2005 Lexus ES Problems

I PURCHASED THE 2005 LEXUS ES 330 IN AUGUST OF 2005. SINCE THE TIME OF PURCHASE I HAVE EXPERIENCE A NOTICEABLE HESITATION AND LURCHING OF THE TRANSMISSION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM SLOW SPEEDS. THE HESITATION AND SUBSEQUENT LURCHING IS VERY NOTICEABLE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM 24 MPH. SINCE THE PURCHASE I HAVE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM THROUGH THE INTERNET AND LEARNED THAT THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS MODEL GOING BACK TO 2002. SEVERAL WEB FORUMS, SUCH AS EDMONDS.COM AND LEXUS OWNERS CLUB SHOW OVER TWO THOUSAND POSTINGS ON THE PROBLEM. EVEN THE NHTSA HAS COMPLAINTS. LEXUS REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE SENT NUMEROUS E-MAILS AND LETTERS TO BOTH LEXUS AND MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THEY HAVE FEIGNED SURPRISE AT THE PROBLEM, AND THEN HAVE TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM TO BE FOUND. THEY HAVE RECOMMENDED PREMIUM FUEL, REBOOTING THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER AND WAITING FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO "SELF ADJUST". NOTHING HAS HELPED. LEXUS WILL NOT, OR CANNOT, FIX THIS PROBLEM. THE HESITATION AND LURCHING IS NOTICEABLE WHEN ENTERING A HIGHWAY OR DOING A "ROLLING STOP". IT IS HAZARDOUS. LEXUS HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE PROBLEM SINCE IT FIRST EXISTED IN 2002. THIS IS NOT ONLY AN UNCOMFORTABLE PROBLEM IN THIS SO-CALLED LUXURY CAR, BUT IT IS A DANGER. *NM

THE CAR WILL HESITATE AND THEN LURCH FORWARD WHEN YOU ARE GOING AT A SLOW SPEED AND THEN PUSH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. IT IS EXTREMELY ANNOYING AND COULD PRESENT A SAFETY HAZARD UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR. I HAVE BEEN TO TWO DEALERS AND ALWAYS GET THE SAME "COMPANY STORY". IT'S A NEW DRIVE BY WIRE AND IT HAS TO LEARN HOW YOU DRIVE. WELL, I HAVE HAD MY SOFTWARE CHANGED NUMEROUS TIMES AND IT NEVER IS FIXED. I HAVE HAD 4 LEXUS AUTOS, WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER. THEY KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM AND HAVE CORPORATE COVERUP PROGRAM IN PLACE TO HIDE IT, JUST BECAUSE NO ONE DIED YET. THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO FIX IT AND SPEND THE MONEY AND NEGATIVE PUBLICITY. *NM

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

passenger dash airbag is coming apart at the seems.

MY PASSENGER AIRBAG COMPARTMENT ON FRONT DASH HAS BEEN SLOWLY BEEN LIFTING AND SEPARATING THOUGH THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. IS THE AIRBAG GOING TO IMPLODE ONE DAY ON A PASSENGER WITHOUT US KNOWING? IT IS LOOKING SCARY BUT I SEE THERE IS NO RECALL.

Authorized dealership service department (Toyota West/Germain Automotive Group) performed structural repairs and released a vehicle back to me as safe. I operated this vehicle on public highways with my child. Upon subsequent inspection, the same dealership declared the vehicle a 'Total Loss' due to structural frame damage caused by their own technician. The dealership knowingly allowed a structurally compromised, unsafe vehicle to be driven off their lot without disclosing the safety risks.

FORMAL COMPLAINT: CONSUMER FRAUD & SAFETY VIOLATION Dealership: Germain Toyota West (Columbus, OH) Case Reference: #[XXX] ​To the Consumer Protection Division: ​I am filing a formal complaint regarding Theft by Deception, Gross Negligence, and Reckless Endangerment by this dealership. ​1. THEFT & BILLING FRAUD On Oct 24, 2025, the dealership charged me $455.00 for labor to install rear sway bar links. I provided my own parts. The technician (Maciah Houpe) failed to install the parts but still charged me. He later admitted via text message: "I did not do your rear links... you didn't pay for rear links." The dealership has refused to refund this money despite the written confession. ​2. PROPERTY DESTRUCTION During the attempted repair, the technician used excessive force and bent the vehicle's "wheel rod" (Tie Rod), destroying the steering geometry. The technician later admitted to a witness that he was fired for "bending the wheel rod" on my vehicle. ​3. RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT (SAFETY VIOLATION) The dealership released the vehicle to my family on Oct 26, representing it as "safe." After a near-miss incident on [XXX] where the steering failed at highway speeds, Management admitted to my wife that they knew the vehicle "might be lucky to make it to the North Side" before failing. They knowingly released a vehicle with a critical safety defect onto a public highway. ​4. RETALIATION When I contacted Toyota Corporate to complain, the technician texted me: "You blew up the spot coming through Toyota... they can't help you." The dealership then revoked a "cure offer" (towing/rental) purely as retaliation for my consumer complaint. ​ATTACHED EVIDENCE: Please see the attached "Master Case Brief" and "Exhibit A" (PDFs). These contain the full legal timeline and the Text Message Logs where the employee confesses to the theft and damage. ​I have served the dealership a Notice of Intent to Sue. I am requesting an immediate investigation into this franchise's billing fraud INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORM

Authorized dealership service department (Toyota West/Germain Automotive Group) performed structural repairs and released a vehicle back to me as safe. I operated this vehicle on public highways with my child. Upon subsequent inspection, the same dealership declared the vehicle a 'Total Loss' due to structural frame damage caused by their own technician. The dealership knowingly allowed a structurally compromised, unsafe vehicle to be driven off their lot without disclosing the safety risks.

FORMAL COMPLAINT: CONSUMER FRAUD & SAFETY VIOLATION Dealership: Germain Toyota West (Columbus, OH) Case Reference: #[XXX] ​To the Consumer Protection Division: ​I am filing a formal complaint regarding Theft by Deception, Gross Negligence, and Reckless Endangerment by this dealership. ​1. THEFT & BILLING FRAUD On Oct 24, 2025, the dealership charged me $455.00 for labor to install rear sway bar links. I provided my own parts. The technician (Maciah Houpe) failed to install the parts but still charged me. He later admitted via text message: "I did not do your rear links... you didn't pay for rear links." The dealership has refused to refund this money despite the written confession. ​2. PROPERTY DESTRUCTION During the attempted repair, the technician used excessive force and bent the vehicle's "wheel rod" (Tie Rod), destroying the steering geometry. The technician later admitted to a witness that he was fired for "bending the wheel rod" on my vehicle. ​3. RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT (SAFETY VIOLATION) The dealership released the vehicle to my family on Oct 26, representing it as "safe." After a near-miss incident on [XXX] where the steering failed at highway speeds, Management admitted to my wife that they knew the vehicle "might be lucky to make it to the North Side" before failing. They knowingly released a vehicle with a critical safety defect onto a public highway. ​4. RETALIATION When I contacted Toyota Corporate to complain, the technician texted me: "You blew up the spot coming through Toyota... they can't help you." The dealership then revoked a "cure offer" (towing/rental) purely as retaliation for my consumer complaint. ​ATTACHED EVIDENCE: Please see the attached "Master Case Brief" and "Exhibit A" (PDFs). These contain the full legal timeline and the Text Message Logs where the employee confesses to the theft and damage. ​I have served the dealership a Notice of Intent to Sue. I am requesting an immediate investigation into this franchise's billing fraud INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

JUST BOUGHT CAR TODAY. HAD NEW TIRES INSTALLED AND THEY TOLD ME THEY PUT THE CAR IN PARK BUT IR STARTED ROLLING. HAD TO RESTART IN NEUTRAL AND PUT IN PARK AGAIN. WHEN I LEFT WENT TO AUTO PARTS STORE AND PARKED AND TURNED VEHICLE OFF. AS I WAS GETTING OUT REALIZED CAR WAS ROLLING. I PUT FOOT ON BRAKE AND CAR RESTARTED WITHOUT PUTTING IN NEUTRAL. SHIFTED TO DRIVE AND BACK TO PARK AND IT STOPPED THIS TIME.

THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY DEGRADES THEREBY CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO APPEAR EXTREMELY DIM WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. *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

MY WIFE ENTERED AN INTERSECTION AND WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING AT 30 MPH. THE DRIVER'S DOOR WINDOW EXPLODED ON IMPACT AND SHE WAS HIT WITH FLYING GLASS IN THE FACE. THE DRIVER'S DOOR WAS BENT INWARD APPROXIMATELY 12 INCHES FROM THE FORCE. WE BELIEVE SHE HIT HER HEAD ON THE B PILLAR, BECAUSE SHE SUFFERED A CONCUSSION AND A JAGGED CUT ABOVE HER LEFT EYE. SHE ALSO SUFFERED A BROKEN LEFT RIB IN THE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT. THE MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED THE REPAIR NOTED THAT THERE WAS INTRUSION ON THE DRIVERS DOOR, THAT THE LOWER ROCKER HAD BEEN PUSHED IN, AND THAT DUE TO PRESSURE ON THE B PILLAR THE REAR DOOR DID NOT OPEN PROPERLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH SIDE CURTAIN AIRS BAGS WHICH DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE ACCIDENT. THE OWNER'S MANUAL OF THE VEHICLE SHOWS AIRBAG SENSORS IN ALL FOUR DOORS OF THE CAR. GIVEN THE DIRECT HIT ON THE DRIVERS DOOR AND THE RESULTING EXPLOSION OF THE DRIVERS WINDOW, WE FEEL THE SIDE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED, WHICH WOULD HAVE LESSENED OR ELIMINATED THE INJURIES MY WIFE SUFFERED. I INFORMED TOYOTA MOTOR SALES THAT I WAS UNHAPPY WITH THE AIRBAG'S FAILURE TO DEPLOY, AND WAS INFORMED THAT SINCE "THE IMPACT FORCES WERE NOT DIRECTED TOWARDS THE B-PILLAR, DEPLOYMENT WAS NOT WARRANTED". TO ME THIS INDICATES THAT THERE ARE NOT SENSORS IN THE DOORS AS SHOWN IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WERE FORCES EXERTED TO THE B-PILLAR IN THE ACCIDENT, AS NOTED BY THE MECHANICAL INSPECTION. *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

