2002 Lexus ES300 transmission problems

Filed Jul 9, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 156,342 miles · CA

Dealer and finance company claim clean title but documents reflect otherwise.

Filed May 21, 2014 · Transmission · 1,000 miles · CA

When the transmission shifts between first and second gears at a slow steady speed(approx 20mph) the car will frequently violently jerk. My car has 75000 miles and has done it since day one.

Filed Dec 20, 2012 · Transmission · 150,001 miles · SC

My 2002 lexus es300 has been jerking and shifting very hard on acceleration. It seems to have more of a problem when I accelerate slowly in the lower gears. It jerks very noticeably. I was told it was just the nature of the car, but it has been getting much worse over the course of the last year. It also hesitates when stepping on the gas after deceleration.

Filed Aug 17, 2011 · Acceleration, Transmission · 139,450 miles · TN

My 2002 lexus es 200 was dying or not starting at all. Suddenly, it was working fine. 2 days later, while idling or when my foot was on the brake, it would lurch forward and start accelerating at sometimes 40mph. I had to slam on the brakes, then emergency brake to stop, then after I turned it off, it would shake forward.

Filed Sep 3, 2010 · Transmission · 20,000 miles · OH

Lexus (2002 es) has dramatic transmission stutter at low or high speeds, jerking occupants and making quick starts (turning across lanes) very dangerous.

Filed May 25, 2010 · Transmission · FL

2002 lexus es300, car lunges and jerks during acceleration and deceleration. Car drove fine until lexus upgraded software, and then 100% noticeable difference in performance. Car was brought to jm lexus approx 4-5 times for problem, and once to palm beach lexus. Car jerked during test drive with mechanic. I was told it was a "characteristic" of the car, and there was nothing that can be done to fix it. Mechanic stated he has seen the same problem on other cars. Problem has been getting worse.

Filed May 23, 2010 · Transmission · 48,800 miles · MI

I have a 2002 lexus es300. My car at slower speeds has been jerking/surging at lower speeds and lurches forward without notice. It is a nightmare to drive this car in traffic. I keep being told its normal, it seems hundreds of others have complained, but I'm not getting anywhere. The lexus dealership did a software upgrade recently, it only made the matter worse. I hate driving this car, everyone in my family avoids driving it, as we just don't feel comfortable in the way it accelerates and shifts gears. Its a 2002 model, with 49k miles. I avg 25k miles a year driving, do the math, this car sucks, and I avoid using it out of fear/annoyance.

Filed Feb 15, 2010 · Transmission · 500 miles · MS

I present this as information to complement the present issues with toyota motor company and its institutional failure to respond to safety related incidents. I owned a 2002 lexus es300. The mechanical/computer problem with this car involved the failure of the transmission to downshift effectively when merging into traffic at 40-50 MPH. This issue was first observed when I attempted to merge into the freeway in front of a fast moving truck. The transmission downshifted but did not engage in 3rd gear, but simply disengaged the engine from the wheels; the engine rpms increased, the tachometer went to the red line and the computer shut off fuel to the engine. Thus the car decelerated in front of the truck. This was easily replicated, and many similar stories filled the auto chat rooms at that time. Lexus response at the dealer level: " you use the wrong fuel; you have driven incorrectly and programmed the computer to respond this way; this is the only car behaving like this" the shop foreman drove with me, observed the problem and wrote an incident report to toyota. I demonstrated the effect on a new lexus with the service manager, who still was not able to admit that a serious problem existed. Lexus response at the national level: "no problems have been reported on a problem you describe." finally a service rep showed me a print out from national lexus service, "tell the customers that the transmission is behaving the way that it was designed! " of course, it was incorrectly designed and it behaved that way. After two years, a partial computer upgrade was sent to the dealers and installed. Mine was the second car with the fix, the lexus dealership owner was the first. My point is that the toyota/lexus corporate response to safety issues at the national level has been to stonewall and deny the existence of problems even when they could produce potential catastrophic results. This historical policy of denial existed long before the present issues gained notoriety.

Filed Feb 6, 2010 · Transmission · CA · crash · 1 injury

On 11/20/09, I was parked in front of my house in my 2002 lexus es300. When I put the car in drive, it boomed forth, and the brake didn't work. I tried to get around the car that was parked in front of me but the speed was such that I hit it. There was damage to my car and the car I hit. The driver was in the car and has since claimed she was injured. I had another instance of unintended acceleration 2 years prior to this incident but was able to stop. I urge you to push toyota to admit that there are cases of unintended acceleration in models that pre-date the ones they are recalling and to rectify the problem.

Filed Feb 29, 2008 · Transmission · 82,000 miles · OK

Lexus 2002 es 300 82,000 miles transmission went completely out with no warning and was serviced on 02/28/2007 with 58995 miles as an oil change attendant notified my that my transmission fluid looked completely worn out. My starter was replaced by lexus of tulsa on 01/29/2008 the service manager said he had never seen one completely worn out as this with so few miles. I wonder if I have a lemon. Lexus of tulsa has quoted a transmission replacement of 4200-4600 dollars this is unacceptable. My wife and I have a new baby at home and this is our only car that the baby's car seat can travel in. We need help.