2005 Lexus ES Complaint Log

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

ON NOV. 6, 2007 I WAS THE LAST VEHICLE IN A FOUR CAR PILE-UP. THE HONDA IN FRONT OF ME WAS TOTALED AND MY 2005 LEXUS ES330 HAD OVER $10,000 IN DAMAGE. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WITH SUCH SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE I WAS SURE THEY WOULD HAVE PROTECTED ME BUT THEY DID NOT. I AM CONCERNED THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM AND I WILL NOT BE PROTECTED IN THE FUTURE. *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

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES. THE FRONT TIRES WERE BALD ON THE OUTER AREA OF THE TIRES. THE REAR TIRES WERE DRY AND CRACKING. THERE WAS NO FRONT END VIBRATION OR LOOSE STEERING EXPERIENCED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT LOOKED AT BY A DEALER AND THE TIRES WERE NOT CHANGED. THE TIRES WERE BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL42 SIZE P235/45R17. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,642.

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

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT'S WIFE BLACKED OUT WHILE DRIVING AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND HIS WIFE WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. AN INVESTIGATION WAS PERFORMED BY LEXUS AND HE RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO PROVIDE HIM WITH ANY OF THE CRASH INFORMATION. THE VEHICLE WENT 70 FEET ACROSS FIVE TRAFFIC LANES AND LANDED PERPENDICULARLY TO A POLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 18,000. UPDATED 12-12-07. *KB

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

WED MAY 23, 2007 WENT TO JM LEXUS TO CHECK ON THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WHICH SAY AIR BAG ON AND AIR BAG OFF. SAW JOSHUA LENTZ WHO SAID THEY RECALIBRATED THE SYSTEM. HE TOLD ME THAT AS LONG AS FRONT PASSENGER WEIGHS ABOVE 70 LBS THE AIR BAG SYSTEM SHOULD OPERATE. I ASKED IF THE AIR BAG WOULD ACTIVATE IN EVENT OF ACCIDENT IF THE AIR BAG OFF SIGN SHOWS. HE TOLD ME IT WOULD NOT ACTIVATE. TODAY AS WE DROVE THE SIGN AIR BAG ON SHOWED. AFTER A STOP AT A STORE WE DROVE HOME AND THE AIR BAG OFF SIGN SHOWED ALL THE WAY HOME. TODAY I CALLED 1-800-255-3987, WHICH IS THE LEXUS CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER & SPOKE TO MR CALEB. HE WILL HAVE SOMEONE CALL ME IN TWO DAYS WITH SOME ANSWERS. AM STILL WAITING FOR THE CALL. FRI MAY 25, 2007 GOT CALL BACK FROM JOHN HALL, SERVICE MANAGER AT JM LEXUS. TOLD ME HE WILL BE IN TOUCH WITH LEXUS IN CALIFORNIA ABOUT THE AIR BAG PROBLEM. HE BELIEVES THEY ARE WORKING ON THE SOFTWARE FOR THE AIR BAG AND HE WILL TRY TO FIND OUT WHEN THEY THINK THEY WILL HAVE A SOLUTION. HE WILL CALL ME TODAY AFTER HE SPEAKS TO CALIFORNIA. SUN MAY 27, 2007 HAVEN'T HEARD FROM SERVICE MANAGER JOHN HALL. *TR

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

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

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 CALIFORNIA TO INQUIRE INTO THE INCIDENT. THE COMPANY SAID THE DEALER FOUND A LOT OF OIL ON THE LEFT WHEEL AS IF I HAD HIT A POTHOLE. MY MOTHER COULD NOT REACT AS SHE HAD NOT BEEN THE ONE DRIVING THE CAR.I CAN TELL YOU THERE WAS NO POTHOLE! I HAVE DRIVEN IT TWICE AGAIN ON THE HIGHWAY USING THE SAME ROUTE. IT NEVER HAPPENED AGAIN BUT I NEVER FEEL SAFE IN THAT CAR. I THINK TOYOTA KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE BUT DID NOTHING. THIS CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL BUT IT SHOULD BE EXAMINED AGAIN.

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 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

