RoadVitals

2005 Lexus ES 330 Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Jul 25, 2018
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 141 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Lexus ES 330 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 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.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Driver assistanceEngineSteering
Filed Jul 25, 2018

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 TO BE IN CERTAIN FINANCIAL BRACKET TO RECEIVE EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE.

NHTSA ID
11113561
Incident
Jul 24, 2018
Engine
Filed Aug 26, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY DISCHARGE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V539000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,108. *CONSUMER REQUEST TO WITHDRAW COMPLAINT. UPDATED 10/21/16*LJ THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO WITHDRAW THE COMPLAINT. THE ISSUE WAS FIXED. UPDATED 10/26/16.*JB

NHTSA ID
10898756
Incident
Feb 28, 2012
Mileage
66,108 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 23, 2016

THE AUTOMOBILE SEEMS ACCELLERATE JUST A LITTLE BIT.WHEN YOU ARE STEPPING ON THE GAS IT, KIND OF JUMPS FORWARD SOME, WITHOUT PUTTING MORE PRESSURE TO THE PEDAL.IN MOTION AT ANY SPEED.

NHTSA ID
10876227
Incident
May 1, 2014
EngineFuel system
Filed Oct 21, 2015
Fire reported

ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET WHEN I NOTICED FLAMES SHOOTING OUT UNDER THE HOOD.

NHTSA ID
10785011
Incident
Oct 15, 2015
Mileage
50,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Dec 18, 2012
Crash reported

ON DECEMBER 5TH, 2012 AROUND 1:50 PM IN THE AFTERNOON, I DROVE THE CAR TO PICK UP OUR NEPHEW FROM SCHOOL. WHILE I WAS SLOWING DOWN AND LOOKING FOR A PARKING PLACE SUDDENLY THE CAR SPED UP AND ACCELERATED! EVEN THOUGH I APPLIED HARD ON THE BRAKE THE CAR KEPT RUNNING VERY FAST AND ONLY STOPPED WHEN IT HIT BUSHES AND THE HOUSE ON THE RIGHT OF THE ROAD. I WAS LUCKY THAT NO KIDS CAME OUT FROM SCHOOL YET AND NO OTHER CARS WERE NEARLY SO DAMAGES ONLY CAUSED TO THE CAR AND THE PROPERTY.

NHTSA ID
10491125
Incident
Dec 5, 2012
Driver assistanceEngineTransmission
Filed Aug 6, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES-330. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN SHIFTING GEARS, THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY JERK. WHEN ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT TO RESPOND. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY LOSE POWER AS IF IT WERE ATTEMPTING TO STALL. THE DEALER ADVISED THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE IN HIS YEAR AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000. UPDATED 10/25/10 *BF THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED IN TRAFFIC. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WOULD MOVE FORWARD ON ITS OWN AT TIMES. UPDATED 10/27/10

NHTSA ID
10347806
Incident
Jan 28, 2005
Mileage
25 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 29, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP OR ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE OR STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID
10328129
Incident
Aug 18, 2007
Mileage
35,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 21, 2010

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO PRESENCE OF OIL SLUDGE DESPITE PROPER MAINTENANCE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10301704
Incident
Dec 28, 2009
Mileage
63,224 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 3, 2007

VEHICLE HESITATES TERRIBLY UPON ACCELERATION. I'VE CALLED DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND WAS TOLD "THIS IS NORMAL" UNTIL THE LAST CALL. NOW LEXUS ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM AND OFFERS A REMEDY! FORT MYERS DEALER RECALIBRATED THE ECM AND URGED USE OF NAME BRAND PREMIUM FUEL ONLY! SINCE THESE TWO CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE, IMPROVEMENT HAS BEEN MADE, BUT NOT ELIMINATED. THERE IS STILL SOMETHING NOT CORRECT ABOUT TRYING TO MERGE ONTO A HIGHWAY AND HAVING THE ENGINE BOG DOWN AS TRUCKS BEAR DOWN UPON YOU! *TR

NHTSA ID
10192322
Incident
May 29, 2007
Mileage
5 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 7, 2006

HESITATION HAS ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS. *NM

NHTSA ID
10167614
Incident
Jan 1, 2006
BrakesEngineInterior & seats+1 more
Filed Jul 19, 2005

DT: CALLER SAYS VEHICLE HAS SEVERAL PROBLEMS., BRAKES VIBRATED, AND SHE HAD TO PUMP THEM. ALSO, REAR SUSPENSION PROBLEMS, TRACTION CONTROL PROBLEMS, AND COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEMS IN THE ENGINE.. VEHICLE WAS AT DEALER FOR 4 DAYS THE FIRST TIME AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO GIVE HER ANY INFORMATION ON THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST. MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE CALLER WITH ANY INFORMATION BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER YET. CALLER IS WAITING FOR MANUFACTURER TO CALL HER BACK. ALSO, CALLER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE LIGHTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND DASH LIGHTS. . *AK

NHTSA ID
10129315
Incident
May 25, 2005
Mileage
1,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 8, 2004

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

NHTSA ID
10099619
Incident
Sep 30, 2004

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .