Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Lexus ES 330 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 16 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
I CONTINUALLY HAVE TO REPLACE THE DISC BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE. THE PADS DON'T WEAR DOWN VERY MUCH, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL GETS LOW AND SPONGY. THIS IS AFTER NORMAL DRIVING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES IT FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CURB, FLIPPED OVER AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND CHEST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
WHEN BRAKING AND SLOWLY TURNING LEFT TO COME TO A STOP IN A PARKING SPACE AT A WAL-MART PARKING LOT MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY AT SUCH A FAST SPEED THAT MY CAR CRASHED INTO A METAL POLE AND PUSHED A PARKED STATION WAGON FACING MY CAR BACK FAR INTO ANOTHER ISLE. MY FOOT WAS DEFINITELY BRAKING THE WHOLE TIME.!!!! MY CAR UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED AT A VERY HIGH SPEED WHILE I PRESSED THE BRAKE. I HAVE IN MY POSSESSION A SURVEILLANCE TAPE OF THE ACCIDENT TAKEN BY WAL-MART. AS A RESULT I HURT MY BACK AND NECK AND WAS VERY UPSET THAT I COULD HAVE KILLED PEOPLE WALKING IN THAT PARKING LOT. I AM POSITIVE THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM IN MY CAR MALFUNCTIONED.
2004 LEXUS ES330. CONSUMER STATES RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER THREE TIMES. DESPITE HAVING THE MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED, THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO HAVE BRAKE ISSUES. ON THE THIRD VISIT, THE BRAKE CALIPER AND BRAKE BOOSTER WERE REPLACED. ON THE FOURTH VISIT, THEY REPLACED THE ABS ACTUATOR. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE PROBLEMS SHE WAS EXPERIENCING WERE NORMAL. *JB
S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING-LETTER FROM REGARDING SAFETY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE 2004 LEXUS ES 330 *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE LEFT UPPER STRUT MOUNT BOLT WAS LOOSE, THE WIRING SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE IN WHICH THE HOOD CARPET, OXYGEN SENSOR WIRES AND RADIATOR HOSE CAUGHT ON FIRE, BUT MANAGED TO GO OUT BY ITSELF. THE DEALER CONCLUDED THAT NO CONCLUSIVE CAUSE TO THE UNDER HOOD FIRE WAS FOUND. ALSO THE BRAKES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE CONSUMER HAD DIFFICULTY STOPPING WHEN A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM SLOWED DOWN TO STOP. THE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. (THE CONSUMER WROTE IN ON BEHALF OF HER FATHER OWNS THE VEHICLE) *JB
2004 LEXUS ES330. CONSUMER STATES ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM CAUSED THE CAR TO SKID OFF THE ROAD AND INTO A GUARD RAIL. *TGW ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE VEHICLE LOST TRACTION DUE TO ICY CONDITIONS AND STRUCK A GUARDRAIL. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED HE WROTE TO THE MANUFACTURER SEVERAL TIMES AND NEVER RECEIVED A RESPONSE. UPDATED 12/22/10. *JB UPDATED 08/24/10*JB THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING COULD ONLY CONFIRM THAT THE INTERNAL COMPUTER WAS NOT REPORTING A SYSTEM ERROR. UPDATED 06/23/10.*JB THE CONSUMER STATED A SLIGHT APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES, CAUSED THE WHEELS TO FREEZE AND THE VEHICLE SKIDDED OUT OF CONTROL. UPDATED 03/29/10.*JB UPDATED CONSUMER LETTER 07/15/10.*JB
WHEN I TRIED TO STOP AND TURNED RIGHT ON A SIDE STREET THE CAR'S BRAKE DIDN'T WORK AND THE CAR EVEN ACCELERATED ITSELF. IT DIDN'T STOP EVEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE UNTIL IT HIT A STREET SIGN AND KNOCKED THE TREE DOWN ON THE SIDEWALK. THE AIR BAG DIDN'T COME OUT AFTER THE CRASH NEITHER. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOST AFTER THIS ACCIDENT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS ES330. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, HE FAILED TO DISENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. HE TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE STILL ENGAGED. IN DOING SO, THE MAIN BRAKES WOULD NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND MADE UNKNOWN REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE, AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS ES 330. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THERE WAS PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NO PERSONALS INJURY. THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE WERE NOT CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND REPAIRED FOR BODY DAMAGES AT AN ESTIMATION OF $1,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.
I DROVE OFF THE HIGHWAY , ROUTE 50, IN ANNAPOLIS, MD, ONTO AN EXIT RAMP LEADING TO FERGUSON ROAD. I APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN. I AVOIDED A CAR ON THE RAMP IN FRONT OF ME BUT IMMEDIATELY CAME TO THE STOP SIGN AT FERGUSON ROAD. THE CAR HAD NOT SLOWED DOWN AND I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE THE LEFT TURN ONTO FERGUSON ROAD, BUT HIT THE GUARD RAIL AND ANOTHER CAR IN THE INTERSECTION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I RECEIVED A CUT ON MY LEFT HAND, A BRUISE ON MY RIGHT HIP FROM THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE AND MY GLASSES WERE KNOCKED OFF. MY WIFE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT RECEIVED A BRUISED RIGHT ANKLE AND EXPERIENCED PAIN IN THE STERNAL REGION. WE BOTH WALKED OUT OF THE ACCIDENT AND DID NOT DEEM IT NECESSARY TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL. MY WIFE'S STERNAL PAIN HAS NOT GONE AWAY NOW 7 DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND SHE WILL SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE TOMORROW, ON MARCH 17. ON TWO OCCASIONS PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT I EXPERIENCED TRANSITORY BRAKE FAILURE ,BUT THAT CAUSED NO ACCIDENT ,AND RIGHT AWAY AFTER THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE SEEMED NORMAL AND I FORGOT ABOUT THOSE TWO INCIDENTS. THE CAR HAD ALL ROUTINE SCHEDULED SERVICES, THE LAST BEING A 90,000 MILE SERVICE ON FEBRUARY 11, 2009. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION FROM LEXUS ABOUT ANY POSSIBLE BRAKE MALFUNCTION ISSUES WITH 2004 LEXUS ES 330 AUTOS. THE CAR WAS DEEMED NOT WORTH REPAIRING BY THE ALLSTATE ADJUSTER. *TR
MY LEXUS ES330 2004 HAS ABOUT 17K MILES ON IT, AND I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL INDICATIONS WHERE I TRY AND BRAKE AND IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES WILL NOT FULLY ENGAGE, OR THAT THE EBS BRAKING SYSTEM IS ENGAGED, WHEN I DO NOT BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE ENGAGED. THIS HAS HAPPENED MOSTLY IN THE WINTER OR FALL MONTHS WHEN THE ROAD WAS DRY AND THE AIR WAS DRY. IT HAS TAKEN ME WAY TO LONG TO BRAKE AND COME TO A PROPER STOP. IT HAS OCCURRED ABOUT 10 TIMES. I DO NOT DRIVE VERY MUCH AS YOU CAN NOTE FROM THE MILEAGE. A FEW TIMES IT OCCURRED WHEN THE ROAD WAS WET, AND FELT LIKE THE BRAKES ACTUALLY LOCKED UP AND THEN RELEASED AND THEN WENT INTO THE EBS MODE. IF I DRIVE AGGRESSIVELY, AND WANT TO STOP QUICKLY, THIS CAN OCCUR ON DRY PAVEMENT, IN SITUATIONS WHERE THE CAR IS CLEARLY NOT ACTING IN A MANOR THAT IT SHOULD. I HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO LEXUS AND THEY SAY THAT THERE IS NO RECALL OR REPORTED PROBLEMS ETC. IT IS A PROBLEM THAT I SUSPECT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO TEST. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL HIGH PERFORMANCE CARS BEFORE, SUCH AS A PORSCHE 944 AND A MERCEDES AND NEVER EVER EXPERIENCED THIS BEFORE. I DO NOT WANT TO SELL THE CAR TO AN UNSUSPECTING PURCHASER, AND THUS I WANT IT RESOLVED. IF I AM DRIVING AGGRESSIVELY, AND GO TO STOP, AT TIME IT IS AS IF THE CAR ASSUMES THAT THE EBS SYSTEM WILL BE NECESSARY GIVEN THE SPEED, BUT IT SHOULD NOT BE. ALSO, A FEW TIMES WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE BACK BRAKES SEEMED TO LOCK AND I FELT MY BACK END FISH TAIL. I GOT OUT OF THE PROBLEM BY RELEASING THE BRAKE AND HITTING IT QUICKLY TWICE. IT REALLY IS DISTURBING THAT I DRIVE A CAR THAT I SIMPLY DO NOT TRUST TO STOP APPROPRIATELY. EVEN AT A RELATIVELY SLOW SPEED, IF I HIT THE BRAKES HARD, THE CAR CONTINUES TO TRAVEL ENGAGING THE ABS (THAT WHAT IT IS NOT EBS0 BRAKING SYSTEM WHEN REALLY IT SHOULD NOT BE DOING SO GIVEN THE SPEED AND WEATHER CONDITIONS. I WILL PUT 1/12009 FOR INCIDENT DATE, BUT I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT. *TR
2004 LEXUS ES 330 DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WITH BRAKING.*MR THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOISEY WHEN PRESSED AND RELEASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY EXPLAINED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND THAT IT WAS THE WAY IT WAS DESIGNED. *NM
I NOT LONGER HAVE CONFIDENCE IN DRIVING MY LEXUS 2004 ES330 WITH 12,500 MILES DUE TO 2 MAIN REASONS. (A) THIS CAR CONTINUE TO PULL TO THE LEFT TO THE POINT THAT I MUST CONTINUALLY PUT PRESSURE TO THE STEERING WHEEL SO THE CAR WONT MOVE TO THE LEFT. THIS IS HAPPENING EVEN AFTER THE DEALER HAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED ISSUE. (B) THE VERY WELL KNOWN TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN MANY INSTANCES WHERE YOU NEED TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC AND THE CAR DOES NOT RESPONDED TO THE GAS PEDAL. THE SYMPTOM IS VERY NOTICEABLE WHEN YOU ARE ON STOP AND GO TRAFFIC OR IN SLOW TRAFFIC. I URGE YOUR AGENCY TO INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER BEFORE ANY CASUALTY OCCURS. LEXUS NORMAL RESPONSE IS THAT THE CAR IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE DEALER MUST HAVE BEEN TOLD TO EXPRESS THE SAME LINE AS THEY ALWAYS HAVE THE SAME ANSWER FOR ANYTHING THEY DO NOT HAVE A SOLUTION FOR.
THE BRAKES ON MY NEWLY LEASED 2004 LEXUS 330 DO NOT ENGAGE WITH PRESSURE FOR THE INITIAL 1/2 TO 1 INCH OF PRESSURE AND ARE INCONSISTANT. THEY ALSO MAKE A DISTRACTING AND IRRITATING KNOCKING NOISE WHEN THE PEDAL IS RELEASED. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE 3 TIMES AND EACH TIME THE SERVICE MANAGER HAS TOLD ME THE BRAKES WERE FINE, BUT THEY ARE DEFINITELY NOT.
MY LEXUS ES330 WAS LESS THAN TWO MONTHS OLD AND THE MILEAGE READ ABOUT 950 THE TIME WHEN THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED.T OCCURRED ON THE WAY TO WORK AT 8:40 AM MARCH 8TH, 2004. IT WAS A SUNNY WARM DAY. AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FAR RIGHT LANE OF SOUTH 5 FREEWAY WITH SPEED AROUND 65 TO 70 MPH, A CAR NEXT TO MY LANE WAS TRYING TO CUT IN FRONT OF ME. IN ORDER TO KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE, I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR BY PRESSING THE BRAKE. THE MOMENT I PRESSED THE BRAKE THE CAR SWERVED TO THE RIGHT. I COULDN'T CONTROL WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS HEADING AND THE CAR DIDN'T SLOW DOWN AS I FURTHER PRESSED THE BRAKE. IT BUMPED INTO THE GUARDRAIL AND TURNED 180 DEGREE FACING THE ONCOMING CARS. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO MAKE A TURN AND PARKED THE CAR WITHOUT HITTING ANYBODY. THE CAR WAS DAMAGED FROM THE RIGHT HEAD LIGHT ALL THE WAY TO THE REAR BUMPER. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER AND LEXUS SENT A INSPECTOR TO CHECK ON THE CAR. ONE WEEK LATER, I WAS INFORMED THE CAR IS OK AND THERE IS NOTHING ABNORMAL AFTER THEIR INVESTIGATION. I REQUESTED AN INVESTIGATION REPORT AND THE RESPONSE I GOT IS I HAVE TO "GO THROUGH THE LEGAL SYSTEM". THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION FOR THE EXACT MEANING OF THIS PHRASE. I AM A GOOD DRIVER WITH EXCELLENT RECORD. THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE WAS TOTALLY OUT OF NOWHERE AND UNPREDICTABLE. I KEPT LOOKING BACK TO FIND ANY CLUES THAT MIGHT LEAD TO THE ACCIDENT. AS I STUDIED THE NHTSA COMPLAINTS, MOST OF THEM HAPPENED DURING SLOW SPEED DRIVING. MY CASE HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY AND ALL I REMEMBERED WAS THE CAR DIDN'T SLOW DOWN AS I APPLIED THE BRAKE. *AK
AS I WAS PULLING INTO THE GARAGE AT MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT, I PRESSED ON THE BRAKES AND THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE, I CONTINUED TO BOUNCE OFF THE WALL SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE CAR WOULD STOP. I FELT THAT THE BRAKES FAILED OR THE THROTTLE WAS STUCK. I HAVE CONTACTED MY DEALER, THEY CALLED ME BACK 30 MINUTES LATER AND SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH CAR AND I COULD PICK IT UP. I FELT AS IF I HAVE BEEN "BLOWN OFF' AND I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AGAIN. I HAVE SINCE CONTACTED THE CORPORATE OFFICES AND PLACED A COMPLAINT, HOWEVER, THIS ISSUE STILL REMAINS UNRESOLVED. THE FORM WILL NOT LET ME ENTER THE CORRECT MODEL OF MY CAR, IT IS AN ES330 NOT AND RX. *LA
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