2004 Lexus ES: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
16 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
89,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 16 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 12.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 6.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 6.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 3 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Structure | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
Air Bags: 4; Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 3; Engine: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Structure: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Electrical System: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 3
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 5 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2006: 2; 2007: 3; 2008: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10164709 · 2006-08-07 (August 7, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD CRASHING INTO THE FRONT WINDOW OF A CREDIT UNION. THERE WERE NO INJURIES; THERE WAS PROPERTY DAMAGE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE TRANSMISSION WAS HESITATING AND LURCHING FORWARD. IN 2004, THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER WAS TRYING TO ADJUST TO THE WAY HE DROVE. UPDATED 8/30/2006. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10164709 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10174421 · 2006-11-27 (November 27, 2006)
THE VEHICLE SKID CONTROL (VSC) ON MY 2004 ES 330 ENGAGES ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS MAKING THE VEHICLE UNPREDICTABLE AND UNSAFE. WHEN THE VSC ENGAGES THE COMPUTER TAKES OVER CONTROL OF THE ACCELERATION AND BREAKING SYSTEMS. ITS PRIMARY GOAL IS TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT. WHEN THE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS AND ENGAGES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN A NORMAL TURN OR CURVE THE VSC COMPUTER WILL TAKE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND FORCE IT TO TRAVEL IN WHAT IT BELIEVES IS A STRAIGHT LINE, PLACING THE DRIVER, OCCUPANTS, AND NEARBY VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS IN JE…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10174421 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10181575 · 2007-02-05 (February 5, 2007)
TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDINGTHE 2004 LEXUS ES 330. THE CONTACT WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE HESITATED AND THEN SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT THE VEHICLE PARKED DIRECTLY IN FRONT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SUSTAINED FRONT END DAMAGE. THE HEADLIGHTS BROKE AND THE HOOD WAS DENTED. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HER VEHICLE WENT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE OTHER VEHICLE SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVABLE, AND HAS BEEN TAKEN TO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10181575 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10186801 · 2007-04-03 (April 3, 2007)
ACCELERATION DELAY OF UP TO 2 FULL SECONDS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10186801 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10207089 · 2007-10-28 (October 28, 2007)
MY WIFE WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AT A VERY LOW RATE OD SPEED. ACCELERATOR STUCK AND COULD NOT BE RELEASED. CAR SPED UP AND HIT FOUR OTHER CARS. TOTAL DAMAGE TO ALL CARS EXCEEDED $40,000.00 AND MY WIFE WAS INJURED WHEN AIR BAG INFLATED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10207089 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10215999 · 2008-01-25 (January 25, 2008)
CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2004. PROBLEM STARTED OCCURRING SHORTLY THEREAFTER. CAR HAS BAD HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING CREATING A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY SITUATION. CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER TWICE. DEALER, KENNY KENT LEXUS IN EVANSVILLE, IN WILL NOT OR CANNOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEY ALONG WITH LEXUS SAY THIS IS THE WAY THE CAR WAS DESIGNED. WHAT A JOKE THEY BOTH ARE. SAYING THE CAR WAS DESIGNED WITH A SAFETY DEFECT IS PURE STUPIDITY. LEMON LAW IS OUR NEXT OPTION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10215999 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10592203 · 2014-05-17 (May 17, 2014)
WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD. I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL BY PRESSING FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS. THE 1ST 2 TIMES, I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE ME, MAYBE MY FOOT SLIPPED HAD OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND HIT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. TODAY, HOWEVER, THAT NOTION WAS DISPELLED. I WAS PAYING ATTENTION TO MY FOOT LOCATION ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, MY FOOT BEING FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHEN THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD OF IT'S OWN ACCORD. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 155,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10592203 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10650013 · 2014-10-26 (October 26, 2014)
THERE IS A CRACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG OF MY CAR. IT IS PROTRUDING AROUND THE AREA OF THE AIRBAG. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP ON JULY 14, 2014, FOR THIS PROBLEM. ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE MY DASH BOARD AND IT WOULD COST ME OVER 2,500 DOLLAR. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCE ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE EVER. THIS IS TRULY A VERY STRESSFUL AND UNCERTAINTY WONDERING EVERYTIME I GET INTO MY CAR, AFRAID AND HOPING THAT THE AIRBAG DOES NOT EXPLODED. BASED ON THE RECALL OF MY CAR MODEL, MAKE I NEED TO BE CONTACTED ON THE NE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10650013 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.