Transmission complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 61 | 40% | 1,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
04 Lexus es330 transmission hesitation is serious danger to driver. Engine hesitates when starting from a dead start. Car has to be floored to move and even then it hesitates even more. Also car has serious blind spots on left and right outer side mirrors (they are too small for the car). Also, cruise control light stays lit even when the brake is hit or you dis-engage it. The only time the cruise control light turns off is when you physically turn it off with the switch or shut the engine off completely. This gives the driver the impression that it is on all the time even when it is off or worse they think they have shut it off but it's really still on and you have a very good chance of rear ending someone. This is extremely bad engineering and extremely dangerous. How you guys let a car like this on the road is beyond me. Did you test it? …
We have a 2004 Lexus es330 with 22,000 miles. We have been having problems with hesitation, hard shifts and missed gears for the last 10,000 miles. The dealer replaced the computer module at 16,000 miles and the car is a little better but not much. I took it back in for the problem at 21,000 miles and the dealer acknowledged that there was a problem with the car, but they did not know how to fix it. The dealer told me that Lexus told them that they were having trouble with a number of the ES cars after the module was changed but they did not know how to tell the dealer to fix it. I have spoken with Lexus and their representative again acknowledged that there was a problem with the shifting in the ES. Although both the dealership and the manufacturer have both admitted that there is a problem I have been unable to get them to even attempt to do anything about it. …
Frequently asked questions
Which Lexus ES 330 years have transmission problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2004 (61) model years. Transmission complaints make up 40% of all complaints for the 2004.
Is there a recall for Lexus ES 330 transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for any Lexus ES 330 model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Lexus ES 330 transmission problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 1,000 miles; 82% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the automatic transmission (48 mentions), followed by the automatic transmission › control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) (6).
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.