2006 Lexus ES330 problems
Owners have filed 79 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Lexus ES330. Cruise control is the most reported problem area, at 27% of complaints. After that come air bags (24%) and drivetrain & axles (8%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 79 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Cruise control 27% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 27 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 9 and 1
- Typical mileage
- 40,000 miles 62 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 18 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 13 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 7 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 15 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 4 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 5 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 62 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 40,000 miles. For cruise control specifically, the median reported mileage is about 25,000 miles (18 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 27 complaints mention a crash; 1 complaint mentions a fire; 9 injuries reported; 1 death reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 94% of model years in our database.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 lexus es330. While merging into the right lane at approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The contact was unable to brake and struck a pedestrian. The pedestrian died due to injuries. The contact also rear ended two other vehicles and drove through a fence. The vehicle came to a stop when it crashed into a guard rail. The manufacturer stated that the cause of the failure could have been the floormat. The insurance company claimed that the vehicle was destroyed.
When approaching 4-way stop, brakes failed and car accelerated. Changed lanes to miss 3 cars in front. Car continued to accelerate; brakes did not work. Went on sidewalk to miss another car. Went over cross street & onto median, hit signs and small trees, car continued accelerating, went over other side of cross street, up on grass, hitting signs and small trees, hit brick wall holding shell station sign. Car stopped. Air bags deployed in median. Car was totaled, even sun roof broken, all tires flat.
Collision with a deer causing damage to the hood, grille, right fender and right headlight (hid). Impact caused the headlight to ignite resulting in a fire that spread over the hood totally destroyed the engine compartment. Right front tire exploded during the fire. My concern is the fact that high intensity discharge (hid) lights ignite on impact. These lights are widely used today even though they are fire hazards.
When turning into a parking space on a private parking lot, the vehicle speed up and brakes did not stop it. The vehicle jumped a curb and continued until it hit two trees that stopped it. Damage was estimated at $9000.
In city traffic, acceleration with my 2006 es330 is not predictable and it hesitates rather than responding appropriately as the gas pedal is pressed. Has also happened as I am trying to accelerate to merge into traffic. Occurs sporadically and is very unpredictable. Can go weeks without it happening. No accidents due to this - yet.