2003 Lexus ES300: hesitation when accelerating

Filed Nov 14, 2013 · Transmission · 86,541 miles · KS

I purchased my vehicle from carmax about 2.5 months ago with an extended warranty. After driving my vehicle daily back and forth to work, I noticed the hesitation while coming to complete stop or a traffic light. The RPM would increase while the transmission would hesitate when I pushed the accelerator between the speeds of 10 - 35 MPH. At first sign, it appeared the transmission was defected, so I decided to take it to carmax service center. Two days later I received my 2003 lexus es300 with a clean slate (the service technicians indicated the transmission did not indicated wear) and I was told to bring it back if I still had the same problem. I am taking my vehicle to the service center with more information tomorrow. Lexus/toyota needs to either recall these vehicles to fix this issue or they will have a major lawsuits from a lot of people with a class action suite. This is a very dangerous situation and needs to be address from lexus/toyota representatives to keep toyota/lexus in good standings. After reading other complaints, I am really nervous about driving my vehicle and I just purchased it.

Filed Nov 1, 2013 · Engine · 134,000 miles · MD

After the vehicle has been running from a light or stop there is hesitation when trying to accelerate. I have taken the vehicle to the lexus dealer in owings mills,md.several times.the first instance they said could not get the vehicle to repeat it. I went back complaining for the second time a was told that it could be fuel injectors clogged followed by another list of potential service items for about $1000+ expense which we deniedit since we have always maintained our car good & alwaysuse 93or 89 octane gas with maintenance service as recommended. This is my wife's car and I am always worried about a potential accident with this car.lately this hesitation frequency has increased from what we hear is that we are not alone and seems to be an ongoing problems.

Filed Jun 21, 2012 · Engine, Transmission · 57,000 miles · FL

We have experienced on several occassions that vehicle hesitates when trying to accelerate at stop sign or when initialy in start to drive at about 20-30 miles per hour at times for few seconds & at times it rattles 3-4 times. This car was purchased as certified pre-owned from lexus dealer in excellent condition in 2006 that came with extended warranty upto 75000 miles but this problem started with slight & smooth jerk about 3 years back, took it to dealer after noticed for few times to diagnosis. At first instance they could not feel it since it was not consistent but when again complained for second time was told that it could be fuel injectors cloged followed by other list of potential service items we were talking about $1000+ expense which we denied it since we have always maintained our car good & always use 93 or 89 octaine gas with maintenance service as recommended. This one is my wife's vehicle & used to commute to work mostly on express way. We do have couple other issues with this car but not as important. Now, lately this hesitation frequency have increased & from what I hear is that we are not alone and this seems to be an ongoing issue with some other es300 owners as well.

Filed Nov 29, 2011 · Acceleration, Engine · 40,000 miles · MN

2003 es 300 - transmission issues: I have been experiencing hesitation upon acceleration almost every time, along with hard shifting 50% of the time. The acceleration hesitation can be scary if I'm trying to enter the highway, or turning left. The hard shifting feels like I got hit from behind. Both problems have been going ongoing for years and lexus dealer has never been any help. I read many of the online forums and found that both of these problems are very common as are their results for getting these issues fixed - not much luck from the dealer - "it works as it is designed". Really? Lexus needs to stand behind their product. I can't believe how many complaints I have read (100s) and their hasn't been a recall. How does a consumer go about pushing for a recall, or class action or will the lemon law work?

Filed Jun 27, 2006 · Transmission · 12,390 miles · WI · crash · 1 injury

The lexus es300 has had a serious hesitation problem since delivery in march 2003. I have had it in for service several times before the accident complaining about this problem. On may 8th,2006, my wife was trying to make a left turn at an intersection and upon accelerating through the turn the car hesitated/lagged and was struck by an oncoming auto. After contacting lexus direct, they came out to test drive the auto. I was contacted several days later and was told that my lexus has no problem. Since this problem still exists, I took the car back in for service on may 26th, 2006 and again was told that my car had already received a transmission computer update and their final words were "vehicle is operating as designed at this time". This car still has the problem.

Filed Aug 7, 2005 · Acceleration · CA

Since I purchased the car, I have been complaining about a hesitation and stuttering when accelerating after a slow-down or a stop. I was told there was nothing wrong several times and more recently have been told it is a design flaw in the computer-controlled accelerator and cannot be fixed. I have several times had a close call on the freeway when I needed to accelerate quickly and the car hesitated before accelerating. I have not had an accident, but have been very frightened by the delay in performance. I have had 2 previous lexus es 300's that did not have this problem.

Filed Nov 22, 2004 · Acceleration · IL

Lexus 300 hesitation. Stepped on accelerator, car hesitated and had to pump accelerator to go forward. *bf this problem occurred many times. The consumer almost had an accident while attempting to make a left turn. The consumer applied the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated and the consumer pumped the accelerator to go forward. The dealer could not find a problem.

Filed Oct 6, 2004 · Acceleration, Transmission · 21,698 miles · FL

I have now sent my car in for service twice to lexus of orlando about unexpected surging of the vehicle and vehicle hesitation when the accelerator is pressed. This is an intermittent and dangerous problem, as I do not know when it will occur. When it does occur the upshift is harsh, the downshift delayed as if the transmission is confused about the driver's intention, and there is pronounced hesitation when the accelerator is pressed. This lack of responsiveness leaves both the vehicle and passengers exposed to accident and injury. On my first visit, I was told the vehicle computer would be reset, as the vehicle learns your driving style in the first 30 or so miles, and I must have driven the vehicle harshly. This so called reset did nothing to fix the problem; less than a week later, I narrowly escaped a crash after my car hesitated while crossing an intersection. I promptly returned the vehicle to the dealer for service. Upon completion of the second service, which included a drive with the technician, lexus service now says these problems are inherent to the model and they can't fix them. In addition, I am aware that numerous owners frequently complain of hesitation and surging in 2002, 2003, and 2004 models and many complaints (over 100) of the same nature have been filed with the federal safety agency. This statement is to issue notice that I am not satisfied, and the problem has not been fixed.

Filed Sep 24, 2004 · Transmission · 20,000 miles · VA

On two separate occasions, I have taken my 2003 lexus es300 in for service to repair a defective transmission. I have 23,511 miles on my vehicle and the transmission is shifting erratically and hesitating. It is causing unsafe driving conditions. Lexus denies any responsibility to fix the problem.

Filed Jul 26, 2004 · Acceleration, Transmission · IL

Ongoing and worsening lack of accelleration predictability. Car will hesitate especially when power is required (such as merging traffic, left turns, etc.) automatic ransmission sounds like it delays engaging when necessary.

Filed Jul 14, 2004 · Transmission · 2,000 miles · MD

Lexus es300 2003 - extremely dangerous situation when accelerating from 5-10 MPH to full acceleration (passing/merging onto highway for example). Transmission hesitates a very long time (1-2 seconds) before kicking in. Dealer claims this is a known problem but nothing is being done about it. Researching lexus forums indicates this is a wide spread problem for 2002, 2003 years at least. The hesitation is extremely unnerving in a high stress merging environment at least and potentially dangerous accident potential at worse.

Filed Jun 28, 2004 · Electrical · IL

While shifting gears vehicle jerked and hesitated to move. Vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the computer needed to be reset, and he reset it. However, the problem reoccured, and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer. Currently, the mechanic could not duplicate the problem.