54 of the 282 complaints filed about the Lexus ES330 are about the transmission — 19% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2005.
54
Complaints
19%
Share of all complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
POWER TRAIN
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.
POWER TRAIN
DID NOT HAVE A CAR ACCIDENT, OR EXPERIENCE ANY INJURIES OR CAR DAMAGE, BUT THIS CAR, LIKE NUMEROUS OTHER CARS OF THE SAME MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR HAS SOME SERIOUS TRANSMISSION/COMPUTER SOFTWARE ISSUES AT TIMES. IT HESITATES AND LURCHES OFTEN. I DROVE ON THE HIGHWAY YESTERDAY AND THE CAR ACTED UP IN THE WORST WAY EVER.BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WITH INFORMATION ON THESE SAME TRANSMISSION ISSUES PLASTERED ALL OVER THE INTERNET, YOUR ORGANIZATION WOULD MAKE TOYOTA ENGINEER A PERMANENT FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND RECALL AND FIX THESE CARS.
NHTSA complaint #10715805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
WHEN TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE ON A PRIVATE PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE SPEED UP AND BRAKES DID NOT STOP IT. THE VEHICLE JUMPED A CURB AND CONTINUED UNTIL IT HIT TWO TREES THAT STOPPED IT. DAMAGE WAS ESTIMATED AT $9000.
NHTSA complaint #10689508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
1. HEADLIGHTS: BEFORE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED THE BLINKING CAUTION LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD. SERVICE MANAGER SAID THE AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHT ADJUSTMENT WAS WORKING FINE AND TO IGNORE THE BLINKING CAUTION LIGHT. NOTHING COULD BE DONE. I LATER RESEARCHED AND FOUND THERE ARE LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. 2. TRANSMISSION LAGS AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING THROUGH TRAFFIC CIRCLES AND GOING THROUGH BUSY INTERSECTIONS. SERVICE MANAGER SAID THIS IS NORMAL OPERATING AND TO USE A HIGHER OCTANE GAS. I AM RETURNING VEHICLE TO LEXUS.
NHTSA complaint #10633795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
I DID NOT HAVE A CAR ACCIDENT, OR EXPERIENCE ANY INJURIES OR CAR DAMAGE, BUT THIS CAR, LIKE NUMEROUS OTHER CARS OF THE SAME MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR HAS SOME SERIOUS TRANSMISSION/COMPUTER SOFTWARE ISSUES AT TIMES. IT HESITATES AND LURCHES OFTEN, ESPECIALLY IN D4. I DROVE ON THE HIGHWAY YESTERDAY IN D4, AND THE CAR ACTED UP IN THE WORST WAY EVER. I LATER TRIED DRIVING IN D, AND THE CAR DID BETTER IN TOWN AND ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WITH INFORMATION ON THESE SAME TRANSMISSION ISSUES PLASTERED ALL OVER THE INTERNET, YOUR ORGANIZATION WOULD MAKE TOYOTA ENGINEER A PERMANENT FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND RECALL AND FIX THESE CARS. BY THE WAY, THIS CAR HAD THE LEXUS SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR ITS TRANSMISSION ISSUES LAST SUMMER, AND I ONLY USE THE HIGHEST OCTANE GASOLINE. THE CAR ACTUALLY BELONGS TO MY ELDERLY MOTHER, WHICH MAKES ME VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF HER HAVING AN ACCIDENT, OR COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE LEAVING HER STRANDED SOMEWHERE.
NHTSA complaint #10519916 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
MY SON WAS DRIVING HIS CAR ON THE HIGHWAY FOR APPROX. 1HR AND EXITED THE HIGHWAY TO A SIDE ROAD. AT THE FIRST LIGHT THE CAR WOULD START IN 1ST BUT NOT GO INTO 2ND AND AFTER 2/3 SECS IT WOULD LUNGE INTO GEAR. THE SAME HAPPENS WHEN PUTTING THE CAR INTO REVERSE. IT SHAKES THE WHOLE CAR. AFTER RESEARCH THESE TRANSMISSIONS WERE RECALLED IN 04 AND 05 BUT NOT 06. LEXUS SAYS THERE IS NO PROBLEM BUT OUR FRIEND THE INTERNET SAYS SOMETHING ELSE. REPAIR COST 5800.00 FROM LEXUS AND NOT COVERED BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH COMPLAINTS.
NHTSA complaint #10502434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
TL* 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 FOR THE ISSUE BUT THE REMEDY WOULD DESTROY THE COMPUTER IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 10/11/12
NHTSA complaint #10472888 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
WHEN I PRESS THE ACCELORATOR THERE IS A HESITATION IN THE CAR SPEEDING UP AND WHILE DRIVING THERE IS SOMETIMES THAT SAME HESITATION.
NHTSA complaint #10458307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE TO ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP AND ALSO WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10452766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT THE SPEEDS OF 30 MPH APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT GEARS , BUT THE SPEED WOULD NOT INCREASE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,500 THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
NHTSA complaint #10447314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY ROUGH, UP-SHIFT AND DOWN-SHIFT SINCE VEHICLE WAS NEW. DOCUMENTED/REPORTED PROBLEM AT EVERY SERVICE CHECK. WAS TOLD SOFTWARE HAD BEEN 'ADJUSTED/RESET' AND THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE CAR. AS THE CAR IS AGING PROBLEM IS BECOMING MORE PRONOUNCED AND ROUGH/HARD SHIFTING IS ESCALATING.
