2003 Lexus ES Engine Problems

UNKNOWN

SIR/MADAM, I AM TRYING TO HELP MY FRIENDS (XXXX) AND (XXXXX), LONG TIME RESIDENTS OF HUNTINGTON BEACH AND A VERY SWEET COUPLE. PEGGY WAS DRIVING HER HUSBAND TO A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT AND DUE TO A FAULT IN THE ENGINE (THERE IS A RECALL AND THEY WERE NOT INFORMED), THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR THE DRIVER BEHIND THEM WHO RAN TO THEM AND GOT THEM QUICKLY OUT OF THE CAR AND WALKED THEM TO SAFETY, THE OUTCOME WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY BLEAK. THEY ARE AN ELDERLY COUPLE AND THE HUSBAND, (XXXXX), HAS GREAT DIFFICULTY WALKING AND THE CAR BURNED VERY QUICKLY. THEY, THANK GOD, MADE IT TO SAFETY IN TIME ONLY TO WATCH THEIR CAR BURN. THEY INFORMED TOYOTA AND SINCE THEY ARE ON FIXED INCOME ASKED TOYOTA FOR HELP WITH THE PURCHASE OF ANOTHER USED RELIABLE CAR (THE LEXUS THEY WERE DRIVING WAS 15 YEARS OLD BUT IN GOOD CONDITION AND MORE THAN ENOUGH CAR FOR THEIR TRIPS TO LOCAL STORES OR DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS. SURPRISINGLY, TOYOTA ONLY RESPONDED WITH ONE LETTER FROM CUSTOMER SERVICE. (XXXX)'S FOLLOW UP CALLS AND LETTERS TO CUSTOMER SERVICE, ECO MARK TEMPLIN WERE NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED OR ANSWERED. PLEASE HELP THIS COUPLE BELIEVE IN HUMANITY AGAIN. TOYOTA IS A REPUTABLE COMPANY AND TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN WITHOUT SO MUCH AS A PHONE CALL FROM THE COMPANY IS SURPRISING TO ALL THAT KNOW OF THIS CASE. I AM ATTACHING ALL THE EVIDENCE: PICTURES, COPIES OF LETTERS FOR YOUR REFERENCE. PLEASE PROVIDE CASE NUMBER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP. (XXXXX) FOR (XXXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, WHEN SHE SAW SMOKE AND FIRE IGNITING FROM THE HOOD. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE FAILED AND TURNED OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, BUT NO REPORT WAS FILED. THE POLICE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE BUT NO REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND WAS TOWED TO IMPOUND LOT. THE CONTACT CALLED LOCAL DEALER LEXUS USA LOCATED AT 6565 HEADQUARTERS DR, PLANO, TX 75024, (800) 255-3987, AND WHERE NOTIFIED OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. *AS *TR

AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RUNNING FROM A LIGHT OR STOP THERE IS HESITATION WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE LEXUS DEALER IN OWINGS MILLS,MD.SEVERAL TIMES.THE FIRST INSTANCE THEY SAID COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO REPEAT IT. I WENT BACK COMPLAINING FOR THE SECOND TIME A WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD BE FUEL INJECTORS CLOGGED FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER LIST OF POTENTIAL SERVICE ITEMS FOR ABOUT $1000+ EXPENSE WHICH WE DENIEDIT SINCE WE HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED OUR CAR GOOD & ALWAYSUSE 93OR 89 OCTANE GAS WITH MAINTENANCE SERVICE AS RECOMMENDED. THIS IS MY WIFE'S CAR AND I AM ALWAYS WORRIED ABOUT A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT WITH THIS CAR.LATELY THIS HESITATION FREQUENCY HAS INCREASED FROM WHAT WE HEAR IS THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE AND SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEMS. *TR

I WAS REVERSING AND TRYING TO TURN WHEN MY CAR LEXUS ES 300 SUDDENLY PICKED UP HIGH SPEED ACCELERATION BY IT SELF AND WENT FORWARD AND HIT A FENCE IN FRONT. THE VEHICLE PICKED UP UNINTENTIONAL HIGH SPEED (FULL THROTTLE). IT WAS BEYOND MY CONTROL. MY BODY WENT FORWARD AND BACKWARD VIOLENTLY. FOR FEW DAYS I HAVE EXPERIENCED MUSCLE STIFFNESS, PAIN AND POOR NIGHT SLEEP. *TR

ON MARCH 26, 2010 MY HUSBAND AND I WERE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL, (WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AS YOU WOULD EXPECT), WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT FULL THROTTLE. IN THE BRIEF BUT TERRIFYING MOMENTS THAT THE CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL I UNFORTUNATELY COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AS I THREW THE GEAR SELECTOR INTO NEUTRAL. *TR

1. THE VEHICLE HESITATES WITH INITIAL ACCELERATION (SLOW OR QUICK ACCELERATION). 2. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ALSO HESITATES. I SUSPECT THAT OUNCE THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM IS FIXED THAT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WOULD BE FIXED. 3. I HAVE GONE TO THE LEXUS DEALER TO UPDATE THE COMPUTER WITH A NEW CHIP TO HELP RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS WITH NO SUCCESS. 4. I HAVE DISCOVERED ON THE INTERNET THAT HUNDREDS OF LEXUS OWNERS HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT. IN SOME CASES THE DEALERS HAVE THE AUDACITY TO SUGGEST THATS THE WAY THE CAR WAS DESIGNED! WHY ISN'T LEXUS LISTENING TO ALL THE COMPLAINTS? THANKS *TR

OUR 2003 LEXUS ES 300 ENGINE AREA CAUGHT IN FIRE WHEN MY WIFE PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT. ACCORDING TO THE WITNESS, PARKING LOT SECURITY, HE SAW THE SMOKE CAME OUT FROM THE ENGINE AREA FOR ABOUT A MINUTE AND THEN FIRE. HE SAID IT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING IS SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL/ENGINE AND CAUGHT THE FIRE. WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE WHICH DAMAGED AND BURNED HALF OF THE CAR, A LEAD FIRE MAN COMMENTED THAT HE HAS SEEN SEVERAL INCIDENTS THAT THE LEXUS SEDANS WERE SUDDENLY CAUGHT IN FIRE WHILE PARKING. WITH THIS UNFORTUNATE TRAGEDY OCCURRED TO OUR LEXUS CAR, WE ARE VERY CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY FOR ALL LEXUS SEDAN ESPECIALLY ES 300 DRIVING BY CONSUMERS OUT THERE. FORTUNATELY, MY WIFE LEFT THE CAR FEW MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR CAUGHT IN FIRE, BUT MENTALLY SHE WAS STILL IN SHOCK WITH IT. WE DID CONTACT LEXUS TO FILE A COMPLAIN, AND THEY SAID AN ADJUSTER WILL CONTACT US NEXT 10 DAYS TO REVIEW AND DISCUSS THE CASE. IT'S MORE THAN 3 WEEKS AND WE STILL HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM LEXUS. OF COURSE, OUR LEXUS ES 300 IS A TOTAL LOSS NOW, BUT WE REQUEST NHTSA INVESTIGATING AND LOOKING INTO THIS CASE FOR THE SAFETY OF CONSUMERS AND DEMAND LEXUS TO INVESTIGATE AND ANSWER US AND THE PUBLIC THE CAUSE FOR A SUDDEN CAUGHT IN FIRE. THANK YOU! *TR

2003 ES 300 - TRANSMISSION ISSUES: I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION ALMOST EVERY TIME, ALONG WITH HARD SHIFTING 50% OF THE TIME. THE ACCELERATION HESITATION CAN BE SCARY IF I'M TRYING TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY, OR TURNING LEFT. THE HARD SHIFTING FEELS LIKE I GOT HIT FROM BEHIND. BOTH PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN GOING ONGOING FOR YEARS AND LEXUS DEALER HAS NEVER BEEN ANY HELP. I READ MANY OF THE ONLINE FORUMS AND FOUND THAT BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE VERY COMMON AS ARE THEIR RESULTS FOR GETTING THESE ISSUES FIXED - NOT MUCH LUCK FROM THE DEALER - "IT WORKS AS IT IS DESIGNED". REALLY? LEXUS NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MANY COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ (100S) AND THEIR HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. HOW DOES A CONSUMER GO ABOUT PUSHING FOR A RECALL, OR CLASS ACTION OR WILL THE LEMON LAW WORK? *KB

