22.8% of complaints about the 2005 Lexus ES330 came in its first year of service — a higher share than 96% of the 245 2005 model-years on record. That points to problems present from new rather than wear. The most-reported system is power train (39 complaints), typically at 1.6 yr or about 22,000 miles.
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AVALON VEHICLES; 2004 AND 2005 CAMRY, CAMRY SOLARA, HIGHLANDER, AND SIENNA VEHICLES, 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID; 2004 AND 2005 LEXUS ES330 AND RX330; AND 2006 LEXUS RX400H VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 1, 2004 THROUGH MARCH 31, 2005, EQUIPPED WITH THE 1MZ-FE OR 3MZ-FE ENGINE. THE AMOUNT OF ADHESIVE AGENT APPLIED BETWEEN THE OUTER RING AND THE TORSIONAL RUBBER DAMPER (INNER RING) IN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY MAY BE INADEQUATE. IF THE ADHESIVE IS INSUFFICIENT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE OUTER RING MAY BECOME MISALIGNED AND IT MAY NOT PROPERLY ROTATE W
IN SOME CASES, THE BELT FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE PULLEY WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND A SUDDEN INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A FRONT PASSENGER POWER SEAT, WHEN INSTALLING CERTAIN REAR-FACING INFANT CHILD SEAT BASES ONTO THE SEAT WITH AN EXCESSIVELY HIGH SEATBELT TENSION, IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO UNSEAT A COMPONENT CALLED THE BUCKLE STATUS SWITCH FROM THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE.
IF THE SWITCH BECOMES UNSEATED, THE FRONT PASSENGER OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM MAY MISTAKE THE REAR-FACING CHILD RESTRAINT FOR AN UNBELTED ADULT OCCUPANT, AND MAY NOT SUPPRESS THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG.
(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. *AK
I PURCHASED A NEW LEXUS ES330, AND IT HAS 3 PROBLEMS: (I) BUMPY RIDE AT LOW AND HIGH SPEEDS, (II) ACCELERATION LAG AFTER COASTING, (III) HIGH IDLE WHEN COLD (15,000RPMS). *AK
WHEN SLOWING TO A NEAR STOP (LESS THAN 10 MPH) AND THEN ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE LAGS AND THEN LURCHES TO OVERCOMPENSATE. IT DOES THIS VIRTUALLY EVERYTIME, MAKING IT UNSAFE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. *DSY
(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. *AK