2004 Lexus ES Complaint Log

2004 LEXUS ES330. CONSUMER STATES RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER THREE TIMES. DESPITE HAVING THE MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED, THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO HAVE BRAKE ISSUES. ON THE THIRD VISIT, THE BRAKE CALIPER AND BRAKE BOOSTER WERE REPLACED. ON THE FOURTH VISIT, THEY REPLACED THE ABS ACTUATOR. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE PROBLEMS SHE WAS EXPERIENCING WERE NORMAL. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE REAR MIDDLE SHOULDER BELT WAS PULLED AND WRAPPED AROUND THE NECK OF THE CHILD WHILE PROPERLY RESTRAINED IN A CHILD SAFETY SEAT. THE CHILD SEAT WAS INSTALLED BY THE LATCH SYSTEM. THE SEATBELT RETRACTED AND LOCKED, BUT WOULD NOT EXTEND EVEN AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE SEAT BELT WAS CUT IN ORDER TO RELEASE THE HOLD ON THE CHILD'S NECK. THE SERVICE DEALER HAD NO SOLUTION, BUT OFFERED TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELT. THE CONTACT WAS TREATED FOR EMOTIONAL TRAUMA. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD CRASHING INTO THE FRONT WINDOW OF A CREDIT UNION. THERE WERE NO INJURIES; THERE WAS PROPERTY DAMAGE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE TRANSMISSION WAS HESITATING AND LURCHING FORWARD. IN 2004, THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER WAS TRYING TO ADJUST TO THE WAY HE DROVE. UPDATED 8/30/2006. *NM

THE VEHICLE SKID CONTROL (VSC) ON MY 2004 ES 330 ENGAGES ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS MAKING THE VEHICLE UNPREDICTABLE AND UNSAFE. WHEN THE VSC ENGAGES THE COMPUTER TAKES OVER CONTROL OF THE ACCELERATION AND BREAKING SYSTEMS. ITS PRIMARY GOAL IS TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT. WHEN THE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS AND ENGAGES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN A NORMAL TURN OR CURVE THE VSC COMPUTER WILL TAKE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND FORCE IT TO TRAVEL IN WHAT IT BELIEVES IS A STRAIGHT LINE, PLACING THE DRIVER, OCCUPANTS, AND NEARBY VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS IN JEOPARDY. BEING FORCED TO DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE PREVENTS THE DRIVER FROM COMPLETING A CURVE OR TURN AND FORCES THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE ACROSS TRAFFIC LANES AND OFF THE ROAD. WHEN THE VSC ENGAGES DUE TO A MALFUNCTION, THE VEHICLE IS A SERIOUS HAZARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME 4 TIMES, TWICE WITH MY FAMILY IN THE VEHICLE. I HAVE LEFT THE VEHICLE WITH THE DEALER, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND ARE UNWILLING TO REPLACE ANY PARTS UNLESS THERE IS A CLEAR INDICATION OF A MALFUNCTION. *NM

I WAS IN A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT WHEN I STARTED MY CAR AND AS I PUT IT IN GEAR THE CAR SPED OUT OF CONTROL. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE AVOIDED THE OTHER CARS IN THE LOT BECAUSE THE BRAKES DID NOTHING BUT SQUEAL. UPON HITTING A CURB ON THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT, THE CAR SPUN AROUND AND CAME TO A STOP. MY CAR WAS NOW FACING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WITH A LOT OF DAMAGE. I WAS TREATED AT THE HOSPITAL AND RELEASED BUT HAD SEVERAL MONTHS OF THERAPY ON MY NECK. A FEW MONTHS AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM THERAPY, I HAD TO RETURN FOR A SECOND ROUND BECAUSE OF NECK PAIN. TOYOTA TIED UP MY CAR FOR A MONTH TO INVESTIGATE THE MATTER AND SENT ME A LETTER STATING THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR BUT IT WAS THE AFTER MANUFACTURE MATS. WHEN I ASKED FOR A COPY OF THE INVESTIGATORS REPORT, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR POLICY TO DO SO. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THEY ARE NOT RECALLING THE LEXUS ES330, AND OTHER PEOPLE MAY BE AT RISK. SINCE I STILL HAVE THE CAR, I WONDER IF THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM AND COVERED IT UP OR IF THE SAME THING MAY HAPPEN AGAIN. PLEASE INVESTIGATE PROBLEMS WITH THE LEXUS ES330 SERIOUSLY. I DO NOT FEEL THAT TOYOTA CARES ABOUT SAFETY WHEN IT MAY DIG INTO PROFITS. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE EXITING THE DRIVE WAY THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS A CRASH WITH AN ONCOMING VEHICLE BEFORE IT STALLED IN THE YARD ACROSS THE STREET. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WAS PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO REPAIRED THE DAMAGES TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRINK IN THE DRINK HOLDER SPILLED AND RESULTED IN THE DRIVER BEING DISTRACTED. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THE POSITION OF THE DRINK HOLDER IS A POOR DESIGN AND COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THE CUP HOLDER HAD BEEN REDESIGNED IN THE NEWER MODEL.

