2004 Lexus ES330 problems
Owners have filed 214 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Lexus ES330. Transmission is the most reported problem area, at 25% of complaints. After that come cruise control (25%) and air bags (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 214 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Transmission 25% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 47 and 5
- Injuries and deaths
- 32 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 36,000 miles 154 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 69 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 11 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 26 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 14 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 9 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 8 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 1 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 6 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 6 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 3 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Among the 154 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 36,000 miles. For transmission specifically, the median reported mileage is about 0 miles (40 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 47 complaints mention a crash; 5 complaints mention a fire; 32 injuries reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 91% of model years in our database.
It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
I drove off the highway , route 50, in annapolis, md, onto an exit ramp leading to ferguson road. I applied the brakes but the car did not slow down. I avoided a car on the ramp in front of me but immediately came to the stop sign at ferguson road. The car had not slowed down and I attempted to make the left turn onto ferguson road, but hit the guard rail and another car in the intersection. The air bags did not deploy.
As I was pulling into the garage at my place of employment, I pressed on the brakes and the car began to accelerate, I continued to bounce off the wall several times before the car would stop. I felt that the brakes failed or the throttle was stuck. I have contacted my dealer, they called me back 30 minutes later and said that there was nothing wrong with car and I could pick it up. I felt as if I have been "blown off' and I am terrified to drive this vehicle again.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 lexus es330. The contact stated that odorless fumes were emitting into the vehicle without any warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the exhaust system was corroded which caused fumes to leak into the cabin of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who determined that the entire exhaust system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure.
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.