2004 Lexus ES Complaint Log

THE BRAKES ON MY NEWLY LEASED 2004 LEXUS 330 DO NOT ENGAGE WITH PRESSURE FOR THE INITIAL 1/2 TO 1 INCH OF PRESSURE AND ARE INCONSISTANT. THEY ALSO MAKE A DISTRACTING AND IRRITATING KNOCKING NOISE WHEN THE PEDAL IS RELEASED. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE 3 TIMES AND EACH TIME THE SERVICE MANAGER HAS TOLD ME THE BRAKES WERE FINE, BUT THEY ARE DEFINITELY NOT.

WHEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE HESITATED THEN SURGED FORWARD. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THIS CONDITION WILL RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS VEHICLE HESITATED THEN SURGED FORWARD. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *AK THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED THEN SUDDENLY AFTER SEVERAL SECONDS THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATED SUDDENLY. *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE AND CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION NUMEROUS TIMES, AND THE MECHANIC ADJUSTED THE LIGHTS. BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK *SC *JB

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH MY 2004 ES330 I AM BECOMING VERY CONCERNED WITH MY NEW 2004 LEXUS. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SERVICE CENTER FOUR (4) TIMES NOW WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE SERVICE CENTER KEEPS TELLING ME THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT IT IS THE WAY I DRIVE... MY 1999 LEXUS DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND I AM PERPLEXED ON WHY I AM BEING TOLD IT IS ME AND NOT THE CAR. THIS LAST SERVICE CALL ON AUGUST 22ND I WAS TOLD TO USE A HIGHER GRADE OF GASOLINE. I HAVE NOW GONE THROUGH A TANK OF THE HIGH GRADE GAS AND MY TRANSMISSION IS STILL SLIPPING. I NOTICE IT WHEN I SLOW TO NEGOTIATE A TURN, WHEN I AM DRIVING BETWEEN 15 AND 20 MILES PER HOUR, ALSO NOW WHEN I AM MERGING INTO TRAFFIC EITHER SLOW OR FROM A STOP THE CAR HESITATES AND THEN LURCHES FORWARD WITH A KICK.. I AM BEGINNING TO BE AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR NOT KNOWING WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT. I HAVE 3 CHILDREN THAT NEED TO BE SHUTTLED AROUND EVERY DAY AND I AM CONCERNED FOR THEIR SAFETY AS WELL.. I WANT TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE SERVICE CENTER BUT THE FEELING I AM GETTING IS THAT THEY THINK I AM CRAZY. THIS IS DUE TO THEY SAY THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. ALSO, I DON'T NEED EXTRA HORSE POWER WITH THE HIGHER GRADE OF GAS, THE LEXUS HAS PLENTY OF POWER... CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME IN THIS MATTER? THIS TRANSMISSION IS JUNK... I HAVE HAD MY HUSBAND DRIVE THE CAR AND HE CONCURS THAT THE TRANSMISSION DOES SLIP AND HE FEELS IT MUST BE SOME TYPE OF MODULATOR THAT IS NOT GETTING THE FLUID TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.. I HAVE LESS THAN 15,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND WITH THIS PROBLEM IT FEELS LIKE I AM DRIVING A CAR WITH 150,000 MILES ON IT... I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE NOR SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR... PLEASE HELP... I HAVE CALLED LEXUS 2 DAYS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF MY CAR WHEN I FIRST FELT THE IRREGULAR SHIFTING PATTERNS.. THINKING IT WOULD GET BETTER I WAITED UNTIL MY 1000 MILE SERVICE CHECK TO BRING IT UP A AGAIN.. IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. *JB

THIS CAR IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. IT'S EITHER A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION OR BAD DRIVE-BY-WIRE DESIGN.THE CAR HESITATES EXTREMELY BADLY ON ACCELERATION. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN YOU ARE ENTERING A LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAY, IF YOU SLOW DOWN AND THEN STEP ON THE GAS, THERE IS A LONG LAG BEFORE THE CAR BEGINS TO PICK UP SPEED. THIS LAG IS OFTEN A SECOND OR MORE. I HAVE NEARLY BEEN HIT NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE THE CAR MAKES UP ITS MIND WHETHER IT WANTS TO MOVE OR NOT.THE DEALER HAS REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AND COMING TO COMPLETE STOP VEHICLE HESITATED UPON ACCELERATION FOR A FEW SECONDS. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND INDICATED THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED BY MANUFACTURER. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN STEPPING ON GAS. TRANSMISSION ONLY WHINED AND FAILED TO GET A GEAR FOR A COUPLE OF MOMENTS. (BIG HESITATION) VERY DANGEROUS WHEN TRYING TO PASS AT LOW SPEEDS. THE TRANSMISSION ONLY DOES THIS INTERMITTENTLY, DEALER STATES ITS DRIVE BY WIRE AND IS NORMAL. I GUESS UNTIL SOMEBODY DIES THEY (LEXUS) ARE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. HELP, THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 1600 MILES ON IT.*AK

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM AN IDLE POSITION VEHICLE HESITATES. *AK

MY 2004 LEXUS ES330HAS A PROBLEM WITH SHIFTING. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THE CAR HESITATES SIGNIFICANTLY BEFORE DECIDING TO DOWNSHIFT. THIS IS A NOTABLE PROBLEM WHEN TRYING TO AVOID TRAFFIC OR CHANGE LANES FLUIDLY UNDER CROWDED TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. LEXUS SAYS THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE CAR.*AK

VERY BAD HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING. TOOK DELIVERY 4/27/04 AND FOUND THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY. COMPLAINED AT 1000 MILE CHECKUP. TOLD TO GIVE IT TIME. COMPLAINED AGAIN AT 5000 CHECKUP. THEY SAID THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND IT WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. PROBLEM CONTINUED. COMPLAINED AT 15000 CHECKUP (9/28/05). PERFORMED AT THIS CHECKUP PER INVOICE: EG5017 26 99 .9 PERFORM TSB TC004-03. RECALIBRATE ECM ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM IS BETTER BUT STILL EXISTS. HAVE NOTICED VIA INTERNET RESEARCH THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THE LEXUS ES. SPOKE TODAY (11/28/05) WITH A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT MY DEALERSHIP AND HE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM THEY ARE DEALING WITH AND THERE APPEARS TO BE NO ONE GOOD FIX FOR IT. *JB

2004 LEXUS ES330 HESITATES AND THAN LUNGES ON ACCELERATION FROM 1ST TO 2ND. EALER UNABLE TO CORRECT; MANUFACTURER WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROPLEM.*AK

THE 2004 LEXUS ES330 TRANSMISSION HAS A NUMBER OF OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO POOR DRIVEABILITY, BUT TWO IN PARTICULAR ARE SAFETY-RELATED HAZARDS:(1) A HESITATION ON ACCELERATION WHICH CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS WHEN CROSSING INTERSECTIONS AND(2) A FORWARD LURCH WHEN DECELERATING TO A STOP WHICH COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY WHEN ROADS ARE COVERED WITH SNOW OR ICE.*JB

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN TRYING TO PASS OTHER VEHICLES IT HESITATED FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. AFTER ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO ANY PARTICULAR GEAR. ALSO, ENGINE WOULD WHINE DURING THIS PROCESS. DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TO ADAPT TO THE DRIVERS HABITS.*AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS ALMOST ALWAYS IN TOO HIGH A GEAR FOR CONDITIONS. SHIFTS UP TOO QUICKLY AND SHIFTS DOWN TOO SLOWLY. PRESENTS A SEVERE DANGER IN THAT EMERGENCY ACCELERATION IS VERY POOR FROM LOW SPEED AND/OR WHILE NEGOTIATING A TURN. DEALER STATES THIS IS NORMAL FOR FUEL MILEAGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL REASONS.*AK

