2004 Lexus ES Owner Complaints

The passenger side airbag is shrinking and seems to be collapsing into the dashboard. There is an indicator light on the passenger side that is lit up noting that "airbag off," so apparently there is no airbag protection for passenger. Three days ago, the right side of the windshield - passenger side, and the passenger window and passenger side back seat window, were all moist and foggy in the morning. There were no windows opened. I think the airbag situation is causing the airbag to leak moisture into the surrounding windows and the passenger side of the car. I don't know what this fluid/moisture is composed of, but I can only imagine it must be some type of chemical - something that you do not want to be leaking into the car on a daily basis.

NHTSA ID

11450072

Incident

Dec 1, 2021

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. I TOOK IT TO A REPUTABLE AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST THOUSANDS TO FIX, BUT THAT A DEALERSHIP MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP. SO I WENT TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEAL WHO SAID SOME VEHICLES HAD RECALLS BUT MINE DID NOT. AS TIME GOES ON, THE VINYL SEEMS TO HAVE PRESSURE BUILDING BEHIND IT, AND THE SPLIT IS MORE OBVIOUS. I AM AFRAID TO ALLOW PASSENGERS TO SIT IN THAT SEAT. I AM AFRAID IF THE AIRBAG BURST OUT WHILE I AM DRIVING, I MAY OVERREACT AND WRECK. THIS IS NOT SAFE AT ALL. PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ID

11338671

Incident

May 1, 2019

Mileage

165,000 mi

INTERMEDIATE WIPERS HAVE NEVER WORKED.

NHTSA ID

11203849

Incident

Aug 21, 2016

Mileage

137,000 mi

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. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ID

11193155

Incident

Jul 1, 2018

Mileage

170,000 mi

I HAD A CAR ACCIDENT APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AGO DUE TO SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND LOSS OF STEERING IN A 2004 LEXUS ES330. I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF THE CAR AND I HAD IT SERVICED REGULARLY OVER THE PAST 13 YEARS. THE NIGHT OF MY ACCIDENT I LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF MY CAR AS I ATTEMPTED TO MERGE ON TO THE LOCAL LANES OF AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN NORTHERN, NJ. THE CAR ACCELERATED TO THE LEFT AND CROSSED SPED ACROSS 8 LANES OF THE HIGHWAY, INCLUDING OVER A MEDIAN BEFORE IT SPUN AROUND AND JERKED TO A STOP IN THE LEFT LANE OF THE WEST BOUND LANES FACING EAST. I WAS HIT HEAD ON BY ANOTHER DRIVER. I WAS NOT INJURED, BUT THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. BOTH OF MY PARENTS ALSO CURRENTLY DRIVE LEXUS VEHICLES, AND BOTH MODELS WERE NOTED TO HAVE SIMILAR ISSUES. FURTHERMORE, MY MOTHER RECENTLY RECEIVED A LETTER INDICATING HER CAR WAS BEING RECALLED DUE TO THE PASSENGER AIR BAG ISSUES, THE LETTER STATED WHILE TOYOTA WOULD OFFER WHAT THEY CONSIDERED TO BE A SUITABLE FIX AT NO CHARGE. THE LETTER FURTHER EXPLAINED THAT THEY DID NOT CURRENTLY POSSESS THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIRS AND WOULD BE IN TOUCH IN THE FUTURE, NO INDICATION OF THE EXPECTED TIME FRAME WAS PROVIDED. BETWEEN MY ACCIDENT AND KNOWING BOTH OF MY PARENTS ARE CURRENTLY DRIVING VEHICLES THAT ARE UNSAFE TO DRIVE, BY TOYOTA'S OWN ADMISSIONS, I HAVE BEEN AND CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT DISTRESS. I AM AWARE OF THE SIGNIFICANT FINES AND SUITS SETTLED AGAINST TOYOTA IN THE PAST, BUT THEY CONTINUE TO SEEM UNFAZED DESPITE THEIR CARS PUTTING ALL OF OUR LIVES AT RISK DAILY. I AM ALSO INCREDIBLY DISGUSTED BY THEIR HISTORY OF VICTIM BLAMING AND WOULD LOVE TO DO WHATEVER I CAN TO BRING ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE. I FEEL IT IS ONLY FAIR THAT TOYOTA ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR SEEMINGLY NEVER ENDING LIST OF WRONGDOING AND TAKE IMMEDIATE STEPS TO CORRECT ONGOING ISSUES.

NHTSA ID

10956681

Incident

Jan 17, 2017

Mileage

135,000 mi

THIS CAR -- PURCHASED IN 2003 -- HAS NEVER LEFT FLORIDA. IT RESIDES IN A HUMID, HOT AREA, PARKED OUTDOORS. ARE THE AIRBAGS IN THIS CAR SAFE? WILL THEY BE RECALLED? IF SO, WHEN? WHAT SHOULD I DO IN THE MEANTIME? THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID

10875024

Incident

Jun 18, 2016

Mileage

27,000 mi

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. WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR SUDDENLY LUNGED FORWARD AND WENT OVER THE CURB AND INTO A METAL AND WOODEN FENCE. THE CAR PROBABLY WOULD HAVE LANDED ON THE TRAIN TRACKS; BUT, FORTUNATELY, IT WENT INTO THE FENCE WHICH IS USED TO SUPPORT A SHELTER THAT SHIELDS COMMUTERS FROM INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE DAMAGED FENCE IS OWNED BY THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD. THE DRIVER SUFFERED A BACK INJURY AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION, MEDICATION, AND PHYSICAL THERAPY. THE INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO LEXUS IN TORRANCE, CA. LEXUS HAS A CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENT WITH A VENDOR TO INSPECT THE EVENT DATA RECORDER (EDR) INSTALLED IN THE CAR. AFTER THE EDR WAS INSPECTED, THE DRIVER WAS INFORMED THAT THE EDR IN THE 2004 LEXUS ES 330 IS VERY BASIC AND NOT AT ALL SOPHISTICATED ENOUGH TO DETECT WHAT ACTUALLY OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE AND AFTER THE ACCIDENT. LEXUS SAID THE EDR IN THE NEWER ES AUTOMOBILES WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AS TO EXACTLY WHAT OCCURRED BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER WAS INFORMED THAT THE EDR INSPECTION REPORT FOR THIS INCIDENT ESSENTIALLY ADDRESSED WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE AIR BAGS, NONE OF WHICH HAD DEPLOYED DURING THE ACCIDENT. LEXUS INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE OR GUIDANCE TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF ANY PARTS OR DESIGN DEFECTS.

NHTSA ID

10723780

Incident

Apr 22, 2015

Mileage

89,000 mi

ON A FRIDAY MORNING IN OCTOBER OF 2014, I DROVE FROM DC TO BALTIMORE.THE TOTAL DRIVING TIME WAS CLOSER TO NINETY MINUTES THAN THE USUAL HOUR, THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS WILL BECOME CLEAR LATER IN THIS MESSAGE. TEN MILES OUTSIDE OF BALTIMORE, I DID NOT FEEL WELL. EVENTUALLY PULLING INTO MY DAUGHTER'S DRIVEWAY, AND FEELING VERY FAINT, I MANAGED TO CALL MY HER VIA CELLPHONE, RIGHT OUTSIDE HER KITCHEN WINDOW. I WAS SO SICK THAT I COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR. I FELT UTTERLY LIMP, DIZZY AND NAUSEOUS AS MY SON-IN-LAW PULLED ME OUT TO STAGGER IN THE FRONT DOOR AND COLLAPSE ON THE LIVING ROOM COUCH. THE ROOM WAS SPINNING; IF I OPENED MY EYES, THE ROOM TILTED AND SPUN FASTER. MY KIDS CALLED AN AMBULANCE. MY VITAL SIGNS - OXYGEN AND BLOOD PRESSURE READINGS WERE WITHIN THE LOW RANGE OF NORMAL, WITH OXYGEN AND BLOOD PRESSURE READING VERY LOW. I HAVE NO RELEVANT HEALTH CONDITIONS. THE AMULANCE ATTENDENTS THOUGHT IT WAS "THE FLU". EIGHT OR NINE HOURS LATER, I MANAGED TO GET UP. IN A FEW DAYS I WAS BACK TO NORMAL AND FELT FINE. LAST TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME IT TOOK ABOUT FIVE HOURS TO RECOVER. THE DRIVE HAD BEEN JUST UNDER AN HOUR. I WAS SURE, AT THIS POINT: IT HAS TO BE THE CAR. IT WAS. NEXT DAY I WENT TO THE MECHANIC, THOUGH HE WAS ENTIRELY DUBIOUS ABOUT MY CONVICTION: CARBON MONOXIDE. A FEW HOURS LATER, HE CALLED TO VERIFY THAT THE ENTIRE EXHAUST SYSTEM, ENGINE-TO-TAILPIPE, WAS CORRODED AND THAT, INDEED, CARBON MONOXIDE HAD BEEN LEAKING INTO THE CAR. IT IS AN OLD CAR BY US STANDARDS - A 2004. IT WAS A $2,000 REPAIR JOB - A JOLT, BUT I FELT LUCKY. WOULD A SMALLER PERSON - A TEEN OR PETITE WOMAN, HAVE SURVIVED? WOULD THE CAUSE OF DEATH EVEN BE DISCERNIBLE? HOW MANY DEATHS HAVE WE HEARD OF: "ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL"? PUSH FOR LEGISLATION TO REQUIRE CARBON MONOXIDE SENSORS IN CARS! *TR

NHTSA ID

10679458

Incident

Oct 17, 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 NEXT ACTION THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSE BACK. THANK YOU KINDLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10650013

Incident

Jul 14, 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

NHTSA ID

10592203

Incident

May 7, 2014

Mileage

155,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10215999

Incident

Jan 24, 2008

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

NHTSA ID

10207089

Incident

Sep 30, 2007

Mileage

25,000 mi

ACCELERATION DELAY OF UP TO 2 FULL SECONDS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10186801

Incident

Mar 31, 2007

Mileage

3,000 mi

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 A REPAIR SHOP. THE DEALER WILL DO A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK ON THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10181575

Incident

Feb 3, 2007

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 JEOPARDY. BEING FORCED TO DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE PREVENTS THE DRIVER FROM COMPLETING A CURVE OR TURN AND FORCES THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE ACROSS TRAFFIC LANES AND OFF THE ROAD. WHEN THE VSC ENGAGES DUE TO A MALFUNCTION, THE VEHICLE IS A SERIOUS HAZARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME 4 TIMES, TWICE WITH MY FAMILY IN THE VEHICLE. I HAVE LEFT THE VEHICLE WITH THE DEALER, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND ARE UNWILLING TO REPLACE ANY PARTS UNLESS THERE IS A CLEAR INDICATION OF A MALFUNCTION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10174421

Incident

Jul 15, 2006

Mileage

30,800 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10164709

Incident

Jul 18, 2006

Mileage

20,000 mi