Vehicle Data Hub

2005 Lexus ES330 transmission problems

33 complaints about transmission have been filed for the 2005 Lexus ES330, which is 19% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the 2nd most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
33 19% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
5,000 miles 20 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
1 and 0
Injuries and deaths
0 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When transmission problems show up

Transmission complaints by mileage, 2005 Lexus ES330 Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 5,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 13 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 3 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 0 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 3 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 1 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 0 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 0 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 0 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 0 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 5,000 miles
Based on 20 complaints that include mileage. 80% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles13
20k to 40k miles3
40k to 60k miles0
60k to 80k miles3
80k to 100k miles1
100k to 120k miles0
120k to 140k miles0
140k to 160k miles0
160k to 180k miles0
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Of the 20 transmission complaints that report mileage, the median is about 5,000 miles, and 80% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 1 crash.

What owners wrote

(1) car was nearly new, only 100 miles, no abnormal behavior up to that point. (2) while shifting into park as part of the process of parking, and with no pressure on accellerator, car suddenly lurched forward, striking concrete stancheon of parking lot light pole. This resulted in damage to the front bumper, frame, right quarter-panel, right headlight assembly, causing over $4,000 in repair costs. (3) above problems were repaired by a dealer-approved auto body shop.

Reported at 100 miles, September 2004 Crash

I purchased my 2005 lexus es330 as a certified pre-own in september 2007. After driving it for a month or two. I experience a consistent hesitation issue. I took it to the local dealership and they said they would reset something in the computer to adjust to my driving style. It did not appear to help. So I've taken it back 2 times since and they say it's the normal function of the drive by wire and nothing they can do.

Reported at 66,500 miles, December 2009

Other problems reported for the 2005 Lexus ES330

Transmission problems in other years

Transmission problems across all Lexus models