2004 Lexus ES330: transmission slipping

Filed Feb 26, 2010 · Transmission · 10,047 miles · GA

One month after purchasing my certified/previously owned 2004 lexus es330 on 9/30/05, I had the dealer check vehicle's slow to shift, slipping through gears while accelerating, and 'surging' while attempting to stop, as if gears/transmission were slow to get the message. I have had this issue checked 5 times (2005-2009), and each time, they either say they did not find a problem or, twice, reset the computer. I feel as though I'm 'an accident waiting to happen,' however, have seen no reports/ investigations/recalls addressing these lexus/toyota product issues. Please advise how the federal safety agency/I can address this problem before I or someone else gets hurt or killed.

Filed Feb 1, 2010 · Transmission · 64,500 miles · OH

My 2004 lexus es 330 sedan has a transmission shifting problem that I have described to the dealer as "slipping". When the transmission is under load (going up a hill) and you accelerate or decelerate you feel and hear a definite abrupt shift in the vehicle. I have had this car to two separate dealers over the past 12 months and have been told that this behavior is "typical".

Filed Sep 7, 2005 · Transmission · 100 miles · CA

Transmission problems with my 2004 es330 I am becoming very concerned with my new 2004 lexus. I have had it in the service center four (4) times now with the same transmission problem. The service center keeps telling me that there is no problem with the transmission and that it is the way I drive... My 1999 lexus did not have this problem and I am perplexed on why I am being told it is me and not the car. This last service call on august 22nd I was told to use a higher grade of gasoline. I have now gone through a tank of the high grade gas and my transmission is still slipping. I notice it when I slow to negotiate a turn, when I am driving between 15 and 20 miles per hour, also now when I am merging into traffic either slow or from a stop the car hesitates and then lurches forward with a kick.. I am beginning to be afraid to drive this car not knowing what will happen next. I have 3 children that need to be shuttled around every day and I am concerned for their safety as well.. I want to take it back to the service center but the feeling I am getting is that they think I am crazy. This is due to they say there is no problem with the transmission. Also, I don't need extra horse power with the higher grade of gas, the lexus has plenty of power... Can someone please help me in this matter? This transmission is junk... I have had my husband drive the car and he concurs that the transmission does slip and he feels it must be some type of modulator that is not getting the fluid to the torque converter or something like that.. I have less than 15,000 miles on my car and with this problem it feels like I am driving a car with 150,000 miles on it... I don't feel comfortable nor safe driving this car... Please help... I have called lexus 2 days after the purchase of my car when I first felt the irregular shifting patterns.. Thinking it would get better I waited until my 1000 mile service check to bring it up a again.. It seems to be getting worse.

Filed Dec 21, 2004 · Seats, Transmission · TX

Vehicle have experienced hesitation when need to accelerate. *bf the consumer was told that the problem was with the computer that caused a delay between the depression of the accelerator and the response by the transmission. The transmission would slip between shifts and the driver seat squeaked.

Filed May 6, 2004 · Transmission · 20 miles · TX

During the first weeks, the transmission acted erratically. Driving at slow speeds, when I release the accelerator to coast, and then accelerate, the transmission slips or takes time to engage, causing the vehicle to lurch forward. (this has been described as a "delay/hesitation in shifting," or that the transmission is "searching for a gear.") the transmission did not shift up or down smoothly. I brought the vehicle in. The service tech acknowledged the problem. I was then asked to bring the vehicle in and leave it for a few days. Not hearing back from anyone, I called and was informed that they had been unable to fix the problem. A few days later, I was told to pick up the car. I spoke with [xxx]. He informed me that lexus drove the vehicle and speculated the cause was the gas. I was told that I needed to "run through a few tanks of gas." when I went to pick up the vehicle, I was reading the service ticket and saw a statement on the ticket that: "no fault found." despite this, the ticket was inaccurate. Work was done on the vehicle, including resetting the memory, replacement of a filter and new gas. I then spoke with [xxx], service manager. He conceded that the service ticket was inaccurate. He told me that he was looking into the issue. He called me back and said the lexus engineers were aware of this problem and it was a software problem. The vehicle is defective. I have now driven 2-3 of these cars, and the symptoms are consistent. I contacted lexus. They stated that the problem was a "characteristic" of the car, and that there "was nothing wrong with the car." lexus knows the car's transmission is defective, but the fix is too costly. So, consumers are going to be stonewalled. The federal safety agency should immediately recall all lexus vehicles with the 330 engine mated to this new 5 speed transmission before someone is injured/killed. If you or anyone else has any questions, please feel free to call me at [xxx]. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foi

Filed Apr 7, 2004 · Transmission · 20 miles · TX

Automatic transmission produces unpredictable and erratic behavior, including vehicle hesitation, transmission slipping, and lurching on acceleration. I feel this is a serious safety concern for which the public should be made aware. I have had the vehicle serviced on four occasions without successful remediation. The dealer claims awareness of the issues and insists that there is no immediate repair available.

Filed Mar 15, 2004 · Transmission · FL

My wife and I purchased a new 2004 lexus es 330 on february 7th, 2004. We had read many good things about this car, and thought we were buying the best.he salesman reaffirmed our thoughts. We bought the car in sarasota and drove it home to bradenton. I noticeda difference from the demonstrator immediately. The transmission whined as it went through the gears; it slipped noticeably in the gear changes; and it failed to drop into lower gears immediately when I gave it throttle to pass. I thought they would fix it in the 1,000 mile checkup, but when I took it in on march 11,'04, the technician,s report said,"...all data normal. Transmission is is working as designed." I objected to no avail. What kind of manufacturer would design a transmission to slip, whine, and in the words of consumer guide of april, 2004,"...transmission tends to loiter in higher gears and hesitates to kick down for passing, creating delays in part-throttle response." I amfinding out that this has been a problem since at least '02 with no corrective measures being taken. We think this problem makes these cars unsafe in today's heavy traffic.