MY LEXUS ES330 WAS LESS THAN TWO MONTHS OLD AND THE MILEAGE READ ABOUT 950 THE TIME WHEN THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED.T OCCURRED ON THE WAY TO WORK AT 8:40 AM MARCH 8TH, 2004. IT WAS A SUNNY WARM DAY. AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FAR RIGHT LANE OF SOUTH 5 FREEWAY WITH SPEED AROUND 65 TO 70 MPH, A CAR NEXT TO MY LANE WAS TRYING TO CUT IN FRONT OF ME. IN ORDER TO KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE, I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR BY PRESSING THE BRAKE. THE MOMENT I PRESSED THE BRAKE THE CAR SWERVED TO THE RIGHT. I COULDN'T CONTROL WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS HEADING AND THE CAR DIDN'T SLOW DOWN AS I FURTHER PRESSED THE BRAKE. IT BUMPED INTO THE GUARDRAIL AND TURNED 180 DEGREE FACING THE ONCOMING CARS. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO MAKE A TURN AND PARKED THE CAR WITHOUT HITTING ANYBODY. THE CAR WAS DAMAGED FROM THE RIGHT HEAD LIGHT ALL THE WAY TO THE REAR BUMPER. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER AND LEXUS SENT A INSPECTOR TO CHECK ON THE CAR. ONE WEEK LATER, I WAS INFORMED THE CAR IS OK AND THERE IS NOTHING ABNORMAL AFTER THEIR INVESTIGATION. I REQUESTED AN INVESTIGATION REPORT AND THE RESPONSE I GOT IS I HAVE TO "GO THROUGH THE LEGAL SYSTEM". THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION FOR THE EXACT MEANING OF THIS PHRASE. I AM A GOOD DRIVER WITH EXCELLENT RECORD. THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE WAS TOTALLY OUT OF NOWHERE AND UNPREDICTABLE. I KEPT LOOKING BACK TO FIND ANY CLUES THAT MIGHT LEAD TO THE ACCIDENT. AS I STUDIED THE NHTSA COMPLAINTS, MOST OF THEM HAPPENED DURING SLOW SPEED DRIVING. MY CASE HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY AND ALL I REMEMBERED WAS THE CAR DIDN'T SLOW DOWN AS I APPLIED THE BRAKE. *AK

DURING THE FIRST WEEKS, THE TRANSMISSION ACTED ERRATICALLY. DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS, WHEN I RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR TO COAST, AND THEN ACCELERATE, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS OR TAKES TIME TO ENGAGE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD. (THIS HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS A "DELAY/HESITATION IN SHIFTING," OR THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS "SEARCHING FOR A GEAR.") THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT UP OR DOWN SMOOTHLY. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN. THE SERVICE TECH ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM. I WAS THEN ASKED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN AND LEAVE IT FOR A FEW DAYS. NOT HEARING BACK FROM ANYONE, I CALLED AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY HAD BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. A FEW DAYS LATER, I WAS TOLD TO PICK UP THE CAR. I SPOKE WITH [XXX]. HE INFORMED ME THAT LEXUS DROVE THE VEHICLE AND SPECULATED THE CAUSE WAS THE GAS. I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO "RUN THROUGH A FEW TANKS OF GAS." WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE, I WAS READING THE SERVICE TICKET AND SAW A STATEMENT ON THE TICKET THAT: "NO FAULT FOUND." DESPITE THIS, THE TICKET WAS INACCURATE. WORK WAS DONE ON THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING RESETTING THE MEMORY, REPLACEMENT OF A FILTER AND NEW GAS. I THEN SPOKE WITH [XXX], SERVICE MANAGER. HE CONCEDED THAT THE SERVICE TICKET WAS INACCURATE. HE TOLD ME THAT HE WAS LOOKING INTO THE ISSUE. HE CALLED ME BACK AND SAID THE LEXUS ENGINEERS WERE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND IT WAS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE. I HAVE NOW DRIVEN 2-3 OF THESE CARS, AND THE SYMPTOMS ARE CONSISTENT. I CONTACTED LEXUS. THEY STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A "CHARACTERISTIC" OF THE CAR, AND THAT THERE "WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR." LEXUS KNOWS THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE, BUT THE FIX IS TOO COSTLY. SO, CONSUMERS ARE GOING TO BE STONEWALLED. THE NHTSA SHOULD IMMEDIATELY RECALL ALL LEXUS VEHICLES WITH THE 330 ENGINE MATED TO THIS NEW 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED/KILLED. IF YOU OR ANYONE ELSE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ME AT [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TRANSMISSION SHIFT DELAY. THE SHIFTING DELAY CAN GO AS LONG AS 3 - 4 SECONDS AND HAVE CAUSED SEVERAL LIFE THREATENING CLOSE CALLS ACCIDENT. LEXUS WAS AWARE OF THE SHIFT DELAY PROBLEM BUT CLAIMS THAT THIS IS NORMAL AND DONE BY DESIGN. *AK

I OWN A 2004 LEXUS ES 330 AND THE TRANSMISSION JERKS AND HESITATES UPON ACCELERATION. THIS DEFECT HAS PUT ME AT RISK NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED; THE RISK BEING THAT THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES AND UPON GIVING IT MORE GAS IT DECIDES TO OVERCOMPENSATE, CAUSING NEAR COLLISIONS WITH THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. THE LEXUS DEALER HAS DISMISSED THE PROBLEM AND HAS NOT INCLUDE IT IN THE SERVICE REPORTS, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE REQUESTED IT BE EXAMINED. THEY STATE THAT THE CAR IS LEARNING MY DRIVING HABITS. THIS IS A SMOKESCREEN AND UNACCEPTABLE; I AM CERTAIN THIS COMPLAINT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE NHSTA BEFORE. LEXUS REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED ON NUMEROUS WEB SITES. THANK YOU! *AK

MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A NEW 2004 LEXUS ES 330 ON FEBRUARY 7TH, 2004. WE HAD READ MANY GOOD THINGS ABOUT THIS CAR, AND THOUGHT WE WERE BUYING THE BEST.HE SALESMAN REAFFIRMED OUR THOUGHTS. WE BOUGHT THE CAR IN SARASOTA AND DROVE IT HOME TO BRADENTON. I NOTICEDA DIFFERENCE FROM THE DEMONSTRATOR IMMEDIATELY. THE TRANSMISSION WHINED AS IT WENT THROUGH THE GEARS; IT SLIPPED NOTICEABLY IN THE GEAR CHANGES; AND IT FAILED TO DROP INTO LOWER GEARS IMMEDIATELY WHEN I GAVE IT THROTTLE TO PASS. I THOUGHT THEY WOULD FIX IT IN THE 1,000 MILE CHECKUP, BUT WHEN I TOOK IT IN ON MARCH 11,'04, THE TECHNICIAN,S REPORT SAID,"...ALL DATA NORMAL. TRANSMISSION IS IS WORKING AS DESIGNED." I OBJECTED TO NO AVAIL. WHAT KIND OF MANUFACTURER WOULD DESIGN A TRANSMISSION TO SLIP, WHINE, AND IN THE WORDS OF CONSUMER GUIDE OF APRIL, 2004,"...TRANSMISSION TENDS TO LOITER IN HIGHER GEARS AND HESITATES TO KICK DOWN FOR PASSING, CREATING DELAYS IN PART-THROTTLE RESPONSE." I AMFINDING OUT THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE AT LEAST '02 WITH NO CORRECTIVE MEASURES BEING TAKEN. WE THINK THIS PROBLEM MAKES THESE CARS UNSAFE IN TODAY'S HEAVY TRAFFIC. *AK

WHEN DRIVING, THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE COMPUTER SETTINGS WERE CHANGED, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HESITATE. *AK THERE WERE SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONSUMER WOULD ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE. LEXUS DID NOT SEEM TO HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *SC *JB

I HAVE A 2004 ES330 WHICH HAS A SIGNIFICANT SHIFTING PROBLEM IN LOW GEARS. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE ALREADY AND AM READY FOR THE THIRD VISIT. THE DEALER "RESET" THE MEMORY FOR THE SHIFTING PATTERN AT 200 MILES BECAUSE OF UNPREDICTABLE DRIVING PATTERNS. THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ALWAYS SHIFT POORLY, ABOUT 25% OF THE TIME THERE IS A PROBLEM. THERE SEEMS TO BE A HESITATION DURING THE SHIFTING WHICH CAUSES A LACK OF POWER. I HAVE NOTICED THIS WHILE MERGING ONTO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE CONTACTED THE LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY WERE OF NO HELP, ONLY TO TELL ME THAT OTHER CUSTOMERS WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TRANSMISSIONS. IF I DO NOT GET SATISFACTION FROM THE THIRD VISIT I WILL GET A "LEMON LAW" HEARING AND HOPE FOR THE BEST. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE LEXUS/TOYOTA RESPONSE TO THIS OBVIOUS ENGINEERING BLUNDER. WHERE IS THE QUALITY THAT THEY ARE KNOWN FOR?

EVER SINCE I PURCHASED BY 2004 LS430, I HAVE NOTICED AN UNACCEPTABLE ENGINE VIBRATION. THIS IS NOTICEABLE DURING IDLE/FIRST START-UP. THE ENGINE VIBRATES AND CAN BE FELT IN TO THE CABIN. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE ENGINE REVS ARE BETWEEN 1200 -1400 RPMS. THIS IS VERY DISAPPOINTING FOR A $62K LEXUS! I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF A LEXUS DEALER AND HAVE GOTTEN THE "IT MUST BE BAD GAS" BS. I TOLD THEM I ONLY USE CHEVRON SUPREME (92), WHICH I ALSO USE IN MY BMW WITH NO PROBLEM. A SECOND TIME, THEY INDICATED THAT IT WAS NORMAL AND NOT A PROBLEM. THIS IS SOMETHING I WOULDNT IN A VEHICLE. *AK

MY 2004 LEXUS ES330 HAS A TRANSMISSION THAT HESITATES BETWEEN GEARS THAT CAUSES A HAZARD WHEN ACCELERATING INTO TRAFFIC. LEXUS REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND THEREFORE TO FIX IT.*AK

I HAVE A LEXUS 330 MODEL YEAR 2004 4 DOOR SEDAN. THE CAR HAS AN INDICATOR ON THE DASHBOARD ADVISING WHETHER OR NOT THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG IS TURNED "ON" OR "OFF". THIS DIAL INDICATES THE AIRBAG IS ALWAYS TURNED "OFF" IF A PERSON WEIGHING LESS THEN 85 POUNDS IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. WHEN AN 85 POUND FEMALE IS IN THE FRONT SEAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT INDICATES THE AIR BAG IS TURNED "OFF". IF THE PASSENGER PLACES A 10 POUND BAG OF POTATOES IN HER LAP, THE AIRBAG INDIDATOR SHOWS THAT THE AIRBAG IS TURNED "ON". I PURCHASED A CAR WITH 2 FRONT SEAT AIR BAGS. HOWEVER, THIS IN NOT WHAT I HAVE RECEIVED. THERE IS NO MANUAL SWITCH TO TURN THE AIR BAG "ON" OR "OFF". THE DEALER AND LEXUS CORPORATION REFUSE TO CORRECT THIS SO THAT MY 85 POUND WIFE IS PROTECTED BY AN AIR BAG. DOES THIS COMPLY WITH YOUR REGULATIONS? VERY TRULY YOURS, JULES I. KURZ. *AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION/VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED. *AK THE VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN THE THROTTLE IS APPLIED WHILE DRINING AT 30 TO 40 MPH DUE TO POOR TRANSMISSION SHIFTING. THE DEALER INSTALLED NEW SOFTWARE WHICH IMPROVED (~50%) BUT DID NOT ELIMINATE THE CONCERN. THE CONSUMER SAYS THIS IS A COMMON CONCERN WITH THESE VEHICLES BASED ON HIS INTERNET RESEARCH. *DSY

THE CAR HESITATES WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED AND THEN IT LURCHES INTO GEAR. IT HAS ALSO PULLED TO THE LEFT SINCE WE BOUGHT IT DESPITES NUMEROUS REPAIR ATTEMPTS. WE ARE CURRENTLY ENAGED IN A LEMON LAWSUIT REGARDING THIS ISSUE.*AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PRODUCES UNPREDICTABLE AND ERRATIC BEHAVIOR, INCLUDING VEHICLE HESITATION, TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, AND LURCHING ON ACCELERATION. I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN FOR WHICH THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE MADE AWARE. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED ON FOUR OCCASIONS WITHOUT SUCCESSFUL REMEDIATION. THE DEALER CLAIMS AWARENESS OF THE ISSUES AND INSISTS THAT THERE IS NO IMMEDIATE REPAIR AVAILABLE.*AK

VEHICLE DOES NOT ALWAYS RESPOND PROPERLY TO DRIVER DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR. IN SOME CASES, WHEN COASTING SLOWLY E.G., UNDER 10 MPH), SUDDENLY PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR SHARPLY WILL HAVE NO EFFECT FOR ABOUT 1.5 SECONDS. DURING THE DELAY, THE ENGINE WILL CONTINUE TO IDLE AND VEHICLE SPEED DO NOT INCREASE. AFTER THE DELAY, THE ENGINE AND VEHICLE SPEED INCREASE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION. THIS CAN LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT IF THE DRIVER IS MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN THERE IS ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THERE IS ANOTHER POSSIBLY RELATED ANOMALY WITH THE CAR: WHEN DRIVING, UNDER SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, WHEN THE DRIVER SHARPLY PRESSES THE ACCELERATOR, THE ENGINE AND VEHICLE SPEED WILL NOT CHANGE FOR ABOUT 1.5 SECONDS. AFTER THE DELAY, THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTS AND THE ENGINE SPEED INCREASES.*AK

STANDARD COMPLAINT FOR THIS CAR. ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION DELAY WHEN GAS PEDAL WAS RELEASED THEN SUDDENLY DEPRESSED. THIS OCCURS WHEN MERGING ONTO FREEWAYS, 4 WAY STOPS, A TRAFFIC LIGHT CHANGES, AND WHEN PULLING OUT TO PASS OR IN CERTAIN EMERGENCY MANEUVERS. THE DELAY IS APPROXIMATELY 1 OR 1.5 SECONDS AND DISRUPTS TIMING WHEN YOU DEPEND ON THROTTLE RESPONSE THE MOST! THIS HAS LED TO SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS. DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT WHEN CAR WAS 1 WEEK OLD AND I WAS TOLD THE ADAPTIVE SYSTEM NEEDS 1,000 MILES TO LEARN MY DRIVING HABITS. THE DEALER IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND SAYS ALL THE 2004 ES330S SUFFER FROM THE SAME PROBLEM. LEXUS CUSTOMER CARE CLAIMS THAT THE "CAR IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED". THERE IS AND WILL BE NO ATTEMPT BY LEXUS CO. TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. THE DEALER'S HANDS ARE TIED AT THIS POINT SINCE THE COMPANY NEEDS TO ENGINEER A FIX. *LA

COMPLAINT RELATING TO LEXUS ES 330. TRANSMISSION AND ACCELLERATION HAVE BEEN UNSATISFACTORY SINCE PURCHASE. CAR IS MOMENTARILY UNRESPONSIVE TO ACCELLERATOR WHEN GAS APPLIED. DEALER SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. I HAVE NOTED THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS BY OTHER OWNERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. SHIFTING BETWEEN 1 AND 2 AND 2 AND 3 IS HESITANT AND THERE IS A LONGER HESITATION THAN I HAVE NOTED WITH OTHER CARS. THIS CAR MODEL CANNOT BE RELIED UPON TO ACCELLERATE ON DEMAND. I BELIEVE THAT THIS REPRESENTS A SAFELY RISK IN THE EVENT THAT ACCIDENT AVOIDANCE SHOULD REQUIRE PREDICTALBE ACCELLERATOR RESPONCE. THIS IS A CONTINUOUS AND ON GOING PROBLEM.*AK

FOR THE LAST 3 MONTHS SINCE I PURCHASED MY LEXUS RX330,I HAVE EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE ENGINE VIBRATIONS IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING IMPROPERLY. THOUGH I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR INTO LEXUS MANY TIMES THEY HAVE NOT FIX THESE PROBLEMS AND I BELIEVE THEY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.*AK

WHEN YOU ACCELERATE FROM A VERY LOW SPEED THERE IS A HESATATION WHICH I FEEL IS DANGEROUS IF I HAD TO REACT FAST TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR IT IS A 2004 ES330 AND WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. IS LEXUS WORKING ON FIXING THIS PROBLEM IT CAN BE DANGEROUS

AS I WAS PULLING INTO THE GARAGE AT MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT, I PRESSED ON THE BRAKES AND THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE, I CONTINUED TO BOUNCE OFF THE WALL SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE CAR WOULD STOP. I FELT THAT THE BRAKES FAILED OR THE THROTTLE WAS STUCK. I HAVE CONTACTED MY DEALER, THEY CALLED ME BACK 30 MINUTES LATER AND SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH CAR AND I COULD PICK IT UP. I FELT AS IF I HAVE BEEN "BLOWN OFF' AND I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AGAIN. I HAVE SINCE CONTACTED THE CORPORATE OFFICES AND PLACED A COMPLAINT, HOWEVER, THIS ISSUE STILL REMAINS UNRESOLVED. THE FORM WILL NOT LET ME ENTER THE CORRECT MODEL OF MY CAR, IT IS AN ES330 NOT AND RX. *LA

WHEN ACCELERATING VEHICLE HESITATES THEN LURCHES FORWARD. THIS PROBLEM CAN CAUSE MANY ACCIDENTS AND MIGHT EVEN END UP IN INJURY OR DEATH!!*AK

I HAVE COMPLAINED NUMEROUS TIMES AND HAVE WRITTEN A LETTER TO DENNY CLEMENTS, GROUP VP OF LEXUS INFORMING HIM OF MY SAFETY CONCERNS RELATED TO THE 2004 ES330. HIS OFFICE ATTEMPTED TO APPEASE ME BY OFFERING TO SEND ME 2 FREE OIL CHANGE COUPONS OR $1,000 OFF MY NEXT PURCHASE OR LEASE OF A LEXUS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS SERIOUS HESITATION ISSUES WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. I HAVE SPOKEN TO EVERYONE AT THE DEALER, INCLUDING THE SERVICE MANAGER (WHO ADMITTED THE ISSUE, BUT HAD NO SOLUTION) AND GENERAL MANAGER. THE ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *NM

CONSUMER IS REQUESTING INFORMATION REGARDING THE STATUS OF THE REVIEW OF THE 2004 LEXUS EX 330 ACCELERATION DELAY PROBLEM.*MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED AN ACCELERATION DELAY WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN, LIKE WHEN APPROACHING A HIGHWAY ON RAMP, THEN ACCELERATED TO GET INTO TRAFFIC, THERE WAS AN 1.5 SECOND DELAY BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE. *NM

2004 LEXUS 330. CONSUMER STATES UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION TWICE. FORTUNATELY, BOTH TIMES HE WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL, STOPPING AND RESTARTING. WHILE HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO REGAIN CONTROL, HE ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL UP AND BRAKE, BUT NEITHER ACTION WAS SUCCESSFUL. *JB

2004 LEXUS ES 330. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS CERTAIN THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION SHE EXPERIENCED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK WAS DUE TO THE FAULTY FLOOR MAT THAT BECAME STUCK UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THERE WAS MINOR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THE PINS THAT HELD THE MATS IN PLACE HAD BROKEN. THEY CLAIMED THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *JB

CONSUMER HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING BECAUSE THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. CONSUMER GOT A SECOND OPINION FROM AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. THE VEHICLE PERFORMED BETTER AFTER THE ALIGNMENT. *AK *JB