VEHICLE HESITATED FROM A STANDING START POSITION. THE RPMS WENT UP BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE UNTIL IT GOT INTO ANOTHER GEAR. IT WILL DRIVE FOR A WHILE AND THEN VEHICLE WILL STOP. CONSUMER DID NOT FEEL SAFE. *AK THE TECHNICIANS CLAIM THAT THE CABLE FROM THE GAS PEDDLE TO THE ENGINE WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED BY A COMPUTER IN THE 2003 MODELS. ON THE HIGHWAY, IF THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWED DOWN, A HESITATION WOULD BE PRESENT WHILE PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDDLE TO RESUME SPEED. THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON ALONG WITH THE HESITATION, ALSO WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER ALONG WITH BLUE SMOKE BLOWING OUT OF THE EXHAUST, AND THE REAR SEAT CONTAINED A FLAW. *SC *JB

THERE IS A DELAY AFTER SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT AND THEN AT TAKE OFF. THE DEALER COULD DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER STATES THAT IT IS THE NEW DESIGN. *AK THE PROBLEM WOULD ALSO OCCUR WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN, MERGING INTO TRAFFIC, ENTRANCE RAMPS, INTERSECTIONS AND PARKING SPOTS. *SC *JB

STRONG SULFUR SMELL INSIDE CAR WHEN STOPPING AFTER BRISK ACCELERATION. A/C IN NORMAL SETTING. LEXUS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THERE IS EVEN A SERVICE BULLETIN ON SULFUR COMPLAIN SMELL. ODOR IS SO STRONG THAT SOMETIMES PEOPLE GET NAUSEATED.*AK I WOULD HAVE NEVER BOUGHT THIS CAR HAVE THE DEALER MAKE ME AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS DEFECT BEFORE I TOOK DELIVERY OF CAR. NEED NHTSA HELP SINCE THERE ARE MANY LEXUS OWNERS COMPLAINING ABOUT SULFUR SMELL AND LEXUS IS IGNORING US - I GUESS THEY HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM AND DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX OR CORRECT PROBLEM. THEY EVEN TOLD ME TO USE ONLY AMOCO PREMIUM SINCE THEY CLAIM IT HAS THE LOWEST SULFUR CONTENT. ALSO, IF THE SULFUR SMELL IS GETTING INSIDE THE CAR HOW ABOUT THE CARBON MONOXIDE WHICH IS ALSO GETTING OUT OF THE EXHAUST. ALL THESE FUMES ARE BEING SUCKED IN BY THE A/C SYSTEM AND I'M SURE THAT IN THE LONG RUN SOMEBODY WILL GET SICK. - WE, LEXUS OWNERS NEED OUR GOVERNMENT TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE SINCE LEXUS IS TRYING TO IGNORE THESE PROBLEM FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. THANK YOU.

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN PULLING FROM A STOP OR TURNING A CORNER FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS BEFORE ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE HESITATION WAS NORMAL. THIS HESITATION HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN THREE TIMES SINCE OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *PH

THERE IS A PRONOUNCED HESITATION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS FLOORED. THIS LACK OF RESPONSIVENESS LEAVES THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER EXPOSED TO ACCIDENT AND INJURY. LEXUS HAD OFFERED "REPAIR" FOR THIS, BUT IT DOES NOT WORK ON ALL TYPES OF MODELS. THEY NOW STATE THAT THE AUTO IS WORKING AS DESIGNED. *LA *JB

THE VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS PICKING UP SPEED, WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND, IT SOUNDED AS THOUGH SOMETHING WAS TICKING INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE LEXUS MANUFACTURE AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WHICH WAS CALLED " THE HAZARD COMPUTER MODULE CONTROL" BUT DID NOT KNOW HOW TO REPAIR IT. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE VEHICLE JERKS AND DRAGS, CONTACTED THE DEALER THEY SAID THAT LEXUS WAS DOING SOME SORT OF COMPUTER PROGRAM UPDATE THAT RELATES TO HER VEHICLE. PLEASE ADD ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. MR