2005 Lexus ES Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other ES years
- Far more complaints than other years 3rd of 30 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 58 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Lexus ES. That ranks 3rd out of 30 ES model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (24 complaints, 41%), typically at around 100 miles. Complaints mention 13 crashes, 11 injuries. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
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- 58owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 13complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2005 Lexus ES problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 24 | 41% | 100 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 15 | 26% | 13,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 10 | 17% | 13,425 | — | — |
| Steering | 5 | 9% | 55,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 7% | 63,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 4 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 3% | 29,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 3% | 71,500 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 3% | 5,000 | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 2% | 55,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 2% | 8,875 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2005 Lexus ES recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 2005 Lexus ES.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Vehicle speed control (DP05002) — opened Aug 5, 2005, closed Jan 5, 2006.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Authorized dealership service department (Toyota West/Germain Automotive Group) performed structural repairs and released a vehicle back to me as safe. I operated this vehicle on public highways with my child. Upon subsequent inspection, the same dealership declared the vehicle a 'Total Loss' due…
FORMAL COMPLAINT: CONSUMER FRAUD & SAFETY VIOLATION Dealership: Germain Toyota West (Columbus, OH) Case Reference: #[XXX] âTo the Consumer Protection Division: âI am filing a formal complaint regarding Theft by Deception, Gross Negligence, and Reckless Endangerment by this dealership. â1…
[XXX] : âfor parts it's $375. I'll drop the labor down to $80 for $455 totalâ¦âYou: âWell I already have the sway bar links but yes that's fine bro. [XXX] : âGot it let me see if I can change the order real quick. [XXX] : âGot it changed ðð½âScreenshot that whole block.Text 2 â…
passenger dash airbag is coming apart at the seems.
Severe vibration from 30-70mph when acceleration, outboard boot split/slinging grease on left/right sides. CV axle has alot of movement. Right and Left axle shaft needs removed and replaced.
Other Lexus ES years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 ES | 5 | 1 |
| 2024 ES | 9 | 2 |
| 2023 ES | 10 | 2 |
| 2022 ES | 11 | 0 |
| 2021 ES | 28 | 1 |
| 2020 ES | 18 | 1 |
| 2019 ES | 34 | 1 |
| 2018 ES | 5 | 0 |
| 2017 ES | 3 | 0 |
| 2016 ES | 9 | 0 |
| 2015 ES | 5 | 0 |
| 2014 ES | 4 | 0 |
| 2013 ES | 34 | 0 |
| 2012 ES | 31 | 0 |
| 2011 ES | 46 | 0 |
| 2010 ES | 41 | 0 |
| 2009 ES | 28 | 0 |
| 2008 ES | 68 | 0 |
| 2007 ES | 125 | 0 |
| 2006 ES | 12 | 0 |
| 2005 | 58 | 0 |
| 2004 ES | 16 | 0 |
| 2003 ES | 23 | 0 |
| 2002 ES | 27 | 0 |
| 2001 ES | 2 | 0 |
| 2000 ES | 6 | 0 |
| 1999 ES | 8 | 0 |
| 1998 ES | 1 | 0 |
| 1997 ES | 2 | 0 |
| 1996 ES | 1 | 0 |
See all Lexus ES problems by year, every Lexus model, or the Lexus VIN decoder.
Similar Lexus models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Lexus ES?
Owners most often report power train, vehicle speed control, air bags problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 24 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2005 Lexus ES?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 2005 Lexus ES a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other ES model years, the 2005 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.