2005 Lexus ES Complaint Log

THE CAR HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING IN TRAFFIC AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT LUNGES FORWARD. VERY DANGEROUS AND UNPREDICTABLE. *NM

I PURCHASED THE 2005 LEXUS ES 330 IN AUGUST OF 2005. SINCE THE TIME OF PURCHASE I HAVE EXPERIENCE A NOTICEABLE HESITATION AND LURCHING OF THE TRANSMISSION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM SLOW SPEEDS. THE HESITATION AND SUBSEQUENT LURCHING IS VERY NOTICEABLE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM 24 MPH. SINCE THE PURCHASE I HAVE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM THROUGH THE INTERNET AND LEARNED THAT THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS MODEL GOING BACK TO 2002. SEVERAL WEB FORUMS, SUCH AS EDMONDS.COM AND LEXUS OWNERS CLUB SHOW OVER TWO THOUSAND POSTINGS ON THE PROBLEM. EVEN THE NHTSA HAS COMPLAINTS. LEXUS REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE SENT NUMEROUS E-MAILS AND LETTERS TO BOTH LEXUS AND MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THEY HAVE FEIGNED SURPRISE AT THE PROBLEM, AND THEN HAVE TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM TO BE FOUND. THEY HAVE RECOMMENDED PREMIUM FUEL, REBOOTING THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER AND WAITING FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO "SELF ADJUST". NOTHING HAS HELPED. LEXUS WILL NOT, OR CANNOT, FIX THIS PROBLEM. THE HESITATION AND LURCHING IS NOTICEABLE WHEN ENTERING A HIGHWAY OR DOING A "ROLLING STOP". IT IS HAZARDOUS. LEXUS HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE PROBLEM SINCE IT FIRST EXISTED IN 2002. THIS IS NOT ONLY AN UNCOMFORTABLE PROBLEM IN THIS SO-CALLED LUXURY CAR, BUT IT IS A DANGER. *NM

WE HAD AN ACCIDENT WHERE A SECOND CAR MISSED A STOP SIGN. THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF MY CAR, BUT THE AIR BAGS ON MY CAR LEXUS ES 330 YEAR 2005 DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH THEY SHOULD HAVE. ARE THE AIRBAGS DEFECTIVE ON THIS CAR?*JB

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

THE CAR HAD JUST COMPLETED IT 5000 MILES SERVICE. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP I DROVE ABOUT 5 MILES AND WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I FELT A JOLT AND GOT OUT OF MY CAR AND WALKED AROUND THE REAR AND SAW A TIRE LAYING IN THE ROADWAY BETWEEN MY CAR AND THE CAR BEHIND ME. THE DRIVER BEHIND ME SAID THAT THE TIRE APPEARED OUT OF NOWHERE AND BOUNCED UP AND UNDER HIS CAR AND THEN BOUNCED BACK AND HIT MY BUMPER. I DID NOT REALIZE THAT THE SPARE TIRE IS STORED UNDER THE VEHICLE IN THE 2005 LEXUS RX 330. I IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND SHOWED THE SERVICE MANAGER THE TIRE AND THE COVER FOR THE TIRE WHICH HAD ALSO FALLEN OFF. HE OPENED THE COVER AND FOUND THAT THE METAL CABLE THAT HELD THE TIRE IN PLACE HAD SEVERED. HE SAID HE WANTED TO KEEP THE CAR TO SHOW TO A COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE. IT IS NOW 4 WEEKS LATER AND WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED OUR CAR BACK OR HEARD FORM LEXUS AS TO THE RESOLUTION. SHORTLY BEFORE THE INCIDENT, I HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT 55 MPH. SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE MOVING. *NM

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

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??

I HAD PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2005 LEXUS ES330 IN 2005. THE CAR STARTED EXHIBITING TRANSMISSION HESITATION PROBLEMS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. I BROUGHT IT TO THE LEXUS DEALER IN CERRITOS, CA MANY TIMES, AND ASKED THEM ABOUT THIS BEHAVIOR AS SOMETHING THEY SHOULD LOOK AT AND FIX. I WAS TOLD IT IS HOW THE COMPUTERS ARE IN THE CAR AND THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR HESITATES TO PICK UP SPEED WHILE YOU AR ON STOP SIGN OR MORE IMPORTANTLY WHEN CHANGING LANES ON FREEWAY OR AT TIMES YOU NEED TO ACCELERATE THE CAR SUDDENLY. YOU WILL GET A JOLT AND LACK OF POWER FOR A SECOND AND THEN QUICK SPEED. NOW WITH ALL OF THE PROBLEMS COMING OUT OF THIS COMPANY, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO BRING THIS ISSUE AND I AM SURE THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT. I USE THIS CAR BUT TRY TO USE SPARINGLY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. *CN

HIGH DENSITY DISCHARGE WITH AUTO LEVELING SYSTEM.LOW BEAMS DO NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING TO DRIVE SAFELY ON UNLIT ROADS.DEALER SAYS THE LIGHTS ARE SET TO SPECKS BUT,I BELEIVE IF THEY ARE THEY WOULD HAVE HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS BY OTHER OWNERS.I BELEIVE THIS TO BE EXTREMELY UNSAFE ESPECIALY IN COUNTRY WITH WILD LIFE AS IN WI,MN.MI ECT

I BOUGHT A LEXUS 330 OF 2005 MODEL BACK IN FEB 2005. RECENTLY MY 5 YEAR OLD SON GRADUATE FROM CHILD SEAT AND NEED TO USE THE BOOSTER SEAT. I SURPRISINGLY FOUND OUT THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR MY KID TO BE PUT IN A BOOSTER SEAT AND SEATBELT BE FASTENED. I TALKED TO THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT CAN'T HELP ME BECAUSE KIDS DOES NOT NEED BOOSTER SEAT FOR SAFETY REASON. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT ME AT [XXX] OR [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

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

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.

I PURCHASED MY 2005 LEXUS ES330 AT LEXUS OF ANNAPOLIS IN MID-MARCH 2005 WITH ONLY 63 MILES ON IT. BY APRIL 9TH, I BEGAN TO NOTICE JERKING UPON ACCELERATION. I CALLED THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS AND SCHEDULED AND APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT EVALUATED. I TOOK IT IN, A TECHNICIAN RODE IN THE CAR WITH ME AND EXPLAINED THAT I NEEDED TO USE PREMIUM GAS. I TOLD HIM THAT I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A BRAND NEW CAR REQUIRING PREMIUM GAS, BUT I AGREED TO GIVE THIS A TRY TO SEE IF IT ALLEVIATES THE PROBLEM. IT DID NOT! HE ALSO STATED THAT IF THIS DIDN'T WORK THEN THEY WOULD NEED TO GO INTO THE CAR'S COMPUTERIZED ELECTRONIC TRANSIMISSION SOFTWARE AND RESET IT. HE SAID HE WOULD RECOMMEND THIS AS A LAST RESORT BECAUSE IT CANNOT BE UNDONE. WELL?! AFTER READING THAT SO MANY OF THESE VEHICLES ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, IT SEEMS THAT LEXUS WILL REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM CAN BE DANGEROUS. THIS ALSO TAINTS THE NAME (LEXUS) BRAND OF THIS CAR. I HAVE DRIVEN MOSTLY TOYOTAS IN THE PAST, EACH LASTING OVER 180K MILES AND I NEVER THOUGHT ONCE TO GET RID OF THOSE CARS. I KEPT THEM TO THE DYING END. HOWEVER, THIS LEXUS, I AM ALREADY THINKING OF GETTING RID OF IT, IF THIS PROBLEM CANNOT BE REPAIRED. I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT LEXUS IS NOT WAITING FOR AN INJURY, DEATH OR OTHER TRAGEDY TO HAPPEN BEFORE TAKING THIS PROBLEM SERIOUSLY.

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

2005 LEXUS ES 330, SEVER HESITATION IN THE TRANMISSION WHEN ENTERING FREEWAY. FEAR OF REAR END COLLISION OR STALL WHEN TRYING TO ATTAIN HIGHWAY SPEED. LAG OF 2-3 SECONDS AFTER STEPPING ON THE GAS.

THERE ARE NO SPECIFIC INCIDENTS TO REPORT, BUT I THINK IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE CAR HESITATES AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS FREQUENTLY CAUSES HARROWING MOMENTS WHEN MERGING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, SUCH AS AT A STREET CORNER ON FREEWAY ON-RAMP.*AK

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

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

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.

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

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING. IT STALLED DURING START UP AND BACKING OUT AS WELL AS DURING CRUISING WITHOUT ACCELERATION. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS HOWEVER THE ARE UNABLE TO FIX IT. UPDATED *JB

RE: LEXUS ES330('05)DELAYS IN ACCELERATION,LURCHING WITH STOPS AND STARTS,UNPREDICTABLE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS,WHEN BRAKING CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS SLIPPING FORWARD. LEXUS FIRST DENIED PROBLEM BUT I SHOWED THEM INTERNET BLOG AND NHTSA COMPLAINTS,THEN ADMITTED TO SOFTWARE PROBLEMS. 3 OR 4 ATTEMPTS TO CHANGE SOFTWARE HELPED TEMPORARILY. I WAS TOLD I WOULD GET USED TO THIS. AFTER 2 AND HALF YEARS OF ERRATIC SHIFTING AND SEVERAL NEAR MISSES ON LANE CHANGES (CAR REFUSED TO ACCELERATE) I THREATENED LEGAL ACTION. LEXUS RELUCTANTLY CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION. I COULD NOT BELIEVE THE DIFFERENCE,THOUGHT THEY CHANGED THE CAR!IT FINALLY DROVE THE WAY THE DEMO CAR DID. MORE CONSISTENT ACCELERATION,ALBEIT STILL HAD SOMEWHAT OF A DELAY. I NO LONGER FELT EVERY GEAR SHIFT. STOPS AND STARTS MUCH SMOOTHER. THE INTERNET DISCUSSIONS ARE RIGHT. SOME OF THE LEXUS ES330 MODELS HAVE A SERIOUS TRANSMISSION DEFECT,BUT IT APPEARS TO BE A MECHANICAL,NOT A SOFTWARE PROBLEM. I READ THE NHTSA RESPONSE TO A COMPLAINT LODGED AGAINST THIS SAME VEHICLE IN 2005. THE CONCLUSION WAS THAT THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO LAUNCH AN INVESTIGATION. I WOULD HOPE THE NHTSA WOULD RETHINK THIS POSITION. THERE ARE ALOT OF COMPLAINTS REGISTERED ON THE INTERNET (I.E. EDMUNDS.COM).I WORRIED EVERY TIME I GOT BEHIND THE WHEEL. WHEN LEXUS FINALLY CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION, I FELT IT WAS FINALLY SAFE TO GET RID OF THE CAR. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT LEXUS DOES KNOW ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND HOW TO FIX IT BUT WILL NOT VOLUNTARILY FIX IT UNLESS FORCED TO DO SO. THEY WOULD NOT FIX MY CAR UNTIL I THREATENED LEGAL ACTION. MANY OF THESE CARS WILL BE GOING OFF LEASE AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS NOT AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. IT IS UNFAIR TO THESE BUYERS,NOT TO MENTION RISKY TO THEIR LIVES,NOT TO HAVE THIS SITUATION RECTIFIED. I BELIEVE THAT ONLY AN ORGANIZATION SUCH AS THE NHTSA CAN FORCE LEXUS TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. THE ONLY OTHER WAY WOULD BE A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT BUT I DOUBT ENOUGH PEOPLE WOULD COME TOGETHER FOR THIS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION OF MY ES 330 IS ERRATIC DURING BOTH UPSHIFT AND DOWNSHIFT. INITIALLY THE DEALER RIVERSIDE LEXUS, COVINGTON,KY, SAID THAT IT WOULD WORK ITSELF OUT IN A FEW THOUSAND MILES. THAT DID NOT HAPPEN. A FEW WEEKS AGO THE DEALER THEN CHANGED THEIR STORY TO ONE THAT LEXUS KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM. . I DID SEE A NUMBER OF OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ES 330 TRANSMISSION ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. THE OTHER COMPLAINANTS SEEMED TO GET THE SAME TWO STAGE RESPONSE FROM LEXUS THAT WE DID. *NM

