There are 16 owner-reported speed control & cruise complaints for the 2006 Lexus ESin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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
CAR WOULD NOT STOP AT ALL AT LOW SPEEDS, CRASH INTO BUILDING IN PARKING LOT DUE TO FAILURE
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.
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.
I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT AN INCIDENT HAPPENED ON MAY 14, 2010. AT AROUND 2:30PM, I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 LEXUS ES 330 TO A SHOPPING CENTER. THE CENTER IS LOCATED ON THE SOUTH WEST CORNER OF 75 AND LEGACY DRIVE, IN PLANO, TEXAS. WHEN I ARRIVED TO THE CENTER, I FOUND THE NEAR-BY PARKING SPACES WERE ALL PACKED. SO I DECIDED TO PARK MY CAR AT FAR WEST CORNER OF THE PARKING LOT. I FOUND A SPOT THAT WAS NOT VERY OCCUPIED. WHEN I SLOWLY APPROACHED TO A PARKING SPACE, I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND PREPARED FOR THE FULL STOP. BUT INSTEAD OF EXPERIENCING A FULL STOP, I WAS PULLED FORWARD AT FULL SPEED AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS ON FULL ACCELERATION. THE CAR WENT UP THE CURB FOR A PLANT-BED/MEDIUM AND CLEARED A COUPLE OF BIG PLANTS. I TURNED THE WHEEL AS I STRUGGLED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. FINALLY IT STOPPED AFTER WENT THROUGH THE PLANT-BED/MEDIUM. AFTER IT MADE A FULL STOP, FIRST THING I DID WAS CHECKING TO SEE IF MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. AND IT WAS. AFTER I CALMED MYSELF DOWN, I MENTALLY REVISITED THE INCIDENT. ONE FEELING STANDING OUT WAS THAT THE ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE I EXPERIENCED WAS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM MY STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL. IN NORMAL DRIVING, THE ACCELERATING IS GRADUAL AS THERE IS A LAG BETWEEN STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL AND THE GAINING OF THE SPEED. IN THIS CASE, THE VEHICLE SIMPLY GARNERED SPEED AND 'RUNNING' THROUGH THE BUMP AND PLANT-BED/MEDIUM. I CALLED PARK PLACE LEXUS WHERE I DO ALL THE MAINTENANCE SERVICES. THEY ASKED ME TO BRING THE CAR IN. AN ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER AT THE LEXUS RECORDED THE INCIDENT AND TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINEERS WOULD LOOK INTO THAT ON FOLLOWING MONDAY. ON MONDAY, I WAS ADVISED TO CALL 1-800-255-3987. I DESCRIBED THE INCIDENT TO A TOYOTA SUPPORT REPRESENTATIVE AND EXPRESSED MY WORRY AND CONCERN OF THE SAFETY OF DRIVING MY LEXUS. HE TOLD ME THEY WILL ESTABLISH A CASE FOR THE INCIDENT AND IT WILL TAKE ABOUT FOUR TO SIX WEEKS TO FINISH THE INVESTIGATION. *TR
ON 12/23/09 AT APPROXIMATELY 1:46PM, MY MOTHER LOST CONTROL OF HER 2006 LEXUS ES300 IN THE PARKING LOT OF A STORE IN MIAMI, FL. THE CAR WENT UP ON A RAISED GRASS BED AND WAS STOPPED ONLY BECAUSE IT WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN THE ARMS OF A LARGE, METAL GATE. THE GATE REMOVED THE ENTIRE HOOD OF THE CAR AND SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD. MIRACULOUSLY, MY MOTHER WAS NOT HURT AND NO OTHER CARS OR PERSONS WERE INVOLVED IN THE INCIDENT. MY MOTHER WAS TICKETED FOR "CARELESS" DRIVING, LOSS OF CONTROL. FROM THE MOMENT I ARRIVED ON THE SCENE, SHE DESCRIBED A FEELING OF NOT BEING IN CONTROL OF HER CAR - SHE SAID THAT IT WAS AS IF THE CAR WAS GOING WITHOUT HER! WE HAVE REPEATEDLY CHECKED WITH LEXUS, AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FOR HER MAKE, MODEL, YEAR IS NOT ONE OF THE ONES EFFECTED BY THE RECALL. HOWEVER, NOW THAT THE ELECTRONIC ISSUES ARE EMERGING IN THE PRESS - - WE CANNOT HELP BUT BELIEVE THAT HER ACCIDENT IS RELATED TO THE TOYOTA/LEXUS ACCELERATOR SYSTEM! ON MONDAY, 2/8/10, I HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR HER TO BRING HER REPAIRED CAR (PICKING UP TODAY) TO LEXUS OF KENDALL ON US 1 IN MIAMI TO BE INSPECTED BY A SERVICE MANAGER THERE. NONETHELESS, WE WANT TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT OFFICIALLY - - EVEN IF IT IS THE FIRST 2006, LEXUS ES300 INCIDENT TO BE REPORTED! WE DO NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE! *TR
I OWN A 2006 330 LEXUS. RECENTLY ON TWO SEPARATE TRIPS, I HAVE HAD AN INCIDENT RELATING TO THE CRUISE CONTROL. I HAD THE CAR SET ON THE SPEED LIMIT OF 75MPH (AN INTERSTATE) AND PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. WHEN I WENT TO THE "RESUME SPEED" BUTTON, SUDDENLY THE CAR CHARGED FORWARD BEYOND WHERE IT WAS ORIGINALLY SET AND OF ITS OWN VOLITION, THE GAS PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. WHEN I BRAKED IT SLOWED BACK DOWN. THIS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE. *TR
I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE IN MY 2006 LEXUS ES 330. THE CAR WAS IDLING AT ABOUT 1400 RPM, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, RELEASED THE HAND BRAKE AND STARTED TO SLOWLY BACK UP. SUDDENLY, THE CAR SHOT OUT OF MY GARAGE, DOWN MY DRIVEWAY, ACROSS THE STREET, JUMPED THE FAR SIDE CURB TURNING RIGHT AND STRUCK A LIGHT POLE WHICH WAS BROKEN OFF. THE CAR WAS TRAVELING ON ITS OWN AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. AT THIS TIME, IN A STATE OF CONFUSION AND EXTREME AGITATION I ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL BUT INSTEAD I ACCIDENTALLY SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. I WENT FORWARD CONTINUING IN A HIGH RATE OF SPEED BACK ACROSS THE STREET AND INTO MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I FINALLY MANAGED TO GET THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT AT NO TIME DID I EVER TOUCH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL! THIS APPEARS TO ELIMINATE STICKING ACCELERATOR PEDALS AS A CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO INFORM YOU THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED ON MAY 14, 2010, ALSO BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY, ALTHOUGH AT THAT TIME I HAD NOT HEARD OF THIS TOYOTA PROBLEM AND DID NOT REALIZE EXACTLY WHAT WAS HAPPENING. MY LEXUS DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THIS PROBLEM HAPPENING TO THIS LEXUS MODEL PRIOR TO THIS. *TR UPDATED IVOQ 09/22/10
WHEN APPROACHING 4-WAY STOP, BRAKES FAILED AND CAR ACCELERATED. CHANGED LANES TO MISS 3 CARS IN FRONT. CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE; BRAKES DID NOT WORK. WENT ON SIDEWALK TO MISS ANOTHER CAR. WENT OVER CROSS STREET & ONTO MEDIAN, HIT SIGNS AND SMALL TREES, CAR CONTINUED ACCELERATING, WENT OVER OTHER SIDE OF CROSS STREET, UP ON GRASS, HITTING SIGNS AND SMALL TREES, HIT BRICK WALL HOLDING SHELL STATION SIGN. CAR STOPPED. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN MEDIAN. CAR WAS TOTALED, EVEN SUN ROOF BROKEN, ALL TIRES FLAT. DRIVER & PASSENGERS EXPERIENCED CUTS AND SEVERE BRUISES. WITNESS SAID BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ON BUT CAR CONTINUED TO GAIN SPEED. ACCIDENT NOT CAUSED BY FLOOR MAT. MY CAR DID NOT HAVE THEM. THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL ASSOCIATED WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM & COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS THE ENGINE SPEED IN THE LEXUS ES AND IS MODELS. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED ACCIDENTS WITH THESE CARS. DISAPPOINTED THAT NHTSA SIDES WITH TOYOTA AND ACCEPTS ITS COVERUP THAT IT'S A FLOOR MAT PROBLEM! SOMEONE AT NHTSA NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM BEFORE HUNDREDS OF OTHERS ARE KILLED OR INJURED. TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS. MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE FLOOR MAT RECALL YET IT WENT INTO THE SAME UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION AS HUNDREDS OF OTHER LEXUS CARS HAVE IN THE PAST FEW YEARS. WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO GET THE NHTSA TO DO ITS JOB? *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS ES330. WHILE DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AT 35 MPH HE APPROACHED THE INTERSECTION, HE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. TO AVOID CRASHING INTO A VEHICLE HEAD ON, HE CRASHED INTO THE CENTER BARRIER AND A STOP SIGN AT THE GAS STATION. THE VEHICLE STOPPED MOVING WHEN IT CRASHED INTO THE GAS STATION BRICK SIGN. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND A TIRE BLOW OUT ALSO OCCURRED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 32,000.
2006 LEXUS ES 330. COMPLETELY STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH RIGHT FOOT ON BRAKE. CAR SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD AND SMASHED INTO TRUCK IN FRONT OF CAR. $3,000 DAMAGE TO FRONT BUMPER AND HOOD OF LEXUS. CAR REPAIRED. UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. NOW HAVE INSURANCE PENALTY TO PAY MONTHLY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS ES330. WHILE MERGING INTO THE RIGHT LANE AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO BRAKE AND STRUCK A PEDESTRIAN. THE PEDESTRIAN DIED DUE TO INJURIES. THE CONTACT ALSO REAR ENDED TWO OTHER VEHICLES AND DROVE THROUGH A FENCE. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP WHEN IT CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN THE FLOORMAT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY CLAIMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO HER BACK, NECK, AND LEG. TWO OTHERS WERE ALSO INJURED. STATE POLICE REPORT NUMBER 5271887 WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 26,286. UPDATED 10/01/08. *LJ THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE FLOOR MATS MAY HAVE BECOME STUCK UNDER THE ACCELERATOR WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE OUT OF CONTROL. UPDATED 10/08/08. *JB UPDATED 03/08/10 *BF UPDATED 9/21/2011*CW UPDATED 10/12/11 *BF
TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 TOYOTA LEXUS ES330. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH ON A CLEAR DAY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN THE CONTACT ENGAGED HER BRAKES AND THEY FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO FOUR VEHICLES AND TWO PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED IN A PARKING LOT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC AND SOLD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE MANUFACTURER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AFTER A CRASH OCCURRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 11, 972.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS ES330. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH WHEN SHE PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IT BECAME STUCK AND ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO 4 VEHICLES IN FRONT OF HER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THERE WERE MAJOR DAMAGES TO FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. HER INSURANCE COMPANY WAS ALSO NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP AND THE MECHANICS DIAGNOSIS INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THEN SOLD IT SINCE HE DID NOT FEEL SAFE IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS 11,972. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 11,980. UPDATED 4/7/2010 *CN UPDATED 06/18/10.*JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS ES330. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 5 MPH INTO A PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,755. UPDATED 07/08/10*JB
2006 LEXUS ES330. EXPERIENCING UNINTENDED ACCELERATION*CW
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026