2004 Lexus ES330: problems, recalls and reliability
1 recall and 21 owner complaints on record; most reports concern air bags.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Nov 2011
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 21 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Air bag light came on when idle and won't go off. Code b1787. Never in an accident. Unplugged and re-plugged all connections; disconnected battery for 15 minutes but did not reset light. Dealer checked and could not reset system. No air bag protection now. Fix requires new seat with sensors est $4500. Can't afford to fix.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jan 2019
“B1650 code - occupancy classification system code displays. Never been in accident and will not go away. Appeared at start up overnight.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jan 2018
“Cruise control doing 5-10mph with the cruise control on the car surged foward and even braking I hit the car in front of me”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Nov 2017
Show 7 more owner reports
“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.”Owner report · Air Bags · Aug 2017
“Tl* the contact owns a 2004 lexus es330. While driving various speeds, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was previously inspected per NHTSA campaign number: 11v539000 (engine and engine cooling), but the repair was never performed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the crankshaft pulley fractured and would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 175,000.”Owner report · Engine · Dec 2016
“Tl* the contact owns a 2004 lexus es330. While driving 35 mph, the air bag light illuminated, and the cruise control, fuel gauge, and horn failed to function. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the entire electrical housing system of the front passenger seat failed and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 154,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · Apr 2016
“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.”Owner report · Air Bags · Mar 2016
“Passenger side airbag cover is separating from the dash. I appears to be rising up from its flat position on the dash and I'm afraid it might deploy and injure a passenger. Is this a takata airbag?”Owner report · Air Bags · Dec 2015
“The air bags on the front passenger side is protruding out of the dash. This could be a hazard because the air bag appears that it could be released at anytime. *tr”Owner report · Air Bags · Feb 2015
“Was driving 2004es 330 lexus on interstate, traffic was light, cloudy day @1:20pm. Had been on interstate for maybe 15-18 mins of driving before accident occurred. All of a sudden steering seem to lock and car just started spinning uncontrollable. Hit one brick overpass then sprung into the opposite side, hitting another brick wall,continued to spin until it rest against the brick wall again. After help came to pull me out, car was smoking. We could not get it into park to prevent from continue to roll backwards. We just left door open...rest against brick wall to prevent car from rolling into oncoming traffic. Hero truck drug it to a safe location out of traffic. *tr”Owner report · Steering · Feb 2015
When filing, owners marked a crash in 7 of these complaints and injuries in 4 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 1 campaign
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 WITH THE INNER RING, CAUSING NOISE AND/OR ILLUMINATION OF THE BATTERY DISCHARGE INDICATOR LIGHT.
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. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING EARLY JANUARY 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
How other years compare
Check your exact ES330 by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Lexus ES330 reliable?
NHTSA has 21 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on record for the 2004 Lexus ES330. The most complained-about area is air bags.
Does the 2004 Lexus ES330 have open recalls?
1 recall campaign has been issued, the latest concerning engine and engine cooling. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.