2004 Lexus ES330 Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 24about this part
- Share
- 14%of 174 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 80,500miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 24 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 Lexus ES330, 14% of the 174 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 80,500 miles. 5 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I started my car and all of the sudden, air bag light came on. I never had an accident, airbags were never deployed, I checked all the wires and even unplugged the battery for good 10 minutes and the light will not go off. In case of an accident, my car will not deploy air bags and it creates a potential threat that it can be an insta-death, especially with a steering wheel in front of your face.”
NHTSA complaint #11109562, filed 2018-07, 88,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #11083868, filed 2018-04, 195,000 miles“Takata recall my 2004 Lexus es 330 has a malfunctioning passenger side airbag. There is a light that says passenger airbag off that is illuminated. Also, there is a gap in the housing where the airbag is located on the dash of the passenger side. I am concerned there has been no formal recall on this issue. There are several complaints online from consumers with same issue on the same make/model. Please add this vehicle to the recall.”
NHTSA complaint #10930040, filed 2016-12, 160,000 miles“When I tried to stop and turned right on a side street the car's brake didn't work and the car even accelerated itself. It didn't stop even I pressed the brake until it hit a street sign and knocked the tree down on the sidewalk. The air bag didn't come out after the crash neither. The car was a total lost after this accident.”
NHTSA complaint #10319948, filed 2010-03, 46,600 miles“Around january 2014 (but it could have started sooner) I noticed the front passenger airbag started looking like the edges are peeling away from rest of the dashboard. This has gotten progressively worse. The area around the airbag is pulling away and the airbag itself looks so stretched I fear the airbag is going to deploy. I am afraid to have anyone sit in the front passenger seat. I worry that any bump could cause airbag deployment injuring someone.”
NHTSA complaint #10650570, filed 2014-10, 72,356 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10131964Jan 16, 2014Lexus vehicles are equipped with Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS), including various airbags and in some models, seat belt pre-tensioners, to help reduce the risk of injury…
- 10132074Nov 10, 2013Beginning in 1998, Lexus introduced side airbags as optional equipment. Lexus does NOT recommend replacement of original seat covers with non-Lexus leather or other seat cover…
- 10133923Jan 16, 2013Lexus vehicles are equipped with SRS, including various airbags and in some models, seat belt pre-tensioners, to help reduce the risk of injury in a collision. If a customer…
- 10051860Jan 16, 2013Lexus: some vehicles come with the supplemental restraint systems (srs) and to help reduce injuries in a collision, seat belt pre-tensioners devices, that may or may not perform…
Air bags: other model years
Other parts of the 2004 Lexus ES330
61 complaintsVehicle speed control
53 complaintsBrakes
16 complaintsEngine cooling
8 complaintsElectrical system
7 complaintsOther or unknown
5 complaintsEngine
4 complaintsFuel system
4 complaintsSeat belts
4 complaintsBody and structure
4 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
4 complaintsExterior lighting
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 Lexus ES330
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology