2002 Lexus ES Complaint Log

MY EXPERIENCE HAPPENED ON JULY 14, 2009. I WAS EASING INTO MY PARKING PLACE AT THE COLLEGE WHERE I TEACH, GOING ABOUT ZERO MILES PER HOUR, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I WAS PLUMMETED INTO A TREE LESS THAT FIVE FEET IN FRONT OF ME SO HARD THAT IT TOTALED MY 2002 LEXUS. THE FORWARD MOVEMENT FELT LIKE AN AIRPLANE IN TAKEOFF MODE. *TR

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.

ON JUNE 15, 2009 WE WERE DRIVING HOME AND MY HUSBAND FELT THE CAR ALMOST STALLED. THEN WE SMELLED GASOLINE AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE BOTTOM RIGHT UNDER THE ENGINE. WE EXITED THE CAR AND IT WAS ALREADY ON FIRE. THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES AND WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. IT WAS A 2002 LEXUS 300ES WITH ONLY 44,000 MILES. TOYOTA HAS BEEN EXTREMELY RUDE TO US AND TOOK ALMOST A MONTH TO INSPECT THE CAR. THEY SAY THEY CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. HOW CAN A CAR START ON FIRE WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING IT OVER STRAIGHT ROADS.? WE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT OR ANY OTHER PROBLEM. I READ OF A COUPLE OF OTHER LEXUSES THAT CAUGHT FIRE. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO MAKE TOYOTA FULLY EXAMINE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 LEXUS E300 ON RTE95 IN PROVIDENCE R.I. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE TRAVELING AT THE SPEED OF THE TRAFFIC--65MPH. SUDDENLY T CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND WITHOUT WARNING WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. I WAS IN THE MIDST OF HEAVY TRAFFIC LOSING SPEED RAPIDLY. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE EDGE OF THE ROAD . THE CHIP WHICH FEEDS GAS TO THE ENGINE FAILED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH OUT OF A PARKING SPACE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FOLLOWED BY AN UNINTENDED INCREASE IN SPEED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND CRASHED INTO THE RESIDENCE HOME AND A TREE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE POLICE WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND IT WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO COLLISION FACILITY. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

LEXUS 2002 ES 300 82,000 MILES TRANSMISSION WENT COMPLETELY OUT WITH NO WARNING AND WAS SERVICED ON 02/28/2007 WITH 58995 MILES AS AN OIL CHANGE ATTENDANT NOTIFIED MY THAT MY TRANSMISSION FLUID LOOKED COMPLETELY WORN OUT. MY STARTER WAS REPLACED BY LEXUS OF TULSA ON 01/29/2008 THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN ONE COMPLETELY WORN OUT AS THIS WITH SO FEW MILES. I WONDER IF I HAVE A LEMON. LEXUS OF TULSA HAS QUOTED A TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT OF 4200-4600 DOLLARS THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. MY WIFE AND I HAVE A NEW BABY AT HOME AND THIS IS OUR ONLY CAR THAT THE BABY'S CAR SEAT CAN TRAVEL IN. WE NEED HELP. *TR

SUDDEN ACCELERATION LEADING TO IMPACT WITH HOME. POLICE REPORT DATED 10-22-07 INDICATES SUDDEN UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION. SCARED TO DRIVE VEHICLE AGAIN. *TR

SUDDEN ACCELERATION LEADING TO IMPACT WITH HOME. POLICE REPORT DATED 10-22-07 INDICATES SUDDEN UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION. SCARED TO DRIVE VEHICLE AGAIN. *TR