I RECEIVED A SAFTY RECALL NOTICE FROM LEXUS INDICATING MY ENGINE CRANKSHFT PULLEY MAY LOOSE AND CAUSE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. I CALLED LEXUS AND THEY SAID I HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LEXUS DEALER. SINCE THERE ISN'T A LEXUS DEALER IN MY HOMETOWN THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE CLOSEST DEALERS WERE AT LEAST 150 MILES FROM MY HOME. I BOUGHT THE CAR AT A LOCAL USED CAR DEALERSHIP THAT IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS. I ASKED IF THEY COULD CERTIFY MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER TO DO THE INSPECTION AND THEY SAID NO. IF THIS DEFECT IS ON MY VEHICLE IT WOULD BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE 150 MILES TO GET TO THEIR CERTIFIED DEALER. IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT ON MY WAY TO THE INSPECTION WHO IS LIABLE? THEY WILL BE. I WANT THEM TO ACCOMODATE ME BY CERTIFYING THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER TO DO AN INSPECTION FOR ME. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING. IT STALLED DURING START UP AND BACKING OUT AS WELL AS DURING CRUISING WITHOUT ACCELERATION. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS HOWEVER THE ARE UNABLE TO FIX IT. UPDATED *JB

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 RECEIVED A SAFTY RECALL NOTICE FROM LEXUS INDICATING MY ENGINE CRANKSHFT PULLEY MAY LOOSE AND CAUSE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. I CALLED LEXUS AND THEY SAID I HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LEXUS DEALER. SINCE THERE ISN'T A LEXUS DEALER IN MY HOMETOWN THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE CLOSEST DEALERS WERE AT LEAST 150 MILES FROM MY HOME. I BOUGHT THE CAR AT A LOCAL USED CAR DEALERSHIP THAT IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS. I ASKED IF THEY COULD CERTIFY MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER TO DO THE INSPECTION AND THEY SAID NO. IF THIS DEFECT IS ON MY VEHICLE IT WOULD BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE 150 MILES TO GET TO THEIR CERTIFIED DEALER. IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT ON MY WAY TO THE INSPECTION WHO IS LIABLE? THEY WILL BE. I WANT THEM TO ACCOMODATE ME BY CERTIFYING THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER TO DO AN INSPECTION FOR ME. *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

I OWN A 2005 LEXUS RX 330 WITH APPROXIMATELY 27,000 MILES ON IT.--MY RIGHT REAR BREAK LIGHT DOES NOT WORK CONSISTENTLY. LINDSAY LEXUS, ALEXANDRIA, VA, WAS TOLD OF THE PROBLEM, CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. SUBSEQUENTLY, I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER BY A POLICE OFFICER AT NIGHT, AS WELL AS BEING TOLD BY FOLKS WHO FOLLOWED ME AT NIGHT, THAT THE LIGHT WAS NOT OPERATIONAL. I AGAIN, TOLD LINDSAY LEXUS WHAT WAS OCCURRING AND WAS TOLD THAT UNLESS IT DID NOT WORK WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. HOWEVER, THEY OFFERED THAT I COULD PURCHASE A NEW BULB FOR $300.00. ADDITIONALLY, THEY SAID IF IT WAS NOT WORKING WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY. I CONTACTED THE LEXUS HEADQUARTERS IN CA, AND THEY OFFERED NO SOLUTION AS WELL. I WOULD SPECULATE THAT I WILL BE PULLED OVER AGAIN BY AN OFFICER, AS THE FIRST OFFICER TOLD ME IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT SINCE IT OCCASIONALLY WORKS, IT MIGHT BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY LINDSAY LEXUS DOES NOT HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THE HAVE PLACED THE ONUS ON THE CUSTOMER. *NM

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS ES. THE FRONT TIRES WERE BALD ON THE OUTER AREA OF THE TIRES. THE REAR TIRES WERE DRY AND CRACKING. THERE WAS NO FRONT END VIBRATION OR LOOSE STEERING EXPERIENCED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT LOOKED AT BY A DEALER AND THE TIRES WERE NOT CHANGED. THE TIRES WERE BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL42 SIZE P235/45R17. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,642.

I BOUGHT A LEXUS 330 OF 2005 MODEL BACK IN FEB 2005. RECENTLY MY 5 YEAR OLD SON GRADUATE FROM CHILD SEAT AND NEED TO USE THE BOOSTER SEAT. I SURPRISINGLY FOUND OUT THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR MY KID TO BE PUT IN A BOOSTER SEAT AND SEATBELT BE FASTENED. I TALKED TO THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT CAN'T HELP ME BECAUSE KIDS DOES NOT NEED BOOSTER SEAT FOR SAFETY REASON. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT ME AT [XXX] OR [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR