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2004 Lexus Es 330

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

112 reports with mileage · 41 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

28 crash reports2 fire reports12 injury reports

Power Train complaints

61 reports
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150,000 miles · Apr 26, 2019
Power Train

UPPER RIGHT MOTOR MOUNT HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. NOW CAR IS VIBRATING BETWEEN 45-60 AND HAS NO POWER AND IS TAKING UP TO 1-2 MINUTE'S.

NHTSA ODI #11203848

50,000 miles · Sep 23, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT FROM SECOND TO THIRD, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM HESITATED AND AS A RESULT, THE COMPUTER MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE UPDATED. THE MA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT FROM SECOND TO THIRD, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM HESITATED AND AS A RESULT, THE COMPUTER MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE UPDATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING UP TO THEIR STANDARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10426920

97,834 miles · Jul 23, 2010
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING, MY TRANSMISSION FAILED ON MY 2004 LEXUS ES330 WITH 97,000 MILES. CARS WERE SWERVING TO AVOID HITTING ME AS MY CAR ALMOST CAME TO A STOP WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY ROAD. LEXUS CORPORATE GAVE ME HALF OFF THE PARTS FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND THE DEALER GAVE ME HALF OFF OF LABOR. HOWEVER, TRANSMISSIONS ARE NOT SUPPOSE…

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WHILE DRIVING, MY TRANSMISSION FAILED ON MY 2004 LEXUS ES330 WITH 97,000 MILES. CARS WERE SWERVING TO AVOID HITTING ME AS MY CAR ALMOST CAME TO A STOP WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY ROAD. LEXUS CORPORATE GAVE ME HALF OFF THE PARTS FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND THE DEALER GAVE ME HALF OFF OF LABOR. HOWEVER, TRANSMISSIONS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO FAIL ON 1984 BUICKS, LET ALONE 2004 LEXUS' WITH UNDER 100,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10344972

42,000 miles · May 7, 2010
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS ES330. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS RANGING FROM 0-10 MILES PER HOUR, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION JERKED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HESITATE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEA…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS ES330. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS RANGING FROM 0-10 MILES PER HOUR, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION JERKED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HESITATE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 42,000.

NHTSA ODI #10329342

32,000 miles · Apr 3, 2010
Power Train

MY TRANSMISSION FEELS CONFUSED IN MY 2004 LEXUS ES 330. WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO TURN IN THE CITY OR PULL OUT OF YOUR DRIVEWAY MY CAR WILL HESITATE AND PAUSE FOR ABOUT A SECOND BEFORE ACCELERATING. THIS SEEMS TO BE VERY DANGEROUS AS I AM AFRAID THAT SOMEONE WILL HIT ME IN THE BACK BEFORE I CAN GET THE CAR UP TO THE DESIRED SPEED. …

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MY TRANSMISSION FEELS CONFUSED IN MY 2004 LEXUS ES 330. WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO TURN IN THE CITY OR PULL OUT OF YOUR DRIVEWAY MY CAR WILL HESITATE AND PAUSE FOR ABOUT A SECOND BEFORE ACCELERATING. THIS SEEMS TO BE VERY DANGEROUS AS I AM AFRAID THAT SOMEONE WILL HIT ME IN THE BACK BEFORE I CAN GET THE CAR UP TO THE DESIRED SPEED. I FIND MYSELF ALWAYS DOUBLE CHECKING SOMETIME TRIPLE CHECKING BEOFRE I PULL OUT. I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE AT MANY DIFFERENT WEBSITES AND I HAVE FOUND ABOUT 1900+ PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10323596

52,050 miles · Feb 27, 2010
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

MY LEXUS 2004 MODEL ES330 HAS BEEN ACCELERATING BY ITSELF. THIS ACCELERATION HAS BEEN HAPPENING TWO TO THREE TIMES A WEEK FOR ABOUT A YEAR. I DID NOT REALIZE THAT THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING BY ITSELF, BUT HAVE NOTICED MORE DURING LAST 3 TO 4 MONTHS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10314754

10,047 miles · Feb 26, 2010
Power Train

ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASING MY CERTIFIED/PREVIOUSLY OWNED 2004 LEXUS ES330 ON 9/30/05, I HAD THE DEALER CHECK VEHICLE'S SLOW TO SHIFT, SLIPPING THROUGH GEARS WHILE ACCELERATING, AND 'SURGING' WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP, AS IF GEARS/TRANSMISSION WERE SLOW TO GET THE MESSAGE. I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE CHECKED 5 TIMES (2005-2009), AND E…