WE PURCHASED OUR LEXUS 2005 ES330 BRAND NEW. WE NOTICED THE HESITATION AND JERKING WHEN ACCELERATING IMMED AFTER BUYING THE CAR. IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP FOR THE COMPLAINT TWO OR MORE TIMES. WHEN WE RECIEVED NORMAL SERVICES, I WOULD ASK ABOUT THE ACCELERATION AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NOT ANY BULLETINS ISSUED FOR THE ISSUE IN WHICH I SPOKE OF. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE CAR WOULD ADJUST TO THE DRIVER OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. PRESENTLY THE CAR SHIFTS IMPROPERLY WHEN DRIVEN AT 20-35 MPH, UNEXPECTED UP SHIFTS THAT OCCUR TO EARLY AND DOWN SHIFTS WHILE SLOWING DOWN CAUSING THE DRIVER TO HAVE TO MODULATE THE BRAKING TO AVOID EITHER COMING UP TO CARS IN TRAFFIC AHEAD TO QUICKLY OR TRAFFIC COMING FROM BEHIND SO AS TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT FROM BEHIND AS YOU SLOW TO QUICKLY. CONSTANTLY SCARES ME WHEN I DRIVE IT BECAUSE OF THE NON RESPONSIVE AND QUICK ACCELERATION. *CW

MY NEW 2005 LEXUS ES330 HAS VERY SIGNIFICANT HESITATION PROBLEMS. LEXUS SERVICE TECHNICIANS HAVE EXAMINED THE VEHICLE 4 TIMES AND STATE THAT IT IS WITHIN THEIR SPECIFICATIONS. I'M AFRAID THAT I'LL BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE HESITATION. *NM

THE TOYOTA PROBLEM OF UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION IS A PROBLEM WITH MY 2005 LEXUS ES330, I HAVE COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA/LEXUS AND THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE FIXED IT WITH A SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING UPDATE (WHICH DID NOT HELP) I HAVE EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT IT IS DANGEROUS AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IN TRAFFIC ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THEY CLAIM IT IS NOT A FAULT AND HAVE REFUSED TO FIX THE SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING PROBLEM.*JB

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

I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED TWICE BECAUSE MY 2005 LEXUS ES 330 HAS A PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION AFTER COASTING. THERE IS A FEW SECONDS HESITATION BEFORE THE CAR STARTS TO ACCELERATE. *JB

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

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ACCELERATION AFTER SLOWING DOWN THE VEHICLE WILL SURGE FORWARD. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED A TRANSMISSION CHIP THAT WAS RECOGNIZED IN A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. THE PROBLEM DIMINISHED FOR A WHILE, BUT THE CORRECTION DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, BUT ENOUGH TIMES TO CAUSE THE CONTACT TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE DECLINING TO OFFER ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS FOR A VEHICLE WITH ECTI. *AK

2005 LEXUS ES330 WAS PURCHASED IN DECEMBER 2004. SOMETIME BEFORE TAKING IT IN FOR THE 5000 MILE SERVICE I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WOULD LURCH WHEN ACCELERATED FROM A SPEED AROUND 10 MILES PER HOUR. THIS IS VERY DISCONCERTING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC BECAUSE THE SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I EXPLAINED THIS AT THE 5000 MILE SERVICE, BUT WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE IT. AT THE 10,000 MILE SERVICE I EXPLAINED THAT THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTED. AGAIN, WHEN I TALKED TO THE SERVICE CONSULTANT BEFORE PICKING UP THE CAR, HE SAID THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT REPLICATE IT ON THE 2 MILE TEST DRIVE. BUT HE SAID THAT THIS WAS THE DRIVER'S FAULT. THEN HE DID LET ME KNOW THAT THIS WAS THE WAY THE TRANSMISSIONS ON THE ES330 WERE DESIGNED AND THAT OTHERS HAD COMPLAINED OF THE SAME THING. THERE WERE NO ADJUSTMENTS THAT COULD BE MADE, THIS WAS THE WAY THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO REACT. *JB

MY 2005 ES330 HAS A LURCHING PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. LEXUS JUST REPLACED THE PROGRAM IN THE COMPUTER BUT NEVER TOLD ME THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. IT IS TOO SOON TO TELL IF THE FIX WILL WORK. THEY JUST TOLD ME TO BUY PREMIUM GAS. I HAVE READ FROM MANY OTHER LEXUS CONSUMERS THAT THE "FIX" AND BETTER GAS DO NOT WORK. *JB

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

THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. *JB *SC

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES AND JERKS BACK. *AK

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

MY 2005 LEXUS ES330 HAS TRANSMISSION HESITATION WHEN AFTER SLOWING TO ABOUT 5 MPH, I ACCELERATE. IT TAKES 1 TO 2 SECONDS FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO DOWNSHIFT AND THEN THE CAR LURCHES DANGEROUSLY FORWARD. THE DEALERSHIP INSTALLED A SOFTWARD FIX TO THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *NM

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

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

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

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

I PURCHASED A 2005 LEXUS ES330 AND HAVE HAD CONSISTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE'S ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION. THE VEHICLE HESITATES DURING ACCELERATION AND SUDDENLY LURCHES FORWARD. ALSO, DURING DECELERATION THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SLOWS DOWN UPON RELEASING THE GAS PEDAL. THIS HAS BECOME A SERIOUS ISSUE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND I''M CONCERNED IT MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE REPORTED THE ISSUE TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS BUT HAVE RECEIVED A STANDARD RESPONSE THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I''M HOPING THE DOT WILL INITIATE A RECALL AND HAVE THE MANUFACTURER FIX THE PROBLEM. I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED AND SHOCKED AT THE NUMBER OF SIMILAR REPORTS FILED WITH THE DOT. *NM

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

WE PURCHASED A 2005 330 LEXUS, SEPT, 2004. WE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE AUTO DE-ACCELERATING DURING LEFT TURNS. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM BUILT INTO THE SYSTEM AND COULDN'T BE FIXED. MY HUSBAND THOUGHT IT WASN'T SAFE SO LESS THAN 8 MONTHS LATER WE TRADED IT IN FOR A 2005 430 LEXUS WHICH HAS GIVEN US NO PROBLEM. THERE WAS SOMETHING DEFINITELY WRONG WITH THE SYSTEM. IT ALMOST STOPPED MAKING TURNS. *TR

(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

TRANMISSION PROBLEMS: I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION HESITATIONS WHICH I DO NOT EXPECT IN ANY TOYOTA PRODUCTS; ANOTHER WORD, THERE ARE HANG UPS BETWEEN GEARS, ESPECIALLY 1ST TO 2ND. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY IN A BUSY AND CRAZY HOUSTON TRAFFIC BECAUSE THE CAR DOES NOT GIVE THE SUFFICIENT ACCELERATION WHEN ONE NEEDS IT. THAT 1 OR 2 SECOND HESITATION COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. TO CONFIRM THIS EXISTING PROBLEM, I TEST DROVE THE RX 330, HIGHLANDER AND SOLARA. IT IS EVEN WORSE

I PURCHASED MY 2005 LEXUS ES330 IN AUGUST OF 2004 AND HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION ACCELERATION / DECELERATION PROBLEMS CITED HERE IN SINCE THE PURCHASE DATE. I HAVE HAD MY CAR TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES FOR REPAIR, PLUS A FIFTH VISIT WITH THE LEXUS MANUFACTURERS REPRESENTATIVE. THEY HAVE UPGRADED THE SOFTWARE AND RESET THE ECM MEMORY EACH TIME, AND STATE THAT THERE IS NOTHING MECHANICAL WRONG WITH THE CAR. I CONCUR THAT THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, DUE TO THE DELAY AND LUNGING THAT CAN CAUSE YOU TO BE REAR ENDED OR TO REAR-END SOMEONE ELSE. LUCKILY, I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT - HOWEVER GIVEN THAT THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN REPORTED ON THE LEXUS ES SINCE THE 2002 MODEL, I WOULD EXPECT LEXUS OR THE NHTSA TO HAVE DONE SOMETHING BY NOW. NOTE THAT I HAVE ALSO DRIVEN THE 2006 ES AS A LOANER WHILE MY CAR WAS BEING REPAIRED, AND IT TOO HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I ESTIMATE THE NUMBER OF FAILURES AT 300, AS THAT IS THE ESTIMATED NUMBER OF DAYS I HAVE DRIVEN MY CAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT. *NM *NM

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

2005 LEXUS ES 330. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *JB