2004 Lexus ES
Only 16 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.
Only 16 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. The data below is complete but unranked.
- Complaints
- 16
- Recalls
- 0
- Investigations
- 0
- Top problem
- —
Too few to rank
None on file
None on file
Not enough data
Complaints per year
2004: 16 complaints
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 1 |
| 1997 | 2 |
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 8 |
| 2000 | 6 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 27 |
| 2003 | 23 |
| 2004 | 16 |
| 2005 | 60 |
| 2006 | 12 |
| 2007 | 125 |
| 2008 | 68 |
| 2009 | 28 |
| 2010 | 41 |
| 2011 | 46 |
| 2012 | 31 |
| 2013 | 34 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 34 |
| 2020 | 18 |
| 2021 | 28 |
| 2022 | 11 |
| 2023 | 10 |
| 2024 | 9 |
| 2025 | 5 |
Known problem areas
Only 16 complaints on file for this model year — too few to rank by share. Raw counts only, below.
Vehicle speed control
5 of 16 total reports mention: vehicle speed control, most commonly citing accelerator pedal.
Show complaint excerpts
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.
NHTSA ODI report, 2007-10-28
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.
NHTSA ODI report, 2007-02-05
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.
NHTSA ODI report, 2006-08-07
Air bags
4 of 16 total reports mention: air bags.
Show complaint excerpts
Vehicle was parked overnight in garage. Though not noticed immediately, sometime during the morning I noticed my dashboard vinyl around the passenger side airbag looked swollen , and upon examination, it showed a split in the vinyl also.
NHTSA ODI report, 2020-07-10
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Lexus ES. While operating the vehicle, the air bag warning indicator remained illuminated. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.
NHTSA ODI report, 2019-04-01
Structure
2 of 16 total reports mention: structure.
Power train
2 of 16 total reports mention: power train, most commonly citing automatic transmission.
Engine
2 of 16 total reports mention: engine.
Show complaint excerpts
The driver was pulling into a parking space at the local train station. She was going forward at about 1 MPH with her foot on the brake pedal in order to slow the car down as she was approaching the curb at the front end of the parking space.
NHTSA ODI report, 2015-06-06
Safety timeline
No recalls on file for this model year.
0 recalls · 0 investigations · oldest first
To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →
Buy-smart checklist
2004 Lexus ES — pre-purchase inspection
Inspect
- Vehicle speed control: 5 reports on file for this year.
- Air bags: 4 reports on file for this year.
- Structure: 2 reports on file for this year.
Other years of this model
See all years ranked →FAQ
- Is the 2004 Lexus ES reliable?
- There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on file yet to give this model year a verdict.
- What are the most common problems with the 2004 Lexus ES?
- The most-reported component is vehicle speed control, accounting for 31% of complaints on file.
- How many recalls does the 2004 Lexus ES have?
- No recalls are on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-11-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.