Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 11 of 16 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
16 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2008
Power Train
CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2004. PROBLEM STARTED OCCURRING SHORTLY THEREAFTER. CAR HAS BAD HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING CREATING A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY SITUATION. CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER TWICE. DEALER, KENNY KENT LEXUS IN EVANSVILLE, IN WILL NOT OR CANNOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEY ALONG WITH LEXUS SAY THIS IS THE WAY T…
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CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2004. PROBLEM STARTED OCCURRING SHORTLY THEREAFTER. CAR HAS BAD HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING CREATING A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY SITUATION. CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER TWICE. DEALER, KENNY KENT LEXUS IN EVANSVILLE, IN WILL NOT OR CANNOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEY ALONG WITH LEXUS SAY THIS IS THE WAY THE CAR WAS DESIGNED. WHAT A JOKE THEY BOTH ARE. SAYING THE CAR WAS DESIGNED WITH A SAFETY DEFECT IS PURE STUPIDITY. LEMON LAW IS OUR NEXT OPTION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10215999
25,000 miles · Oct 28, 2007
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
MY WIFE WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AT A VERY LOW RATE OD SPEED. ACCELERATOR STUCK AND COULD NOT BE RELEASED. CAR SPED UP AND HIT FOUR OTHER CARS. TOTAL DAMAGE TO ALL CARS EXCEEDED $40,000.00 AND MY WIFE WAS INJURED WHEN AIR BAG INFLATED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10207089
3,000 miles · Apr 3, 2007
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
ACCELERATION DELAY OF UP TO 2 FULL SECONDS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10186801
Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2007
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDINGTHE 2004 LEXUS ES 330. THE CONTACT WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE HESITATED AND THEN SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT THE VEHICLE PARKED DIRECTLY IN FRONT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SUSTAINED FRONT END DAMAGE. THE HEADLIGHTS BROKE AND …
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TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDINGTHE 2004 LEXUS ES 330. THE CONTACT WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE HESITATED AND THEN SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT THE VEHICLE PARKED DIRECTLY IN FRONT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SUSTAINED FRONT END DAMAGE. THE HEADLIGHTS BROKE AND THE HOOD WAS DENTED. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HER VEHICLE WENT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE OTHER VEHICLE SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVABLE, AND HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE DEALER WILL DO A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK ON THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10181575
30,800 miles · Nov 27, 2006
Unknown Or Other
THE VEHICLE SKID CONTROL (VSC) ON MY 2004 ES 330 ENGAGES ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS MAKING THE VEHICLE UNPREDICTABLE AND UNSAFE. WHEN THE VSC ENGAGES THE COMPUTER TAKES OVER CONTROL OF THE ACCELERATION AND BREAKING SYSTEMS. ITS PRIMARY GOAL IS TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT. WHEN THE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS AND ENGAGES WHEN THE VE…
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THE VEHICLE SKID CONTROL (VSC) ON MY 2004 ES 330 ENGAGES ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS MAKING THE VEHICLE UNPREDICTABLE AND UNSAFE. WHEN THE VSC ENGAGES THE COMPUTER TAKES OVER CONTROL OF THE ACCELERATION AND BREAKING SYSTEMS. ITS PRIMARY GOAL IS TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT. WHEN THE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS AND ENGAGES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN A NORMAL TURN OR CURVE THE VSC COMPUTER WILL TAKE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND FORCE IT TO TRAVEL IN WHAT IT BELIEVES IS A STRAIGHT LINE, PLACING THE DRIVER, OCCUPANTS, AND NEARBY VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS IN JEOPARDY. BEING FORCED TO DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE PREVENTS THE DRIVER FROM COMPLETING A CURVE OR TURN AND FORCES THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE ACROSS TRAFFIC LANES AND OFF THE ROAD. WHEN THE VSC ENGAGES DUE TO A MALFUNCTION, THE VEHICLE IS A SERIOUS HAZARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME 4 TIMES, TWICE WITH MY FAMILY IN THE VEHICLE. I HAVE LEFT THE VEHICLE WITH THE DEALER, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND ARE UNWILLING TO REPLACE ANY PARTS UNLESS THERE IS A CLEAR INDICATION OF A MALFUNCTION. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10174421
20,000 miles · Aug 7, 2006
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD CRASHING INTO THE FRONT WINDOW OF A CREDIT UNION. THERE WERE NO INJURIES; THERE WAS PROPERTY DAMAGE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE TRANSMISSION WAS HESITATING AND LURCHING FORWARD. IN 2004, THE DEALERSHIP D…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD CRASHING INTO THE FRONT WINDOW OF A CREDIT UNION. THERE WERE NO INJURIES; THERE WAS PROPERTY DAMAGE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE TRANSMISSION WAS HESITATING AND LURCHING FORWARD. IN 2004, THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER WAS TRYING TO ADJUST TO THE WAY HE DROVE. UPDATED 8/30/2006. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10164709
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2004 Lexus Es Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year