2005 Lexus ES Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 10about this part
- Share
- 17%of 59 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 13,425miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 10 complaints about the air bags of the 2005 Lexus ES, 17% of the 59 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 13,425 miles. 5 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10554812, filed 2013-12, 80,000 miles“Wed may 23, 2007 went to jm Lexus to check on the lights on the dashboard which say air bag on and air bag off. Saw joshua lentz who said they recalibrated the system. He told me that as long as front passenger weighs above 70 lbs the air bag system should operate. I asked if the air bag would activate in event of accident if the air bag off sign shows. He told me it would not activate. Today as we drove the sign air bag on showed. After a stop at a store we drove home and the air bag off sign showed all the way home. …”
NHTSA complaint #10191816, filed 2007-05, 8,850 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #11254309, filed 2019-09“On nov. 6, 2007 I was the last vehicle in a four car pile-up. The honda in front of me was totaled and my 2005 Lexus es330 had over $10,000 in damage. My concern is that the air bags did not deploy. With such significant damage I was sure they would have protected me but they did not. I am concerned there may be a problem and I will not be protected in the future.”
NHTSA complaint #10209289, filed 2007-11“The contact owns a 2005 Lexus es330. The contact's wife blacked out while driving and crashed into another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy and his wife was injured. The vehicle was destroyed and a police report was filed. An investigation was performed by Lexus and he received a letter stating that they do not have to provide him with any of the crash information. The vehicle went 70 feet across five traffic lanes and landed perpendicularly to a pole. The current and failure mileages were 18,000. Updated 12-12-07.”
NHTSA complaint #10203319, filed 2007-09, 18,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10209023Feb 24, 2022TSB: Some 2005 ? 2022 model year Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty smell is present. Follow the procedures in this…
- 10132074Nov 10, 2013Beginning in 1998, Lexus introduced side airbags as optional equipment. Lexus does NOT recommend replacement of original seat covers with non-Lexus leather or other seat cover…
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 | 22% |
| 2021 | 25 | 89% |
| 2020 | 8 | 44% |
| 2019 | 6 | 18% |
| 2018 | 1 | 20% |
| 2016 | 1 | 11% |
| 2015 | 2 | 40% |
| 2013 | 3 | 9% |
| 2012 | 19 | 61% |
| 2011 | 27 | 59% |
| 2010 | 20 | 49% |
| 2009 | 14 | 50% |
| 2008 | 37 | 54% |
| 2007 | 34 | 27% |
| 2006 | 7 | 58% |
| 2005 | 10 | 17% |
| 2004 | 4 | 25% |
| 2003 | 3 | 13% |
| 2002 | 3 | 11% |
| 1999 | 1 | 13% |
Other parts of the 2005 Lexus ES
24 complaintsVehicle speed control
15 complaintsSteering
5 complaintsExterior lighting
4 complaintsSuspension
4 complaintsOther or unknown
3 complaintsEngine cooling
2 complaintsBody and structure
2 complaintsBrakes
1 complaintsElectrical system
1 complaintsEquipment
1 complaintsFuel system
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2005 Lexus ES
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology