2002 Lexus ES300: hesitation when accelerating

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 Jun 16, 2009 · Engine · 44,000 miles · FL · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 lexus es300. While driving 25 MPH, the vehicle hesitated and the contact smelled fuel. He pulled the vehicle over and noticed smoked under the hood. In a matter of seconds, flames appeared. The vehicle was destroyed. The palm beach county police department filed report number 09-092367 and fire report number 09-50737. There were no injuries. The manufacturer will be notified. The current and failure mileages were 44,000.

Filed Sep 14, 2007 · Transmission · 39,300 miles · PA

Car accelerates when not appropriate and shifts very poorly especially when the air conditioning is on. Seems to be stuck in gear when trying to accelerate to pass another vehicle. Hesitation. Bucks and shifts really hard intermittently.

Filed Apr 14, 2006 · Transmission · 56,000 miles · TN

Dangerous hesitation in the transmission when stepping on the gas after decelerating. Nearly caused an accident. Lexus has tried 2 times to fix and nothing has helped.

Filed Sep 6, 2005 · Transmission · 500 miles · CA

The flaws and failures of the transmission in my 2002 lexus es300 were noticeable within 500 miles of driving the new car off the lot. I now have 47,000 miles on the car and lexus has performed re-programming of the transmission logic. However, that has not helped. It seems that as I drive more mileage the problem of the transmission not knowing what gear to be in is becoming worse. The resulting hesitation is dangerous for the driver and occupants of my car as it results in close-calls with other vehicles hitting me from behind during hesitation.

Filed Aug 4, 2005 · Transmission · GA

My 2002 lexus 300 has a dangerous and significant hesitation and shifting problem. Acceleration is sluggish and then surges forward suddenly causing the vehicle to move forward unexpectedly. In addition, there is a repeated shifting problem at low speeds wherein the vehicle continuously shifts in and out of overdrive, again with unexpected and uncontrollable results. The dealer indicated this was the way these cars were engineered and did an firmware upgrade. However, the problem persists in much the same way.

Filed Jul 28, 2005 · Engine, Transmission · 48,480 miles · TX

Upon acceleration in stop-and-go traffic, severe hesitation with brake-like effect, engine reviving, with driver thrown forward, then lurching into gear. Said was fixed with installation of tsib tc004-3. Narrowly being missed by oncoming traffic when car basically stalled. Tsib not a fix. Now engine light on. Dangerous in stop-and-go traffic.

Filed Apr 8, 2005 · Transmission · VA

When accelerating in my 2002 lexus es300, I experience hesitation of a few seconds before the vehicle begins to increase in speed. This did not seem to be a problem when I first got the vehicle, but over time has become extremely noticeable and dangerous since I drive on the major highways in the washington, dc area. When it was reported to my dealer a few months ago they explained it away and took no action.

Filed Dec 7, 2004 · Transmission · 7,000 miles · TX

I own a 2002 lexus es300, and the car is dangerous! I've taken it to the dealer many times to have the transmission checked out, because it hesitates in traffic when you press the gas.they just say some babble about the "transmission just needs to get used to the driver", im sorry but just because we can afford an expensive car doesnt mean that we're stupid. This is my wife's car, and I really don't think there needs to be any injuries or fatalities to have something done about this wide spread problem.

Filed Sep 27, 2004 · Acceleration, Transmission · 10,000 miles · FL

2002 lexus es300 with about 18,000 miles has a problem with hesitation when accelerating after slowing down, especially after completing a turn. It is like the transmission doesn't adjust with the pressing of the gas pedal. Almost had an accident because of the hesitation. Also I have had problems with the car down shifting as I come down a hill. Also a problem with the car trying to decide what gear to be in when going around 20 to 25 miles per hour. You can feel the car change gear. Passengers even have asked what was that? Complained to dealership, and was told it was the way I drive. I had the sb-tc004-03 performed after receiving the letter from lexus, but it didn't help. May have made it worse.

Filed Sep 21, 2004 · Electrical · AR

While applying the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate. Consumer tried numerous times and suddenly the vehicle accelerated uncontrollably. The consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle and drove it to the dealer for inspection. The mechanic determined that computer needed to be reprogrammed. However, the problem recurred. *ak *tc

Filed Jul 29, 2004 · Transmission · TX

While driving at any speed,transmission slipped while shifting from third to fourth gear. Also, there wa s hesitation, and the rpms went way up. Dealership replaced a chip and calibrated the transmission, and problem recurred.