2002 Lexus ES300 complaints

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. CONSUMER TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK *TC *JB

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 DO

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL. AR HESITATES ON ACCELERATION, LUNGES AT TIMES, SEARCHES FOR PROPER GEAR AND SHIFTS HARD. THE HEISTATION CAN BE QUITE DRAMATIC; ENOUGH TO LOSE CONFIDENCE IN CRITICAL SITUATIONS. THE CAR HAS BEEN "RE-PROGRAMMED" BY LEXUS, BUT PROBLEMS CONTINUE. LEXUS DENIES THERE IS A PROBLEM AND SAYS THE CAR FUNCTIONS AS DESIGNED. PROBLEMS SURFACED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE AND CONTINUE.*AK

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

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

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

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

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

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 T

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

2002 LEXUS ES300 HAS A LAG IN TIME BETWEEN STEPPING ON THE GAS AND THE TRANSMISSION RESPONDING TO PUT THE CAR IN MOTION. *MR THE HESITATION IS MOST PRONOUNCED WHEN BRAKING AND THEN NEEDING TO RAPIDLY ACCELERATE. THE CONSUMER FEELS THE INABILITY OF THE VEHICLE TO RESPOND IN A TIMELY MANNER IS HAZARDOUS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. *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

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

2002 LEXUS ES300 EXHIBITS MOST OF THE PECULARITIES MENTIONED IN PE 04021 AND DP 04003 IN ADDITION TO INCONSISTENT 1/2 AND 2/3 SHIFTS AND MAJOR LAG TIME IN DOWNSHIFTS AT SPEED. A MAJOR DEFECT THAT HAS CAUSED NUMEROUS NEAR MISSES.

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

BRAKE ROTORS WERE REPLACED, ENTIRE NEW BRAKE KIT INSTALLED AND ALL FOUR TIRE WERE REPLACED PRIOR TO REACHING 20K MILES. *PH THE CONSUMER HAS NOT BEEN PLEASED WITH THE SHIFTING PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DEMONSTRATE ERRATIC, ROUGH AND INCONSISTENT SHIFTING. THE MANUFACTURER INSTALLED A SOFTWARE UPGRADE BUT IT ONLY SLIGHTLY IMPROVED THE PERFORMANCE. THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD A 2000 LEXUS GS 300 WHICH HAD A MORE DRAMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE LOCAL DEALER INSISTED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *NM

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

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

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.

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.