Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/12/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
The most-reported problem — Power Train:automatic Transmission (27.6% of complaints) — recall and investigation status for this vehicle is currently unavailable.
Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints here are 4.1× the median for that category across the 2391 model-years tracked on this site.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train:automatic Transmission | 48 · 27.6% | not available | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 37 · 21.3% | not available | — |
| Air Bags | 22 · 12.6% | not available | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal | 14 · 8% | not available | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 8 · 4.6% | not available | — |
| Power Train | 7 · 4% | not available | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Percentages are the share of the 174 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
NHTSA campaign 11V539000 · 2011 · reported 11/09/2011
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. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
“WHILE DRIVING, MY TRANSMISSION FAILED ON MY 2004 LEXUS ES330 WITH 97,000 MILES. CARS WERE SWERVING TO AVOID HITTING ME AS MY CAR ALMOST CAME…”NHTSA complaint 10344972 — filed 07/23/2010 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS ES330. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS RANGING FROM 0-10 MILES PER HOUR, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION JERKED…”NHTSA complaint 10329342 — filed 05/07/2010 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
“MY TRANSMISSION FEELS CONFUSED IN MY 2004 LEXUS ES 330. WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO TURN IN THE CITY OR PULL OUT OF YOUR DRIVEWAY MY…”NHTSA complaint 10323596 — filed 04/03/2010 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power train:automatic transmission issues are the most-reported category, cited in 48 of 174 NHTSA complaints (27.6%), followed by vehicle speed control (37), air bags (22), vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal (14). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
174 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Of those, 35 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, and 22 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Yes — 1 NHTSA safety recall campaign, including campaign 11V539000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Recall or investigation data is partly unavailable for this vehicle right now — check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the authoritative answer.
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