OUR 2004 LEXUS E330 HAS EXHIBITED MANY LIFE THREATENING PROBLEMS INVOLVING ITS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PERFORMANCE. OF GREATEST CONCERNS ARE LIFE THREATENING INSTANCES OVER THE TWO YEARS. HESITATIONS OCCUR WHEN PRESSING THE GAS DURING CRITICAL ENTRY ATTEMPTS ONTO INTERSTATE HWYS, ETC. WHERE WE HAVE EXPERIENCED NEAR DEADLY TRANSMISSION HESITATIONS OF NEEDED POWER GETTING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. MY WIFE WAS ALMOST KILLED BY AN 18 WHEELER WHEN SHE OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE HAD ADEQUATE TIME TO SAFELY MERGE HAD THE TRANSMISSION NOT HESITATED. SHE WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE SURVIVED. JUST ONE OF MANY CLOSE CALLS. ANOTHER ES 330 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS THE UNTENABLE, UNTIMELY, ROUGH DOWN AND UP SHIFTING BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND GEARS THAT LEXUS HAS ADVISED HAS BEEN CORRECTED IN THE 2007 MODELS WHICH OF COURSE WILL NOT HELP WITH THIS VEHICLE I AM STUCK WITH. SUCH ADMITTANCE SUPPORT MY ARGUMENT THAT THEY ARE QUITE AWARE OF THIS VERY UN- LEXUS TYPE PERFORMANCE IN THE 2004. WHAT A SHAME THAT LEXUS WOULD LET THE GREAT LEXUS NAME BE SO DEGRADED BY THEIR FAILURE TO SUPPORT THEIR FAITHFUL CUSTOMERS IN SUCH JUSTIFIED COMPLAINTS; THIS IS OUR THIRD LEXUS! *JB

2004 LEXUS 330 SINCE THE AUTO WAS PURCHASED AND DRIVEN OFF THE LOT, THERE HAS BEEN A NOTICEABLE DELAY FROM STOP OR SLOW SPEED ACCELERATION FROM THE TIME THE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED UNTIL THE ENGINE ACTUALLY STARTS TO DELIVER THE POWER. IF YOU STOMP THE PEDAL FOR A JACK-RABBIT START, THE DELAY IS NOT AS NOTICEABLE. THE DEALER J AND M, HAS BEEN GIVING ME THE RUN-AROUND SINCE PURCHASE WITH THE "NORMAL" PARTY LINE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING OUR 2004 LEXUS ES330 ON A CLEAR SUNNY DAY AT APPROXIMATELY 2:30 PM. I STOPPED IN THE LEFT TURN LANE AT A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION IN TUCSON, ARIZONA. THERE WERE THREE CARS IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE AND I HAD THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. WHEN THE LEFT-HAND TURN-LIGHT SIGNAL CHANGED TO GREEN, I PULLED THE GEAR SHIFT FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE. INSTANTLY, THE MOTOR MADE A LOUD REVVING SOUND AND THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD AND HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I IMMEDIATELY APPLIED THE BRAKE BUT MY CAR CONTINUED TO PUSH ON THE CAR THAT I HAD HIT. I THEN TRIED TO BACK AWAY FROM THE CAR I HAD HIT BY PUTTING THE GEAR SHIFT INTO REVERSE. WHEN I SHIFTED MY CAR INTO REVERSE IT HIT THE CAR BEHIND ME AND I IMMEDIATELY APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THEY DID NOT WORK. THIS OCCURRED TWICE BEFORE THE ENGINE DIED. THIS WAS A HARROWING EXPERIENCE. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS INJURED. EVEN THOUGH I WAS STOPPED IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THERE WAS $4,500 DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND $7,500 OF DAMAGE TO THE OTHER CAR. SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR IT WAS SERVICED REGULARLY AT THE DEALER WHERE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. UNTIL THIS ACCIDENT I HAD NEVER BEEN THE DRIVER OF A VEHICLE THAT WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT. NHTSA WEBSITE HAS COMPLAINTS OF VERY SIMILAR PROBLEMS POSTED BY OWNERS OF THE 2004 LEXUS ES330 MODEL. I HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO LEXUS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CENTER. *NM

I REPORTED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE ON MARCH 2, 2006 AN ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED WHEN I WAS DRIVING A 2004 LEXUS 330 ON JANUARY 28, 2006 IN TUCSON ARIZONA. I REPORTED THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF MY ACCIDENT TO THE LEXUS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CENTER (LCSC). I FOLLOWED UP WITH A LETTER INCLUDING MY NHTSA WEBSITE REPORT, OTHER NHTSA REPORTS OF SIMILAR TYPES OF ACCIDENTS WITH LEXUS ES330, POLICE REPORT FOR MY ACCIDENT AND REQUESTED ASSISTANCE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE MALFUNCTION THAT LED TO THE ACCIDENT. A TECHNICIAN FROM TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, USA, INC. CAME TO THE LEXUS DEALER IN TUCSON AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM A CLAIMS ADMINISTRATOR-LEGAL DEPARTMENT OF TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, USA, INC. INDICATING THE TECHNICIAN'S REPORT CONCLUDED "IT (MY VEHICLE) WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AT THE TIME " OF THE ACCIDENT. THIS LETTER DID NOT INCLUDE AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE ACCIDENT. I WROTE ANOTHER LETTER TO THE CLAIMS ADMINISTRATOR STATING THAT HE HAD NOT ACCURATELY DESCRIBED THE ACCIDENT DETAILS AND I REQUESTED A COPY OF THE TECHNICIAN'S REPORT. I RECEIVED A LETTER ON JUNE 6, 2006 FROM THE CLAIMS ADMINISTRATOR STATING THAT "WHILE I (THE CLAIMS ADMINISTRATOR) HAD THE SCENARIO INCORRECT, THE CIRCUMSTANCES REMAIN THE SAME. THAT OVERSIGHT ON MY (CLAIMS ADMINISTRATOR) PART HAS NO BEARING ON THE TESTING CONDUCTED BY THE LEXUS FIELD TECHNICIAN." THE LETTER ALSO STATED THAT "BE ADVISED THAT IT IS NOT OUR POLICY TO RELEASE OUR INTERNAL REPORTS". I SENT A FOLLOW UP LETTER VIA CERTIFIED MAIL, TO THE CLAIMS ADMINISTRATOR ON JUNE 6, 2006 REQUESTING THAT AN EXCEPTION TO THE POLICY BE MADE IN MY CASE AND ASKING AGAIN TO RECEIVE A COPY OF THE TECHNICIAN'S REPORT. I NEVER RECEIVED A RESPONSE TO MY LETTER. THUS, I AM VERY UNSATISFIED WITH THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT THAT I HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, USA, INC. *NM

THE ACCELERATOR IN MY 2004 LEXUS ES 330 STUCK IN A CROWDED PARKING LOT AND CAUSED A COLLISION. *NM

WE HAVE A 2004 LEXUS ES330 WITH 22,000 MILES. WE HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HESITATION, HARD SHIFTS AND MISSED GEARS FOR THE LAST 10,000 MILES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPUTER MODULE AT 16,000 MILES AND THE CAR IS A LITTLE BETTER BUT NOT MUCH. I TOOK IT BACK IN FOR THE PROBLEM AT 21,000 MILES AND THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR, BUT THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT LEXUS TOLD THEM THAT THEY WERE HAVING TROUBLE WITH A NUMBER OF THE ES CARS AFTER THE MODULE WAS CHANGED BUT THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO TELL THE DEALER TO FIX IT. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH LEXUS AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVE AGAIN ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SHIFTING IN THE ES. ALTHOUGH BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER HAVE BOTH ADMITTED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET THEM TO EVEN ATTEMPT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR OVER 1/3 OF THE TIME THAT WE HAVE HAD THE CAR AND NOW I HAVE TO WAIT 2 MORE WEEKS FOR A LEXUS REP TO COME INTO TOWN TO "TALK TO ME". THE LEXUS PEOPLE TOLD ME THEY WERE GOING TO LOOK INTO MY COMPLAINTS AND CALL ME BACK IN A COUPLE OF DAYS AND 10 DAYS LATER I STILL HAD NOT HEARD FROM THEM. NOT ONLY DO I FIND THE PROBLEM VERY ANNOYING I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE HESITATION PROBLEM COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT, AND I AM QUITE SURE THAT THE ERRATIC SHIFTING WILL LEAD TO PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *JB

THE JENCI'S CONTEND THAT MRS. JENCI PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, IT THEN SURGED, MADE A LOUD SOUND AND LUNGED FORWARD OUT OF CONTROL. *NM

2004 ES 330 EXHIBITING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS EVEN AFTER "DEALER FIX". THERE IS SEVER GEAR HUNTING AT EVERY SPEED SOMETIMES RESULTS IN A LAG OF ACCELERATION OR ACCELERATION LURCHES THAT RESULT IN CLOSE CALL ACCIDENTS. NOTE THAT THIS PROBLEM DID NOT START OCCURRING UNTIL AFTER 2,000 MILES OF DRIVING AFTER THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AS BRAND NEW. *NM

2004 LEXUS ES 330 DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WITH BRAKING.*MR THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOISEY WHEN PRESSED AND RELEASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY EXPLAINED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND THAT IT WAS THE WAY IT WAS DESIGNED. *NM

2004 LEXUS ES 330 HAS SEVERE HESITATION AND SURGING PROBLEMS WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE UNDER TRAFFIC CONDITIONS SUCH AS MERGING ONTO FREEWAY WHERE YOU MIGHT NEED TO SLOW AND THEN ACCELERATE. WE EXPERIENCED DANGEROUS SITUATIONS DUE TO HESITATION AND THEN SUDDEN SURGE. SECOND TRIP TO DEALER AND THEY SAY IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I BELIEVE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ENFORCED. LEXUS SEEMS TO THINK IT IS ONLY AN INCONVENIENCE.

DT: CONSUMER'S WIFE GOT INTO THE VEHICLE AND REVERSED, THEN PUT THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE. AT THAT TIME, IT CONTINUED TO GO BACKWARDS. SHE THEN CALLED THE CONSUMER AND HE CALLED THE AUTO CLUB, A WRECKER CAME OUT, AND THE SERVICE MAN PUT A BLOCK BEHIND THE WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE WENT FORWARD IN DRIVE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED AT THIS TIME, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT LEFT. YESTERDAY, THE VEHICLE WENT BACKWARDS IN DRIVE AGAIN. HE HAS CONTACTED SANTA MONICA LEXUS AND THEY WERE SENDING OUT A DIAGNOSTIC EXPERT TO CHECK THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST TIME WAS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.*AK

I NOT LONGER HAVE CONFIDENCE IN DRIVING MY LEXUS 2004 ES330 WITH 12,500 MILES DUE TO 2 MAIN REASONS. (A) THIS CAR CONTINUE TO PULL TO THE LEFT TO THE POINT THAT I MUST CONTINUALLY PUT PRESSURE TO THE STEERING WHEEL SO THE CAR WONT MOVE TO THE LEFT. THIS IS HAPPENING EVEN AFTER THE DEALER HAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED ISSUE. (B) THE VERY WELL KNOWN TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN MANY INSTANCES WHERE YOU NEED TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC AND THE CAR DOES NOT RESPONDED TO THE GAS PEDAL. THE SYMPTOM IS VERY NOTICEABLE WHEN YOU ARE ON STOP AND GO TRAFFIC OR IN SLOW TRAFFIC. I URGE YOUR AGENCY TO INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER BEFORE ANY CASUALTY OCCURS. LEXUS NORMAL RESPONSE IS THAT THE CAR IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE DEALER MUST HAVE BEEN TOLD TO EXPRESS THE SAME LINE AS THEY ALWAYS HAVE THE SAME ANSWER FOR ANYTHING THEY DO NOT HAVE A SOLUTION FOR.

CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING AUTO SAFETY.*MR THE CONSUMER IS COMPLAINING ABUT AN INSURANCE COMPANY WHO WANTS TO USE A PRE-OWNED SAFETY BAR TO FIX DAMAGE THE CONSMER'S VEHICLE SUSTAINED BY ONE OF THEIR CLIENTS. *NM

SEVERE HESITATION WHEN MERGING ON TO A HIGWAY AT BETWEEN 20 AND 30 MPH. DEALER SERVICE HAS CHECKED VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY AND "ITS NORMAL FOR A LEXUS"

AT LOW SPEED ABOUT 20-25 MPH LETTING GO OF THE GAS PEDAL AND PRESS ON AGAIN CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO HESITATE FOR AT LEAST 1-2 SECOND LIKE IT IS SEARCHING FOR THE RIGHT GEAR. THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

THIS COMPLAINT IS ABOUT MY 2004 LEXUS ES 330 BOUGHT IN AUGUST 2004. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE TRANSMISSION WHICH HESITATES VERY OFTEN WHEN IT SHIFTS DOWN FROM 2ND GEAR TO 1ST GEAR AND THEN BACK UP. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM MANY TIMES IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS. EVEN THOUGH IT HAS NOT CAUSED ANY ACCIDENT, LEXUS SHOULD ADMIT IT IS A DEFECT DESIGN AND SHOULD FIX THE TRANSMISSION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.*AK

THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. THEN, TURNED VEHICLE OFF. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK

TWO EPISODES OF SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION. EPISODE ONE ON OR ABOUT AUGUST 17,2004, WHILE PULLING PAST A VEHICLE ON A FREEWAY, THE CAR DID NOT SLOW WHEN ACCELERATOR PRESSURE WAS RELEASED AND REQUIRED MULTIPLE PEDAL DEPRESSIONS TO OBTAIN CONTROL. THE SECOND EPISODE IS DESCRIBED BELOW.*AK

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE HESITATED, THEN SURGED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. NO IMPACT REPORTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB VEHICLE SURGES EVEN WHEN VEHICLE IS AT A COMPLETE STOP. NO COLLISION SO FAR. *TT

ON NUMEROUS OCCASSIONS THIS CAR HAD ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN PUTTING IT IN GEAR BOTH FORWARD AND REVERSE.N THE LAST OCCURRENCE THE CAR SHOT FORWARD, JUMPING A LOW CURB AND HITTING A TREE.*AK I HAD NO CONTROL OVER WHAT HAPPENED AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR ANY MORE.

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. *SC

1. CAR HESITATES, TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SHIFT SMOOTHLY. RETURNED CAR TO DEALER 3 TIMES. DELAER "RESET TRANSMISSION". NO HELP WITH PROBLEM. *AK

THERE'S A "LAG" IN THE SHIFTING OF GEARS DUE TO SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2004 LEXUS ES330. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW FROM A MAJOR LEXUS DEALERSHIP AT ROSEVILLE AUTO MALL, ROSEVILLE, CA. ALTHOUGH I NOTICED FROM THE START, A "SLIPPAGE" OR "LAG" DURING THE AUTOMATIC SHIFTING OF GEARS, AND BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP, THEY BRUSHED IT OFF AS "NORMAL". MY LEXUS NOW HAS 23,000 MILES ON ITS ODOMETER AND THIS "LAG" IS DRIVING ME NUTS! DRIVING IN EUROPE REQUIRES RAPID RESPONSES AND ADVANCED SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING ON THE AUTOBAUNS. THIS "GEAR SHIFT HESITATION" IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND OFTEN FINDS ME IN A SEMI-DANGEROUS SITUATION. MY DRIVING SKILL AND HABITS HAVE ACCOMMODATED THIS TRANSMISSION IDIOSYNCRASY BUT WHENEVER ANOTHER DRIVER DRIVES MY CAR THEY IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM AND I HAVE SO OFTEN BEEN ADVISED TO PLACE A COMPLAINT WITH THE LEXUS MANUFACTURER, I HAVE YET TO DO SO BECAUSE I SUSPECT IT WILL FALL ON DEAF EARS. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE? MY LEXUS HAS FEW MILES ON IT AND IS STILL WELL WITHIN IT'S WARRANTY. I HAVE RECENTLY READ THAT THE 2004 LEXUS ES330 IS WROUGHT WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. HAS LEXUS SERVED A RECALL ON MY MODEL? PLEASE ADVISE. I WILL APPRECIATE WHATEVER ASSISTANCE AND GUIDANCE YOU MAY SUGGEST. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I AM A US CITIZEN, AND RETIRED FEDERAL SERVICE WORKER. MY WIFE CURRENTLY WORKS FOR US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS HERE IN WIESBADEN, GERMANY. WIESBADEN RECENTLY OPENED A NEW AND LARGE LEXUS DEALERSHIP. DO YOU THINK THIS DEALERSHIP MIGHT KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IF I DISCUSS THE TRANSMISSION WITH THEM? DO YOU KNOW OF ANY "FIX" LEXUS IS PROVIDING FOR THIS PROBLEM? THANK YOU AGAIN. MY PHONE NUMBER IS TO LENGTHY TO FIT INTO THE SPACE PROVIDED BY THIS WEBSITE. APPRECIATIVELY, LEROY CLEMANS HALB . DR AND AS FINHESITATION" I NRLAG IN THE. *TR