MY 2002 ES 300 HAS HEADLIGHT SENSORS WHICH MAKE IT GO UP AND DOWN DEPENDING ON WHAT ANGLE THE CAR IS PARKED/MOVING AT. SO GOING DOWNHILL, IT SHOULD DIP DOWN TO AVOID ONCOMING TRAFFIC FROM GLARE AND GOING UPHILL, IT SHOULD MAKE THE LIGHT GO FARTHER. SOMEHOW THE SENSOR (OR SOMETHING ELSE) GOT FAULTY. LEXUS DEALERSHIP MADE ME DRIVE AT LEAST 5000 MILES (I USED TO LIVE IN FARGO, ND AND THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP WITH 225+ MILES ONE WAY) BEFORE THEY COULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE LIGHTS. I HAD TO MAKE A VIDEO AT NIGHT (AS THEY DENIED TEST DRIVING AT NIGHT) TO SHOW THEM MY SAFETY CONCERNS ABOUT THE HEADLIGHTS. THE DISTANCE I COULD SEE WAS VERY SMALL AND IT GOT DANGEROUS AT NIGHT TIME, UNLESS I TURNED MY HIGH BEAM ON. LEXUS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM, KEPT MY CAR FOR ONE MONTH, DROVE IT FOR APPROXIMATELY 3000 MILES. ENGINEERS FROM CHICAGO AND LA CAME (I WAS TOLD) AND THE ANSWER WAS: WE COULD NOT FIND WHAT EXACTLY IS CAUSING THIS, BUT THERE IS SOME MAGNETIC FIELD AROUND THE WIRE TO THE SENSOR WHICH DISRUPTS THE FUNCTIONING OF THE SENSOR. WE HAVE PUT THE SHIELDED WIRE AROUND THE WIRE AND IT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. I HAD NOT BEEN DRIVING THIS CAR MUCH SINCE THEN AT NIGHT TIME DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS, TILL I MOVED TO ALBUQUERQUE. THE TERRAIN HERE IS HILLY AND I DON'T SEE THE LIGHTS TO DIP DOWN OR GO FARTHER WHILE GOING DOWNHILL AND UPHILL RESPECTIVELY. WHILE MAKING TURNS AROUND CANYONS AND CLIFFS , GOING UPHILL, IT BECOMES DANGEROUS AS YOU CAN' SEE MORE THAN 30-40 FEET (OR LESS) ON A FREEWAY WHICH IS NOT A SAFE BRAKING DISTANCE AT 65-70 MILES/HR AND IF YOU TURN THE HIGH BEAM ON IT'S NOT SAFE FOR THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I URGE THAT NHTSA INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE AND I AM WILLING TO PROVIDE MY CAR FOR DRIVING UP TO 300-400 MILES. EVEN THOUGH I HAVE PUT AUG 22ND 2003 AS THE INCIDENT DATE, THAT IS MY PURCHASE DATE FROM MY UNCLE (THE ORIGINAL OWNER) AND IT HAPPENS . EVERYTIME I DRIVE. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME IN THIS MATTER. *TR

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. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE BACK OF A VEHICLE.THE CONTACT AND A WITNESS WERE SURPRISED THAT THE WHEELS CONTINUED TO SPIN AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD STOPPED MOVING. A WEEK LATER THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF A BANK. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78409, THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF 2002 LEXUS ES 300 . MY WIFE WAS OPERATING HER VEHICLE WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 95 MPH THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE AND MY WIFE APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. FORTUNATELY TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT ON THE WB 101 W/OF 405 FWY IN LOS ANGELES CA SHE PULLED ON THE SHOULDER PASSING NUMEROUS VEHICLES SHE PLACED THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND WITH FULL BRAKE APPLICATIONS THE CAR SLOWED AFTER A FEW MILES. I CONTACTED LEXUS DEALER WHO ADVISED ME THIS VEHICLE WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC AND I AM APPALLED AT THIS IT OCCURRED ONCE AND I FEEL ITS ELECTRONIC THE MAT WAS NOT A FACTOR. *TR

SUDDEN ACCELERATION FROM A STOP IN A LINE OF TRAFFIC RESULTED IN COLLISION WITH VEHICLE IN FRONT. VEHICLE WAS 2002 LEXUS ES 300. SEVERAL PRIOR SUDDEN ACCELERATION EVENTS HAD PREVIOUSLY OCCURRED. CONTACT WITH LEXUS DEALER RESULTED IN NO ASSISTANCE. *TR

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ROUGHLY AND SOMETIMES ABRUPTLY IN THE LOWER GEARS. THE DOWNSHIFT AT TIMES IS VERY HARD. THE VEHICLE WILL ALSO SURGE FORWARD AT TIMES OR WILL NOT ACCELERATE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AFTER THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED. *NM

THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLE WILL HESITATE AND SURGE CAUSING ERRATIC BEHAVIOR. THIS BEHAVIOR IS DANGEROUS AND ANNOYING. ONE NEVER KNOWS HOW IT WILL REACT. I WOULD LIKE THIS FIXED ONCE AND FOR ALL. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE LEXUS USER GROUP HAS MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS BEHAVIOR. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT MAY GET SOMEONE INJURED. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL VOLUME WAS VERY LOW AND COULD NOT BE HEARD WHEN IT WAS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE SERVICED FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82000.

