2006 Lexus ES330: hesitation when accelerating

Filed Jul 8, 2010 · Fuel system, Transmission · 78,327 miles · NC

In city traffic, acceleration with my 2006 es330 is not predictable and it hesitates rather than responding appropriately as the gas pedal is pressed. Has also happened as I am trying to accelerate to merge into traffic. Occurs sporadically and is very unpredictable. Can go weeks without it happening. No accidents due to this - yet. I have taken car back into lexus dealership and got a canned response of it adapting to the driver patterns and it is responding the way it is supposed to - basically telling me that my problem is not a problem. I will not buy another lexus and will probably get rid of this one much sooner than how I normally keep vehicles.

Filed Mar 3, 2010 · Acceleration, Transmission · 23,000 miles · CA

Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6) our 2006 lexus es330 hesitates and stutters when accelerating after a slow-down, stop or during a turn. I have read various things which suggest it could be throttle control, computer controlled accelerator, or mass air flow maf sensor or air intake sensor ais, etc. Etc. But something is definitely wrong. Dealer is no help. We took the car for this trouble to lexus of valencia and saw assistant service manager [xxx] . He told us that this the way the car was built. I then tried my best to handle this car but it caused the same problem again and again. We took the car to the dealer a 2nd time -- valencia lexus and the manager told us nothing is wrong with this car. I have been having this problem since I bought the car in 1/14/2009. It hesitates when I take turns, or when I stop at traffic lights and stop signs. Many times the accelerator goes idle during these events and car does not move and than I put more pressure on the accelerator but then it goes fast and I almost end up hitting the car in front of me.

Filed Aug 21, 2009 · Transmission · 1 miles · CA

I acquired an 06 lexus es330. I noticed the transmission hesitates under certain conditions, notably when slowing down and commencing acceleration while still moving. I have had a couple of close calls when it was necessary for me to accelerate quickly from a slow speed. The dealer tells me lexus is aware of the problem but won't do anything about it, claiming that's how it was designed. There are hundreds if not thousands of complaints posted on the net about this exact problem. I don't know if anybody has been in an accident, but it certainly seems like an accident risk to me. The date inserted below is the date I purchased the car. There was no "incident." for the mileage, I put in 000001 because this is a design and engineering defect that was present in the transmission when it was manufactured. Thank you.

Filed Nov 24, 2007 · Transmission · 10 miles · NY

Severe hesitation when accelerating. This is an ongoing problem through out the camry and lexus es v6 engine line.

Filed Jun 22, 2006 · Transmission · 4,000 miles · CT

Transmission lags dangerously from a stop and hesitates for a few seconds upon acceleration, which is especially dangerous at intersections, when passing, and anytime prompt response from accelerator is needed. Also experiencing from the transmission what I would call a sling-shot effect, where the gears either wind out excessively and seem to catch up with itself at normal acceleration or a feeling of not downshifting normally when slowing down, especially at highway speeds.