2004 Lexus ES330

Routine

Owners filed 174 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train › automatic transmission. It has been recalled 2 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
32,000 milesMedian miles at failure

127 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 010,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train › Automatic Transmission44
000
Vehicle Speed Control36
16013
Air Bags20
304
Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal12
500
Power Train7
101
Service Brakes, Hydraulic5
100
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Control Module (tcm/Pcm/Tecm)5
000
Electrical System5
110
Engine and Engine Cooling4
000
Unknown or Other3
200

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Engine and Engine Cooling11V539000
Filed Nov 9, 2011420,326 vehiclesToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Defect. 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 OR 3MZ-FE ENGINE. THE AMOUNT OF ADHESIVE AGENT APPLIED BETWEEN THE OUTER RING AND THE TORSIONAL RUBBER DAMPER (INNER RING) IN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY MAY BE INADEQUATE. IF THE ADHESIVE IS INSUFFICIENT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE OUTER RING MAY BECOME MISALIGNED AND IT MAY NOT PROPERLY ROTATE WITH THE INNER RING, CAUSING NOISE AND/OR ILLUMINATION OF THE BATTERY DISCHARGE INDICATOR LIGHT.

Risk. IN SOME CASES, THE BELT FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE PULLEY WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND A SUDDEN INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL CHECK THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY TO IDENTIFY WHETHER IT WAS PRODUCED BY THE U.S. SUPPLIER. IF SO, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE PULLEY WITH A NEW ONE AT NO CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING EARLY JANUARY 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly04V595000
Filed Dec 15, 2004150,061 vehiclesToyota Motor North America, Inc.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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..

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed May 25, 2020AZ

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

Power Train
Filed Apr 26, 2019150,000 milesMS

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.

Air Bags
Filed Jan 29, 2019158,000 milesFL

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.

Air Bags
Filed Aug 14, 2018CA

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.

Air Bags
Filed Jul 4, 201888,000 milesPA

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.

Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification › Front Passenger
Filed Jun 30, 2018AR

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

Air Bags
Filed Apr 10, 2018203,000 milesLA

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

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 8, 2018195,000 milesCA

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.

Air Bags
Filed Jan 6, 2018TN

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

Unknown or OtherCrash
Filed Nov 16, 2017166,000 milesFL

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

Seat Belts
Filed Feb 3, 2017150,000 milesTX

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.

Service Brakes
Filed Jan 4, 201749,000 milesGA

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

Engine
Filed Dec 21, 2016175,000 milesSC

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.

Air Bags
Filed Dec 5, 2016160,000 milesTX

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.

Air Bags
Filed Nov 7, 201645,000 milesCA

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.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Aug 1, 2016140,000 milesIL

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.

Electrical System
Filed Apr 25, 2016154,000 milesTN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS ES330. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL, FUEL GAUGE, AND HORN FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL HOUSING SYSTEM OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

Engine
Filed Apr 9, 2016118,240 milesFL

WHEN STARTING THE LEXUS ES 330 2004 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE DAY IT MAKES A HORRIBLE SOUND THAT LASTS ABOUT 5 SECONDS WHILE STILL PARKED THEN WHEN DRIVING IT SEEMS LIKE I AM FORCING IT DO ACCELERATE. AFTER BEING WARMED UP IT IS FINE AND AFTER SUBSEQUENT STARTS IT DOES NOT MAKE THAT NOISE.

Air Bags
Filed Apr 8, 2016162,888 milesCA

WITHOUT ANY INCIDENTS, OUR DASHBOARD LIGHT FOR THE AIRBAGS CAME ON. THE DEALER SAYS THE ENTIRE PART IS IN AN ELECTRICAL HOUSING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND IT TO BE REPLACED AS A WHOLE PART AT A COST OF $4000. A SEPARATE MECHANIC WE HAVE USED LONG TERM SAYS IT IS THE ENTIRE DRIVERS SEAT THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED NOT THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THIS ONE IS AT A COST OF $6000. THEY BOTH STATE IT'S NOT PART OF THE RECENT AIRBAG RECALLS. THEY KNOW THE AIRBAGS HAVE NOT INFLATED, YET CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT THEY WILL INFLATE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN OUR POSSESSION AS ORIGINAL OWNERS AND NO ONE ELSE DRIVES THIS VEHICLE. IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR FENDER BENDER OR ANYTHING. THE LIGHT CAME ON ONE MORNING AFTER IT HAD BEEN PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY ALL NIGHT. WE DON'T PARK ON THE STREET.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Mar 21, 2016199,999 milesMD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH AND EXITING THE RESIDENCE, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS AND SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND NECK THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 199,999.

20 of 174 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2004
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20101000Routine
200664011Fatalities reported
2005141220Routine
2004 — this page174220Routine

Compare every ES330 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Nov 9, 2011. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.