WHEN MY VEHICLE IS IMMEDIATELY PUT IN DRIVE GEAR FROM REVERSE GEAR, FOOT TAKEN OFF THE BRAKE AND TAP THE GAS PEDAL, MY VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD AS IF IT IS IN FULL THROTTLE. AS RESULT, MY VEHICLE JUMPED THE CURB AND IMPACTED A BRICK WALL. I SUFFERED A BLOODY NOSE AND A CUT ON MY HAND. THE VEHICLE SUFFERED FRONTAL DAMAGE AND IS UNDRIVEABLE. I HAVE CONTACTED THE AUTO MANUFACTURER. THEY WILL TOW AND INSPECT IT. *JB

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. *NM

THE PLASTIC KEY TO MY 2002 LEXUS ES300 CRACKED DUE TO FAULTY PRODUCT DESIGN AND THE MICROCHIP THAT CONTROLS THE CAR FELL OUT. I DID NOT KNOW THIS HAD HAPPENED AND WAS UNABLE TO START THE CAR. I WAS STRANDED IN A RAIN STORM AND HAD TO CALL LEXUS FOR HELP. SUBSEQUENTLY I USED AN EMERGENCY KEY WHICH WAS IN MY PURSE. EVEN THOUGH THE BREAK OCCURRED BECAUSE OF FAULTY DESIGN, I HAD TO ORDER AND PAY FOR A NEW KEY ($206) BECAUSE MY CAR WAS BEYOND WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD BY THE LEXUS SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THESE KEYS BREAK "MORE OFTEN THAN WE WOULD LIKE ".CLEARLY, THE DESIGN OF THE KEY IS THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE CAR KEY BREAKS THE CAR IS INOPERABLE UNLESS YOU HAVE ANOTHER KEY WITH YOU. THE DEALER HAS TO ORDER A NEW KEY AND CANNOT START YOUR CAR FOR YOU. THIS IS A DANGER TO CONSUMERS AND OWNERS OF THESE CARS. I WAS NEVER ADVISED THAT THE KEY COULD CRACK AND BREAK DUE TO NORMAL USE OR THAT THE CAR WOULD BE INOPERABLE IF THE CHIP FELL OUT. I COMPLAINED TO LEXUS USING THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE ON-LINE WEB SITE. SOMEONE FROM A LOCAL DEALERSHIP CALLED ME AND WAS INDIFFERENT TO THE PROBLEM. I DID NOT ASK FOR MY MONEY BACK FOR THE NEW KEY BUT STRESSED THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO RESOLVE MY DILEMMA WITHOUT INJURY BUT OTHERS MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY. WHEN YOU PAY $40,000 FOR A CAR YOU EXPECT THE KEY TO HOLD UP TO NORMAL USE. I BELIEVE THAT ALL OWNERS OF LEXUS PRODUCTS WITH THIS STYLE KEY SHOULD BE NOTIFIED THAT THIS BREAKAGE MAY OCCUR AND BE ISSUED NEW UNBREAKABLE KEYS .ADDITIONALLY, FROM WHAT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME LEXUS KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM AND SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A WARNING AND A RECALL. *NM

THIS VEHICLE HESITATES INTERMITTENTLY IN TRAFFIC AND HAS A DANGEROUS LOSS OF POWER. WHEN I PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC, OR TURN A CORNER, THE VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY LOSES POWER AND WILL NOT ENGAGE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, THEN THE VEHICLE WILL PROCEED. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY BLOW UP AND THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOST POWER, AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THE DEALER HAS DENIED THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS, AND THAT I AM THE ONLY ONE THAT IS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. THEY HAVE REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE. *JB

DT*: THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, IN WET CONDITIONS A VEHICLE TURNED IN FRONT OF HIM WITHOUT WARNING. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO BROADSIDE THE OTHER VEHICLE WITH HIS FRONT END. THE BRAKES WERE SUDDENLY APPLIED AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALL OF THE OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS, BUT THE SHOULDER STRAPS DID NOT CATCH, CAUSING MINOR INJURIES. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE TOTALED. *JB UPDATED 3/9/2006 - *NM

