Lexus Es330 · model year

2004 Lexus Es330

214 NHTSA complaints, 47 crash reports, and 2 recall campaigns listed for this cohort. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

Complaints
214
Recalls
2

The verdict

The 2004 Lexus Es330 posts above-average complaint volume among its own model-year siblings.

25th pctile
complaint volume, own model years
2
recall campaigns

The 2004LexusEs330 carries 214 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 47 crashes, 5 fires, 32 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 2004 Es330 is power train:automatic transmission with 48 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (37) and air bags (22). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause. This cohort has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns listed below. Enter a VIN in NHTSA's official recall lookup to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 2004 Es330. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.

214
Complaints
47
Crashes
5
Fires
32
Injuries
0
Deaths
F
PlainCars Safety Score
0/100
2004 Lexus Es330

PlainCars' own composite of NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings and rollover-risk assessment, each dimension normalized against the federal scale or the full national model-year corpus. Not an official NHTSA figure, and not a substitute for a specific vehicle's VIN-level recall check.

NHTSA Overall Rating N/A
Not rated
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program overall crash-test rating.
Front Crash N/A
Not rated
Frontal barrier crash-test rating.
Side Crash N/A
Not rated
Side barrier and pole crash-test rating.
Rollover Resistance N/A
Not rated
Static stability factor + dynamic rollover test rating.
Rollover Risk N/A
Not reported
NHTSA single-vehicle rollover probability, dynamic test.

Total Complaints

214 filings

Crashes Reported

47 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION48
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL37
AIR BAGS22
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL14
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC8
POWER TRAIN7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING6
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP4
ENGINE4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
STRUCTURE3
SEAT BELTS3
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL2

Recalls (2)

04V59500015/12/2004

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

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.

11V53900009/11/2011

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AVALON VEHICLES; 2004 AND 2005 CAMRY, CAMRY SOLARA, HIGHLANDER, AND SIENNA VEHICLES, 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID; 2004 AND 2005 LEXUS ES330 AND RX330; AND 2006 LEXUS RX400H VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 1, 2004 THROUGH MARCH 31, 2005, EQUIPPED WITH THE 1MZ-FE

Recent Complaints

20200525ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

EVERY WINDOW HAS STOPPED WORKING.THE FIRST ONE STOPPED GOING UP D OWN TEN YEARS AGO NOW THEY HAVE ALL STOPPED.

20190426POWER 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.

Mileage: 150,000

20190129AIR BAGS

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WHEN IDLE AND WON'T GO OFF. CODE B1787. NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT. UNPLUGGED AND RE-PLUGGED ALL CONNECTIONS; DISCONNECTED BATTERY FOR 15 MINUTES BUT DID NOT RESET LIGHT. DEALER CHECKED AND COULD NOT RESET SYSTEM. NO AIR BAG PROTECTION NOW. FIX REQUIRES NEW SEAT WITH SENSORS EST $4500. CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX.

Mileage: 158,000

20180814AIR BAGS

PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO AND WON'T CUT OFF,I HAVEN'T BEEN IN A CAR ACCIDENT NOR HAS MY AIRBAG EMPLODED, HAD IT LOOK AT BY MECHANIC AT AUTO SHOP WHERE I GET MY OIL CHANGES AND SUCH HE DIDN'T RECOGNIZE ANY PROBLEMS,CALLED LEXUS DEALERSHIP AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE AN ARM AND A LEG JUST TO LOOK AT IT.

20180704AIR BAGS

I STARTED MY CAR AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN, AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. I NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT, AIRBAGS WERE NEVER DEPLOYED, I CHECKED ALL THE WIRES AND EVEN UNPLUGGED THE BATTERY FOR GOOD 10 MINUTES AND THE LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF. IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, MY CAR WILL NOT DEPLOY AIR BAGS AND IT CREATES A POTENTIAL THREAT THAT IT CAN BE AN INSTA-DEATH, ESPECIALLY WITH A STEERING WHEEL IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE.

Mileage: 88,000

20180630AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

B1650 CODE - OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM CODE DISPLAYS. NEVER BEEN IN ACCIDENT AND WILL NOT GO AWAY. APPEARED AT START UP OVERNIGHT.

20180630AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

B1650 CODE - OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM CODE DISPLAYS. NEVER BEEN IN ACCIDENT AND WILL NOT GO AWAY. APPEARED AT START UP OVERNIGHT.

20180630AIR BAGS

B1650 CODE - OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM CODE DISPLAYS. NEVER BEEN IN ACCIDENT AND WILL NOT GO AWAY. APPEARED AT START UP OVERNIGHT.

20180410AIR BAGS

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG COVER IS SEPARATING FROM DASHBOARD AND APPEARS TO HAVE PRESSURE BEHIND IT. VINYL IS CRACKED ON TOP SIDE OF AIRBAG COVER.

Mileage: 203,000

20180408CrashAIR BAGS

I WAS IN 3 ACCIDENTS AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED. 1 ACCIDENT I WAS HIT IN THE BACK, I WAS NOT MOVING WHEN THE CAR HIT ME FROM BEHIND (ON THE FWY), HE MUST OF BEEN DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 45 MPH. I T-BONED A CAR GOING AT A SPEED OF APPROX. 35 MPH.

Mileage: 195,000

20180106AIR BAGS

AIRBAG HAS PARTIALLY OPENED AND I AM AFRAID IT WILL EXPLODE AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT.

20171116CrashUNKNOWN OR OTHER

CRUISE CONTROL DOING 5-10MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON THE CAR SURGED FOWARD AND EVEN BRAKING I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME

Mileage: 166,000

20170203SEAT BELTS

THE SEAT BELT FOR PASSENGER SIDE AND THE SEAT ASSEMBLY MALFUNCTIONED WHEN MY PASSENGER BUCKLED HIS SEAT BELT. THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND AND THEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE SYSTEM WAS RE CALIBRATED AT THE DEALERSHIP BUT I CONTINUE TO HAVE SPORADIC PROBLEMS WITH THIS ISSUE. I CANNOT HAVE A PASSENGER DUE TO THIS ISSUE.

Mileage: 150,000

20170203SEATS

THE SEAT BELT FOR PASSENGER SIDE AND THE SEAT ASSEMBLY MALFUNCTIONED WHEN MY PASSENGER BUCKLED HIS SEAT BELT. THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND AND THEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE SYSTEM WAS RE CALIBRATED AT THE DEALERSHIP BUT I CONTINUE TO HAVE SPORADIC PROBLEMS WITH THIS ISSUE. I CANNOT HAVE A PASSENGER DUE TO THIS ISSUE.

Mileage: 150,000

20170104SERVICE BRAKES

I CONTINUALLY HAVE TO REPLACE THE DISC BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE. THE PADS DON'T WEAR DOWN VERY MUCH, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL GETS LOW AND SPONGY. THIS IS AFTER NORMAL DRIVING. *TR

Mileage: 49,000

20170104SUSPENSION

I CONTINUALLY HAVE TO REPLACE THE DISC BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE. THE PADS DON'T WEAR DOWN VERY MUCH, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL GETS LOW AND SPONGY. THIS IS AFTER NORMAL DRIVING. *TR

Mileage: 49,000

20161221ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS ES330. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INSPECTED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V539000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), BUT THE REPAIR WAS NEVER PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FRACTURED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.

Mileage: 175,000

20161205AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL MY 2004 LEXUS ES 330 HAS A MALFUNCTIONING PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THERE IS A LIGHT THAT SAYS PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF THAT IS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THERE IS A GAP IN THE HOUSING WHERE THE AIRBAG IS LOCATED ON THE DASH OF THE PASSENGER SIDE. I AM CONCERNED THERE HAS BEEN NO FORMAL RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ONLINE FROM CONSUMERS WITH SAME ISSUE ON THE SAME MAKE/MODEL. PLEASE ADD THIS VEHICLE TO THE RECALL.

Mileage: 160,000

20161107AIR BAGS

NO ONE HAS NOTIFIED ME OF THE RECALL OF MY TOYOTA LEXUS 2004 MODEL 330 TO LET US KNOW IF WE NEED THE AIRBAGS REPLACED.

Mileage: 45,000

20160801VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I WAS DRIVING AT 9:30AM CST ON 7/27/16 WHEN MY CAR EXPERIENCE UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION FOR ABOUT 1.5 MILES. MY CAR REFUSED TO SLOW DOWN, EVEN WHILE I HAD THE BRAKES APPLIED. I HAVE HAD MY CAR SENT TO LEXUS HEADQUARTERS TO BE INVESTIGATED.

Mileage: 140,000

Compare 2004LexusEs330 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Vehicle Safety Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2004 Lexus Es330 have?▼
The 2004 Lexus Es330 has 214 NHTSA complaints, 47 crashes, 5 fires, 32 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2004 Lexus Es330?▼
Yes, the 2004 Lexus Es330 has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Lexus Es330?▼
The most-complained component for the 2004 Lexus Es330 is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 48 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and AIR BAGS.
Is the 2004 Lexus Es330 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.

Data vintage: August 2026. 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.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 2004 Lexus Es330; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.