Lexus ES330 headlights problems

Filed Sep 16, 2014 · Lights, Transmission · 132,000 miles · FL

1. Headlights: before purchasing the vehicle, I noticed the blinking caution light on the dashboard. Service manager said the automatic headlight adjustment was working fine and to ignore the blinking caution light. Nothing could be done. I later researched and found there are lots of complaints about this. 2. Transmission lags at low speeds. This is incredibly dangerous especially when driving through traffic circles and going through busy intersections. Service manager said this is normal operating and to use a higher octane gas. I am returning vehicle to lexus.

Filed Oct 7, 2011 · Lights · 90,000 miles · CO

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 lexus es 330. While parked, the contact noticed that the driver side headlight was not illuminated. The contact stated the driver and passenger headlight would intermittently fail but both had never failed simultaneously. The contact replaced the headlight bulbs yet the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing where the technician advised that two computers that controlled the exterior lighting and the headlights would have to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

Filed Oct 20, 2010 · Lights, Visibility · 33,000 miles · IL

2005 lexus es 330 developed problems with the high intensity discharge headlamps. The low beam headlights do not provide adequate illumination, especially on roads with no street lights, reflectors or lane markings. There is a sharp cutoff of light about 40-50 feet in front of the car beyond which there is little or no light cast on the roadway surface. Reflective signs can be seen farther away but one cannot help but overdrive the lights at any speed above 20mph because nothing on the road itself is illuminated. The low beams seem to be deliberately aimed at the ground 40-50' away. Light in the 40-50' zone in front of the car is adequate. Beyond that it is not. The car was purchased new in jan 2005 and the problem did not arise until 2-3 years later, or at least that's when I first noticed it. The dealer checked the lights and stated the high intensity lights could not be adjusted to raise the cutoff point(lights are self leveling) and that the lights were working normally. This is not a problem if there is oncoming traffic because their lights illuminate the road between my car and theirs. However on a dark street with no oncoming cars it's like driving into a pool of darkness past the 40-50 foot cutoff of light in front of the car. I have to use the high beams when on a pitch black road, but that's not a good solution. I will not buy another car without checking the performance of the lights on a dark road. Lexus needs to fix this - it is an accident waiting to happen. Mileage on the car in now in the mid 40s. This condition is ongoing, not intermittent.

Filed Mar 9, 2010 · Brakes · 28,250 miles · MD · crash

Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6) 2005 lexus model es330(VIN#[xxx] ). After entering a parking space at a shopping mall at very slow speed. My lexus accelerated forward with my foot hard pressed on the brake, jumping an island impacting head on with the car parked in front. This accident caused extensive damage on both cars. Replaced the hood, grid, both head lamps, and front bumper on my car. The passenger of the other car was not in the car and was shopping in the mall. Fortunately there were no personal injuries. I called my lexus dealer (lexus of silver spring, md and was told that the 2005 lexus es330 was not covered by toyota's recall for braking or accelerator problems. Since then, I carefully pull the carpet back when start driving. Hope your investigation will include the 2005 lexus es330 model.

Filed Sep 22, 2006 · Lights · 7,706 miles · TX

Dt*: the contact stated while driving various speeds at night, there was a limited range of the headlight beams. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer who determined this was the way the vehicle was designed, and within compliance of the manufacturer's specifications. The manufacturer was notified.

Filed May 23, 2006 · Lights · CT · crash · fire

Collision with a deer causing damage to the hood, grille, right fender and right headlight (hid). Impact caused the headlight to ignite resulting in a fire that spread over the hood totally destroyed the engine compartment. Right front tire exploded during the fire. My concern is the fact that high intensity discharge (hid) lights ignite on impact. These lights are widely used today even though they are fire hazards. Please provide information pertaining to any other reports of fires resulting from these hid lights.

Filed Sep 19, 2005 · Lights · AZ

2005 lexus es 330 developed problems with the high density discharge headlamps.*mr the headlights did not provide adequate illumination especially on sand or gravel roads with no street lights, reflectors or lane markings.

Filed May 25, 2005 · Lights · CA

While driving at night, the driver noticed that the headlights were inoperative. The low beam lights did not illuminate and caused poor visibility to the driver. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection numerous times, and the mechanic adjusted the lights. But problem recurred. *ak *sc

Filed Oct 25, 2004 · Acceleration, Transmission · 100 miles · MA · crash

(1) car was nearly new, only 100 miles, no abnormal behavior up to that point. (2) while shifting into park as part of the process of parking, and with no pressure on accellerator, car suddenly lurched forward, striking concrete stancheon of parking lot light pole. This resulted in damage to the front bumper, frame, right quarter-panel, right headlight assembly, causing over $4,000 in repair costs. (3) above problems were repaired by a dealer-approved auto body shop.

Filed Mar 31, 2004 · Acceleration, Brakes · 950 miles · CA · crash

My lexus es330 was less than two months old and the mileage read about 950 the time when the accident happened.t occurred on the way to work at 8:40 am march 8th, 2004. It was a sunny warm day. As I was driving on the far right lane of south 5 freeway with speed around 65 to 70 MPH, a car next to my lane was trying to cut in front of me. In order to keep a safe distance, I tried to slow down the car by pressing the brake. The moment I pressed the brake the car swerved to the right. I couldn't control where the vehicle was heading and the car didn't slow down as I further pressed the brake. It bumped into the guardrail and turned 180 degree facing the oncoming cars. Luckily, I was able to make a turn and parked the car without hitting anybody. The car was damaged from the right head light all the way to the rear bumper. I immediately called the dealer and lexus sent a inspector to check on the car. One week later, I was informed the car is ok and there is nothing abnormal after their investigation. I requested an investigation report and the response I got is I have to "go through the legal system". There was no explanation for the exact meaning of this phrase. I am a good driver with excellent record. The whole experience was totally out of nowhere and unpredictable. I kept looking back to find any clues that might lead to the accident. As I studied the federal safety agency complaints, most of them happened during slow speed driving. My case happened on the freeway and all I remembered was the car didn't slow down as I applied the brake.