10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
12 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
13 / 0
Average Mileage:
64,054 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2005 Lexus ES 330 seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2005 Lexus ES 330 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #25

Feb 052023

ES 330

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

passenger dash airbag is coming apart at the seems.

- Saint Helena Island, SC, USA

problem #24

Sep 022016

ES 330

  • 0 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.

- Mechanicsville, VA, USA

problem #23

May 312015

ES 330

  • 101,000 miles
Passenger seat airbag sensor light on when seated

- Commack, NY, USA

problem #22

Feb 282019

ES 330

  • 80,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This is similar to the complain another car owner has filed. My car was purchased new from the Lexus of pleasonton, ca dealership. I have had no major accident or no airbag deployment. Car has been lightly used with 80K miles on the odometer currently. The airbag container on the passenger dash has progressively cracked at the topical seams over time. I have been told an airbag should not look like this. I am concerned about an untimely deployment and if the container will get worse. At no time has the airbag been manipulated, repaired, etc since my ownership.

- Fremont, CA, USA

problem #21

Sep 152010

ES 330

  • 45,000 miles
This car was purchased from the Lexus of memphis dealership as used in 2010. I have had no accidents or airbag deployment. I am.not aware of any a evident history from the previous owner. The airbag container on the passenger dash has progressively cracked at the topical seams over time. I have been told an airbag should not look like this. I am concerned about an untimely deployment and if the container will get worse. At no time has the airbag been manipulated, repaired, etc since my ownership.

- Memphis, TN, USA

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problem #20

Mar 022015

ES 330

  • miles
Passenger airbag on the dashboard is opening, and my car has never been involved in an impact.

- Houston, Tx 77230, TX, USA

problem #19

Oct 212017

ES 330

  • 169,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Tamara recall on my airbags, never repaired. I got into an accident and airbags didn't come out. Have to replace brakes every few months on this car also

- Toms River, NJ, USA

problem #18

Aug 152017

ES 330

  • 83,000 miles
Front passenger airbag cover appears to be separated along the seam near windshield on dashboard and there is a wider gap on that side vs the side closest passenger. I've not seen this before in any of my other Lexus vehicles and it's cause for concern of safety as a result.

- Owings Mills, MD, USA

problem #17

Aug 152017

ES 330 6-cyl

  • 212,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Lexus ES330. The contact noticed that the front passenger air bag cover was bulging and had separated along the seam nearest the windshield on the dashboard. The passenger air bag and check engine warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to butler Lexus of South atlanta (located at 4025 jonesboro rd, union city, ga 30291, (678) 783-2703) where it was diagnosed that the passenger air bag needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 212,000.

- Jonesboro, GA, USA

problem #16

Jul 012016

ES 330

  • miles
The front passenger airbag cover is bulging and has separated along the seam nearest the windshield due to shrinkage of the dash. This may impact the deployment of the airbag and cause injury.

- Blue Ridge, GA, USA

problem #15

Feb 262016

ES 330

  • 108,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Airbag failed to deploy upon frontal collision, vehicle moving straight ahead on neighborhood street..

- Bethesda, MD, USA

problem #14

Dec 142013

ES 330 6-cyl

  • 65,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Lexus ES330. The contact stated that while at a stop light, another vehicle crashed into the rear of the of his vehicle, causing the him to crash into the preceding vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained unknown injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an unknown location. The body damages were repaired but the air bag failure was not determined. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 65,000....updated 09/08/16 updated 09/26/16.

- Hazletownship, PA, USA

problem #13

Sep 112015

ES 330 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 73,874 miles
As car in front of me slammed on brakes to avoid two teenagers running across in front of her, I slammed on my brakes and the car accelerated from 20-30. The air bag did not deploy nor did the seat belt engage and lock to prevent me from slamming into the steering wheel. The ABS brakes were slammed and it felt like the brakes did not work like there was an air bubble in the system. I crashed into the Hyundai. Totaled my car and the front of the car frame was bent. Called the police, but did not take a report since no one was taken by ambulance. Went do my doctor and reported this to Lexus-incident number 150922-00272 on 9/22/15. Lexus will inspect the car on 10/9/15...updated 10/15/15...updated 12/03/15, updated 4/9/18

- Santa Monica, CA, USA

problem #12

Feb 282015

ES 330 6-cyl

  • 104,000 miles
We were going on a two way street, (old annapolis road, ellicott city, md-21042) another car crossed the two yellow lanes (median) and hit our car head- on. The front portion of our car and that car hit us was completely damaged. The car behind us could not stop and hit our car from the rear. We noted that both the driver side and passenger side air bags in our 2005 Lexus 330 did not deploy. We were going about 30 miles and the person came in to our lane may be 35 to 40 miles. I tried to apply the horn and stop my vehicle but could not come to a complete stop. The other driver probably dozed out, but the air bags in his car deployed. Why the air bags in our car did not deploy?.. updated 03/31/15

- Ellicott City, MD, USA

problem #11

Mar 012012

ES 330

  • miles
The dashboard is cracking and looks to be expanding. This is happening on the passenger side airbag seam and it started about 3 years ago. I am very concern this may compromise the airbag and safety. I called my local Lexus dealership and corporate headquarters after hearing about many other models being replaced but my model is not on the list. On clublexus.com, many users are experiencing the same thing but I am not sure if they have file a vehicle complaint yet. Here is the link: www.clublexus.com/forums/ES300-and-ES330/657687-ES330-shrinking-dash-airbag-cover.html.

- Concord, CA, USA

problem #10

Feb 222015

ES 330

  • 108,000 miles
Passenger side air bag is protruding. The vehicle has never been in an accident but I am now concerned that if one were to ocut, the airbag would not work.

- Black Jack , MO, USA

problem #9

Apr 022012

ES 330 6-cyl

  • 80,000 miles
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. The mechanic who performed the repair noted that there was intrusion on the drivers door, that the lower rocker had been pushed in, and that due to pressure on the B pillar the rear door did not open properly after the accident. This vehicle is equipped with side curtain airs bags which did not deploy during the accident. The owner's manual of the vehicle shows airbag sensors in all four doors of the car. Given the direct hit on the drivers door and the resulting explosion of the drivers window, we feel the side airbags should have deployed, which would have lessened or eliminated the injuries my wife suffered. I informed Toyota motor sales that I was unhappy with the airbag's failure to deploy, and was informed that since "the impact forces were not directed towards the B-pillar, deployment was not warranted". to me this indicates that there are not sensors in the doors as shown in the owner's manual. Additionally, there were forces exerted to the B-pillar in the accident, as noted by the mechanical inspection.

- Hudson, OH, USA

problem #8

May 072013

ES 330 6-cyl

  • 116,113 miles
The Lexus driver (driver 1) was heading southbound on 112th ave SE (in newcastle, wa) approaching the intersection with SE 64th St. She passed through the intersection as it was clear and she had the right of way as the stop sign was intended for the driver who hit her. The 2nd driver said he forgot to look to his left and accelerated forward into his left turn onto 112th ave SE. Driver 2 hit driver 1 in the right front bumper. The airbag failed deploy causing the driver 1 to sustain multiple severe injuries. Such as, neck, shoulder, back, ribs, torso, spine injuries etc....

- Newcastle, WA, USA

problem #7

Jul 152012

ES 330 6-cyl

  • 73,400 miles
I was driving up the street at approximately 25mph, in a 2005 Lexus ES330, when a 74 year old lady pulled out of her driveway right in front of me. Needless to say, we were involved in a wreck. My 2 front teeth hit the steering wheel knocking them completely out! the air bags did not deploy. I have gone online & see that there are several complaints about this year, make & model vehicle & the air bags not deploying. I feel that had the air bags deployed I would not be going through oral surgery to have teeth implanted. The manufacturer needs to take a serious look at this issue, as the wreck could've resulted in a fatality, & the fact that there are so many complaints about these air bags not deploying.

- Springfield, MO, USA

problem #6

Oct 142011

ES 330

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Lexus ES330. The contact stated that while sitting at a traffic stop, another vehicle crashed into the rear of his vehicle, causing him to crash into the rear of a preceding vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact and a passenger were injured and a police report was filed. An authorized dealer was contacted, but denied any assistance with repairs to the vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 50,000 and the current mileage was 106,000.

- Indianaoplis, IN, USA

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