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ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASING MY CERTIFIED/PREVIOUSLY OWNED 2004 LEXUS ES330 ON 9/30/05, I HAD THE DEALER CHECK VEHICLE'S SLOW TO SHIFT, SLIPPING THROUGH GEARS WHILE ACCELERATING, AND 'SURGING' WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP, AS IF GEARS/TRANSMISSION WERE SLOW TO GET THE MESSAGE. I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE CHECKED 5 TIMES (2005-2009), AND EACH TIME, THEY EITHER SAY THEY DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM OR, TWICE, RESET THE COMPUTER. I FEEL AS THOUGH I'M 'AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN,' HOWEVER, HAVE SEEN NO REPORTS/ INVESTIGATIONS/RECALLS ADDRESSING THESE LEXUS/TOYOTA PRODUCT ISSUES. PLEASE ADVISE HOW NHTSA/I CAN ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BEFORE I OR SOMEONE ELSE GETS HURT OR KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10314578

16,000 miles · Feb 10, 2010
Power Train

2004 LEXUS 330 SINCE THE AUTO WAS PURCHASED AND DRIVEN OFF THE LOT, THERE HAS BEEN A NOTICEABLE DELAY FROM STOP OR SLOW SPEED ACCELERATION FROM THE TIME THE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED UNTIL THE ENGINE ACTUALLY STARTS TO DELIVER THE POWER. IF YOU STOMP THE PEDAL FOR A JACK-RABBIT START, THE DELAY IS NOT AS NOTICEABLE. THE DEALER J AND…

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2004 LEXUS 330 SINCE THE AUTO WAS PURCHASED AND DRIVEN OFF THE LOT, THERE HAS BEEN A NOTICEABLE DELAY FROM STOP OR SLOW SPEED ACCELERATION FROM THE TIME THE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED UNTIL THE ENGINE ACTUALLY STARTS TO DELIVER THE POWER. IF YOU STOMP THE PEDAL FOR A JACK-RABBIT START, THE DELAY IS NOT AS NOTICEABLE. THE DEALER J AND M, HAS BEEN GIVING ME THE RUN-AROUND SINCE PURCHASE WITH THE "NORMAL" PARTY LINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10308516

Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 2010
EquipmentPower TrainCrashInjury

I WAS IN A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT WHEN I STARTED MY CAR AND AS I PUT IT IN GEAR THE CAR SPED OUT OF CONTROL. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE AVOIDED THE OTHER CARS IN THE LOT BECAUSE THE BRAKES DID NOTHING BUT SQUEAL. UPON HITTING A CURB ON THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT, THE CAR SPUN AROUND AND CAME TO A STOP. MY CAR WAS NOW FACING I…

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I WAS IN A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT WHEN I STARTED MY CAR AND AS I PUT IT IN GEAR THE CAR SPED OUT OF CONTROL. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE AVOIDED THE OTHER CARS IN THE LOT BECAUSE THE BRAKES DID NOTHING BUT SQUEAL. UPON HITTING A CURB ON THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT, THE CAR SPUN AROUND AND CAME TO A STOP. MY CAR WAS NOW FACING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WITH A LOT OF DAMAGE. I WAS TREATED AT THE HOSPITAL AND RELEASED BUT HAD SEVERAL MONTHS OF THERAPY ON MY NECK. A FEW MONTHS AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM THERAPY, I HAD TO RETURN FOR A SECOND ROUND BECAUSE OF NECK PAIN. TOYOTA TIED UP MY CAR FOR A MONTH TO INVESTIGATE THE MATTER AND SENT ME A LETTER STATING THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR BUT IT WAS THE AFTER MANUFACTURE MATS. WHEN I ASKED FOR A COPY OF THE INVESTIGATORS REPORT, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR POLICY TO DO SO. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THEY ARE NOT RECALLING THE LEXUS ES330, AND OTHER PEOPLE MAY BE AT RISK. SINCE I STILL HAVE THE CAR, I WONDER IF THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM AND COVERED IT UP OR IF THE SAME THING MAY HAPPEN AGAIN. PLEASE INVESTIGATE PROBLEMS WITH THE LEXUS ES330 SERIOUSLY. I DO NOT FEEL THAT TOYOTA CARES ABOUT SAFETY WHEN IT MAY DIG INTO PROFITS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10304833

64,500 miles · Feb 1, 2010
Power Train

MY 2004 LEXUS ES 330 SEDAN HAS A TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEM THAT I HAVE DESCRIBED TO THE DEALER AS "SLIPPING". WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS UNDER LOAD (GOING UP A HILL) AND YOU ACCELERATE OR DECELERATE YOU FEEL AND HEAR A DEFINITE ABRUPT SHIFT IN THE VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR TO TWO SEPARATE DEALERS OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS A…

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MY 2004 LEXUS ES 330 SEDAN HAS A TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEM THAT I HAVE DESCRIBED TO THE DEALER AS "SLIPPING". WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS UNDER LOAD (GOING UP A HILL) AND YOU ACCELERATE OR DECELERATE YOU FEEL AND HEAR A DEFINITE ABRUPT SHIFT IN THE VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR TO TWO SEPARATE DEALERS OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS BEHAVIOR IS "TYPICAL". *TR

NHTSA ODI #10303511

Official recalls

1

04V595000 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly

Dec 15, 2004

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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..

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

DP05002 · Vehicle Speed Control

Opened Aug 5, 2005 · Closed Jan 5, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control

IN A LETTER DATED JULY 8, 2005, AND AFTER EXPERIENCING TWO INCIDENTS (AND ONE CRASH) WHERE HE ALLEGES HIS MODEL YEAR (MY) 2002 CAMRY ACCELERATED WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT, MR. JORDAN ZIPRIN PETITIONED THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION?S (NHTSA) OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) TO COMMENCE A PROCEEDING TO DETERMINE THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT WITHIN THE ETC SYSTEM IN MY 2002 TO 2005 TOYOTA AND LEXUS VEHICLES, OR TO REOPEN A PRIOR INVESTIGATION PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE) 04-021.IN A LETTER DATED AUGUST 18, 2005, MR. ZIPRIN AMENDED HIS PETITION TO INCLUDE ALLEGATIONS OF INTERRELATED BRAKE AND ACCELERATION PROBLEMS THAT ALLEGEDLY RESULT IN INAPPROPRIATE AND UNCONTROLLABLE VEHICLE ACCELERATIONS.THE 1172 VEHICLE OWNER QUESTIONNAIRE REPORTS CITED BY THE PETITIONER INVOLVE 4 LEXUS AND 15 TOYOTA MODELS DEFINING A POPULATION OF 7 MILLION VEHICLES.THE REPORTS TYPICALLY ALLEGED A DEFECT IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM, THE THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM, OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH SYSTEMS.IN ITS REVIEW OF THE REPORTS, ODI A) FAILED TO FIND EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE EXISTENCE OF A BRAKE RELATED DEFECT IN THE CITED MODELS, AND B) DETERMINED THAT MANY CITED PRODUCTS WERE NOT EQUIPPED WITH ETC.ACCORDINGLY, ODI RESTRICTED ITS ANALYSIS TO THE 432 PETITIONER REPORTS INVOLVING MY 2002 TO 2005 CAMRY, SOLARA, AND ES MODELS (ALL EQUIPPED WITH ETC) THAT ALLEGED AN ABNORMAL THROTTLE CONTROL EVENT (SEE THE JANUARY 3, 2006 FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE FOR FURTHER DETAILS).ABOUT 40% OF THE 432 REPORTS INVOLVE A DRIVEABILITY CONCERN WHERE THE OPERATOR INTENTIONALLY APPLIES THE THROTTLE PEDAL, IN EXPECTATION THAT THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE, AND THEN EXPERIENCES A DELAY OR HESITATION IN VEHICLE RESPONSE.THESE REPORTS INVOLVE VEHICLE RESPONSE TO INTENTIONAL DRIVER COMMANDS WHICH ODI CONSIDERS UNRELATED TO THE ALLEGATIONS RAISED BY THE PETITIONER.THEREFORE, THE REPORTS DO NOT PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED.ABOUT 20% OF THE REPORTS INVOLVE INCIDENTS WHERE OPERATORS ALLEGE VEHICLE ACCELERATION WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT AND AN INABILITY OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHEN APPLIED.NEITHER THE REPORTS, NOR THE INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED BY ODI, IDENTIFIED ANY VEHICLE-BASED CAUSE TO EXPLAIN THE INCIDENTS OR DISCLOSED EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THAT A FAILURE OF THE BRAKE OR THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM HAD OCCURRED.BECAUSE THESE REPORTS DO NOT INDICATE A DISTINCT SAFETY DEFECT FOR INVESTIGATION, THE REPORTS DO NOT PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED BY THE PETITIONERTHE REMAINING REPORTS (~ 40%, SIMILAR TO THE PETITIONER?S AND THOSE OF PE04-021) TYPICALLY DESCRIBE INCIDENTS WHERE A VEHICLE IS BEING MANEUVERED AT SLOW SPEED IN A CLOSE QUARTER SITUATION AT WHICH POINT THE OPERATOR ALLEGES THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT AND CRASHES.IN THE AFTERMATH, OPERATORS ARE UNSURE OF WHETHER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED OR NOT, SOMETIMES STATING THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT TIME TO USE THE BRAKE; A CRASH OCCURRED AND THE OPERATOR BELIEVES AN UNCOMMANDED ACCELERATION CAUSED IT.IN SPITE OF THE EFFORT EXPENDED DURING PE04-021 AND DURING THIS ANALYSIS, ODI HAS NOT IDENTIFIED ANY VEHICLE-BASED CAUSE TO EXPLAIN THE REPORTS, OR UNCOVERED ANY EVIDENCE TO INDICATE THAT A THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE OCCURRED.THEREFORE, THE REPORTS HAVE AMBIGUOUS SIGNIFICANCE AND DO NOT CONSTITUTE A BASIS ON WHICH ANY FURTHER INVESTIGATIVE ACTION IS WARRANTED.BASED ON THE ANALYSIS CONDUCTED, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THE NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.CONSEQUENTLY, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES T