2005 Lexus ES330: complaints, problems and recalls

(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

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10096389 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10099619 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 15 miles reported. Look up ODI 10100445 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10102408 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10110129 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10113287 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10113845 at NHTSA ↗

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 MERG…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116507 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2004-12-15 (December 15, 2004)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A FRONT PASSENGER POWER SEAT, WHEN INSTALLING CERTAIN REAR-FACING INFANT CHILD SEAT BASES ONTO THE SEAT WITH AN EXCESSIVELY HIGH SEATBELT TENSION, IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO UNSEAT A COMPONENT CALLED THE BUCKLE STATUS SWITCH FROM THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE.

Consequence: IF THE SWITCH BECOMES UNSEATED, THE FRONT PASSENGER OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM MAY MISTAKE THE REAR-FACING CHILD RESTRAINT FOR AN UNBELTED ADULT OCCUPANT, AND MAY NOT SUPPRESS THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT BUCKLE STATUS SWITCH. THIS SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN (SSC 40M) BEGAN ON DECEMBER 20, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 OR LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987..

Reported: 2011-11-09 (November 9, 2011)

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AVALON VEHICLES; 2004 AND 2005 CAMRY, CAMRY SOLARA, HIGHLANDER, AND SIENNA VEHICLES, 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID; 2004 AND 2005 LEXUS ES330 AND RX330; AND 2006 LEXUS RX400H VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 1, 2004 THROUGH MARCH 31, 2005, EQUIPPED WITH THE 1MZ-FE OR 3MZ-FE ENGINE. THE AMOUNT OF ADHESIVE AGENT APPLIED BETWEEN THE OUTER RING AND THE TORSIONAL RUBBER DAMPER (INNER RING) IN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY MAY BE INADEQUATE. IF THE ADHESIVE IS INSUFFICIENT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE OUTER RING MAY BECOME MISALIGNED AND IT MAY NOT PROPERLY ROTATE WITH THE INNER RING, CAUSING NOISE AND/OR ILLUMINATION OF THE BATTERY DISCHARGE INDICATOR LIGHT.

Consequence: IN SOME CASES, THE BELT FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE PULLEY WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND A SUDDEN INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL CHECK THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY TO IDENTIFY WHETHER IT WAS PRODUCED BY THE U.S. SUPPLIER. IF SO, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE PULLEY WITH A NEW ONE AT NO CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING EARLY JANUARY 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.