Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Lexus ES owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
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.
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. …
I purchased my 2005 Lexus es330 in August of 2004 and have had the transmission acceleration / deceleration problems cited here in since the purchase date. I have had my car to the dealer 4 times for repair, plus a fifth visit with the Lexus manufacturers representative. They have upgraded the software and reset the ECM memory each time, and state that there is nothing mechanical wrong with the car. I concur that this is a definite safety problem, especially in heavy traffic, due to the delay and lunging that can cause you to be rear ended or to rear-end someone else. Luckily, I have not had an accident - however given that this problem appears to have been reported on the Lexus ES since the 2002 model, I would expect Lexus or the NHTSA to have done something by now. …
2005 Lexus es330 was purchased in December 2004. Sometime before taking it in for the 5000 mile service I noticed that the car would lurch when accelerated from a speed around 10 miles per hour. This is very disconcerting in stop and go traffic because the sudden, unexpected acceleration could cause an accident. I explained this at the 5000 mile service, but was told they could not replicate it. At the 10,000 mile service I explained that the same problem existed. Again, when I talked to the service consultant before picking up the car, he said the technician could not replicate it on the 2 mile test drive. But he said that this was the driver's fault. Then he did let me know that this was the way the transmissions on the es330 were designed and that others had complained of the same thing. There were no adjustments that could be made, this was the way they are supposed to react.
My new 2005 Lexus es330 has a major transmission problem. It hesitates when needing to accelerate. First it delays upon acceleration and then it jerks ahead quickly causing whiplash and I even crashed into my garage because it jerked ahead without me being able to control it. The dealer said to just use better gas and complain to customer service at Lexus because there are a lot of complaints. Basically, I was told the computer controls the transmission and there is a problem with it but no recall as of yet. Well this is an outrage. I have a new Lexus that drives worse than an old car and they will not do anything about it. I have read hundreds of similar complaints online.
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.
I own and purchased new a 2005 Lexus ES 330 over a year ago and have continual problems with a lagging transmission which can not be fixed per Lexus but poses a definite safety problem as reported by many Lexus owners over the past year or so. I feel Lexus should be made to replace these transmissions with acceptable performing transmissions for all of the affected vehicles.
My 2005 es330 has a lurching problem with the transmission. Lexus just replaced the program in the computer but never told me they were aware of the problem. It is too soon to tell if the fix will work. They just told me to buy premium gas. I have read from many other Lexus consumers that the "fix" and better gas do not work.
My 2005 Lexus es330 has transmission hesitation when after slowing to about 5 MPH, I accelerate. It takes 1 to 2 seconds for the transmission to downshift and then the car lurches dangerously forward. The dealership installed a softward fix to the transmission, but this did not solve the problem.
Transmission complaints in other ES years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2005 Lexus ES?
NHTSA has 24 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2005 Lexus ES, 41% of the model year's 58 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (20 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Lexus ES transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2005 Lexus ES. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2005 Lexus ES transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 0 miles, and 87% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 1 injury to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.