Most common 2004 Lexus ES330 problems
Share of the 21 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Lexus ES330 complaints by model year
Best ES330 years: 2004, 2006. Years to avoid: 2005. Compare all years →
2004 Lexus ES330 recalls (1)
Engine and 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.
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.
What 2004 Lexus ES330 owners say
Air bags
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.
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.
Speed control & acceleration
I was riding the brake into a parking space and was almost finished parking (my foot was still on the brake) when the car suddenly accelerated and traveled through a short wooded area then over a 12 foot drop to a road with traffic below. The front of the car crashed into a stone wall, crashed back into the stone wall that the car flew over, and came to a stop in the middle of a busy road approximately 100 feet from where it flew over the drop. Airbag deployed, seatbelt was on. I was taken to the er via ambulance with a broken nose, concussion, bruising... And have ongoing soreness, stiffness, dizziness...
I was parking my car in the parking lot of a garage when my car Lexus 330 suddenly picked up high speed (full throttle) unintentionally. The vehicle went forward and fell approximately about 5 feet to the other parking level and violently hit the back of a pickup truck which was parked. I had my seat belt on. My body went forward and backward violently. For the next few days I had experienced muscle pain, stiffness and poor night sleep. The accident was reported to the police.
2004 Lexus ES330 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.3L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 27 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Lexus ES330 a good car?
Based on 21 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 ES330 rates better than average: 96% fewer complaints than a typical year of the ES330 at the same age. It is one of the best ES330 years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Lexus ES330?
The air bags — 10 complaints, 48% of all complaints for this model year, most often about sensor › occupant classification › front passenger. Next are the speed control & acceleration (4) and engine & cooling (2).
How many recalls does the 2004 Lexus ES330 have?
There is 1 recall for the 2004 Lexus ES330, the most recent from November 9, 2011 (engine and engine cooling). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Lexus ES330?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2004 and 2006. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2005. See the full Lexus ES330 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Lexus ES330 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 102,000 miles; 13% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.