LEXUS ES · model year

2004 LEXUS ES

21 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2004LEXUSES carries 21 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 7 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2004 ES is air bags with 4 filings, followed by vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal (3) and vehicle speed control (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 2004 ES. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

21
Complaints
7
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

21 filings

Crashes Reported

7 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION2
STRUCTURE2
ENGINE2
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1
SERVICE BRAKES1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
VISIBILITY/WIPER1

Recent Complaints

20220202AIR BAGS

The passenger side airbag is shrinking and seems to be collapsing into the dashboard. There is an indicator light on the passenger side that is lit up noting that "airbag off," so apparently there is no airbag protection for passenger. Three days ago, the right side of the windshield - passenger side, and the passenger window and passenger side back seat window, were all moist and foggy in the morning. There were no windows opened. I think the airbag situation is causing the airbag to leak moisture into the surrounding windows and the passenger side of the car. I don't know what this fluid/moisture is composed of, but I can only imagine it must be some type of chemical - something that you do not want to be leaking into the car on a daily basis.

20200710AIR BAGS

VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT IN GARAGE. THOUGH NOT NOTICED IMMEDIATELY, SOMETIME DURING THE MORNING I NOTICED MY DASHBOARD VINYL AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LOOKED SWOLLEN , AND UPON EXAMINATION, IT SHOWED A SPLIT IN THE VINYL ALSO. I TOOK IT TO A REPUTABLE AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST THOUSANDS TO FIX, BUT THAT A DEALERSHIP MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP. SO I WENT TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEAL WHO SAID SOME VEHICLES HAD RECALLS BUT MINE DID NOT. AS TIME GOES ON, THE VINYL SEEMS TO HAVE PRESSURE BUILDING BEHIND IT, AND THE SPLIT IS MORE OBVIOUS. I AM AFRAID TO ALLOW PASSENGERS TO SIT IN THAT SEAT. I AM AFRAID IF THE AIRBAG BURST OUT WHILE I AM DRIVING, I MAY OVERREACT AND WRECK. THIS IS NOT SAFE AT ALL. PLEASE HELP.

Mileage: 165,000

20200710STRUCTURE

VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT IN GARAGE. THOUGH NOT NOTICED IMMEDIATELY, SOMETIME DURING THE MORNING I NOTICED MY DASHBOARD VINYL AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LOOKED SWOLLEN , AND UPON EXAMINATION, IT SHOWED A SPLIT IN THE VINYL ALSO. I TOOK IT TO A REPUTABLE AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST THOUSANDS TO FIX, BUT THAT A DEALERSHIP MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP. SO I WENT TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEAL WHO SAID SOME VEHICLES HAD RECALLS BUT MINE DID NOT. AS TIME GOES ON, THE VINYL SEEMS TO HAVE PRESSURE BUILDING BEHIND IT, AND THE SPLIT IS MORE OBVIOUS. I AM AFRAID TO ALLOW PASSENGERS TO SIT IN THAT SEAT. I AM AFRAID IF THE AIRBAG BURST OUT WHILE I AM DRIVING, I MAY OVERREACT AND WRECK. THIS IS NOT SAFE AT ALL. PLEASE HELP.

Mileage: 165,000

20190426VISIBILITY/WIPER

INTERMEDIATE WIPERS HAVE NEVER WORKED.

Mileage: 137,000

20190401AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS ES. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

Mileage: 170,000

20170224CrashSERVICE BRAKES

I HAD A CAR ACCIDENT APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AGO DUE TO SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND LOSS OF STEERING IN A 2004 LEXUS ES330. I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF THE CAR AND I HAD IT SERVICED REGULARLY OVER THE PAST 13 YEARS. THE NIGHT OF MY ACCIDENT I LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF MY CAR AS I ATTEMPTED TO MERGE ON TO THE LOCAL LANES OF AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN NORTHERN, NJ. THE CAR ACCELERATED TO THE LEFT AND CROSSED SPED ACROSS 8 LANES OF THE HIGHWAY, INCLUDING OVER A MEDIAN BEFORE IT SPUN AROUND AND JERKED TO A STOP IN THE LEFT LANE OF THE WEST BOUND LANES FACING EAST. I WAS HIT HEAD ON BY ANOTHER DRIVER. I WAS NOT INJURED, BUT THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. BOTH OF MY PARENTS ALSO CURRENTLY DRIVE LEXUS VEHICLES, AND BOTH MODELS WERE NOTED TO HAVE SIMILAR ISSUES. FURTHERMORE, MY MOTHER RECENTLY RECEIVED A LETTER INDICATING HER CAR WAS BEING RECALLED DUE TO THE PASSENGER AIR BAG ISSUES, THE LETTER STATED WHILE TOYOTA WOULD OFFER WHAT THEY CONSIDERED TO BE A SUITABLE FIX AT NO CHARGE. THE LETTER FURTHE

