Overview & Reviews
Lexus polished up some of the details on the ES 330 for 2005. Revised exterior styling includes a new front and rear appearance with updated lighting and trim. Inside, color revisions and new wood availability keep things fresh. New 17-inch wheels are available in either chrome or alloy finish. A memory function now applies to both the driver and front-passenger seats, and heated and ventilated front seats are a new option. A revised steering wheel with auxiliary audio controls debuts, as does voice activation technology for the optional navigation system.
- Comprehensive array of luxury and convenience features, superb ride quality, silent cabin, advanced safety technology, excellent reputation for reliability.
- Bland driving characteristics, many of the most desirable options are expensive, no split-folding rear seat.
User Reviews:
Showing 1 through 10 of 161.00-
Very Disappointed - 2005 Lexus ES 330
By fellst - November 28 - 2:23 amThe car is very nice looking. It has some classy features but not many. The drivetrain is very poor. It has problems shifting very jerky. When cornering it will not shift smoothly almost like a person who cant drive a standard.
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Sorry I bought it - 2005 Lexus ES 330
By red in KCMO - August 29 - 9:30 amNot really any fun to drive around town. The tranmission does not shift properly. Lots of uncertainty about what gear the car wants to be in. I am a stop and go type driver and it is very irritating to have your head snap back when the transmission finally decided what gear to shift into. I would opt for the Acura next time---- Which will be next year. Hope my whiplash is cured by then!! Dealer service dept. says (regarding the transmission problem) "You will get used to it"
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Lexus no more - 2005 Lexus ES 330
By Lexus No More - July 28 - 2:50 amI purchased a 2005 ES330/new... had it in for service 4 times. The transmission always felt like it was missing when slowing down and then accelerating. Once you got going it is a very smooth ride. Apparently the design is flawed. There is a computer chip that needs to refresh, which is fine if you never yield or slow down to go around a corner. The dealership offered a new ES3 50..with extra cost... but I just purchased a 2007 530i BMW.
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DONT BUY A 2005 MODEL - 2005 Lexus ES 330
By Tamra Parks - January 22 - 7:00 amI have the same issues as others with the transmission and it drives me crazy. I complained at the 5,000 mile checkup and the dealership told me, "We know about this common complaint, but you will get used to it." In other words, too bad. My car has 63,000 miles and I have not gotten used to it. So I will never buy another Lexus because of it. This is my second one. Also, the cup holder is so flimsy that it broke and they want $380 to fix it. The quality is equivalent to what you would find in a $10,000 car.
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bad transmission - 2005 Lexus ES 330
By X-Redhead - December 6 - 10:20 pmPoorly shifting transission. It can not find next gear easily. Almost like the transmission is slipping and then takes hold and my head snaps back. Service manager says "you will get used to it". Huh?? For $37,000!! Tires, according to info that came with the car "may not last 20,000 miles". Bridgestone Turanza. Instruments hard to read in the daytime. Next time I will buy the Acura. Cant wait for the 2006 model Acura. This is the third Lexus I have owned and the first time I have been disappointed with my purchase. Also own a 2003 Mercury GM LS and at this point like it better.
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TRANSMISSION & SUSPENSION ISSUES - 2005 Lexus ES 330
By MICHELE - July 26 - 6:10 pmThis is a nice looking car and very comfortable but it lacks in the mechanical arena. I have had 2 major warranty issues. Front left strut broke (told bolts left loose from factory install caused the break) and the transmission had to be replaced. Not only that but it didnt solve the problem, ECU had to be reflashed a couple months later when they got a software upgrade. Told me I was the only one having issues, found out on Edmunds lots of people have them with this year. Dont buy a used one unless the transmission and ECU have been fixed. You will have problems. Not impressed with service or how they handled the quality issues... pursuit of quality... yeah right.
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Hesitation - 2005 Lexus ES 330
By Nancy - July 24 - 9:00 pmI bought my Lexus this summer and have not been happy with it. The hesitation and jerking when starting to accelerate is not right. The dealer says this is normal for a V6 engine. If thats the case Im selling! The drink holder between the front seats is in a bad location. If you try to use it and change gears you will spill the drink. I have been very disappointed with Lexus.
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Transmission hesitation is unforgivable - 2005 Lexus ES 330
By Lee Anders - June 30 - 4:13 pmIve owned this vehicle for three months, and now have a little over 5000 miles on it. From day one, the transmission has been unacceptable! I brought this to the dealers attention, the day I drove it home. The transmission is programmed not to gear down until the vehicle comes to a complete stop. So when one slows to make a right or left turn - or when one slows down as in traffic on a busy freeway, then you need to accelerate, the transmission will hesitate for a couple of seconds - as though it doesnt quite know what to do - then it will slam into a lower gear and lurch forward. This is not only annoying, it is dangerous in traffic.
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My 2005 ES 330 - 2005 Lexus ES 330
By wej2 - September 12 - 8:16 amA very boring driving vehicle. Transmission hesitates a lot. The tranny cant always get the right gear selected.
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An ES 330 with lots of problems - 2005 Lexus ES 330
By smirror - January 3 - 1:23 pmI bought an Acura TL in 2002 and had a lot of noise problems. So when I needed to buy another car last year, I went for a Lexus brand with great reputation. But I was disappointed completely. The transmission hesitation made the driving so painful, in addition to many noise problems (rattling door, overhead, steering column and front passenger seat). In fact there are widespread complaint about the transmission problem in the Edmunds Forum discussions. My mistake was that I did not read them before buying the car. Still, I am surprised that the reviews here are pretty much all good. Go check out the Forum before you buy the ES. Dont make mistakes like mine.
