Sell your 2004 Lexus ES for cash

The 2004 Lexus ES is a midsize car that came with a 3.3L 6-cyl engine. At 22 years old, many are reaching the point where repairs cost more than the car is worth. Running or not, we'll make you an offer and tow it away for free.

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2004 Lexus ES at a glance

Body styleMidsize Cars
Engines3.3L 6-cyl
TransmissionsAutomatic 5-spd
DriveFront-Wheel Drive
FuelRegular Gasoline
Fuel economy18 city / 27 highway / 21 combined MPG
EPA annual fuel cost$3,200 a year (EPA estimate at current fuel prices, 15,000 miles)
Tailpipe CO₂423 grams per mile
Versions tested by EPA1 configuration
Age22 years

Specs, fuel cost and emissions from the EPA's fueleconomy.gov data. Your car's exact equipment may differ.

What affects its junk value

  • Age: at 22 years old, most of a 2004 ES's value comes from reusable parts and scrap metal, not resale.
  • Weight: as a midsize car, it weighs less than a truck or SUV, so its value leans more on parts than on scrap weight. See how scrap prices by weight work.
  • Catalytic converter: like all gas and diesel cars, it has a catalytic converter containing precious metals, one of the most valuable parts on a junk car. An offer assumes it's still in place. More on catalytic converters.
  • Recalls: NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2004 ES. Open recalls don't stop you from selling or junking it.
  • Known problems: owners reported the most issues with the power train. If that's what failed on yours, it can still be sold as-is.

How junk car offers are calculated

2004 Lexus ES recalls

NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls covering the 2004 Lexus ES. Open recalls don't stop you from selling or junking the car, but check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which apply to yours.

Engine and Engine CoolingNov 2011 · NHTSA campaign 11V539000

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004 avalon vehicles; 2004 and 2005 camry, camry solara, highlander, and sienna vehicles, 2006 highlander hybrid; 2004 and 2005 Lexus es330 and rx330; and 2006 Lexus rx400h vehicles manufactured from june 1, 2004 through march 31, 2005, equipped with the 1mz-fe or 3mz-fe engine. The amount of…

Risk: 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.

Seat BeltsDec 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V595000

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.

Risk: 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.

Common 2004 ES problems

Owners have filed 190 complaints about the 2004 Lexus ES with NHTSA. 40 reports involved a crash and 2 reports involved a fire. Owners reported 24 injuries.

Complaints are reports from owners and aren't verified by NHTSA. One complaint can list several components. Mileage is the median odometer reading owners reported for that component.

Most-reported components

  • Power Train50
  • Vehicle Speed Control39
  • Air Bags26
  • Vehicle Speed Control17
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic8
  • Power Train7

Typical mileage when problems were reported

  • Vehicle Speed Control49,000 mi
  • Air Bags96,000 mi
  • Vehicle Speed Control6,000 mi
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic36,000 mi
  • Power Train50,000 mi

2004 Lexus ES service bulletins

Manufacturers have filed 53 technical service bulletins and communications with NHTSA covering the 2004 Lexus ES. These are repair instructions for known issues, not recalls.

Most common bulletin topics

  • Structure9
  • Equipment7
  • Electrical System5
  • Equipment4
  • Visibility4
  • Electrical System3

Recent bulletins

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsApr 2024 · L-SB-0020-24

    Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grindi

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsApr 2024 · L-SB-0021-24

    Lexus vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environm

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsApr 2024 · L-SB-0022-24

    Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle o

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsApr 2024 · L-SB-0024-24

    The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsApr 2024 · L-SB-0023-24

    To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the whe

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsApr 2024 · L-SB-0024-24

    The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications (technical service bulletins).

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA opened 1 defect investigation covering the 2004 Lexus ES.

Vehicle Speed ControlDP05002 · opened Aug 2005, closed Jan 2006

Vehicle speed control

In a letter dated july 8, 2005, and after experiencing two incidents (and one crash) where he alleges his model year (my) 2002 camry accelerated without driver input, mr. Jordan ziprin petitioned the national highway traffic safety administration?s (NHTSA) office of defects investigation (odi) to commence a proceeding

Other Lexus ES years

‹ Sell a 2003 ES · Sell a 2005 ES › · All Lexus ES years

Other 2004 Lexus models

Selling a 2004 ES: questions

How much is a 2004 Lexus ES worth for junk?

It depends on its condition, whether major parts like the engine, transmission and catalytic converter are still there, and current scrap and parts prices where you live. Its parts make up much of its value. Enter your ZIP code above for a free offer on your specific car.

Can I junk a 2004 ES that doesn't run?

Yes. We buy 2004 ESs that don't start, were in an accident, failed inspection or have a blown engine or transmission. Towing is always free.

Can I sell a 2004 ES with open recalls?

Yes. Open recalls don't prevent a junk sale. NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2004 Lexus ES; you can check whether any are still open on yours with the VIN lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What paperwork do I need to sell my 2004 ES?

Usually the title and a photo ID. Rules differ by state, including what to do with your plates and whether to file a notice of sale. Check our state-by-state car title guides for the official forms.

Before you sell

Sources

Data retrieved October 2026.

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