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.
2003 Lexus ES300 transmission complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 27 of 27, newest first, as owners wrote them.
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.
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.
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.
Car will not accelerate from stop at times. Engines revs but transmission will not catch. Several near accidents at stop signs and traffic lights. Transmission shifts very rough and makes car steer erratically. Car will be parked until repaired. Lexus dealer states this is normal.
While driving and without warning, the transmission jerked, which caused the driver to pull off the highway. The driver had the vehicle towed to the dealer. *ak the vehicle jerked at acceleration, especially when going at slower speeds. The problem occurred with no warning and was intermittent which also displayed a sluggish delay. *sc
Ltr fm brett woody (tx) re dangerous defective transmission software problems in the 2002-2003 lexus es300, reply attn jan crow/ houston ofc. *ph consumer would apply more and more pressure to the brake pedal but the vehicle wouldn't accelerate. *ph the transmission failed twice. Lexus had given the consumer a new vehicle and it had similar problems. The consumer was almost involved in several accidents. On numerous occasions, after the brake pedal was tapped, the vehicle would accelerate but the RPM's would rise and the vehicle would barely move. In stop in go traffic the vehicle would surge forward. (it felt as if the transmission slipped then the surging occurred) there was an annoying rattle in the ceiling console. *sc updated 7/5/12
There is a dangerous and unpredictable tendency for the vehicle engine/transmission combination to accelerate suddenly and unexpectedly. This is an intermittent problem which makes it especially unnerving. It is most noticeable at speeds below 40 MPH, when first slowing, followed by acceleration. It appears to be exacerbate by uncertain transmission "hunting" for proper gear/engine speed combinations. The sudden acceleration causes a rapid and jerky throttle response to mild accelerator pedal input. I have taken the car to the dealer on at least two occasions for this issue. The first time, the dealer reprogrammed the transmission. The second time, the technician tested the vehicle and note "no problem found". At current mileage of 32,000, the problem seems to be worsening. This is a dangerous condition that, if left undressed, is likely to be the cause of an accident, serious injury or much worse.
The transmission in this car is unpredictable. It jerks, jumps and on occasion lurches ahead. It will hesitate when starting from stand still or when moving ahead at very low speeds. I have repeatedly taken it to the dealer. They have done 2 computer down loads of a supposed fix. The first lasted a day. I've been told to use only premium fuel, as this would help. I've used premium since that time with little change in the cars perfomance. My wife does not want to drive the car because of a near t-bone in a cross pattern traffic. I've had 4 similar experinces. This probem became apparent at about 1000 to 1200 miles and exits tody at about 4000 miles. All of these querky problems exist below 40 miles per hour. If you drive very aggressively (stomp on the accelerator)they aren't evident...to some exte the same is true if you barely depress the accelerator when starting to move.
There is a pronounced hesitation when the accelerator is floored. This has been there since I leased the car and I do not know if it is due to a transmission lapse or throttle problem. I have had a number of near accidents when I pulled out to pass and there was no acceleration. Lexus has acknowledged this problem and offered a fix, but it did not solve the problem. They now say that the car is performing as designed.
Since my acquisiton of a 2003 lexus es-300, the vehicle has displayed very uneven shifting and hestitation as the transmission upshifts and downshifts, particularly at low speeds. In response to my complaint after 2,000 miles of driving, the dealer examined the problem and I was told that lexus had provided a solution in the forms of a "re-flash" for the on-board computer. This was performed, however, failed to improve the situation at all. When I complained a second time after 5,600 miles of operation, the dealer told me that nothing further could be done and referred me to the lexus national customer satisfaction line. After several calls I was told by a national representative that the vehicle was operating as designed and nothing could/would be done. In its present condition, the vehicle is both unpleasant to drive and unsafe since it hesitates before accelerating.
After starting the vehicle, the consumer pressed on the accelerator pedal and the vehicle hesitated before moving. The cause was not determined. *ak *scc
Transmission is unpredictable. Sometimes it hesitates, sometimes it lurches. It shudders at times when shifting. I've had the car in to the dealer for 2 computer download fixes. The first lasted a day making the car seem like the demo I test drove. The car was returned and another fix by computer was done with no change to the querky, unsafe condition of this transmission. My wife was nearly broadsided in cross traffic pattern as the car hesitated as she attemped to turn onto a side street. I have had 4 similar situations. These problems are at speeds up to 40 MPH. These problems do not seem to occur if you stomp on the accelerator from a stoped position. The genearal manager at the agency has driven the car "around the block" and experianced none of these problems. Yet the servive dept. Admits its not the way this car should operate and no further manufacturer update/correction is available. They say they are working on it. The manager says per toyota this is the normal way this car drives and they won't do anything to satisfy my complaint. These two statements are a contradiction. I've been advised by one of the technicians to use premium fuel because it would help the engine/transmission work better. I've done this since that conversation and the performance is still sub standard and in stop and go traffic still unpredictable and dangerous.
Hesitation upon acceleration. I notice the vehicle lacks the ability to pick up speed from a slow down or dead stop. I feel this in 1st-3rd gears when accelerating from a deceleration speed or stop. This is very serious and is cause for safety concerns. I just bought this vehicle and I have another problem with a clicking, whining noise when turning into a parking spot or making slow turns.
The transmission of the lexus 2003 es300 is subject to major hesitation, particularly in crowded intersections and with lack of acceleration. Very noticeable when traveling about 27 MPH, and then needing to move, there is major delay in the signal telling the engine, and transmission to work together, and move the car. This vehicle is new with about 1000 miles. It cannot make up its mind to upshift or downshift and this delay will mean a major crash someday. Around 40 MPH it wants to upshift to the 5th gear, and just below that hunts to go back to 4th. The mfg. Says, as he did for the 2002 models, that a software fix is being prepared. They stated the problem from the 2002 was fixed. Evidently that is not the case. They now tell me that a fix is coming year end. How many accidents will occur by then? Dealer says that the car will learn from the driver, but that is not working, and hesitation from 0-5, from 27-45, etc. Is very pronounced. If you "floorboard" it from slow speeds, its hesitation is great, and car almost dies. Lexus says "don't do that", but from car creation to now, car movement meant add more gas, not the reverse. My safety depends on it.
The new 5 speed transmission on my '03 lexus seems a little strange. If I drive about 35 MPH and then slow down to about 5 MPH and than try to accelerate there is a hesitation. It's as if the transmission can not decide on what gear to go into. When it finally does there's a slight lurch forward. This situation is very dangerous when trying to pass another vehicle.
When accelerating out of a slow turn(usually a u-turn) the car will delay approx 1 second before transmission engages. When slowing to stop but not completely stopping the transmission feels like it is slipping when accelerating.
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