NHTSA complaint #10417197 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
LEXUS ES330 TRANSMISSION. SURGES.
NHTSA complaint #10367014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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
NHTSA complaint #10347806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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
NHTSA complaint #10342693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
IN CITY TRAFFIC, ACCELERATION WITH MY 2006 ES330 IS NOT PREDICTABLE AND IT HESITATES RATHER THAN RESPONDING APPROPRIATELY AS THE GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED. HAS ALSO HAPPENED AS I AM TRYING TO ACCELERATE TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. OCCURS SPORADICALLY AND IS VERY UNPREDICTABLE. CAN GO WEEKS WITHOUT IT HAPPENING. NO ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS - YET. I HAVE TAKEN CAR BACK INTO LEXUS DEALERSHIP AND GOT A CANNED RESPONSE OF IT ADAPTING TO THE DRIVER PATTERNS AND IT IS RESPONDING THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSED TO - BASICALLY TELLING ME THAT MY PROBLEM IS NOT A PROBLEM. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER LEXUS AND WILL PROBABLY GET RID OF THIS ONE MUCH SOONER THAN HOW I NORMALLY KEEP VEHICLES.
NHTSA complaint #10342032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY LEXUS ES HESITATES WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE. STARTED WHEN I TOOK OWNERSHIP OF THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10331832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I OWN A 2006 LEXUS ES330. I PURCHASED THE CAR LAST YEAR AND ABOUT A MONTH OR TWO LATER I NOTICED WHILE DRIVING THERE SEEMS TO BE A JERK OR SHIFT AROUND 30 MPH. IT SHIFTS HARD WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE TO KEEP UP WITH OTHER DRIVERS OR IT SEEMS THE CAR WANTS TO ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN. I HAVE TAKEN THIS CAR IN TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR ON BOTH OCCASIONS. ALSO, I HAVE CONTACTED THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP INQUIRING ABOUT OTHER LEXUS OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER LEXUS OWNERS WITH THE SAME MODEL AND THERE CAR DOES THIS AS WELL. THEY ALSO HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG. I WAS EVEN TOLD MY A MECHANIC SINCE I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR MAYBE THE CAR HAD TO ADJUST TO MY DRIVING. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS AND NONE HAVE HAD TO ADJUST TO MY DRIVING. THIS IS THE FIRST CAR I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN AND I FEEL IT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. I HAVE GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM AND NOTICED MANY MORE LEXUS ES330 VEHICLE OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10327042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
ON 9/27/2007, MY CAR (LEXUS ES330) WENT OUT OF CONTROL DUE TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION IN A PARKING LOT OF A SHOPPING CENTER IN GLENVIEW, IL, AND CRASHED WITH CARS PARKED NEARBY. THIS CAR INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO THE CAR DEALER, BUT I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. THE COST OF REPAIR WAS VERY HIGH.
NHTSA complaint #10319499 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) OUR 2006 LEXUS ES330 HESITATES AND STUTTERS WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER A SLOW-DOWN, STOP OR DURING A TURN. I HAVE READ VARIOUS THINGS WHICH SUGGEST IT COULD BE THROTTLE CONTROL, COMPUTER CONTROLLED ACCELERATOR, OR MASS AIR FLOW MAF SENSOR OR AIR INTAKE SENSOR AIS, ETC. ETC. BUT SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG. DEALER IS NO HELP. WE TOOK THE CAR FOR THIS TROUBLE TO LEXUS OF VALENCIA AND SAW ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER [XXX] . HE TOLD US THAT THIS THE WAY THE CAR WAS BUILT. I THEN TRIED MY BEST TO HANDLE THIS CAR BUT IT CAUSED THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN AND AGAIN. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER A 2ND TIME -- VALENCIA LEXUS AND THE MANAGER TOLD US NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 1/14/2009. IT HESITATES WHEN I TAKE TURNS, OR WHEN I STOP AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS. MANY TIMES THE ACCELERATOR GOES IDLE DURING THESE EVENTS AND CAR DOES NOT MOVE AND THAN I PUT MORE PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR BUT THEN IT GOES FAST AND I ALMOST END UP HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME.
NHTSA complaint #10316380 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) OUR 2006 LEXUS ES330 HESITATES AND STUTTERS WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER A SLOW-DOWN, STOP OR DURING A TURN. I HAVE READ VARIOUS THINGS WHICH SUGGEST IT COULD BE THROTTLE CONTROL, COMPUTER CONTROLLED ACCELERATOR, OR MASS AIR FLOW MAF SENSOR OR AIR INTAKE SENSOR AIS, ETC. ETC. BUT SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG. DEALER IS NO HELP. WE TOOK THE CAR FOR THIS TROUBLE TO LEXUS OF VALENCIA AND SAW ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER [XXX] . HE TOLD US THAT THIS THE WAY THE CAR WAS BUILT. I THEN TRIED MY BEST TO HANDLE THIS CAR BUT IT CAUSED THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN AND AGAIN. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER A 2ND TIME -- VALENCIA LEXUS AND THE MANAGER TOLD US NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 1/14/2009. IT HESITATES WHEN I TAKE TURNS, OR WHEN I STOP AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS. MANY TIMES THE ACCELERATOR GOES IDLE DURING THESE EVENTS AND CAR DOES NOT MOVE AND THAN I PUT MORE PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR BUT THEN IT GOES FAST AND I ALMOST END UP HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME.
NHTSA complaint #10316380 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.