MY 2002 LEXUS 3000 SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AS I WAS PULLING FORWARD INTO A PARKING SPACE AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. WHEN IT HAPPENED, MY FOOT WAS RESTING LIGHTLY ON THE BRAKE, PREPARING TO BRAKE TO A STOP, AND LETTING THE CAR IDLE INTO THE SPOT. I HAD A SIMILAR THING HAPPEN ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO. *JB THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED SOME BRUISES AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH. UPDATED 12/19/05. *JB *NM THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY ONE OF TOYOTAS FIELD TECHNICIANS. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE, BRAKE SYSTEM AND OTHER ENGINE OPERATING PARAMETERS WERE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. *NM

CARS PULLS TO THE LEFT WHEN ON FREEWAY. LEXUS DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT CAR HAS DETERMINED THAT BECAUSE I'M OVER WEIGHT IT PULLS TO THE LEFT. THEY DETERMINED THAT ALMOST 2 YEARS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. EVERY TIME I BROUGHT IT IN THEY SAID NOTHING IS WRONG. THE TOLD ME THE CASTER WAS OFF AND WAS GOING TO FIX IT THEN THEY SAID THE CASTER WAS FINE AND IT WAS ME BEING OVER WEIGHT I'M ABOUT 350LBS. MY CAR STILL PULLS TO THE LEFT AND THEY MISALIGNED MY CAR TELLING ME IT WAS GOING TO FIX IT. LEFT IS AT 1.8 RIGHT IS AT 1.5. *TR

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. *JB

DT: CONSUMER OWNED A 2002 ES 300. CONSUMER WAS GETTING INTO A PARKING PLACE WHEN HE WENT OVER A SPEED BUMP, HE STOPPED WITH VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THEN, PLACED THE CAR IN DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD, CONSUMER TRIED TO APPLY BRAKE AND BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, ENDED UP STRIKING A CONCRETE PILLAR. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. NO POLICE REPORT, BUT IT WAS REPORTED TO INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING FORWARD WITH GREAT FORCE AND BRAKES COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF AN INVESTIGATION THAT WAS IN PROGRESS ON THIS MATTER. ALTHOUGH INVESTIGATION WAS OFFICIALLY CLOSED, NHTSA SAID THAT THEY WOULD MONITOR THESE TYPE OF VEHICLES. CONSUMER SAID THAT INVESTIGATION WAS ON THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL.*AK

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. *NM

I HAD PULLED INTO MY GARAGE. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND LIFTED IT A LITTLE TO INCH FORWARD TO MY MARK ( TO ALLOW FOR THE GARAGE DOOR TO CLOSE) WHEN THE CAR JUST SURGED FORWARD! FORTUNATELY I APPLIED THE BRAKE HARD, SINCE MY FOOT WAS BY THE BRAKE, BUT I BANGED INTO THE GARAGE WALL AND DID DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND THE WALL. *JB

NON DEPLOYAL OF SIDE AIRBAGS ON LEXUS ES 300. MODEL YEAR 2002. MY SON WAS HIT SQUARE IN THE DRIVERS DOOR AND INCURRED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE ONCOMING VEHICLE THAT HIT HIM HAD ITS AIRBAGS FULLY DEPLOY. THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS IN MY 2002 ES 300 SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AND FAILED TO DO SO. THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY $8000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE WHOLE OF THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS COMPLETELY SMASHED. NEITHER,THE POLICE NOR THE BODY SHOP THAT REPAIRED THE CAR COULD NOT OFFER AN EXPLANATION AS TO THE FAILURE OF THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY.

