Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA
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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 2005 Lexus ES submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 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
Severe vibration from 30-70mph when acceleration, outboard boot split/slinging grease on left/right sides. CV axle has alot of movement. Right and Left axle shaft needs removed and replaced.
I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY UP AN AISLE IN A PARKING LOT AND SPOTTED A SHADY PLACE ON MY LEFT JUST NEXT TO A CAR ALREADY PARKED. I MOVED IN SLOWLY AT 90DEGREE ANGLE TO SET THE CAR INTO THE PARKING SPACE WITH MY FOOT ALREADY ON THE BRAKE. I PRESSED DOWN THE BRAKE FURTHER AS THE CAR WAS ABOUT TO BE AT THE RIGHT PLACE. SUDDENLY, THE CAR ACCELERATED AT WHAT SEEMED FULL THROTTLE INTO A BRICK RETAINING WALL 9-10 FEET IN FRONT OF ME. THE CAR BACKED DOWN IN THE PARKING SPACE WHERE IT IMMOBILIZED. THE ACCELERATION WAS SUDDEN AND UNCONTROLABLE. THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T GO OUT. THE SHOCK AGAINST THE WALL RESULTED IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR BEING DAMAGED AND A PASSENGER I HAD IN THE FRONT SEAT (WE BOTH HAD OUR BELTS ON) GOT A COMPRESSION FRACTURE TO THE LOWER SPINE AND HAS BEEN BEDRIDDEN EVER SINCE. *JS
MY VEHICLE ACCELERATES PERIODICALLY RESULTING IN CLOSE-CALL ACCIDENTS. THERE IS NO WARNING SIGN OF WHEN THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN. I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP (HEYWARD ALLEN TOYOTA) WHERE I BROUGHT THE USED VEHICLE IN 2008. ONE OF THE SALESMEN DROVE WITH ME AROUND THE DEALERSHIP AND DECIDED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I LEARNED 24-HOURS AFTER THE PURCHASE THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT PRIOR TO ME PURCHASING IT WHICH WAS NOT REVEALED. I AM CONCERNED THAT I AM PUTTING MY LIFE AS WELL AS OTHERS IN DANGER. *TR
DRIVING SOUTH ON FLORIDA TURNPIKE, CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED --UNABLE TO STEER IT OR SLOW IT DOWN--HAD TO GET OFF HIGHWAY TO AVOID COLLISION --TURNED WHEEL TO RIGHT AND SLID ACROSS SWALE INTO THICKET OF TREES WANT TO GET A USED LEXUS TO REPLACE THIS BE BUT AM AFRAID OF SAFETY ISSUES NOW. *TR
WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND TRAVELING AT A LOW SPEED, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD AND HIT THE CAR THAT WAS 6 FEET IN FRONT OF ME. THE SOUND OF THE ENGINE WAS THAT OF A SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION JUST LIKE THE INCIDENT WE HAD ON APRIL 30, 2013. THERE WAS LITTLE OR NO DAMAGE TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BUT THE LEXUS SUSTAINED OVER $10,000. WORTH OF DAMAGE AND HAS SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. THE INCIDENT ON APRIL 30 CONSISTED OF OUR CRAWLING FORWARD INTO A PARKING SPOT, SUDDENLY THE CAR SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED, WENT OVER THE CEMENT PARKING BARRIER AND HIT A CAR APPROXIMATELY 5 FEET AWAY. LEXUS LOOKED AT THE BLACK BOX AFTER THE 4/30 ACCIDENT AND DETERMINED THAT THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
WHEN I ACCELERATE, THE CAR HESITATES AND ACTUALLY SLOWS DOWN BEFORE ACCELERATING. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN NEEDING TO AVOID OTHER CARS OR CHANGING LANES OR MAKING TURNS. *JS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES350. WHILE DRIVING AT 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO REV, SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT A CEMENT WALL. BOTH THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED BRUISES AND THERE WAS FRONT END DAMAGE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 07/26/10. *LJ UPDATED 08/09/10*JB
ON SUNDAY JULY 9, 2006 AT APPROXIMATELY 3:30 P.M. I DECIDED TO STOP AT THE GROCERY STORE. I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT AND WAS DRIVING SLOWLY WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO ENTER A PARKING SPACE I TURNED LEFT AND EASED SLOWLY INTO THE PARKING SPACE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE BRINGING THE CAR TO A STOP. THE MOMENT I STOPPED I REACHED OVER TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR SURGED ENOUGH TO MOVE THE FRONT WHEELS OVER THE CAR STOP IN AN INSTANT WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE. I WAS SHOCKED. WHY WAS THE CAR DOING THIS? I STILL HAD MY FOOT POSITIONED ON THE BRAKE AND PUSHED DOWN. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, AND THE BACK TIRES CAME OVER THE CAR STOP. AT THIS POINT I REMOVED THE FOOT TOTALLY FROM THE BRAKE TO SEE IF THE ENGINE WOULD SLOW DOWN NATURALLY WITHOUT ANY ACTION AT ALL BY ME. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO SURGE TOTALLY ON ITS OWN. I TRIED THE BRAKE AGAIN AND THE CAR STILL DID NOT STOP. AT THIS POINT I REALIZED THAT I WAS GOING TO GO INTO THE ROAD. I LOOKED BOTH WAYS AND SAW A SILVER TOYOTA WITH A LADY DRIVING IT. A COLLISION THEN HAPPENED AND I JAMMED THE BRAKE ON AGAIN AND THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED. I WAS CITED FOR FAILURE TO CONTROL. MY BROTHER WORKED AT LEXUS. HE TOLD ME ANOTHER LADY HAD A SIMILAR ACCIDENT WHILE SHE WAS PULLING INTO THE GARAGE AND THE ENGINE SURGED AND SHE RAN INTO THE GARAGE DOOR. I DECIDED TO LOOK INTO IT FURTHER ON THE INTERNET WHEN I GOT HOME. THE INFORMATION I FOUND WAS UNBELIEVABLE. COMPLAINTS WERE STILL BEING MADE ON ONGOING BASIS. I WENT TO COURT FOR MY TICKET. I HAD TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY TO DEFEND MYSELF. THE CHARGES AGAINST ME WERE REDUCED TO DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE, AND I ENTERED A NO-CONTEST PLEA. I HAVE INCURRED PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA AND OTHER PHYSICAL INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THIS ACCIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO GET OUT OF MY LEASE WITH LEXUS, BUT LEXUS WON?T ALLOW IT. IF LEXUS ACKNOWLEDGES ANY PROBLEM WITH MY CA, THEY WILL HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF THE OTHER PROBLEMS REPORTED BY LEXUS DRIVERS. *AK
ON JULY 9, 2006 AT 3:30 P.M., I STOPPED AT FISHERS FOODS IN CANTON, OHIO. I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT FROM THE FRANK RD. SIDE OF FISHERS AND WAS DRIVING SLOWLY WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO ENTER A PARKING SPACE. THE PARKING SPACE WAS LOCATED DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THE ENTRANCE AND I TURNED LEFT AND EASED SLOWLY INTO THE SPACE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE BRINGING THE CAR TO A STOP. THE MOMENT I STOPPED, I REACHED OVER TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE CAR ENGINE SURGED ENOUGH TO MOVE MY FRONT WHEELS OVER THE CAR STOP IN AN INSTANT WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE. I WAS TOTALLY SHOCKED. I STILL HAD MY FOOT POSITIONED ON THE BRAKE AND PUSHED DOWN. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND THE BACK TIRES CAME OVER THE CAR STOP. AT THIS POINT, I REMOVED MY FOOT TOTALLY FROM THE BRAKE TO SEE IF THE ENGINE WOULD SLOW DOWN NATURALLY WITHOUT ANY ACTION AT ALL BY ME. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO SURGE JUST AS FAST TOTALLY ON ITS OWN. I TRIED THE BRAKE AGAIN AND THE CAR STILL DID NOT STOP. I LIFTED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AGAIN AND AT THIS POINT REALIZED I WAS GOING TO GO INTO THE ROAD. I LOOKED TO THE LEFT AND SAW A CAR COMING DOWN THE ROAD A FAIR DISTANCE AWAY. I THEN LOOKED TO THE RIGHT AND SAW A SILVER TOYOTA WITH A LADY DRIVING IT. I KNEW I WAS GOING TO HIT HER. THE COLLISION HAPPENED AND I PUT THE BRAKE ON AGAIN AND THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED. THE POLICE CITED ME FOR FAILURE TO CONTROL. AS I WAS WAITING FOR MY HUSBAND TO PICK ME UP AFTER THE ACCIDENT, HE CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT HE HAD TALKED TO MY BROTHER AND THAT WHILE MY BROTHER WAS WORKING AT LEXUS, ANOTHER LADY HAD A SIMILAR ACCIDENT, ONLY HERS HAPPENED WHEN SHE WAS PULLING INTO HER GARAGE AND HER ENGINE SURGED AND HER CAR RAN INTO THE GARAGE DOOR. I THOUGHT THIS WAS KIND OF A BIG COINCIDENCE AND I DECIDED TO LOOK INTO IT FURTHER ON THE INTERNET WHEN I GOT HOME. THE INFORMATION I FOUND OUT ABOUT WAS SHOCKING, UNBELIEVABLE, AND ALSO MADE ME VERY ANGRY. THE COMPLAINTS ARE STILL BEING MADE ON AN ONGOING BASIS. *JB
TODAY MY CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET IT TO STOP BY BRAKING. *JB
SUDDEN, UNINTENDED ACCELERATION DUE TO SIGNIFICANT THROTTLE LAG. PEDAL IS ALMOST TO THE FLOOR BEFORE CAR MOVES, AND THEN DOES SO AS IF YOU HAD DELIBERATELY PUSHED IT THAT FAR. ALSO, UPON ACCELERATION, CAR STALLS FOR ONE TO TWO SECONDS BEFORE ENGAGING. THIS HAS CAUSED SEVERAL NEAR COLLISIONS, ONE WITH A DUMP TRUCK. LEXUS CLAIMS THIS IS "OPERATING AS DESIGNED." *JB
DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO HESITATE FOR ONE-HALF TO ONE FULL SECOND AND THEN LURCH FORWARD, SUDDENLY. THIS IS A SAFETY RISK WHEN CHANGING LANES OR ACCELERATING TO AVOID A COLLISION. THE DEALER'S MECHANIC INDICATED (TWICE) THAT THEY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL'S "ELECTRONIC ACCELERATOR," AND THAT AN INTERNAL COMPUTER IS SUPPOSED TO "LEARN FROM THE DRIVERS' HABITS AND ADJUST THE ACCELERATION ACCORDINGLY." AN ACCIDENT CAN EASILY OCCUR WHEN EXPECTED POWER IS DENIED UPON DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. *NM
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ACCELERATION AFTER SLOWING DOWN THE VEHICLE WILL SURGE FORWARD. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED A TRANSMISSION CHIP THAT WAS RECOGNIZED IN A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. THE PROBLEM DIMINISHED FOR A WHILE, BUT THE CORRECTION DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, BUT ENOUGH TIMES TO CAUSE THE CONTACT TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE DECLINING TO OFFER ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS FOR A VEHICLE WITH ECTI. *AK
I PURCHASED A 2005 LEXUS ES330 AND HAVE HAD CONSISTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE'S ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION. THE VEHICLE HESITATES DURING ACCELERATION AND SUDDENLY LURCHES FORWARD. ALSO, DURING DECELERATION THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SLOWS DOWN UPON RELEASING THE GAS PEDAL. THIS HAS BECOME A SERIOUS ISSUE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND I''M CONCERNED IT MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE REPORTED THE ISSUE TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS BUT HAVE RECEIVED A STANDARD RESPONSE THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I''M HOPING THE DOT WILL INITIATE A RECALL AND HAVE THE MANUFACTURER FIX THE PROBLEM. I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED AND SHOCKED AT THE NUMBER OF SIMILAR REPORTS FILED WITH THE DOT. *NM
2005 LEXUS ES 330, SEVER HESITATION IN THE TRANMISSION WHEN ENTERING FREEWAY. FEAR OF REAR END COLLISION OR STALL WHEN TRYING TO ATTAIN HIGHWAY SPEED. LAG OF 2-3 SECONDS AFTER STEPPING ON THE GAS.
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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