Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. 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. 54 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.
The 25 most recent of 54, in the owner's own words
I WAS DRIVING AT 9:30AM CST ON 7/27/16 WHEN MY CAR EXPERIENCE UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION FOR ABOUT 1.5 MILES. MY CAR REFUSED TO SLOW DOWN, EVEN WHILE I HAD THE BRAKES APPLIED. I HAVE HAD MY CAR SENT TO LEXUS HEADQUARTERS TO BE INVESTIGATED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS ES 330. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME UNRESPONSIVE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
I WAS RIDING THE BRAKE INTO A PARKING SPACE AND WAS ALMOST FINISHED PARKING (MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE) WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND TRAVELED THROUGH A SHORT WOODED AREA THEN OVER A 12 FOOT DROP TO A ROAD WITH TRAFFIC BELOW. THE FRONT OF THE CAR CRASHED INTO A STONE WALL, CRASHED BACK INTO THE STONE WALL THAT THE CAR FLEW OVER, AND CAME TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET FROM WHERE IT FLEW OVER THE DROP. AIRBAG DEPLOYED, SEATBELT WAS ON. I WAS TAKEN TO THE ER VIA AMBULANCE WITH A BROKEN NOSE, CONCUSSION, BRUISING... AND HAVE ONGOING SORENESS, STIFFNESS, DIZZINESS... *TR
I WAS PARKING MY CAR IN THE PARKING LOT OF A GARAGE WHEN MY CAR LEXUS 330 SUDDENLY PICKED UP HIGH SPEED (FULL THROTTLE) UNINTENTIONALLY. THE VEHICLE WENT FORWARD AND FELL APPROXIMATELY ABOUT 5 FEET TO THE OTHER PARKING LEVEL AND VIOLENTLY HIT THE BACK OF A PICKUP TRUCK WHICH WAS PARKED. I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON. MY BODY WENT FORWARD AND BACKWARD VIOLENTLY. FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS I HAD EXPERIENCED MUSCLE PAIN, STIFFNESS AND POOR NIGHT SLEEP. THE ACCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO THE POLICE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THE VEHICLE TRAVELED OVER THE SIDE WALK AND WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,528.
2004 LEXUS ES330. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ACROSS THE STREET AND PLUNGED IN HIS NEIGHBOR'S BRICK FENCE COMPLETELY DAMAGING THE CAR, WHICH WAS EVENTUALLY DECLARED TOTALED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE POLICE REPORT INDICATED, THE FLOOR MAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, BUT A CAUSE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOTED, THE FLOOR MATS WERE NOT SECURED AND THE HOOKS WERE MISSING. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THERE WERE NO HOOKS. THE CONSUMER STATED HE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AND THE FLOOR MAT ISSUE WAS NEVER DISCUSSED ON THE NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, HE WENT TO THE DEALER FOR OTHER SERVICES. *JB UPDATED 11/05/12
I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH MY 2004 LEXUS 300SE UNTIL I RAN THROUGH A BUILDING. MY CAR ONLY HAD 16,000 MILES ON IT AND I NEVER EXPERIENCED BRAKING PROBLEMS, ACCELERATION PROBLEMS OR ANYTHING OF THE SORT. I DID CALL THE DEALERSHIP WHEN RECALLS WERE VERY BIG NEWS IN THE MEDIA BUT WAS TOLD MY MODEL WAS NOT ON ANY LISTS FOR RECALL. I DROVE MY CAR TO THE TAILOR SHOP...I TURNED IN THE SHOPPING CENTER WITH NO PROBLEM..I TURNED INTO THE PARKING PLACE IN FRONT OF THE TAILOR SHOP AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. I PRESSED THE BRAKE BUT THE CAR JUST WENT INTO LUNGE MODE AND INSTEAD OF STOPPING WENT FASTER. I HAD MY BRAKE PRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD. THANK GOD THE LADY IN THE TAILOR SHOP WAS IN THE BACK OF THE STORE BECAUSE MY CAR DID NOT COME TO REST UNTIL IT WAS INSIDE THE STORE AND PINNED AT A WALL. PEOPLE CAME OUT FROM OTHER STORES..SMOKE EVERYWHERE...THEY CAME TO MY WINDOW AND TOLD ME TO TURN THE KEY OFF. THE WHEELS WERE STILL SPINNING BUT MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR - THE WHEELS CAME TO A STOP WHEN I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. MY CAR WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. DAMAGE TO THE BLDG INCLUDED ALL OF THEIR FRONT GLASS AND INTERIOR. I DON'T KNOW A FINAL FIGURE ON THE THIRD PARTY DAMAGE. MY INSURANCE COVERED THE CLAIM BUT I TRULY FEEL THIS IS A LEXUS ISSUE AND THEY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE AS THE ACCELERATOR APPARENTLY STUCK AND NOTHING WOULD STOP IT UNTIL I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS ES 330. THE CONTACT STATED AS HE STARTS THE ENGINE THE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY AND REMAINED THAT WAY AS HE MOVED THE GEAR SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE VEHICLE WOULD JUMP FORWARD CAUSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO STICK AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE WITH THE BRAKE ENGAGED AND THE GEAR SHIFT WAS IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE GARAGE AND DAMAGE THE FRONT BUMPER. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED AT A LATER DATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 06/03/11 *BF UPDATED 06/13/11
ON 2/25/2011, I DROVE THE CAR 15 MINUTES ON THE I-5 FREEWAY TO LA JOLLA. THE CAR WAS THEN PARKED FOR 2 HOURS SO THE ENGINE WAS COLD. I STARTED IT, BACKED OUT OF PARKING PLACE, AND ACCELERATED SLIGHTLY TO PASS ANOTHER CAR BACKING UP. I WAS EXITING A CONDO COMPLEX AND SPEED WAS GENERALLY UNDER 10-15 MPH GOING OVER SPEED BUMPS. THE TOTAL DISTANCE TRAVELED WAS ABOUT 150 FEET ON GENTLE, 5 DEGREES?, DOWNHILL GRADE, GENERALLY COASTING WITH SLIGHT PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, TO REACH THE EXIT WHICH WAS AT A STREETLIGHT AT A BUSY STREET. THE LIGHT WAS RED SO I GENTLY INCREASED THE FORCE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I THEN SENSED THAT THE BRAKE WAS SUDDENLY NOT STOPPING THE CAR. I APPLIED AS MUCH FORCE AS POSSIBLE AND COULD NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I SHIFTED THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND THE PRESSURE BEING APPLIED TO THE BRAKES STOPPED THE CAR INSTANTLY. THE ENGINE RACED LIKE I HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE. I THEN TURNED THE IGNITION TO OFF. I SHIFTED THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK. KNOWING OF THE PROBLEM WITH FLOOR MATS AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL PROBLEMS, I REACHED DOWN AND PULLED THE FLOOR MAT TOWARDS THE SEAT AND AWAY FROM BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS. I RESTARTED THE CAR. THERE WERE NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. *TR
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.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS ES330. WHILE PARKING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY JUMPED WHEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OVER A CEMENT BLOCK, WENT UPHILL AND CRASHED INTO BUSHES AND ROCKS. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT A REPRESENTATIVE WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,790 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,794.
ON A SUNNY SATURDAY AFTERNOON, JULY 31, 2010, I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A U-TURN IN THE PARKING LOT. WHILE I TURNED LEFT, PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, MY VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WITH A SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND RAN OVER THE CURB. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT IT DID NOT STOP. I CHANGED THE GEAR TO THE "P" POSITION AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE WHEN THE GEAR WAS MOVED THROUGH THE "N" POSITION. IT STRUCK A LAMP POST BEFORE STOPPING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AT LEXUS OF BELLEVUE, WA, ON AUGUST 11, 2010, BUT THEY DENIED ANY VEHICLE MALFUNCTION. *TR
2004 LEXUS ES330. CONSUMER STATES ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE CHANGED THE GEAR FROM PARK TO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, HIT A FENCE AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EVEN THOUGH HER FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK. *JB
2004 LEXUS ES 330. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS CERTAIN THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION SHE EXPERIENCED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK WAS DUE TO THE FAULTY FLOOR MAT THAT BECAME STUCK UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THERE WAS MINOR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THE PINS THAT HELD THE MATS IN PLACE HAD BROKEN. THEY CLAIMED THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *JB
I HAVE A 2004 LEXUS ES330 WITH ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS. MY INITIAL PROBLEM WAS AS I COME TO A STOP LIGHT AND IT TURNS GREEN, BEFORE I HAVE TO STOP I WOULD ACCELERATE AND THERE WOULD BE A HESITATION WHERE THE ENGINE FEELS LIKE IT IS STALLING. IT WOULD THEN ACCELERATE WITH A THUMP. I TOOK IT IN TO THE LEXUS DEALER IN HAWAII (OAHU) AND THEY RECOGNIZED IT AS A COMPUTER PROGRAM PROBLEM THAT TELLS THE CAR WHEN TO ACCELERATE. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY CAN "TRY" TO FIX IT BY CHANGING THE COMPUTER CHIP AND RESETTING THE MEMORY IN THE COMPUTER. HOWEVER, THEY SAID THAT IT WOULD EITHER FIX THE PROBLEM OR CREATE OTHER ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS. THEY KNOW THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS. IT FIXED MY INITIAL PROBLEM BUT HAS CAUSED OTHER PROBLEMS SUCH AS CAR NOW JERKS UPON ACCELERATING WHILE TRAVELING 5-15 MPH. FROM A STOP, MY CAR SOMETIMES HESITATES AND THEN ACCELERATES WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL. I KNOW OTHER LEXUS OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED AS WELL AS CAMRY OWNERS THAT HAVE A V6 ENGINE AND THE SAME TRANSMISSION AS THE LEXUS ES330. YOU CAN GOOGLE IT. *TR
2004 LEXUS 330. CONSUMER STATES UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION TWICE. FORTUNATELY, BOTH TIMES HE WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL, STOPPING AND RESTARTING. WHILE HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO REGAIN CONTROL, HE ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL UP AND BRAKE, BUT NEITHER ACTION WAS SUCCESSFUL. *JB
2004 LEXUS ES330 SUDDEN ACCELERATION *GR THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO TURN AROUND IN THE PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, STRUCK A SIGN AND ANOTHER VEHICLE. *JB
THROTTLE CONTROL COMPUTER FAILED ON 2004 LEXUS. COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO GO MORE THAN 5 MILES PER HOUR. LEXUS/TOYOTA SAYS IT IS UNRELATED TO THE 1000'S OF OTHER COMPLAINTS HAVING TO DO WITH THE THROTTLE. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS RELATED AND SHOULD BE PART OF THE RECALL. *TR
2004 LEXUS ES 330 ACCELERATION IS STICKING/STALLING AND JERKING WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVING AND SLOWING DOWN IN TRAFFIC. CONTACTED LEXUS DEALER AND REPRESENTATIVE AND THEY CLAIM THE CAR COMPUTER IS CONSTANTLY ADJUSTING FEEL LIKE JERKING MOTIONS. *TR
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
WHILE PARKING, THE CONSUMERS 2004 LEXUS ES 330 SUDDENLY ACCELERATED JUMPED AND CURB HIT A TREE. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED SHE GENTLY PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO INCH INTO A PARKING SPACE A LITTLE MORE, WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT OUT OF CONTROL. AFTER HITTING THE TREE, THE VEHICLE THEN BOUNCED BACK FROM THE TREE AND WENT DOWN AN INCLINE TO THE RIGHT WHERE SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP IT. THE CONSUMER WAS TREATED AT THE HOSPITAL FOR A HAIRLINE FRACTURE OF HER STERNUM. IT TOOK SEVERAL WEEKS TO RECOVER. *JB
MY LEXUS 2004 MODEL ES330 HAS BEEN ACCELERATING BY ITSELF. THIS ACCELERATION HAS BEEN HAPPENING TWO TO THREE TIMES A WEEK FOR ABOUT A YEAR. I DID NOT REALIZE THAT THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING BY ITSELF, BUT HAVE NOTICED MORE DURING LAST 3 TO 4 MONTHS. *TR
WAS PARKING IN A STRIP MALL. MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, JUMPED THE PARKING BLOCK AND THE SIDEWALK, CRASHED THROUGH THE FRONT OF A STORE AND CAME TO REST INSIDE THE STORE. THIS IS THE ONLY INCIDENT WITH THIS CAR. INSURANCE COMPANY REPAIRED THE CAR AND WE CONTINUE TO OWN IT AND DRIVE IT. *TR
MY 04 LEXUS ES 330 HAD UNEXPLAINED THROTTLE INCREASE WHILE DRIVING ON HWY AT ABOUT 50 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND IT STOPPED. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND CALLED LOCAL LEXUS DEALERSHIP WHO ADVISED ME TO BRING IT TO THEM. WHEN I STARTED ENGINE AGAIN IT DROVE OK. *TR
I HAD 2 ACCELERATING EXPERIENCES WITH MY 04 LEXUS. BOTH LED UP TO SEVERAL $ DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND I OTHER CAR. THEN THE 3RD ONE OCCURRED WHEN MY CAR WAS IN FOR REPAIR AND THE LEXUS GARAGE LOANED ME A 2009 LEXUS, THE SAME THING - IT ACCELERATED AND I DROVE INTO A BRICK WALL. I THOUGHT THEY WERE MY FAULT. THE STATE OF MINNESOTA INTERVENED AND TOOK MY DRIVERS LICENSE SO I CAN LONGER DRIVE. I FEEL THIS WAS AN INJUSTICE AND WANT MY LICENSE RETURNED. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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