ELECTRONIC GAS PEDAL - WHEN AT LOW SPEED OR IMMEDIATELY AFTER COMING TO A STOP THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED THE CAR HESITATES FOR 1.5 SECONDS OR MORE BEFORE RESPONDING AND THEN ACCELERATES VERY FAST. THIS PRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZZARD WHEN TRING TO ENTER OR CROSS BUSY HIGHWAYS. THE DEALER SAYS ALL THE 2004 7 2005 MODELS DO IT. IT IS A CONSTANT COMPLAINT. LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE SAYS THEY ARE AWARE OF IT BUT HAVE NO CURE. A SAFETY WARNING AND RECALL SHOPULD BE ISSUED.*AK

THE CAR RAPIDLY DECREASES SPEED WHEN ONE LETS UP ON THE ACCELERATOR. CARS FOLLOWING HAVE NO WARNING OF THIS AS THE BRAKE IS NOT APPLIED. I HAVE HAD THREE VERY CLOSE CALLS OF A REAR END COLLISION. THE ACTION DOES NOT TAKE PLACE ALL THE TIME, SO IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCOUNT FOR IT BY DIFFERENT DRIVING. *JB

ON MY 2004 LEXUS ES 330, THE TRANSMISSION IS SLUGGISH IN SHIFTING AND HESTITATES FROM A ROLLING OR FULL STOP SITUATION SUCH AS TRAFFIC. THIS HAS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS NEARLY RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT EITHER BY BEING REARENDED OR BROADSIDED. I HAVE RAISED THIS QUESTION WITH MY LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED. *AK

VEHICLE SURGED WHEN CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED AT 60 MPH. IT SURGED UP TO 80 MPH. IT FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING DOWN HILL. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ALSO, TRANSMISSION HESITATED AT 0-20 MPH, IT ALSO JERKED. *AK.......LEXUS HAS ADMITTED THE PROBLEM, BUT MAINTAINED THAT VEHICLE DROVE AS DESIGNED. HESITATION PROBLEM EXPERIENCED BY MANY LEXUS ES330 CAR VEHICLE HESITATION, THEN WILL LURCH FORWARD WHEN ACCELERATING A TLOW SPEEDS. LEXUS HAS ADMITTED THE PROBLEM, BUT INSISTED VEHICLE DROVE AS DESIGNED. *AK

2004 LEXUS ES330. TRANSMISSION HESITATES, SLUGGISH, SLOW TO RESPOND, HICCUPPS, UPSHIFTS/DOWNSHIFTS FREQUENTLY.

WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN CONSUMER TURNED ON THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS TO MAKE RIGHT OR LEFT TURNS THE ARROWS INDICATED LEFT OR RIGHT, BUT DIDN'T MAKE A CLICKING NOISE. CONSUMER INDICATED HE HAD TO OBSERVE THE DASHBOARD TO SEE IF THEY WERE WORKING WHILE HE WAS DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *AK

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE HESITATED AND STALLED AT LOW SPEED. DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. MANUFACTURER INSISTED THERE IWASNOTHING DEFECTIVE ON THE VEHICLE.*AK

LEXUS HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THEIR ES MODELS SINCE 2002. THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY, AND AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE INTO TRAFFIC, TURN AT INTERSECTIONS, ETC., THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES SEVERELY, NOT KNOWING WHICH GEAR TO GO INTO. I'VE NEARLY BEEN BROADSIDED SEVERAL TIMES AT INTERSECTIONS WHEN MY 2004 LEXUS ES330 WITH LESS THAN 8,000 MILES ON IT WOULDN''T DOWNSHIFT PROPERLY. I'VE SENT 3 LETTERS TO LEXUS HEADQUARTERS, AND THEY WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM. SIGHT UNSEEN, THEY STATE THE CAR IS "FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED". HOWEVER, LEXUS SERVICE WRITERS AND SALEPEOPLE HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THERE IS A PROBLEM, AS HAVE SCORES OF PEOPLE ON EDMUNDS.COM COMMENT AREAS. EVERYONE CONCERNED GETS THE SAME ANSWER FROM LEXUS, BECAUSE THEY APPARENTLY HAVE NO FIX AVAILABLE AND DON'T WANT TO ADMIT THERE IS SUCH A LARGE PROBLEM. PLEASE ADVISE AS TO ANY FURTHER STEPS I MIGHT TAKE TO GET SOME ACTION. *AK

UPON ACCELERATION THERE WAS A LONG PAUSE BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION ACCELERATED TO THE NEXT GEAR. THE CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSE TO OPERATE. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT IS SEARCHING FOR A GEAR WHEN HE IS TRYING TO SPEED UP. *TC

AT MOST SPPEDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN STOPPED OR AT SPEEDS BELOW 40 MPH, MY LEXUS ES330 HAS A SEVERE HESITATION/ACCELERATION DELAY THAT WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, ACCELERATION IS DELAYED AT LEAST 1.5 SECONDS, IS UNPREDICTABLE AND COMPROMISES SAFETY AND PLACES THE DRIVER AT RISK IN MOST DAY TO DAY DRIVING SCENARIOS. IT IS ALSO IMPOSSIBLE TO MATCH THE SPEED OF A VEHICLE IN FRONT WHEN IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC, WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS PRESSED, THE ES330 WILL CONTINUE TO ROLL FORWARD FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN ACCELERATE, IT WILL NOT "CREEP" AT THE SPEED OF TRAFFIC. I AM TOLD BY LEXUS THAT THIS IS NORMAL AND IS INHERINT IN THE VEHICLE DESIGN. IF THIS IS TRUE, ONE WOULD THINK THIS DESIGN FLAW WILL SOON ECLIPSE THE FIRESTONE/FORD EXPLORER INJURIES OF THE PAST.*AK

04 LEXUS ES 330. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS UNDER 10 MPH (ESPECIALLY "ROLLING STOPS"), VEHICLE EXPERIENCES AT LEAST 2-3 SECOND LAG BETWEEN THROTTLE ACTUATION AND ENGINE/TRANSMISSION RESPONSE. THIS PROBLEM IS PARTICULARLY EVIDENT WHEN PULLING OUT INTO BUSY TRAFFIC. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY LEXUS. WE TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER. THEY SAID ALL SYSTEMS NORMAL.*AK

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM: THE CAR GETS A DELAY WHEN SHIFTING TO SECOND GEAR.*AK

I OWN A LEXUS 2004 ES 330, PURCHASED NEW. FROM DAY ONE THERE HAS BEEN A HESITATION IN ACCELERATION. THIS HAS PUT ME IN POSSIBLE DANGER MANY MANY TIMES. IN TALKING WITH THE DEALER, THEY WERE/ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND SAID IT IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM THAT THEY HOPE WILL BE FIXED. NOTHING TO DATE. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY AGREE THAT THIS COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, AND THAT ALL THE ES 330S HAVE THIS PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY, LEXUS HAS NOT TAKEN THE TIME OR WANTED TO SPEND THE MONEY TO FIX THIS. THE DANGER IS REAL. CAN YOU HELP? THANKS. JANE ROBINS. *JB

THE TRANSMISSION IS ERRATIC SHIFTING THROUGH SECOND AND THIRD. IT SLIPS AND HESITANT WHEN SHIFTING UP. WHEN SHIFTING DOWN IT IS ROUGH AND INCONSISTENT. THIS CREATES A IN TRAFFIC SAFETY SITUATION. LEXUS OF SARASOTA SERVICE MANAGER, FIRST COMPLAINT, RESET THE COMPUTER. ON THE SECOND COMPLAINT, SIMPLY STATED THAT LEXUS IS FULLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THAT THEY HAVE HAD MANY COMPLAINTS BUT SINCE THE TRANSMISSION HASN'T FAILED THEY WILL DO NOTHING TO CORRECT THE DEFICIENCY. THIS IS TOTALLY UNSATISFACTORY. *JB

