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2005 Lexus ES recalls, complaints and safety ratings

There are 2 US recalls for the 2005 Lexus ES, and 1 in Canada. Owners filed 59 complaints with NHTSA, most often about power train.

2US recalls
0urgent recalls
59owner complaints
–overall crash rating

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Check by VIN to confirm the exact model and see every recall for it.

Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.

US recalls (2)

Engine and engine cooling

2011-11-09 · campaign 11V539000 · 420,326 vehicles

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 WITH THE INNER RING, CAUSING NOISE AND/OR ILLUMINATION OF THE BATTERY DISCHARGE INDICATOR LIGHT.

Risk and remedy

Risk: 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.

Remedy: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL CHECK THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY TO IDENTIFY WHETHER IT WAS PRODUCED BY THE U.S. SUPPLIER. IF SO, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE PULLEY WITH A NEW ONE AT NO CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING EARLY JANUARY 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Seat belts: front, buckle assembly

2004-12-15 · campaign 04V595000 · 150,061 vehicles

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.

Risk and remedy

Risk: 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.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT BUCKLE STATUS SWITCH. THIS SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN (SSC 40M) BEGAN ON DECEMBER 20, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 OR LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987..

Canadian recalls (1)

Show 1 Canadian recall

Steering

2011-11-09 · campaign 2011-397

On certain vehicles equipped with a 1MZ-FE or 3MZ-FE V6 engine, the crankshaft pulley may fail. The outer ring may become misaligned, or it may not properly rotate, causing noise and/or illumination of the discharge warning light. In addition, the power steering belt may become detached from the crankshaft pulley, which could result in a sudden increase in steering effort. A loss of steering power assist could result in a crash causing property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the crankshaft pulley.

Owner complaints (59)

Owners filed 59 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Lexus ES (13 crashes, 11 injuries reported). Among 30 model years of this model, it ranks #3 for the most complaints (median 12).

Most-reported problemComplaints
Power train24
Vehicle speed control15
Air bags10
Steering5
Exterior lighting4
Suspension4
Unknown or other2
Engine and engine cooling2

Crash test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2005 Lexus ES.

VersionOverallFrontalSideRollover
2005 Lexus ES330 4-DR. w/SAB––––

Fuel economy

EPA ratings for each 2005 Lexus ES version.

VersionCity MPGHighway MPGCombinedYearly fuel cost
ES 330 3.3 L Automatic 5-spd182721$3,200
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Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada). Recalls updated 2026-10-30.