DURING THE INITIAL WARRANTY 50K MILES, THE DEALERSHIP HAS RESURFACED AND REPLACED THE ROTORS 4 TIMES ON MY 2002 ES 300 LEXUS AND NOW THE ROTORS ARE WARPED FOR THE FIFTH TIME. THE PROBLEM IS WHEN BRAKING, THERE IS A VERY NOTICABLE VIBRATION IN THE WHEELS, WHICH IF NOT REPAIRED COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND CAUSE INJURY AND EVEN BE FATAL TO ME OR OTHERS. WHEN I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF LEXUS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION, THEY RESPONDED WITH, THEY WOULD REPLACE THE ROTORS FREE OF CHARGE, BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPLACING BRAKE PADS AND LABOR, $300. THEY SAID THE PROBLEM IS ATTRIBUTED TO MY BRAKING PRACTICES, DRIVING IN THE CITY AND THE MILEAGE ON MY VEHICLE. I DO NOT BELIEVE ONE WORD OF THAT, SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE WAY I BRAKE (WHICH IS NO DIFFERENT THAN A MILLION OTHER DRIVERS) IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE EITHER THEY HAVEN'T BEEN REPLACING THE ROTORS AS THEY STATED OR SOMETHING IS CAUSING THE ROTORS TO WARP, WHICH COULD BE A DEFECT. AT 67,533 MILES, WHICH IS WHEN I LAST TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR THE FIFTH TIME FOR VIBRATING, I WOULD BE SERVICING THE ROTORS ON AN AVERAGE OF EVERY 13,506 MILES.THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MY BRAKING PRACTICES. THIS IS ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD FOR OTHER DRIVERS AND MYSELF. I DON'T WANT THEM TO JUST REPAIR THE SYMPTOM I WANT THE CAUSE TO BE REPAIRED. I WAS TOLD BEFORE I COMPLAINED, THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST BETWEEN $600 AND $700. CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW MUCH THIS WOULD COST ME FOR ROTORS FOR THE LIFE OF THIS VEHICLE! AFTER I RECEIVED LEXUS'S DECISION FROM MR. DAN REYNOLDS, I ASKED HIM FOR THE NAME OF THE PERSON NEXT IN LINE FOR ME TO APPEAL THIS DECISION. HE TOLD ME HE WAS IT. THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE TO APPEAL TO. HE SAID HE HAD OFFERED ME A GOOD WILL EFFORT, AND NOTHING ELSE WOULD BE DONE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE HISTORY OF THE 2002 ES300 AND SEE HOW MANY VEHICLES HAVE NEEDED RESURFACED/REPLACED ROTORS 5 TIMES AT 67,533 MILES. I APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION GIVEN TO MY SITUATION. THANK YOU.

MY 2002 LEXUS ES300 HAS HAD CONTINUAL TRANSMISSION AND SHIFTING PROBLEMS. WE TOOK IT IN FOR THE UPDATE BUT THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. WHEN I ASKED AGAIN I WAS TOLD I ALREADY HAD THE UPDATE AND THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THAT COULD BE DONE. I BELIEVE LEXUS NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND FIX THIS ISSUE. OFTEN TIMES I WILL PRESS THE GAS PEDAL TO QUICKLY GET OUT OF THE WAY AND THE DELAY IS NOT ONLY ANNOYING, IT'S DANGEROUS.*JB

ROUGH SHIFTING/SLIPPING IN LOWER GEARS (1,2). WHEN ACCELERATING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC CAR SEEMS TO STALL BEFORE IT SUDDENLY BUMPS INTO GEAR. INTERMITTENTLY - WHEN ACCELERATED SUDDENLY (MOVING STEADY AT ABOUT 10 MILES PER HOUR) TRANSSMISION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR, ENGINE RPM REACHED ABOUT 4000 RPM. IT ENGAGED IN GEAR AFTER I RELEASED ACCELERATOR. *AK

WHEN ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING VEHICLE SHIFTED VIOLENTLY. DEALER STATED THEY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT COULD NOT FIND A SOLUTION AT THIS TIME. *AK

LEXUS ES 300 YEAR 2002, I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, TRAVELING AT SLOW SPEED, 5-8 MILES AN HOUR, WHEN THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP, DESPITE APPLYING THE BRAKE. THE CAR ENGINE APPEARED TO HAVE A LOW HUM AND APPEARED TO BE IN OVERDRIVE. THE CAR JUMPED OVER A CONCRETE DIVIDER, OVER A SIDEWALK, THROUGH A BRICK WALL AND PLATE GLASS WINDOW. THE CAR WAS IN A FURNITURE STORE. THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED. I ( THE DRIVER) HIT MY HEAD ( LEFT SIDE) AND THE LEFT SIDE OF MY BODY HIT THE SIDE OF THE CAR. THE ACCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO LEXUS. THEY HAD ACCESS TO EVALUATE THE CAR AND SAID THAT THE BRAKES WERE FINE. THIS TYPE OF ACCIDENT HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER DRIVERS OF THIS MAKE AND YEAR OF CAR. I HOPE IT WILL BE EVALUATED CAREFULLY. I HAVE SUFFERED AS A RESULT OF THIS ACCIDENT. JUST BECAUSE LEXUS COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM , DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT DOES NOT EXIST. ARTICLES HAVE BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURRING IN 2002 LEXUS ES 300 AUTOS. *AK

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. *AK

IN AUGUST I WENT TO PARK MY CAR (2002 ES300) IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT PICKED UP SPEED, CRASHING THROUGH MY BRAND NEW FENCE AND SIDE PORCH. IT MUST BE NOTED THAT I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT TOOK OFF ON ME. MY FOOT NEVER MOVED OFF THE BRAKE THE WHOLE TIME; THE CAR CAME TO A STOP WHEN IT HIT THE PORCH. THE DAY BEFORE I WAS DRIVING WITH MY MOM AND AS I STARTED TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN B/C I WAS COMING TO A STOP SIGN THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN PICKED UP SPEED, BUT THANKFULLY AT THAT TIME I HAD TIME TO PRESS THE BRAKES DOWN HARDER AND STOP THE CAR. WHEN I PARK MY CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY IT IS ONLY A COUPLE OF INCHES FROM THE GATE AND FROM THE GATE IT IS ABOUT 2-3 FEET TO THE PORCH SO THERE WAS NO WAY TO AVOID THIS ACCIDENT. WHEN LEXUS INSPECTED THE CAR THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE DBW (ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL). I FIND THIS TO BE A COVERUP OF SOME SORTS B/C I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR YEARS AND NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN TO ME BEFORE. I KNOW FIRST HAND THAT IS IS NOT A DRIVER ERROR IT IS A MANUFACTOR'S DEFECT. I KNOW IT WENT INTO INVESTIGATIONS AND THEY ARE NOT RECALLING THE CARS B/C THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE THAT THIS REALLY HAPPENS. SINCE I'VE BEEN BRINGING THIS ISSUE TO LIGHT I RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO MY HUSBAND'S FRIEND'S WIFE LAST YEAR. HER CAR TOOK OFF ON HER AND WENT THROUGH HER GARAGE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR. I FEEL THAT LEXUS IS REALLY IN A POSITION WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THE NHTSA DEEMED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR CAUSING THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER DID NOT WANT TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBLITY WHAT SO EVER FOR THIS INCIDENT. THEY WERE VERY HELPFUL WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR BUT WIPED THERE HANDS OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK

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. *AK

WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE THE CAR WENT INTO A HIGH ACCELERATION. I REAR ENDED TWO CARS THAT WERE DIRECTLY BEHIND ME. IF THERE WAS ANYONE WALKING BEHIND I WOULD HAVE KILLED THEM. I BELIEVE THERE IS A THROTTLE CONTROL PROBLEM. *LA *JB

STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THIS STARTED TO OCCUR APPROX AT 22000 MILES. THE CARE NOW HAS APPROX 26000 MILES. FOUND 2 OTHER COMPLAINTS WHILE RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM. ODI #S 10034592 AND 10037938. IS THIS SOMETHING LEXUS CORP IS VOLUNTEERING TO FIX FOR THEIR CONSUMERS.*AK

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.*AK

THE AUTOMATIC WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. CONSEQUENTLY, WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WAS DRY THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

CONSUMER STATED WHILE PARKING VEHICLE AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND RAN INTO A STREET SIGN AND BARRIER GATE. *AK *NM

DANGEROUS CONDITION EXISTS WITH 2002 LEXUS ES300, WHERE A SEVERE HESITATION EXISTS WHEN ACCELERATING AT SLOW ROLL (< 5MPH) AT INTERSECTION TURNS, EXITING DRIVEWAYS, AND GENERALLY ANYWHERE WHEN TRYING TO GET INTO FLOW OF TRAFFIC WHEN NEARLY STOPPED - ESPECIALLY WHEN A TURN IS INVOLVED ALONG WITH THE ACCELERATION. VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION EXISTS WHEN TRYING TO ENTER LANE, OR MAKE A TURN, IN FRONT OF FAST-MOVING TRAFFIC. IT SEEMS THE CAR'S ELECTRONICS DOES NOT REGOGNIZE THE ACCELERATOR'S REQUEST FOR FUEL UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT COMPLAINT /CASE #100375515 LISTED AND I HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER TWICE AND ANOTHER ONE SHEDULED FOR 5/21/2004. *AK

WHEN DRIVING A SPEED AND THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED HARD TO PASS OR TO ENTER A HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE RAVS BUT THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE. THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT IS HOW THE CAR IS DESIGNED. I HAVE A 2002 LEXUS ES300 BUT HAVE DRIVEN THE 2004'S AND THEY ACT THE SAME WAY. WHEN YOU STUMP ON THE GAS AND THE CAR DOES NOT GO. IT LEAVES YOU IN A VERY PROCARIES SITUATION.*AK

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. *AK

LACK OF RESPONSE BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ENGINE.*MR THE CONSUME EXPLAINED THAT THERE IS A LAG TIME BETWEEN STEPPING ON THE GAS AN THE TRANSMISSION RESPONDING. THIS HESITATION WAS MOST PRONOUNCED WHEN BRAKING AND THEN NEEDING TO RAPIDLY ACCELERATE, SUCH AS WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. THE CONSUMER FEELS THE VEHICLE INABILITY TO RESPOND IN A TIMELY MANNER IS A HAZARD. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHO INDICATED THAT HE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING WITH IN THEIR SPECIFICATIONS. THE PROBLEM IS SO BAD THAT THE CONSUMER INTENDS TO GET RID OF THE VEHICLE. *NM

SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF 2002 LEXUS ES300 WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE. CAR WAS JUST AT A STOP WHEN ITT ACCELERATED WITH FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE. CAR RAN INTO SIDE OF A BUILDING BEFORE STOPPING--FRONT END OF CAR WAS DEMOLISHED AND BUILDING BRICKS AND INSIDE WALL DEMOLISHED. CAR IS AT DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS NOW, ACCIDENT HAPPENED ONLY 2 DAYS AGO. *LA

THE TIRES SHOWED SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE WEAR EVERY 18,000 MILES. DEALER HAD REPLACED THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT WITH BRIDGESTONE, TURANZA T, SIZE P215/60R16. THE BRIDGESTONE FRONT TIRES WERE REPLACED AT 23, 000 MILES, REAR TIRES WERE REPLACED AT 30, 000 MILES. CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH TIRES. *AK *LA

LTR FM LLOYD SORKIN (FL) REPORTING PREMATURE TIRE WEAR ON HIS VEHICLE A 2002 LEXUS ES300 QUESTION IF ANY TIRE RECALL NOTICE APPLY.*MR THE TIRES SHOWED SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE WEAR EVERY 18,000 MILES. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE VEHICLE MAY BE THE PROBLEM NOT THE TIRES (DOT NUMBERS- EJF1DMM4401, EJF1DMM4501, EJF1DMM4501, EJF1DMM4601). *NM

I HAVE A 2002 LEXUS ES300. IF YOU STOMP ON THE GAS WHILE DRIVING IN ORDER TO MERGE OR PASS THE ENGIN REVES BUT THE CAR DOES NOT PICK UP SPEED I.E THERE IS A BIG DEAD SPOT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALOR AND WAS TOLD THAT WAS HOW THE CARE WAS DESIGNED TO WORK. I FEEL THAT THE HESITATION IS A BIG SAFTY PROBLEM THAT COULD LEAD TO A ACCIDENT. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO GET LEXUS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM?*AK

THERE WERE TWO SUCH INCIDENTS. UPON COMING BACK AT LUNCH TIME TO WORK, I TURNED TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE ANGLE OF THE CAR NECESSITATED ME TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL VERY TIGHT TO THE RIGHT. WITH THE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE RELEASED BUT WITH FOOT IN BRAKE POSITION THE CAR SURGED ALMOST HITTING THE PARKED CAR IN FRONT OF ME. IT DEFINITELY A SURGE, A PERSON CAN FEEL THE SUDDEN ENERGY. IN BECOMING MORE AWARE OF THE CAR AFTER I HAD AN ACCIDENT DOING THIS SAME TYPE OF MANEVEUR, THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WHEN TRYING TO MANEVEUR THE CAR FOR PARKING AND AT THE SAME TYPE OF THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED VERY TIGHT IN ONE DIRECTION. *AK