Mileage: 135,000

20170224CrashELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAD A CAR ACCIDENT APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AGO DUE TO SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND LOSS OF STEERING IN A 2004 LEXUS ES330. I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF THE CAR AND I HAD IT SERVICED REGULARLY OVER THE PAST 13 YEARS. THE NIGHT OF MY ACCIDENT I LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF MY CAR AS I ATTEMPTED TO MERGE ON TO THE LOCAL LANES OF AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN NORTHERN, NJ. THE CAR ACCELERATED TO THE LEFT AND CROSSED SPED ACROSS 8 LANES OF THE HIGHWAY, INCLUDING OVER A MEDIAN BEFORE IT SPUN AROUND AND JERKED TO A STOP IN THE LEFT LANE OF THE WEST BOUND LANES FACING EAST. I WAS HIT HEAD ON BY ANOTHER DRIVER. I WAS NOT INJURED, BUT THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. BOTH OF MY PARENTS ALSO CURRENTLY DRIVE LEXUS VEHICLES, AND BOTH MODELS WERE NOTED TO HAVE SIMILAR ISSUES. FURTHERMORE, MY MOTHER RECENTLY RECEIVED A LETTER INDICATING HER CAR WAS BEING RECALLED DUE TO THE PASSENGER AIR BAG ISSUES, THE LETTER STATED WHILE TOYOTA WOULD OFFER WHAT THEY CONSIDERED TO BE A SUITABLE FIX AT NO CHARGE. THE LETTER FURTHE

Mileage: 135,000

20170224CrashENGINE

I HAD A CAR ACCIDENT APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AGO DUE TO SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND LOSS OF STEERING IN A 2004 LEXUS ES330. I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF THE CAR AND I HAD IT SERVICED REGULARLY OVER THE PAST 13 YEARS. THE NIGHT OF MY ACCIDENT I LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF MY CAR AS I ATTEMPTED TO MERGE ON TO THE LOCAL LANES OF AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN NORTHERN, NJ. THE CAR ACCELERATED TO THE LEFT AND CROSSED SPED ACROSS 8 LANES OF THE HIGHWAY, INCLUDING OVER A MEDIAN BEFORE IT SPUN AROUND AND JERKED TO A STOP IN THE LEFT LANE OF THE WEST BOUND LANES FACING EAST. I WAS HIT HEAD ON BY ANOTHER DRIVER. I WAS NOT INJURED, BUT THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. BOTH OF MY PARENTS ALSO CURRENTLY DRIVE LEXUS VEHICLES, AND BOTH MODELS WERE NOTED TO HAVE SIMILAR ISSUES. FURTHERMORE, MY MOTHER RECENTLY RECEIVED A LETTER INDICATING HER CAR WAS BEING RECALLED DUE TO THE PASSENGER AIR BAG ISSUES, THE LETTER STATED WHILE TOYOTA WOULD OFFER WHAT THEY CONSIDERED TO BE A SUITABLE FIX AT NO CHARGE. THE LETTER FURTHE

Mileage: 135,000

20160618UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THIS CAR -- PURCHASED IN 2003 -- HAS NEVER LEFT FLORIDA. IT RESIDES IN A HUMID, HOT AREA, PARKED OUTDOORS. ARE THE AIRBAGS IN THIS CAR SAFE? WILL THEY BE RECALLED? IF SO, WHEN? WHAT SHOULD I DO IN THE MEANTIME? THANK YOU.

Mileage: 27,000

20150606CrashENGINE

THE DRIVER WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT THE LOCAL TRAIN STATION. SHE WAS GOING FORWARD AT ABOUT 1 MPH WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN AS SHE WAS APPROACHING THE CURB AT THE FRONT END OF THE PARKING SPACE. WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR SUDDENLY LUNGED FORWARD AND WENT OVER THE CURB AND INTO A METAL AND WOODEN FENCE. THE CAR PROBABLY WOULD HAVE LANDED ON THE TRAIN TRACKS; BUT, FORTUNATELY, IT WENT INTO THE FENCE WHICH IS USED TO SUPPORT A SHELTER THAT SHIELDS COMMUTERS FROM INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE DAMAGED FENCE IS OWNED BY THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD. THE DRIVER SUFFERED A BACK INJURY AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION, MEDICATION, AND PHYSICAL THERAPY. THE INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO LEXUS IN TORRANCE, CA. LEXUS HAS A CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENT WITH A VENDOR TO INSPECT THE EVENT DATA RECORDER (EDR) INSTALLED IN THE CAR. AFTER THE EDR WAS INSPECTED, THE DRIVER WAS INFORMED THAT THE EDR IN THE 2004 LEXUS ES 330 IS VERY BASIC AND NOT AT ALL S

Mileage: 89,000

20150128FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

ON A FRIDAY MORNING IN OCTOBER OF 2014, I DROVE FROM DC TO BALTIMORE.THE TOTAL DRIVING TIME WAS CLOSER TO NINETY MINUTES THAN THE USUAL HOUR, THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS WILL BECOME CLEAR LATER IN THIS MESSAGE. TEN MILES OUTSIDE OF BALTIMORE, I DID NOT FEEL WELL. EVENTUALLY PULLING INTO MY DAUGHTER'S DRIVEWAY, AND FEELING VERY FAINT, I MANAGED TO CALL MY HER VIA CELLPHONE, RIGHT OUTSIDE HER KITCHEN WINDOW. I WAS SO SICK THAT I COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR. I FELT UTTERLY LIMP, DIZZY AND NAUSEOUS AS MY SON-IN-LAW PULLED ME OUT TO STAGGER IN THE FRONT DOOR AND COLLAPSE ON THE LIVING ROOM COUCH. THE ROOM WAS SPINNING; IF I OPENED MY EYES, THE ROOM TILTED AND SPUN FASTER. MY KIDS CALLED AN AMBULANCE. MY VITAL SIGNS - OXYGEN AND BLOOD PRESSURE READINGS WERE WITHIN THE LOW RANGE OF NORMAL, WITH OXYGEN AND BLOOD PRESSURE READING VERY LOW. I HAVE NO RELEVANT HEALTH CONDITIONS. THE AMULANCE ATTENDENTS THOUGHT IT WAS "THE FLU". EIGHT OR NINE HOURS LATER, I MANAGED TO GET UP. IN A FEW DAYS

20141026AIR BAGS

THERE IS A CRACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG OF MY CAR. IT IS PROTRUDING AROUND THE AREA OF THE AIRBAG. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP ON JULY 14, 2014, FOR THIS PROBLEM. ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE MY DASH BOARD AND IT WOULD COST ME OVER 2,500 DOLLAR. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCE ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE EVER. THIS IS TRULY A VERY STRESSFUL AND UNCERTAINTY WONDERING EVERYTIME I GET INTO MY CAR, AFRAID AND HOPING THAT THE AIRBAG DOES NOT EXPLODED. BASED ON THE RECALL OF MY CAR MODEL, MAKE I NEED TO BE CONTACTED ON THE NEXT ACTION THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSE BACK. THANK YOU KINDLY. *TR

20141026STRUCTURE

THERE IS A CRACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG OF MY CAR. IT IS PROTRUDING AROUND THE AREA OF THE AIRBAG. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP ON JULY 14, 2014, FOR THIS PROBLEM. ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE MY DASH BOARD AND IT WOULD COST ME OVER 2,500 DOLLAR. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCE ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE EVER. THIS IS TRULY A VERY STRESSFUL AND UNCERTAINTY WONDERING EVERYTIME I GET INTO MY CAR, AFRAID AND HOPING THAT THE AIRBAG DOES NOT EXPLODED. BASED ON THE RECALL OF MY CAR MODEL, MAKE I NEED TO BE CONTACTED ON THE NEXT ACTION THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSE BACK. THANK YOU KINDLY. *TR

20140517VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD. I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL BY PRESSING FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS. THE 1ST 2 TIMES, I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE ME, MAYBE MY FOOT SLIPPED HAD OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND HIT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. TODAY, HOWEVER, THAT NOTION WAS DISPELLED. I WAS PAYING ATTENTION TO MY FOOT LOCATION ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, MY FOOT BEING FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHEN THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD OF IT'S OWN ACCORD. *JS

Mileage: 155,000

20080125POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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

20071028CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

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

Mileage: 25,000

20070403POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ACCELERATION DELAY OF UP TO 2 FULL SECONDS. *JB

Mileage: 3,000

20070403VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

ACCELERATION DELAY OF UP TO 2 FULL SECONDS. *JB

Mileage: 3,000

20070205CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

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

20061127UNKNOWN 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 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 AN

Mileage: 30,800

Compare 2004LEXUSES to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2004 LEXUS ES have?
The 2004 LEXUS ES has 21 NHTSA complaints, 7 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 LEXUS ES?
The most-complained component for the 2004 LEXUS ES is AIR BAGS with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 2004 LEXUS ES safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.