Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Lexus ES 330 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My Lexus es330 was less than two months old and the mileage read about 950 the time when the accident happened.t occurred on the way to work at 8:40 am March 8th, 2004. It was a sunny warm day. As I was driving on the far right lane of south 5 freeway with speed around 65 to 70 MPH, a car next to my lane was trying to cut in front of me. In order to keep a safe distance, I tried to slow down the car by pressing the brake. The moment I pressed the brake the car swerved to the right. I couldn't control where the vehicle was heading and the car didn't slow down as I further pressed the brake. It bumped into the guardrail and turned 180 degree facing the oncoming cars. Luckily, I was able to make a turn and parked the car without hitting anybody. The car was damaged from the right head light all the way to the rear bumper. …
I was driving our 2004 Lexus es330 on a clear sunny day at approximately 2:30 pm. I stopped in the left turn lane at a very busy intersection in tucson, arizona. There were three cars in front of my vehicle and I had the car in neutral. When the left-hand turn-light signal changed to green, I pulled the gear shift from neutral to drive. Instantly, the motor made a loud revving sound and the car lunged forward and hit the vehicle in front of me. I immediately applied the brake but my car continued to push on the car that I had hit. I then tried to back away from the car I had hit by putting the gear shift into reverse. When I shifted my car into reverse it hit the car behind me and I immediately applied the brakes but they did not work. This occurred twice before the engine died. This was a harrowing experience. Fortunately no one was injured. …
I had no problems with my 2004 Lexus 300se until I ran through a building. My car only had 16,000 miles on it and I never experienced braking problems, acceleration problems or anything of the sort. I did call the dealership when recalls were very big news in the media but was told my model was not on any lists for recall. I drove my car to the tailor shop...I turned in the shopping center with no problem..I turned into the parking place in front of the tailor shop and the car would not stop. I pressed the brake but the car just went into lunge mode and instead of stopping went faster. I had my brake pressed all the way to the floorboard. Thank god the lady in the tailor shop was in the back of the store because my car did not come to rest until it was inside the store and pinned at a wall. …
Tl contact owns a 2004 Lexus ES 330. The contact stated as he starts the engine the rpms increased excessively and remained that way as he moved the gear shift out of park. The vehicle would jump forward causing the accelerator pedal to stick and the vehicle would not accelerate. While parking the vehicle with the brake engaged and the gear shift was in reverse, the vehicle accelerated forward. The failure caused the contact to crash into the garage and damage the front bumper. No one was injured. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer will be contacted at a later date. The failure mileage was 40,000. Updated 06/03/11 updated 06/13/11
When braking and slowly turning left to come to a stop in a parking space at a wal-mart parking lot my car suddenly accelerated uncontrollably at such a fast speed that my car crashed into a metal pole and pushed a parked station wagon facing my car back far into another isle. My foot was definitely braking the whole time.!!!! My car unexpectedly accelerated at a very high speed while I pressed the brake. I have in my possession a surveillance tape of the accident taken by wal-mart. As a result I hurt my back and neck and was very upset that I could have killed people walking in that parking lot. I am positive that the braking system in my car malfunctioned.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Lexus es330. While parking, the vehicle suddenly jumped when shifted into drive. The vehicle accelerated over a cement block, went uphill and crashed into bushes and rocks. The contact suffered minor injuries. No police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer but had not been inspected or repaired. The contact called the manufacturer who stated that a representative would inspect the vehicle. The failure mileage was 25,790 and the current mileage was 25,794.
While parking, the consumers 2004 Lexus ES 330 suddenly accelerated jumped and curb hit a tree. The consumer stated she gently pressed the accelerator to inch into a parking space a little more, when the vehicle suddenly went out of control. After hitting the tree, the vehicle then bounced back from the tree and went down an incline to the right where she was able to stop it. The consumer was treated at the hospital for a hairline fracture of her sternum. It took several weeks to recover.
Vehicle lunged forward when brakes were depressed. While pulling into his garage the vehicle would not stop but lunged forward. The vehicle hit a corner wall, went over an eight inch step up, and hit the step to the house breaking it. The vehicle then hit the wall facing the entrance to the garage causing damage to the vehicle and the house (vehicle damage $9200. House damage $60,000.). The manufacture examined the vehicle and concluded that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle.
I had 2 accelerating experiences with my 04 Lexus. Both LED up to several $ damage to my car and I other car. Then the 3rd one occurred when my car was in for repair and the Lexus garage loaned me a 2009 Lexus, the same thing - it accelerated and I drove into a brick wall. I thought they were my fault. The state of minnesota intervened and took my drivers license so I can longer drive. I feel this was an injustice and want my license returned.
Upon starting and putting car in reverse engine experienced uncontrollable acceleration. Car it backed across a the traffic lane in a parking lot with the brakes applied stuck two parked cars and ended up on top of a planting area after hitting a tree planted there. Police were called and responded. The car has been looked at by a mechanic but could not find a visible problem with the accelerator.
NHTSA investigations
Vehicle speed control
In a letter dated July 8, 2005, and after experiencing two incidents (and one crash) where he alleges his model year (my) 2002 camry accelerated without driver input, mr. Jordan ziprin petitioned the national highway traffic safety administration?s (NHTSA) office of defects investigation (odi) to commence a proceeding to determine the existence of a defect within the etc system in my 2002 to 2005 Toyota and Lexus…
Acceleration complaints in other ES 330 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2004 Lexus ES 330?
NHTSA has 49 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2004 Lexus ES 330, 32% of the model year's 153 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (13 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Lexus ES 330 acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2004 Lexus ES 330, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2004 Lexus ES 330 acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 19,000 miles, and 54% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 19 crashes, 0 fires and 12 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.