2002 Lexus ES Complaint Log

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE AT WORK, THE CAR WENT AROUND A BEND AND CONTINUED TO THE STOP SIGN. APPROXIMATELY 250 FEET. I NEVER PUSHED ON THE ACCERALATOR AT ALL DURING THIS TIME. THE CAR WENT BY ITSELF. WHATEVER WAS HAPPENING, THE COMPUTER EVIDENTLY WAS TELLING THE CAR TO MOVE WITHOUT PUSHING THE ACCERALATOR.*AK

THE LEXUS ES300 WAS DRIVEN AT ALMOST 0 MPH SPEED TO GET READY TO PARK OUTSIDE THE GARAGE. THE CAR CONTINUES ACCELERATING EVEN AFTER THE DRIVER WAS HITTING THE BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. THE CAR SMASHED THE CAR GARAGE DOOR, AND EVERYHING ON THE WAY. THERE WAS MORE THAN $5,000 DAMAGES TO THE CAR AND $1,250.00 ON REAL PROPERTY. THERE WAS NO MAJOR INJURIES TO THE DRIVER, BUT BODY PAIN ON SOFT TISSUES OCCURRED AFTER THE ACCIDENT. *AK

WHILE ON THE WAY TO WORK AT APPROXIMTELY 8:45 AM, AND SHORTLY AFTER LEAVING HOME, I STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION O MUNCASTER MILL ROAD AND BOWIE ROAD. WHEN LIGHT TURNED GREEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE AND THE CAR SUDDENLY SURGED AHEAD WITHOUT PUSHING ON THE ACCERALATOR. I MISSED THE CAR AHEAD OF ME BY INCHES. THE BRAKE STOPPED THE CAR. THIS IS THE FOURTH INCIDENT WITH THIS CAR. OTHER INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED.*AK

UPON PARKING IN A PARKING LOT VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD. WHEN THIS OCCURRED VEHICLE JUMPED THE CEMENT WHEEL BLOCK, AND WENT THROUGH A COMPLEX BEFORE STOPPING. CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP VEHICLE. *AK VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *LA

I PURCHASED A NEW LEXUS,MODEL ES300 ON JULY 17,2002. AT 17,000 MILES I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES AND WAS TOLD THE EDGES WERE CUPPED AND MANY CUSTOMERS HAD REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM THE CAR DEALER AND TIRE DEALERS IN OUR AREA, THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE TOYO PROXES J33, P215/60 R 1694V SERIES TIRE. THE TOYO COOPERATION WILL ONLY COVER 50% OF REPLACEMENT COST ON A TIRE WITH 17,000 MILES, 6/32 REMAINING TREAD. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THESE TIRES, THEY ARE UNSAFE TIRES AND AN ADDED EXPENSE FOR THE CONSUMER. AFTER A LITTLE RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND FOUR OTHER CUSTOMERS WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH TOYO TIRES, TWO WHOM HAD MORE MILES THAN WHAT I REPORTED HAD THERE TIRES REPLACED WITH NO ADDITIONAL CHARGES. IT IS NOT RIGHT FOR THE CONSUMER TO PAY FOR MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND WORKMANSHIP.

WHEN DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED*AK THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THE SITUATION BUT DID NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. THERE WAS EXCESSIVE BELT SQUEALING IN THE MORNING, THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSATED AND THE KEY WOULD NO TURN IN THE IGNITION. *SC *JB

WHILE HAVING 15,000 SERVICE WARRANTY PERFORMED, DEALERSHIP NOTICED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE CUPPING ON THE OUTER PART OF THE TREAD. THE TIRES HAD DETERIORATED. PRIOR TO HAVING THE SERVICE WORK DONE THE TIRES WERE MAKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING THAT GOT LOUDER AND LOUDER. *AK *LA