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

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

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

ON SUNDAY JULY 9, 2006 AT APPROXIMATELY 3:30 P.M. I DECIDED TO STOP AT THE GROCERY STORE. I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT AND WAS DRIVING SLOWLY WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO ENTER A PARKING SPACE I TURNED LEFT AND EASED SLOWLY INTO THE PARKING SPACE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE BRINGING THE CAR TO A STOP. THE MOMENT I STOPPED I REACHED OVER TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR SURGED ENOUGH TO MOVE THE FRONT WHEELS OVER THE CAR STOP IN AN INSTANT WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE. I WAS SHOCKED. WHY WAS THE CAR DOING THIS? I STILL HAD MY FOOT POSITIONED ON THE BRAKE AND PUSHED DOWN. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, AND THE BACK TIRES CAME OVER THE CAR STOP. AT THIS POINT I REMOVED THE FOOT TOTALLY FROM THE BRAKE TO SEE IF THE ENGINE WOULD SLOW DOWN NATURALLY WITHOUT ANY ACTION AT ALL BY ME. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO SURGE TOTALLY ON ITS OWN. I TRIED THE BRAKE AGAIN AND THE CAR STILL DID NOT STOP. AT THIS POINT I REALIZED THAT I WAS GOING TO GO INTO THE ROAD. I LOOKED BOTH WAYS AND SAW A SILVER TOYOTA WITH A LADY DRIVING IT. A COLLISION THEN HAPPENED AND I JAMMED THE BRAKE ON AGAIN AND THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED. I WAS CITED FOR FAILURE TO CONTROL. MY BROTHER WORKED AT LEXUS. HE TOLD ME ANOTHER LADY HAD A SIMILAR ACCIDENT WHILE SHE WAS PULLING INTO THE GARAGE AND THE ENGINE SURGED AND SHE RAN INTO THE GARAGE DOOR. I DECIDED TO LOOK INTO IT FURTHER ON THE INTERNET WHEN I GOT HOME. THE INFORMATION I FOUND WAS UNBELIEVABLE. COMPLAINTS WERE STILL BEING MADE ON ONGOING BASIS. I WENT TO COURT FOR MY TICKET. I HAD TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY TO DEFEND MYSELF. THE CHARGES AGAINST ME WERE REDUCED TO DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE, AND I ENTERED A NO-CONTEST PLEA. I HAVE INCURRED PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA AND OTHER PHYSICAL INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THIS ACCIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO GET OUT OF MY LEASE WITH LEXUS, BUT LEXUS WON?T ALLOW IT. IF LEXUS ACKNOWLEDGES ANY PROBLEM WITH MY CA, THEY WILL HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF THE OTHER PROBLEMS REPORTED BY LEXUS DRIVERS. *AK

ON JULY 9, 2006 AT 3:30 P.M., I STOPPED AT FISHERS FOODS IN CANTON, OHIO. I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT FROM THE FRANK RD. SIDE OF FISHERS AND WAS DRIVING SLOWLY WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO ENTER A PARKING SPACE. THE PARKING SPACE WAS LOCATED DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THE ENTRANCE AND I TURNED LEFT AND EASED SLOWLY INTO THE SPACE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE BRINGING THE CAR TO A STOP. THE MOMENT I STOPPED, I REACHED OVER TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE CAR ENGINE SURGED ENOUGH TO MOVE MY FRONT WHEELS OVER THE CAR STOP IN AN INSTANT WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE. I WAS TOTALLY SHOCKED. I STILL HAD MY FOOT POSITIONED ON THE BRAKE AND PUSHED DOWN. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND THE BACK TIRES CAME OVER THE CAR STOP. AT THIS POINT, I REMOVED MY FOOT TOTALLY FROM THE BRAKE TO SEE IF THE ENGINE WOULD SLOW DOWN NATURALLY WITHOUT ANY ACTION AT ALL BY ME. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO SURGE JUST AS FAST TOTALLY ON ITS OWN. I TRIED THE BRAKE AGAIN AND THE CAR STILL DID NOT STOP. I LIFTED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AGAIN AND AT THIS POINT REALIZED I WAS GOING TO GO INTO THE ROAD. I LOOKED TO THE LEFT AND SAW A CAR COMING DOWN THE ROAD A FAIR DISTANCE AWAY. I THEN LOOKED TO THE RIGHT AND SAW A SILVER TOYOTA WITH A LADY DRIVING IT. I KNEW I WAS GOING TO HIT HER. THE COLLISION HAPPENED AND I PUT THE BRAKE ON AGAIN AND THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED. THE POLICE CITED ME FOR FAILURE TO CONTROL. AS I WAS WAITING FOR MY HUSBAND TO PICK ME UP AFTER THE ACCIDENT, HE CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT HE HAD TALKED TO MY BROTHER AND THAT WHILE MY BROTHER WAS WORKING AT LEXUS, ANOTHER LADY HAD A SIMILAR ACCIDENT, ONLY HERS HAPPENED WHEN SHE WAS PULLING INTO HER GARAGE AND HER ENGINE SURGED AND HER CAR RAN INTO THE GARAGE DOOR. I THOUGHT THIS WAS KIND OF A BIG COINCIDENCE AND I DECIDED TO LOOK INTO IT FURTHER ON THE INTERNET WHEN I GOT HOME. THE INFORMATION I FOUND OUT ABOUT WAS SHOCKING, UNBELIEVABLE, AND ALSO MADE ME VERY ANGRY. THE COMPLAINTS ARE STILL BEING MADE ON AN ONGOING BASIS. *JB

TODAY MY CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET IT TO STOP BY BRAKING. *JB

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 OWN AND PURCHASED NEW A 2005 LEXUS ES 330 OVER A YEAR AGO AND HAVE CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH A LAGGING TRANSMISSION WHICH CAN NOT BE FIXED PER LEXUS BUT POSES A DEFINITE SAFETY PROBLEM AS REPORTED BY MANY LEXUS OWNERS OVER THE PAST YEAR OR SO. I FEEL LEXUS SHOULD BE MADE TO REPLACE THESE TRANSMISSIONS WITH ACCEPTABLE PERFORMING TRANSMISSIONS FOR ALL OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. *NM

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

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

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

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.

