2005 Lexus ES Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 24about this part
- Share
- 41%of 59 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 100miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 24 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2005 Lexus ES, 41% of the 59 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 100 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #11222547, filed 2019-06, 98,644 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10161193, filed 2006-07, 1 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10131779, filed 2005-08, 1 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10148317, filed 2006-01, 50 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10137086, filed 2005-09, 1,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10179697Aug 5, 2020TSB: Vehicles may display evidence of a fluid leak or fluid seep from powertrain components. This bulletin explains how to determine the differences between a fluid leak versus a…
- 10179601Aug 5, 2020TSB: Vehicles may display evidence of a fluid leak or fluid seep from powertrain components. This bulletin explains how to determine the differences between a fluid leak versus a…
- 10205346Oct 16, 2014Auto matic Transmission Replacement kPrecautions
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 10% |
| 2019 | 5 | 15% |
| 2018 | 1 | 20% |
| 2016 | 1 | 11% |
| 2013 | 1 | 3% |
| 2010 | 2 | 5% |
| 2008 | 1 | 1% |
| 2007 | 4 | 3% |
| 2006 | 1 | 8% |
| 2005 | 24 | 41% |
| 2004 | 2 | 13% |
| 2003 | 5 | 22% |
| 2002 | 5 | 19% |
| 2000 | 1 | 17% |
Other parts of the 2005 Lexus ES
15 complaintsAir bags
10 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 29, 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