The 2005 Lexus ES330 has 2 safety recalls and 141 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is vehicle speed control (51 complaints).
Recalls2safety recalls
Complaints141filed by owners
Crashes · fires34 · 2reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths18 · 0reported in complaints
2005 Lexus ES330 in an NHTSA crash test
Safety recalls
Engine and engine cooling
NHTSA recall 11V539000 · Nov 9, 2011 · 420,326 vehicles
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
NHTSA recall 04V595000 · Dec 15, 2004 · 150,061 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (OVSC)
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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..
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
2005 Lexus ES330 4-DR. w/SAB
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
Not Rated
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
ES 330
21mpg combined
City / highway
18 / 27 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Vehicle speed control Accelerator pedal
51
23
1
9
24,266 mi
Power train Automatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Floor shift
43
1
0
0
22,550 mi
Air bags Sensor › Occupant classification
18
8
0
9
81,500 mi
Engine and engine cooling Engine
9
1
0
0
18,000 mi
Electrical system Wiring › Interior/under dash
8
0
0
0
8,000 mi
Service brakes
7
5
1
2
78,557 mi
Unknown or other
5
1
1
0
50,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic Foundation components › Disc › Pads; Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
4
1
0
1
15,750 mi
Steering
4
0
0
0
—
Exterior lighting Headlights
3
0
0
0
—
Fuel system, gasoline
3
1
0
1
—
Structure Body
3
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
May 31, 2015 · 101,000 milesAir bags PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT ON WHEN SEATED
Feb 28, 2019 · 80,000 milesAir bags THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE COMPLAIN ANOTHER CAR OWNER HAS FILED. MY CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM THE LEXUS OF PLEASONTON,CA DEALERSHIP. I HAVE HAD NO MAJOR ACCIDENT OR NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. CAR HAS BEEN LIGHTLY USED WITH 80K MILES ON THE ODOMETER CURRENTLY. THE AIRBAG CONTAINER ON THE PASSENGER DASH HAS PROGRESSIVELY CRACKED AT THE TOPICAL SEAMS OVER TIME. I HAVE BEEN TOLD AN AIRBAG SHOULD NOT LOOK LIKE THIS. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT AN UNTIMELY DEPLOYMENT AND IF THE CONTAINER WILL GET WORSE. AT NO TIME HAS THE AIRBAG BEEN MANIPULATED, REPAIRED, ETC SINCE MY OWNERSHIP.
Sep 15, 2010 · 45,000 milesAir bags THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM THE LEXUS OF MEMPHIS DEALERSHIP AS USED IN 2010. I HAVE HAD NO ACCIDENTS OR AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. I AM.NOT AWARE OF ANY A EVIDENT HISTORY FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER. THE AIRBAG CONTAINER ON THE PASSENGER DASH HAS PROGRESSIVELY CRACKED AT THE TOPICAL SEAMS OVER TIME. I HAVE BEEN TOLD AN AIRBAG SHOULD NOT LOOK LIKE THIS. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT AN UNTIMELY DEPLOYMENT AND IF THE CONTAINER WILL GET WORSE. AT NO TIME HAS THE AIRBAG BEEN MANIPULATED, REPAIRED, ETC SINCE MY OWNERSHIP.
Jul 24, 2018Electronic stability control (esc) MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND WHEN THE DIGANOISED CODE CHECK IS PERFORMED "NO CODES APPEAR," BUT I DO HAVE A POWER STEERING LEAKAGE AND I HEAR THE POWER STEERING NOISE WHEN I AM TURNING AND FROM THE RECALL 11V53900 11/09/2011 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING ITS A HUGE PROBLEM. I CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY WHERE NO HELP! I CALLED FOR SERVICING AND THEY STATED ON MY VIN THERE IS NO RECALL BUT ON THE NHTSA THERE POPS UP THIS RECALL SO NO COOL. I AM GOING TO WAIT UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS AND SUE THE HELL OUT OF LEXUS FOR REFUSING TO SERVICE MY VEHICLE AND NEGLECTING THE ISSUES WHEN I CALLED AND ALL THE CALLS ARE RECORDED. TROUBLE & HORRIBLE SERVICE I AM NOT A SATISFIED CUSTOMER. I GUESS YOU NEED…
Mar 2, 2015Air bags PASSENGER AIRBAG ON THE DASHBOARD IS OPENING, AND MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN AN IMPACT.
Oct 21, 2017 · 169,000 miles · crashAir bags TAMARA RECALL ON MY AIRBAGS,NEVER REPAIRED. I GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT AND AIRBAGS DIDN'T COME OUT. HAVE TO REPLACE BRAKES EVERY FEW MONTHS ON THIS CAR ALSO
Aug 15, 2017 · 83,000 milesAir bags FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG COVER APPEARS TO BE SEPARATED ALONG THE SEAM NEAR WINDSHIELD ON DASHBOARD AND THERE IS A WIDER GAP ON THAT SIDE VS THE SIDE CLOSEST PASSENGER. I'VE NOT SEEN THIS BEFORE IN ANY OF MY OTHER LEXUS VEHICLES AND IT'S CAUSE FOR CONCERN OF SAFETY AS A RESULT.
Aug 15, 2017 · 212,000 milesAir bags TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG COVER WAS BULGING AND HAD SEPARATED ALONG THE SEAM NEAREST THE WINDSHIELD ON THE DASHBOARD. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BUTLER LEXUS OF SOUTH ATLANTA (LOCATED AT 4025 JONESBORO RD, UNION CITY, GA 30291, (678) 783-2703) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 212,000. *TT *TR
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
DP05002 · opened Aug 5, 2005 · closed Jan 5, 2006VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL IN A LETTER DATED JULY 8, 2005, AND AFTER EXPERIENCING TWO INCIDENTS (AND ONE CRASH) WHERE HE ALLEGES HIS MODEL YEAR (MY) 2002 CAMRY ACCELERATED WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT, MR. JORDAN ZIPRIN PETITIONED THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION?S (NHTSA) OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) TO COMMENCE A PROCEEDING TO DETERMINE THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT WITHIN THE ETC SYSTEM IN MY 2002 TO 2005 TOYOTA AND LEXUS VEHICLES, OR TO REOPEN A PRIOR INVESTIGATION PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE) 04-021.IN A LETTER DATED AUGUST 18, 2005, MR. ZIPRIN AMENDED HIS PETITION TO INCLUDE ALLEGATIONS OF INTERRELATED BRAKE AND ACCELERATION PROBLEMS THAT ALLEGEDLY RESULT IN INAPPROPRIATE AND UNCONTROLLABLE VEHICLE ACCELERATIONS.THE 1172 VEHICLE OWNER QUESTIONNAIRE REPORTS CITED BY THE PETITIONER INVOLVE 4 LEXUS AND 15 TOYOTA MODELS DEFINING A POPULATION OF 7 MILLION VEHICLES.THE REPORTS TYPICALLY ALLEGED A…
