Is the 2004 Lexus ES 330 a bad year?
174 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 61.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 0k–20k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2004 ES 330 owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 1,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 61 (35%) | 0k–20k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 53 (30%) | 3k–53k miles · ahead | — |
| Air bags | 24 (14%) | 66k–116k miles · ahead | — |
| Brakes | 16 (9%) | 9k–60k miles · ahead | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Engine | 12 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 7 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 1,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 174 complaints: 35 mention a crash · 2 mention a fire · 16 report an injury · 3 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in May 2020.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
At low speed about 20-25 MPH letting go of the gas pedal and press on again causes the transmission to hesitate for at least 1-2 second like it is searching for the right gear.
I own a Lexus es 330 and have been very displeased with the transmission. There is a hesitation of a second or two when you accellerate and it also jerks the car when you try to accellerate when the car is slowing down.
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.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 1,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2004 Lexus ES 330: 2
The amount of adhesive agent applied between the outer ring and the torsional rubber damper (Inner ring) in the crankshaft pulley may be inadequate. In some cases, the belt for the power steering pump may become detached from the pulley which could result in a loss of power steering and a sudden increase in steering effort, increasing the risk of a crash.
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with a front passenger power seat, when installing certain rear-facing infant child seat bases onto the seat with an excessively high seatbelt tension, it may be possible to unseat a component called the buckle status switch from the seat belt buckle. If the switch becomes unseated, the front passenger occupant classification system may mistake the rear-facing child restraint for an unbelted adult occupant, and may not suppress the deployment of the front passenger airbag.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Lexus: 36
Repair instructions Lexus sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2004 Lexus ES 330. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Vehicles may display evidence of a fluid leak or fluid seep from powertrain components
The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide information regarding the installation of the correct torque converter bolts during automatic…
The purpose of this bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL "ON" shifting issues…
Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels…
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Vehicle speed control
Neighbouring years
2005 ES 330: 141 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
Every Lexus ES 330 year
2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2010 · All ES 330 years side by side
Other Lexus models: Lexus ES · Lexus ES 300 · Lexus ES 350 · Lexus GS 300 · Lexus GS 350 · Lexus GX · Lexus GX 470 · Lexus IS · Lexus IS 250 · Lexus IS 350 · Lexus LS · Lexus LS 430 · Lexus LS 460 · Lexus NX · Lexus RX · Lexus RX 300 · Lexus RX 330 · Lexus RX 350 · Lexus RX Hybrid. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2004 Lexus ES 330 a bad year?
174 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 61. At 1,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 0k–20k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Lexus ES 330?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (61), speed control (53), air bags (24), brakes (16), engine (12). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 0k–20k miles.
How many recalls does the 2004 Lexus ES 330 have?
2 recall campaigns list this model year: Engine (NHTSA 11V-539), Seat belts (NHTSA 04V-595). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.