUDDENLY THE CAR SPED UP AND ACCELERATED! EVEN THOUGH I APPLIED HARD ON THE BRAKE THE CAR KEPT RUNNING VERY FAST AND ONLY STOPPED WHEN IT HIT BUSHES AND THE HOUSE ON THE RIGHT OF THE ROAD. I WAS LUCKY THAT NO KIDS CAME OUT FROM SCHOOL YET AND NO OTHER CARS WERE NEARLY SO DAMAGES ONLY CAUSED TO THE CAR AND THE PROPERTY.
NHTSA complaint #10491125 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2004 LEXUS ES330. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ACROSS THE STREET AND PLUNGED IN HIS NEIGHBOR'S BRICK FENCE COMPLETELY DAMAGING THE CAR, WHICH WAS EVENTUALLY DECLARED TOTALED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE POLICE REPORT INDICATED, THE FLOOR MAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, BUT A CAUSE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOTED, THE FLOOR MATS WERE NOT SECURED AND THE HOOKS WERE MISSING. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THERE WERE NO HOOKS. THE CONSUMER STATED HE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AND THE FLOOR MAT ISSUE WAS NEVER DISCUSSED ON THE NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, HE WENT TO THE DEALER FOR OTHER SERVICES. *JB UPDATED 11/05/12
NHTSA complaint #10477723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS ES 330. THE CONTACT SHIFTED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE PILLAR IN THE PARKING LOT. THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING AFTER THE CRASH AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MODERATE INJURIES. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AT IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED11/29/11 *BF UPDATED 12/14/11
NHTSA complaint #10434092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK GEAR AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
NHTSA complaint #10423944 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL BODY SHOP WHICH WAS PROVIDED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN ENGINEER TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE YET THE ENGINEER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND FEARED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,366.
NHTSA complaint #10410762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LEXUS ACCELERATED FROM 70 TO 85 MPH. ON FREEWAY BRAKE AND EMERGENCY BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK OR SLOW THE CAR DOWN. PUT THE CAN IN NEUTRAL AND WENT UP ELEVATED A FREEWAY TRANSITION ROAD. CAR WAS AT 4RPMS.
NHTSA complaint #10390520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.