I OWN A LEXUS ES 330 AND HAVE BEEN VERY DISPLEASED WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THERE IS A HESITATION OF A SECOND OR TWO WHEN YOU ACCELLERATE AND IT ALSO JERKS THE CAR WHEN YOU TRY TO ACCELLERATE WHEN THE CAR IS SLOWING DOWN. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE OR MERGE ONTO A HIGHWAY. APPARENTLY THE CAR IS OPERATING THE WAY IT WAS DESIGNED. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE! I'VE WANTED A LEXUS FOR YEARS AND NOW THAT I CAN AFFORD ONE I WISH I BOUGHT A BMW. THIS WILL BE THE LAST LEXUS I WILL OWN!*AK

04 LEXUS ES330 TRANSMISSION HESITATION IS SERIOUS DANGER TO DRIVER. ENGINE HESITATES WHEN STARTING FROM A DEAD START. CAR HAS TO BE FLOORED TO MOVE AND EVEN THEN IT HESITATES EVEN MORE. ALSO CAR HAS SERIOUS BLIND SPOTS ON LEFT AND RIGHT OUTER SIDE MIRRORS (THEY ARE TOO SMALL FOR THE CAR). ALSO, CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT STAYS LIT EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE IS HIT OR YOU DIS-ENGAGE IT. THE ONLY TIME THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT TURNS OFF IS WHEN YOU PHYSICALLY TURN IT OFF WITH THE SWITCH OR SHUT THE ENGINE OFF COMPLETELY. THIS GIVES THE DRIVER THE IMPRESSION THAT IT IS ON ALL THE TIME EVEN WHEN IT IS OFF OR WORSE THEY THINK THEY HAVE SHUT IT OFF BUT IT'S REALLY STILL ON AND YOU HAVE A VERY GOOD CHANCE OF REAR ENDING SOMEONE. THIS IS EXTREMELY BAD ENGINEERING AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. HOW YOU GUYS LET A CAR LIKE THIS ON THE ROAD IS BEYOND ME. DID YOU TEST IT? IF SO, HOW DID YOU LET IT PASS THRU TO THE USA? THIS CAR WITH IT'S HESITATION, BLIND SPOTS, AND DANGEROUS CRUISE CONTROL IT'S LIKELY TO GET SOMEONE INJURED OR KILLED IN A HURRY. CAR DOESN'T GET ANYTHING NEAR THE EPA RATINGS UNDER ANY CONDITION. I'VE CONTACTED LEXUS CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY SAY THIS ALL NORMAL. NO HELP OR SUGGESTIONS. PLEASE GET LEXUS TO PUT OUT TSBS ON THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED OR KILLED. I'M VERY CONCERNED. I'VE BEEN A DRIVER FOR 34 YEARS. I'VE NEVER DRIVEN A CAR SO DANGEROUS IN MY LIFE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE 2004 LEXUS ES330 TRANSMISSION WAS HESITATION OR LACK OF RESPONSE, I COULD SENSE THE HESITATION TO SUDDEN SPEED WHICH I IMAGINE COULD BE A PROBLEM IF THERE WAS A CAR TAILGATING ME OR CHANGING LANES.*AK

VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WHEN BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED.*MR WHILE PULLING INTO HIS GARAGE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP BUT LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE HIT A CORNER WALL, WENT OVER AN EIGHT INCH STEP UP, AND HIT THE STEP TO THE HOUSE BREAKING IT. THE VEHICLE THEN HIT THE WALL FACING THE ENTRANCE TO THE GARAGE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND THE HOUSE (VEHICLE DAMAGE $9200. HOUSE DAMAGE $60,000.). THE MANUFACTURE EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND CONCLUDED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *NM

MY 2004 LEXUS ES330 HAS A TRANSMISSION HESITATION PROBLEM. WHEN I ACCELERATE AS THE CAR IS COMING TO A STOP, THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES AND TAKES ABOUT 2 SECONDS TO REACT. SAME THING HAPPENS WHEN I GO ABOUT 40 MPH AND ACCELERATE. THIS HAS CREATED MANY SITUATIONS WHERE I WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I CAN'T PASS CARS, AND WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS, I HAVE TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NO ONE WITHING 400 FEET OF ME BEFORE ATTEMPTING THE TURN. THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON, AND I CONSIDER IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.*AK