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. *TT

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

SUDDEN, UNINTENDED ACCELERATION DUE TO SIGNIFICANT THROTTLE LAG. PEDAL IS ALMOST TO THE FLOOR BEFORE CAR MOVES, AND THEN DOES SO AS IF YOU HAD DELIBERATELY PUSHED IT THAT FAR. ALSO, UPON ACCELERATION, CAR STALLS FOR ONE TO TWO SECONDS BEFORE ENGAGING. THIS HAS CAUSED SEVERAL NEAR COLLISIONS, ONE WITH A DUMP TRUCK. LEXUS CLAIMS THIS IS "OPERATING AS DESIGNED." *JB

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

I OWN A 2005 LEXUS RX 330 WITH APPROXIMATELY 27,000 MILES ON IT.--MY RIGHT REAR BREAK LIGHT DOES NOT WORK CONSISTENTLY. LINDSAY LEXUS, ALEXANDRIA, VA, WAS TOLD OF THE PROBLEM, CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. SUBSEQUENTLY, I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER BY A POLICE OFFICER AT NIGHT, AS WELL AS BEING TOLD BY FOLKS WHO FOLLOWED ME AT NIGHT, THAT THE LIGHT WAS NOT OPERATIONAL. I AGAIN, TOLD LINDSAY LEXUS WHAT WAS OCCURRING AND WAS TOLD THAT UNLESS IT DID NOT WORK WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. HOWEVER, THEY OFFERED THAT I COULD PURCHASE A NEW BULB FOR $300.00. ADDITIONALLY, THEY SAID IF IT WAS NOT WORKING WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY. I CONTACTED THE LEXUS HEADQUARTERS IN CA, AND THEY OFFERED NO SOLUTION AS WELL. I WOULD SPECULATE THAT I WILL BE PULLED OVER AGAIN BY AN OFFICER, AS THE FIRST OFFICER TOLD ME IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT SINCE IT OCCASIONALLY WORKS, IT MIGHT BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY LINDSAY LEXUS DOES NOT HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THE HAVE PLACED THE ONUS ON THE CUSTOMER. *NM

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.

THROTTLE DOES NOT RESPOND TO COMMANDS FOR MORE RPM AND SPEED. *JB

THE CAR WILL HESITATE AND THEN LURCH FORWARD WHEN YOU ARE GOING AT A SLOW SPEED AND THEN PUSH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. IT IS EXTREMELY ANNOYING AND COULD PRESENT A SAFETY HAZARD UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR. I HAVE BEEN TO TWO DEALERS AND ALWAYS GET THE SAME "COMPANY STORY". IT'S A NEW DRIVE BY WIRE AND IT HAS TO LEARN HOW YOU DRIVE. WELL, I HAVE HAD MY SOFTWARE CHANGED NUMEROUS TIMES AND IT NEVER IS FIXED. I HAVE HAD 4 LEXUS AUTOS, WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER. THEY KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM AND HAVE CORPORATE COVERUP PROGRAM IN PLACE TO HIDE IT, JUST BECAUSE NO ONE DIED YET. THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO FIX IT AND SPEND THE MONEY AND NEGATIVE PUBLICITY. *NM

HESITATION HAS ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS. *NM

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

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

MY NEW 2005 LEXUS ES330 HAS A MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. IT HESITATES WHEN NEEDING TO ACCELERATE. FIRST IT DELAYS UPON ACCELERATION AND THEN IT JERKS AHEAD QUICKLY CAUSING WHIPLASH AND I EVEN CRASHED INTO MY GARAGE BECAUSE IT JERKED AHEAD WITHOUT ME BEING ABLE TO CONTROL IT. THE DEALER SAID TO JUST USE BETTER GAS AND COMPLAIN TO CUSTOMER SERVICE AT LEXUS BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS. BASICALLY, I WAS TOLD THE COMPUTER CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION AND THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH IT BUT NO RECALL AS OF YET. WELL THIS IS AN OUTRAGE. I HAVE A NEW LEXUS THAT DRIVES WORSE THAN AN OLD CAR AND THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE. *NM

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

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

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

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

DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO HESITATE FOR ONE-HALF TO ONE FULL SECOND AND THEN LURCH FORWARD, SUDDENLY. THIS IS A SAFETY RISK WHEN CHANGING LANES OR ACCELERATING TO AVOID A COLLISION. THE DEALER'S MECHANIC INDICATED (TWICE) THAT THEY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL'S "ELECTRONIC ACCELERATOR," AND THAT AN INTERNAL COMPUTER IS SUPPOSED TO "LEARN FROM THE DRIVERS' HABITS AND ADJUST THE ACCELERATION ACCORDINGLY." AN ACCIDENT CAN EASILY OCCUR WHEN EXPECTED POWER IS DENIED UPON DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. *NM

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

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.

HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION OF 1-3 SECONDS. AT CRUCIAL DRIVING POINTS (E.G., THROUGH INTERSECTIONS), THE HESITATION IS DANGEROUS FOR THE DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS. THE PROBLEM NOW OCCURS REGULARLY. *JB

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