2004 Lexus ES330

Early-defect pattern

34% of complaints about the 2004 Lexus ES330 came in its first year of service — a higher share than 99% of the 236 2004 model-years on record. That points to problems present from new rather than wear. The most-reported system is power train (57 complaints), typically at 10 mo or about 200 miles.

Complaints: 188
Median age at failure: 2.8 yr
Median mileage: 30,000 n=136
Crash / fire / tow: 21.3% of reports
Safety recalls: 1

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

11V539000 2011-11-09

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 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 W

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.

In owners’ own words

Air bags 47,000 mi 10.9 yr in service crash / fire / tow

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES IT FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CURB, FLIPPED OVER AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND CHEST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

Air bags 73,000 mi 8.8 yr in service

NO ACCIDENT- THE PASSENGER AIR BAG- THE COVER IS RAISE AND THE EDGES TURNED UP AS IF READY TO OPEN-WE FEAR DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER OR DRIVER -THE NEWS TODAY SAID THERE IS A RECALL-WHAT DO WE DO. *TR

Air bags 100,000 mi 10.3 yr in service

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SEEM TO HAVE DEVELOPED A TEAR AROUND THE TOP EDGE. NOT SURE IF THIS AFFECTS THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG. AFTER DOING A SEARCH ON TH WEB THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON FOR LEXUS ES 330 OF 2003 ONWARDS

Power train mileage not reported 1 mo in service

FOR THE LAST 3 MONTHS SINCE I PURCHASED MY LEXUS RX330,I HAVE EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE ENGINE VIBRATIONS IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING IMPROPERLY. THOUGH I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR INTO LEXUS MANY TIMES THEY HAVE NOT FIX THESE PROBLEMS AND I BELIEVE THEY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.*AK

Other ES330 model years

How to read this

This is what owners reported, not a reliability rating. People file with NHTSA about alarming failures, not routine ones, and complaint volume tracks how many cars were sold.
Failure ages come from the incident date on each complaint, populated on about 83% of records. Mileage is shown where reported — NHTSA’s 2021 system change cut mileage capture to roughly 15%, so it thins out sharply after MY2020.
Every rank compares this vehicle only against others of the same model year. A 2025 car has not had time to accumulate five-year failures, so comparing early-failure share across years is meaningless.
Fourteen make-months distorted by media storms and mass recalls — Toyota in February 2010 ran 11× normal volume across 33 models — are excluded.
Recalls are manufacturer actions and authoritative; complaints are not. A recall listed here may already have been performed on any individual car. Check a specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

2004 Lexus ES330

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

In owners’ own words

Other ES330 model years

How to read this