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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

What owners actually said

153 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

2004 LEXUS ES330. CONSUMER STATES ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE CHANGED THE GEAR FROM PARK TO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, HIT A FENCE AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EVEN THOUGH HER FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10350911

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

Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

2004 LEXUS ES 330. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS CERTAIN THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION SHE EXPERIENCED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK WAS DUE TO THE FAULTY FLOOR MAT THAT BECAME STUCK UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THERE WAS MINOR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE…

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2004 LEXUS ES 330. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS CERTAIN THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION SHE EXPERIENCED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK WAS DUE TO THE FAULTY FLOOR MAT THAT BECAME STUCK UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THERE WAS MINOR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THE PINS THAT HELD THE MATS IN PLACE HAD BROKEN. THEY CLAIMED THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10341212

50,000 miles · Jul 5, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

I HAVE A 2004 LEXUS ES330 WITH ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS. MY INITIAL PROBLEM WAS AS I COME TO A STOP LIGHT AND IT TURNS GREEN, BEFORE I HAVE TO STOP I WOULD ACCELERATE AND THERE WOULD BE A HESITATION WHERE THE ENGINE FEELS LIKE IT IS STALLING. IT WOULD THEN ACCELERATE WITH A THUMP. I TOOK IT IN TO THE LEXUS DEALER IN HAWAII (OAHU)…

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I HAVE A 2004 LEXUS ES330 WITH ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS. MY INITIAL PROBLEM WAS AS I COME TO A STOP LIGHT AND IT TURNS GREEN, BEFORE I HAVE TO STOP I WOULD ACCELERATE AND THERE WOULD BE A HESITATION WHERE THE ENGINE FEELS LIKE IT IS STALLING. IT WOULD THEN ACCELERATE WITH A THUMP. I TOOK IT IN TO THE LEXUS DEALER IN HAWAII (OAHU) AND THEY RECOGNIZED IT AS A COMPUTER PROGRAM PROBLEM THAT TELLS THE CAR WHEN TO ACCELERATE. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY CAN "TRY" TO FIX IT BY CHANGING THE COMPUTER CHIP AND RESETTING THE MEMORY IN THE COMPUTER. HOWEVER, THEY SAID THAT IT WOULD EITHER FIX THE PROBLEM OR CREATE OTHER ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS. THEY KNOW THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS. IT FIXED MY INITIAL PROBLEM BUT HAS CAUSED OTHER PROBLEMS SUCH AS CAR NOW JERKS UPON ACCELERATING WHILE TRAVELING 5-15 MPH. FROM A STOP, MY CAR SOMETIMES HESITATES AND THEN ACCELERATES WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL. I KNOW OTHER LEXUS OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED AS WELL AS CAMRY OWNERS THAT HAVE A V6 ENGINE AND THE SAME TRANSMISSION AS THE LEXUS ES330. YOU CAN GOOGLE IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10341517

Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2010
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicSuspensionFire

S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING-LETTER FROM REGARDING SAFETY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE 2004 LEXUS ES 330 *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE LEFT UPPER STRUT MOUNT BOLT WAS LOOSE, THE WIRING SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE IN WHICH THE HOOD CARPET, OXYGEN SENSOR WIRES AND RADIATOR HOSE CAUGHT ON FIRE, BUT MANAGED TO GO OUT BY ITSELF. THE DEALER CONCLUDE…

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S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING-LETTER FROM REGARDING SAFETY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE 2004 LEXUS ES 330 *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE LEFT UPPER STRUT MOUNT BOLT WAS LOOSE, THE WIRING SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE IN WHICH THE HOOD CARPET, OXYGEN SENSOR WIRES AND RADIATOR HOSE CAUGHT ON FIRE, BUT MANAGED TO GO OUT BY ITSELF. THE DEALER CONCLUDED THAT NO CONCLUSIVE CAUSE TO THE UNDER HOOD FIRE WAS FOUND. ALSO THE BRAKES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE CONSUMER HAD DIFFICULTY STOPPING WHEN A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM SLOWED DOWN TO STOP. THE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. (THE CONSUMER WROTE IN ON BEHALF OF HER FATHER OWNS THE VEHICLE) *JB

NHTSA ODI #10341189

Mileage unknown · May 11, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

2004 LEXUS 330. CONSUMER STATES UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION TWICE. FORTUNATELY, BOTH TIMES HE WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL, STOPPING AND RESTARTING. WHILE HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO REGAIN CONTROL, HE ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL UP AND BRAK…

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2004 LEXUS 330. CONSUMER STATES UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION TWICE. FORTUNATELY, BOTH TIMES HE WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL, STOPPING AND RESTARTING. WHILE HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO REGAIN CONTROL, HE ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL UP AND BRAKE, BUT NEITHER ACTION WAS SUCCESSFUL. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10329631

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 · May 3, 2010
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS ES 330. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES OF WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL WHISTLE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD AREA. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE PERSISTED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE MI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS ES 330. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES OF WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL WHISTLE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD AREA. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE PERSISTED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI #10328655

Mileage unknown · May 3, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

2004 LEXUS ES330 SUDDEN ACCELERATION *GR THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO TURN AROUND IN THE PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, STRUCK A SIGN AND ANOTHER VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10328516

44,704 miles · May 3, 2010
Tires

MY WIFE AND CHILD WERE RIDING IN A LEXUS ES330 AND HAD JUST COME OFF HIGHWAY I40 EXIT 270 IN CHAPEL HILL, NC WHEN THE MICHELIN TIRE SIDEWALL EXPLODED WITH A 4 INCH RIP, THEY WERE ABLE TO STOP AND FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS INJURED. I HAVE THE TIRE WITH THE RIPPED SIDEWALL AND WOULD BE GLAD TO PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. HERE…

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MY WIFE AND CHILD WERE RIDING IN A LEXUS ES330 AND HAD JUST COME OFF HIGHWAY I40 EXIT 270 IN CHAPEL HILL, NC WHEN THE MICHELIN TIRE SIDEWALL EXPLODED WITH A 4 INCH RIP, THEY WERE ABLE TO STOP AND FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS INJURED. I HAVE THE TIRE WITH THE RIPPED SIDEWALL AND WOULD BE GLAD TO PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. HERE ARE THE TIRE DETAILS: BRAND: MICHELIN DESCRIPTION: P215 60 R16 94V, ENERGY MXV4 S8 DOT HN49 JUAX 5007 WDA 836 06-57203-01. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10328480

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