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. *AK

1. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, AT 2-4 MPH, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT FULL SPEED, JUMPING THE CURB AND HITTING A TREE WITH FULL FORCE. BECAUSE OF PREVIOUS CONCERNS WITH THROTTLE PROBLEMS NOTED WITH THE DEALERSHIP AT 1000 AND 5000 MILE CHECK, I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP. AFTER A CONFERENCE CALL WITH LEXUS ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THE DEALERSHIP, MY CAR WAS FLAT BEDDED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE FRONTAL CRASH RENDERED THE VEHICLE UN-DRIVABLE. RADIATOR DAMAGE WITH LEAKAGE OF FLUID COVERED A PORTION OF THE PARKING LOT. THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR SOMEBODY ELSE LIVE COULD HAVE BEEN IN DANGER. 2. THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT INFLATE. 3. THE BRAKE ROTORS HAD TO BE CORRECTED AT 1500 MILES AND A "PART" WAS ORDERED AND PUT ON THE CARE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. 4. THE CAR WHEN DRIVING AT ABOVE 50 PULLS TO THE LEFT AND FROM THE BEGINNING IT FELT AS THOUGH THE CAR WAS UNEVEN EVEN WHEN NOT MOVING. AT THAT TIME I REQUESTED A WRITTEN EXPLANATION OF THIS PROBLEM AND TOLD MY RECORD AT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD SUBSTANTIATE THIS. ON THE NIGHT OF THE ACCIDENT I LEARNED BY REVIEWING COMPLAINTS FROM THE OFFICE OF DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE THAT THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN KNOWN BY THE CORPORATE OFFICE OF LEXUS FROM AS EARLY AS JANUARY, 2002 IN REGARDS TO ALL OF THE ABOVE PROBLEMS. I ALSO FOUND OUT THERE HAVE BEEN TWO RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE THAT I WAS NOT INFORMED ABOUT. I WILL BE REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION WITH THE LEXUS EAST REGIONAL OFFICE AND DISCUSSING THIS WITH THE ROCKVILLE LEXUS OFFICE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I BROUGHT THE LEXUS VEHICLE EVEN WITH IT'S PRICE TAG BECAUSE OF ITS REPUTATION AND TO DRIVE MY 3 YEAR OLD GRANDSON AND 1 YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER IN THE SAFEST MANNER I COULD FACILITATE. I AM SURE THAT MY SON AND DAUGHTER-IN-LAW WILL NOT ALLOW THIS AFTER THIS CRASH!!!!*AK UPDATED 7/3/12 *CN

CAR PULLS VERY HARD TO LEFT ON HIGHWAY. DEALER HAS TRIED TO CORRECT THIS BY 1 ALIGNMENT AND NEW TIRES. THEY SAID THEY HAVE DONE EVERYHTING THEY ARE WILLING TO DO FOR FREE. SINCE I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY KEEP PUSHING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, IT IS CAUSING THE TIRES TO CUP, SO I WILL BE STUCK REPLACING TIRES EVERY 12000 MILES TO ELIMINATE LOUD ROAD NOISE.*AK

ORGINAL TIRES PREMATURE WEAR......THE VEHICLE DISPLAYS INSTABILITY ON THE HIGHWAY.

WAS DRIVING TO CALIFORNIA IN MY 2002 LEXUS ES300 LAST SEPTEMBER AND WAS ADJUSTING THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN SUDDENLY IT ACCELERATED AS IF I HAD FLOORED THE GAS PEDAL. INCIDENT DID NOT RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. NO PROBLEMS SINCE THEN BUT DECIDED TO REPORT IT AS I READ AN ARTICLE IN THE NEWSPAPER TODAY THAT YOU WERE INVESTIGATING UNEXPECTED ACCELERATIONS FOR THIS CAR.

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. A PRIOR LEXUS TSB ADDRESSED TRANSMISSION SHIFTING AT HIGHER SPEEDS, BUT SEEMS TO HAVE CREATED A NEW, AND POTENTIALLY MORE DANGEROUS CONDITION.*AK

I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MPH ON HIGHWAY. WHEN THE TRAFFIC SLOWED DOWN, I APPLIED THE BRAKE TO BRING DOWN THE SPEED OF THE CAR TO ABOUT 3-7 MPH. AFTER FOLLOWING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS AT ABOUT 3/4 CAR DISTANCE, I SAW THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SPEEDED UP SLOWLY AND I DECIDED TO FOLLOW UP BY PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR MODERATLY. THE CAR FIRST SHUDDERED, THEN PAUSED FOR ABOUT 1 SECOND, AND FINALLY ACCELERATED AT ALMOST MAXIMUM POWER. THIS WAS A NEAR MISS. BEFORE THIS HAPPENED, I BROUGHT OUR CAR TO LEXUS DEALER TO COMPLAIN ABOUT SHUDDERING/PAUSING WHEN ACCELERATING FROM LOW SPEED AFTER THE CAR WAS UPDATED WITH TSB-TC004-03; THE CHIEF TECHNICIAN DROVE THE CAR AND REPRODUCED THE KIND OF PROBLEMS THAT WE HAD. HOWEVER, HE SAID THAT HE COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND WAS GOING TO WRITE A REPORT TO TOYOTA CORP BECAUSE IT WAS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE RECEIPT FROM THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY DID NOT FIND ANY ABNORMAL TRANSMISSION SHIFT DURING TEST DRIVING, BUT WOULD FILE A REPORT. WHAT A CONTRADICATION! THE DANGER OF THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WAS FURTHER MAGNIFIED BY THE FACT THAT 2002 ES300 RUNS VERY SMOOTHLY AT MOST TIMES (>98%). THIS SHUDDER/PAUSE/ACCELERATION OR PAUSE/ACCELERATION THAT ONLY OCCURS SPORADICALLY UNDER VERY SPECIAL CONDITIONS GIVES DRIVERS SURPRISE THAT IS THE LAST THING THEY WANT DURING DRIVING. FOR CURIOSITY, I TESTED DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT 50 MINIUTES BY REPEATLY SLOWING DOWN TO ABOUT 5 - 10 MPH BY APPLYING BRAKE, THEN ALLOWING THE CAR TO ROLL FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS WITHOUT PRESSING GAS PADDLE, AND THEN ACCELERATING MODERATELY TO ABOUT 20 - 30 MPH. THE PROBOBILITY FOR THE SHUDDER/PAUSE/ACCELERATION IS ABOUT 5%, WHILE THAT FOR PAUSE/ACCELERATION ABOUT 15%. IT SEEMED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAPPENDED MORE OFTEN ON DOWN/UP HILL.. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH OR ABOVE VEHICLE WILL STRONGLY PULL TO THE LEFT. DEALER CHANGES WHEELS/TIRES, AND DONE AN ALIGNMENT, BUT SAME PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING.*AK

CAR PULLS VERY HARD TO LEFT ON HIGHWAY. DEALER HAS TRIED TO CORRECT THIS BY ALIGNMENTS, NEW TIRES AND SWITCHING TIRES. IF I AM ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE LEFT LANE, I WILL NEVER HAVE TO TURN LEFT! EVEN ON A LEFT HAND CURVE, I HAVE TO TURN RIGHT TO KEEP FROM GOING OFF OF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. ***NOTE THE 3 LOANER ES300'S DID THE SAME THING. LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS TOLD ME THAT THIS IS THE WAY THE CAR IS DESIGNED! I HAVE GOTTEN THE CAR TO TRACK SOMEWHAT BETTER BY SWITCHING MY TIRES, BUT NOW I CAN'T ROTATE THE TIRES! FRUSTRATED!*AK

PROBLEMS WITH 2002 LEXUS ES 300 STEERING WHEEL VIBRATING WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED.*MR THE ROTORS WARPED*TS *JB

WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE TRAVELING AT LESS THEN 10 MILES PER HOUR, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, PROCEEDED FORWARD HITTING ANOTHER PARKED CAR HEAD ON. THE VEHICLE THEN JUMPED A CURB AND HIT A SECOND CAR. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE CAR USING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE CAR DID NOT STOP. IN ADDITION THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WAS DONE TO TWO OTHER VEHICLES BESIDE MINE.*AK UPDATED 7/3/12 *CN

MY 2002 LEXUS ES 300, WHEN DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEED AT NIGHT TIME, THE HEADLIGHTS (HID'S) KEEP COMING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THE VEHICLE. AFTER ABOUT ONE HOUR OF DRIVING THE DISTANCE COVERED BY THE LIGHT IS ABOUT HALF THE LENGTH OF A SEMITRUCK TRAILER. IT IS VERY HARD TO DRIVE ON CORNERS ON THE FREEWAY AND I HAVE TO TURN THE HIGH BEAM ON. THE OTHER WAY TO DESCRIBE THE DISTANCE COVERED BY THE LIGHT IS TO TELL THAT I CAN SEE ONLY TWO DOTTED POINTS (THE DIVIDER LINE ON THE FREEWAY) AT ANY GIVEN POINT IN TIME. MY ESTIMATION IS THAT THE DISTANCE COVERED BY THE LIGHT AT THAT TIME IS ABOUT 15-20 FEET AT THE MAX. THE LIGHT GETS SO CONCENTRATED CLOSE TO THE CAR THAT IF I TURN THE FOGLIGHTS ON (WHICH FALL VERY CLOSE TO THE CAR) I CAN'T EVEN SEE ANY DIFFERENCE IN THE LIGHT INTESITY. ONCE I HIT THE BRAKES OF THE CAR, THE HEADLIGHTS GO BACK TO NORMAL FOR A FEW MILES AND THE DISTANCE COVERED IS DEFINITELY MORE THAN 100 FEET. I DID TAKE MY CAR TO LEXUS DEALERSHIP WHICH IS ABOUT 250 MILES FROM MY HOUSE TWICE, ONLY TO HEAR THAT THIS CAR HAS A SPECIAL SENSOR WHICH ADJUSTS THE DISTANCE COVERED BY THE LIGHT AND ALL THE SENSORS ARE WORKING CORRECTLY. THEY SAY THEY CAN'T TEST DRIVE MY CAR AT NIGHT TIME AS THEIR DEALERSHIP IS CLOSED AND THERE IS NO WAY THAT THEY CAN CONFIRM MY COMPLAINT. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR AT NIGHT BECAUSE THE DISTANCE COVERED BY THESE SO CALLED SPECIAL LIGHTS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND THE ONLY OPTION FOR ME AT THAT TIME IS TO TURN THE HIGH BEAM ON WHICH IS AGAIN NOT SAFE FOR THE OTHER TRAFFIC AROUND. I AM PUTTING THE INCIDENT DATE AS AUG, 2003 AS I BOUGHT THE CAR SOMETIMES AT THAT TIME AND THIS COMPLAINT HAPPENS EVERYTIME I GO FOR A FREEWAY DRIVING AT NIGHTIME. PLEASE HELP ME DEAL WITH THIS MATTER AND OBLIGE.*AK

PROBLEMS WITH 2002 LEXUS ES300 SEDAN. *MR THE BRAKE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE CORRECTED. (DUE TO VIBRATION WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED) THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC WHO'S VEHICLE MAY BE AFFECTED BY THE DEFECT. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE WRONG BRAKE PADS WERE PLACED ON THE VEHICLE DURING ASSEMBLY. THEY WILL NOT HOLD UP TO THE PRESSURE AND HEAT. NEW BRAKE PADS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE INSTALLED IN REPLACE OF THE DEFECTIVE PADS. *SCC *JB

THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE WORN WHICH CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN BRAKING. *NLM

TRANSMISSION IS UNRELIABLE. SINCE MARCH 2003, WHEN ACCELERATING THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS. *AK *TS UPDATED 7/2/12 *CN

I PUCHASED A 2002 LEXUS 300 FROM WESTSIDE LEXUS IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. SINCE PURCHASE THE VEHICLE HAS SURGED WHEN SHIFTING AT LOWER SPEEDS NUMEROUS TIMES AND HAS SURGED WHEN THE VECHILE IS ON CRUISE CONTROL. I HAVE COMPLAINED NUMEROUS TIMES TO WESTSIDE LEXUS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT THEY AWAYS SAY THAT LEXUS IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND IS TRYING TO COME UP WITH A FIX. LAST YEAR THEY ADJUSTED THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) CALIBRATION AND LEXUS SAID THE CAR SHOULD DRIVE BETTER - IT DID AT FIRST BUT IS NOW BACK TO THE SAME OLD SURGING AT SLOW SHIFTING SPEEDS. I BELIEVE LEXUS INTRODUCED THE ES330 MODEL THIS YEAR TO AVOID A PROBLEM WITH THE ES300 THEY COULD NOT FIX. I AM DRIVIG AN UNSAFE VEHICLE THAT LEXUS MAKES NO EFFORT TO FIX EXCEPT HAVE THE SERVICE TECH. GIVE LAME EXCUSES. I THOUGHT I WAS PURCHASING AN UPSCALE CAR TO DRIVE INSTEAD IT HAS TURNED OUT TO BE A MISERABLE UNSAFE EXPERIENCE. PLEASE MAKE LEXUS FIX THE DEFECT OR MAKE THEM REFUND ME MY PURCHASE PRICE. THANK YOU.*AK

THE TRANSMISSION HAD A JERK IN THE TRANSMISSION, THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER IT WAS THE DESIGN THE OF THE VEHICLE. *TS *JB

I PRESENT THIS AS INFORMATION TO COMPLEMENT THE PRESENT ISSUES WITH TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY AND ITS INSTITUTIONAL FAILURE TO RESPOND TO SAFETY RELATED INCIDENTS. I OWNED A 2002 LEXUS ES300. THE MECHANICAL/COMPUTER PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR INVOLVED THE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION TO DOWNSHIFT EFFECTIVELY WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC AT 40-50 MPH. THIS ISSUE WAS FIRST OBSERVED WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO MERGE INTO THE FREEWAY IN FRONT OF A FAST MOVING TRUCK. THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED BUT DID NOT ENGAGE IN 3RD GEAR, BUT SIMPLY DISENGAGED THE ENGINE FROM THE WHEELS; THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED, THE TACHOMETER WENT TO THE RED LINE AND THE COMPUTER SHUT OFF FUEL TO THE ENGINE. THUS THE CAR DECELERATED IN FRONT OF THE TRUCK. THIS WAS EASILY REPLICATED, AND MANY SIMILAR STORIES FILLED THE AUTO CHAT ROOMS AT THAT TIME. LEXUS RESPONSE AT THE DEALER LEVEL: " YOU USE THE WRONG FUEL; YOU HAVE DRIVEN INCORRECTLY AND PROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER TO RESPOND THIS WAY; THIS IS THE ONLY CAR BEHAVING LIKE THIS" THE SHOP FOREMAN DROVE WITH ME, OBSERVED THE PROBLEM AND WROTE AN INCIDENT REPORT TO TOYOTA. I DEMONSTRATED THE EFFECT ON A NEW LEXUS WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, WHO STILL WAS NOT ABLE TO ADMIT THAT A SERIOUS PROBLEM EXISTED. LEXUS RESPONSE AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL: "NO PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN REPORTED ON A PROBLEM YOU DESCRIBE." FINALLY A SERVICE REP SHOWED ME A PRINT OUT FROM NATIONAL LEXUS SERVICE, "TELL THE CUSTOMERS THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS BEHAVING THE WAY THAT IT WAS DESIGNED! " OF COURSE, IT WAS INCORRECTLY DESIGNED AND IT BEHAVED THAT WAY. AFTER TWO YEARS, A PARTIAL COMPUTER UPGRADE WAS SENT TO THE DEALERS AND INSTALLED. MINE WAS THE SECOND CAR WITH THE FIX, THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP OWNER WAS THE FIRST. MY POINT IS THAT THE TOYOTA/LEXUS CORPORATE RESPONSE TO SAFETY ISSUES AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL HAS BEEN TO STONEWALL AND DENY THE EXISTENCE OF PROBLEMS EVEN WHEN THEY COULD PRODUCE POTENTIAL CATASTROPHIC RESULTS. THIS HISTORICAL POLICY OF DENIAL EXISTED LONG BEFORE THE PRESENT ISSUES GAINED NOTORIETY. *TR

THE FLAWS AND FAILURES OF THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2002 LEXUS ES300 WERE NOTICEABLE WITHIN 500 MILES OF DRIVING THE NEW CAR OFF THE LOT. I NOW HAVE 47,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND LEXUS HAS PERFORMED RE-PROGRAMMING OF THE TRANSMISSION LOGIC. HOWEVER, THAT HAS NOT HELPED. IT SEEMS THAT AS I DRIVE MORE MILEAGE THE PROBLEM OF THE TRANSMISSION NOT KNOWING WHAT GEAR TO BE IN IS BECOMING WORSE. THE RESULTING HESITATION IS DANGEROUS FOR THE DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS OF MY CAR AS IT RESULTS IN CLOSE-CALLS WITH OTHER VEHICLES HITTING ME FROM BEHIND DURING HESITATION. *JB

TRANSMISSION GETS CONFUSED WHEN SHIFTING INTO AND OUT OF THE LOWER GEARS, THEN SPENDS TOO LONG TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT GEAR TO BE IN. THIS CAUSES DANGEROUS DELAYS IN ACCELERATION, THE EFFECT IS THE SAME AS A MOMENTARY ENGINE STALL. WE HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, FREEWAY RAMP ENTRANCES ARE CERTAINLY THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACE THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SHIFTING DELAYS BUT THEY SAY NO FIX IS AVAILABLE. THIS IS OUR THIRD ES300, THE PREVIOUS MODELS USED A CABLE BETWEEN THE GAS PEDAL AND THE THROTTLE, THIS NEW ONE USES WHAT IS CALLED "FLY BY WIRE", A POSITION SENSOR ON THE ACCELARATOR THAT A COMPUTER IS SUPPOSED TO USE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO TELL THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. IT ISN'T WORKING VERY WELL. IF NOT RECTIFIED THIS PROBLEM WILL CERTAINLY LEAD TO A CRASH SOMEDAY, THEN WE'LL GET TO SEE HOW GOOD THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT IS.

ON A SUNNY DAY AND WHILE IN MOTION, CONSUMER STATES THE DASHBOARD CANNOT BE READ, EVEN WITH SUNSHADES ON. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. TS *JG

THE 2002 LEXUS ES300 HAS A SIGNIFICANT FLAW IN THE NEW ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. THIS FLAW HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS AND BY LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A RESOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM SINCE DECEMBER 2002 WHICH IS SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE THREE VERY OBVIOUS SYMPTOMS THAT HAVE BEEN OCCURRING EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. DEPENDING UPON FUEL AND DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE CAR WILL DEVELOP A NECK JERKING SHUTTER AS IT VIOLENTLY SHIFTS BETWEEN GEARS. THIS USUALLY OCCURS ANYWHERE BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH, BUT MOST OFTEN WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO MAINTAIN A CONSTANT SPEED. THE SECOND CONDITION OCCURS WHEN YOU GO FROM A SLOWING SITUATION INTO AN ACCELERATION SITUATION. DURING THIS TIME, THE CAR OFTEN GOES INTO A NEUTRAL CONDITION AND TAKES A COUPLE SECONDS BEFORE POWER IS RETURNED TO THE WHEELS. THIS CONDITION IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN MOVING INTO TRAFFIC OR TURNING A CORNER. WHEN TURNING, YOU WILL NEARLY COAST AROUND THE CORNER UNTIL THE POWER IS RETURNED TO THE WHEELS. WHEN THE POWER IS RETURNED, IT IS VERY ABRUPT AND LUNGES THE CAR FORWARD. THE THIRD CONDITION OCCURS DURING FULL THROTTLE ACCELERATION. THIS IS MOST EVIDENT WHEN ACCELERATING ONTO A HIGHWAY. THE CAR SEEMS TO SHIFT INTO A VERY LOW GEAR WHERE RPM IS NEARLY RED-LINE AND POWER IS ALMOST NON-EXISTENT. THE CAR THEN JERKS INTO A DIFFERENT GEAR WHERE YOU MAY GET MORE POWER, BUT IT DOESN'T USUALLY STAY IN THAT GEAR EITHER. IT THEN SHIFTS BACK TO THE LOW GEAR, RED-LINES AGAIN AND REPEATS THE PROCESS. THIS WILL OFTEN OCCUR 2 OR 3 TIMES BEFORE A GOOD GEAR IS FOUND AND YOU CAN THEN PROCEED WITH NORMAL DRIVING. AT THIS POINT, LEXUS DID MAKE A COUPLE LEASE PAYMENTS FOR ME IN EXCHANGE FOR WAITING A FEW MORE MONTHS FOR THE FIX. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT WAS NEARLY A YEAR AGO AND I'M STILL WAITING. WE NEED TO GET THIS FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED, NOT AFTER! *NLM

WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE PAUSED FOR 1-2 SECONDS BEFORE PROCEEDING FORWARD. AS A RESULT, THE CONSUMER HAD ALMOST HIT PEDESTRIANS AND REAR ENDED OTHER MOTORISTS. IF THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTS TO SWITCH LANES TO AVOID HITTING OR REAR ENDING ANYONE, THE VEHICLE STALLS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED 9 TIMES BY THE DEALERSHIP, IN WHICH DIAGNOSTIC TEST HAVE BEEN PERFORMED, BUT NO FAILURE CODE WAS FOUND. THE DEALERSHIP ONLY CONCLUSION IS THAT THIS IS HOW THE VEHICLE IS SUPPOSE TO DRIVE. *JB

THE BRAKES WILL FADE/RELEASE AFTER BEING STOPPED FOR 1-2 MINUTES WITH THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT APPEARS THAT THIS HAPPENS AS THE ENGINE RPM DECREASES ABOUT 100-200 AND THE BRAKE PRESSURE EBBS. THE CAR WILL SOMETIMES MOVE FORWARD ABOUT 1-2 FEET BEFORE IT STOPS AGAIN. *NM

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT HE CANNOT VIEW THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DURING THE DAYTIME. THE MFR ADVISED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PANEL IS DESIGNED THAT WAY. *MR THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WHITE NUMBERS ON THE INSTRUMENTS WERE OKAY, BUT IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE THE RED NEEDLE DURING THE DAY LIGHT (UNLESS YOUR IN THE SHADE/OR IN THE EVENING). THE CONSUMER STATES THAT HE IS UNABLE TO TELL THE SPEED OF TRAVEL, WHETHER THE ENGINE IS OVERHEATING, AND/OR THE AMOUNT OF FUEL LEFT. ALSO THE MULTI-INFORMATION DISPLAYS AND THE ODOMETER READINGS ARE BARELY VISIBLE DURING THE DAYLIGHT HOURS. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT HE RECEIVES A STANDARD ANSWER THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS WORKING AS DESIGNED. *SCC

WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED FOR THE PURPOSE OF PASSING OR FOR MERGING INTO TRAFFIC AT VARYING SPEEDS BETWEEN 25-50 MPH, THE VEHICLE "LAGS" OR ENCOUNTERS A DEAD SPOT BEFORE RESPONDING (BY SUDDENLY SPEEDING OFF). THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO BE ATTEMPTING TO DECIDE HOW TO RESPOND TO THE ACTION OF THE ACCELERATOR BEING PRESSED (WHETHER TO REMAIN IN THE CURRENT GEAR, OR DOWN-SHIFT FOR QUICK ACCELERATION). THE 'RPMS' WILL RISE EXTREMELY HIGH, BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION FIGURES OUT WHAT GEAR TO SHIFT INTO IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUEST OF THE DRIVER'S ACTION. THIS 'LAG PERIOD' IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TIME FOR THE VEHICLE'S OCCUPANTS AS THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND LIKE NORMAL VEHICLES CONFRONTED WITH A "WIDE-OPEN-THROTTLE" REQUEST DO. IF MY WIFE, WHO IS NO "CAR BUFF" AND GENERALLY DOES NOT PAY ATTENTION TO ANYTHING BUT STARTING THE VEHICLE, HAS ALSO BROUGHT THIS ISSUE TO MY ATTENTION, THEN I KNOW THERE IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM. AS THE PROBLEM PRESENTS ITSELF AS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR MY FAMILY, I HAVE CONTACTED LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO HAVE ADVISED ME THAT "LEXUS IS ATTEMPTING TO DEVELOP A FIX FOR THE CONCERN THAT MANY OF OUR CUSTOMERS HAVE BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION". I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS "FIX" FOR OVER 7 MONTHS NOW, AND THE EXPECTED DATE KEEPS BEING PUSHED BACK! PLEASE TAKE SOME ACTION REGARDING THIS SERIOUS ISSUE, AS THERE ARE MANY OTHER LEXUS OWNERS WHO WERE IN THE "PASSIONATE PURSUIT OF PERFECTION" (LEXUS SLOGAN), BUT HAVE NOT TAKEN THE TIME TO FILE A COMPLAINT!!*AK

2002 LEXUS ES300 HAD A MAJOR SURGING PROBLEM AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. AFTER A YEAR OF PROMISES, LEXUS CAME OUT WITH A COMPUTER UPGRADE THAT CHANGED THE PROBLEM FROM ANNOYING TO DANGEROUS. THE 1/2 AND 2/3 SHIFTS ARE WILDLY INCONSISTENT, SOMETIMES TAKING 2/3 SECONDS AND FEELING LIKE A SLIPPING TRANSMISSION. WHEN ACCELERATION, AS IN A PASSING OR AVOIDANCE SITUATION, IS CALLED FOR THE MOTOR REVS UP AND THE CAR GOES NOWHERE WHILE THE TRANSMISSION SEARCHES FOR A GEAR. THIS CAN TAKE 3/4 SECONDS AND HAS ALREADY ALMOST CAUSED A ACCIDENT. LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE SAYS THE CAR IS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED AND NO FURTHER MODIFICATIONS ARE PLANNED. *LA

WHILE DRIVING AT 20MPH AND WITH NO WARNING MAKING A TURN AND VEHICLE WILL STALL. IT WILL BE HARD FOR CONSUMER TO CONTROL VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

WHILE PULLING INTO PARK WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKES, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT A TREE. ALSO WHILE DRIVING IN CRUISE CONTROL, TAPPED ON BRAKES TO DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED.*AK DEALER CHECKED VEHICLE AND COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. *SLC

2002 LEXUS MALFUNCTIONING BRAKE SYSTEM. *MR THE ENGINE SURGED WHILE BRAKING. IT WAS INDICATED THAT THIS MAY BE DUE TO AN INCREASE IN IDLING SPEED WHEN THE A/C WAS OPERATING. ON ONE OCCASION THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE ALTHOUGH THE CONSUMER APPLIED EXTREME PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. *SCC *NLM

2003 LEXUS HESITATES ON ACCELERATION WHEN SLOWING ( E.G., MAKING A TURN) AND THEN PROCEEDING TO FULL SPEED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM IN PRESS REVIEWS ON RELEASE OF THE CAR, AND TOOK 2 YEARS TO PROVIDE A SOFTWARE PATCH THAT WAS ALLEGED TO HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THE PATCH DOES NOT WORK, AND THE CONDITION IS A SAFETY PROBLEM.*AK

THE INSTRUMENTS CANNOT BE SEEN IF THERE IS ANY LIGHT COMING INTO THE CAR. THE RED POINTERS CANNOT BE SEEN. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. I SEE THAT IT HAS BEEN KNOWN SINCE 2002 BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX IT. I WONDER JUST WHY?? I DON'T LIKE NOT BEING ABLE TO KNOW JUST HOW FAST I AM GOING, FUEL QUANTITY ETC!! *TR

THE FRONT ROTORS EXPERIENCED PERMATURE WEAR. THE FRONT ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITHIN 5,000 TO 6,000 MILES OF WEAR. THIS CONDITION CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE WHEN BRAKING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS, AND INSTALLED AN UPGRADED BRAKING KIT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE OR REPAIRS THE ROTORS. *AK

IN CERTAIN LIGHT CONDITIONS INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE.*AK

THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING 2-3MPH PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STRICK A CONCRETE BUMPER DAMAGING THE FRAME AND RADIATOR, THE CONSUMER BELIEVE THAT UPON DEPRESING THE BRAKLE HE ALSO PRESSED TH ACCELERATOR WHICH CAUSED THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER. *JB *MJ

IN DAY LIGHT HOURS WHEN SUN IS OUT CONSUMER CAN'T SEE DIALS ON SPEEDOMETER, UNABLE TO TELL HOW FAST VEHICLE WAS GOING. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS VERY UNSAFE. *AK CONSUMER ALSO CAN NOT SEE THE FUEL GAUGE, ENGINE SPEED AND ENGINE TEMPERATURE. *TT

1. SHUDDERING TRANSMISSION IN STOP/GO TRAFFIC. 2. WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP, CAR NUDGES FORWARD EVEN WHEN BRAKES ARE FULLY DEPRESSED. NOTIFIED DEALER AS WELL AS LEXUS CORP AND WAS TOLD NO FIX IS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. *JB

I HAVE EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT DELAY IN DOWNSHIFTING WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC IN MY 2002 LEXUS ES300. FOLLOWING THE DELAY, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS TO THE TOP OF THE RPM RANGE EFFECTIVELY RESULTING IN NO ACCELERATION, THEN IT UP SHIFTS TO AN APPROPRIATE GEAR. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISSES FROM BEING REAR ENDED AS A RESULT. THE DEALER HAS DUPLICATED THIS PROBLEM ON OTHER 2002'S AND LEXUS IN CALIFORNIA ADMITS THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT HAS NO FIX. I HAVE BEEN TOLD FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW THAT A FIX IS COMING BUT STILL NO FIX. I HOPE SOMEONE DOES NOT GET KILLED FROM THIS DEFECT BEFORE IT GETS FIXED! PLEASE DO SOMETHING. *NLM

WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS AT A SLOW STEADY SPEED(APPROX 20MPH) THE CAR WILL FREQUENTLY VIOLENTLY JERK. MY CAR HAS 75000 MILES AND HAS DONE IT SINCE DAY ONE. *TR

LIGHT ON DASHBOARD PANEL, AND CANNOT SEE READING OF SPEED. CONTROL PANEL WILL NOT SET BECAUSE SPEED READING CANNOT BE READ DUE THE LIGHT.*AK

ON MANY OCCASIONS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON IN MY 2002 LEXUS ES300. I INFORMED THE DEALER AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO UNSCREW THE GAS CAP AND RE-SCREW IT AND THE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF. IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME TO REPLACE AN OXYGEN SENSOR AFTER THE DEALERS INSPECTION AND FINDING A DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE. THE CAR HAD THE PROBLEM WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND I WAS NOT INFORMED THAT IT WOULD BE A COSTLY PROBLEM LATER. *JB

OPTITRON INSTRUMENTATION: NOT EASY TO READ IN BROAD DAYLIGHT. WHEN DRIVING, IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD. UNDER NORMAL DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS, INSTRUMENT READINGS ARE VIRTUALLY INVISIBLE. CURRENT SPEED NECESSARY TO SET CRUISE CONTROL. POOR DESIGN: AT NIGHT, OR UNDER LOW AMBIENT LIGHT CONDITIONS (DUSK, HEAVY SHADE, RAIN, ETC.) INSTRUMENT LIGHTING IS EXCEPTIONAL: ALL ELEMENTS OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ARE VERY CLEAR, VERY VISIBLE. UNDER NORMAL DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS (WITH SUN OVERHEAD - NOT SHINING DIRECTLY ON THE PANEL) THE ILLUMINATION LEVEL WITHIN THE CLUSTER IS INSUFFICIENT TO PROVIDE EASY VISIBILITY. (STARING INTENTLY WILL YIELD RESULTS - A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE IN A MOVING VEHICLE.) IN ORDER TO SET THE CRUISE CONTROL, IT IS NECESSARY TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT SPEED THE VEHICLE IS AT: VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE IN BROAD DAYLIGHT. (THE MAUFACTURER ADVERTISES THEIR OPTITRON INSTRUMENTATION AS "ILLUMINATED FOR FASTER AND EASIER READING".)*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED, THE ENGINE SUFFERED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. TS WHEN ACCELERATING TO CHANGE LANE OR ENTER THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE ALMOST STALLED AND OR DECELERATED. SCC