2002 Lexus ES300 complaints

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

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

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 REQUE

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

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 TH

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

1) STUMBLE - THIS OCCURS WHEN YOU QUICKLY ACCELERATE AND THE CAR HESITATES FOR 1-2 SECONDS BEFORE IT KICKS IN. 2) SHUDDER - WITH NO PATTERN, THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY SHUDDER. THIS OCCURS WITH NO/LITTLE ACCELERATION. 3) SURGING - THE CAR SURGES APPROX. 1/2 FOOT WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS INTENSIFIED WHEN THE CAR IS SLOWLY (E.G., IN TRAFFIC) MOVING DOWN HILL. *JB

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

THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY EXPERIENCED A HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING, THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB

CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SEE FROM FRONT RIGHT SIDE DUE TO AN ENGINEERING FLAW. *AK *JB

THE SPEEDOMETER IS NOT VISIBLE IN BRIGHT SUNLIGHT. CONSUMER HAS NO IDEA HOW FAST THE VEHICLE IS GOING. *JG *JB *NLM

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

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

SHIFT COMFORT ISSUE EXISTS AT SOMEWHAT PREDICTABLE DRIVING CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE THE DRIVER TO HANDLE THE CAR IN A CAUTIOUS MANNER TO AVOID VEHICLE MALFUNCTION. DT

DASHBOARD HAS BEEN REDESIGNED, AND IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE VARIOUS NEEDLE GAUGES WHILE DRIVING DURING THE DAY. AT NIGHT WITH LIGHTS ON, EVERYTHING IS FINE, BUT DURING THE DAY, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS SUNNY, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE GAUGES. *SC...*AK

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

I CANNOT READ THE RED DIAL ON THE SPEEDOMETER. DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS, IT FADES AWAY EVEN THOUGH THE PANEL LIGHTS ARE TURNED ALL THE WAY UP. I KEEP UP WITH THE TRAFFIC, NOT KNOWING HOW FAST (OR SLOW) I AM GOING. THIS ONLY HAPPENS DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS, NOT NIGHTTIME. I SPOKE TO LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE (MS. YVONNE CHILDS, 800 255 3987) AND TO RAY CATENA LEXUS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. NOBODY CALLED ME BACK. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I WOULD LIKE IT TO BE CORRECTED. TS

WHEN DRIVING DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS WE CANNOT SEE THE RED DIAL ON THE SPEEDOMETER EVEN THOUGH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT CONTROL IS TURNED FULLY UP. WE NEVER KNOW HOW FAST WE ARE GOING. WE JUST TRY TO KEEP UP WITH THE TRAFFIC. WE SPOKE TO YVONNE CHILDS AT LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE (800 255 3987) WHO WOULD LOOK INTO IT, BUT NEVER GOT BACK TO US. I SPOKE TO ANOTHER SERVICE PERSON, AND HE SAID HE HAS HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS DEFINITELY A MAJOR SAFETY FACTOR THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED AND CORRECTED. NLM

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

INSTRUMENT GAUGE INDICATORS ARE UNABLE TO READ WHILE DRIVING DURING DAY LIGHT HOURS. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*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

INDICATOR NEEDLE ON INSTRUMENT PANEL ARE NOT VISIBLE DURING DAY LIGHT HOURS. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE.*JB

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

CAN'T READ SPEEDOMETER IN BRIGHT DAYLIGHT WITH HEADLIGHTS ON AND DRIVER WEARING SUN GLASSES.*AK

CAR HAS VERY POOR SHIFTING CHARACTERISTICS. IT IS ALWAYS ANNOYING AND SOMETIMES UNSAFE. TWICE I HAVE STARTED TO QUICKLY ACCELERATE FROM A STOP TO TURN LEFT AND HAD THE TRANSMISSION START TO DOWNSHIFT THEN WAIT THROUGH A DELAY AS IF THE SOFTWARE WAS CONFUSED. THE RESULT WAS THE CAR SITTING IN THE INTERSECTION WITH THE ACCELERATOR DEPRESSED BUT NO POWER TO THE WHEELS FOR AROUND 1 OR 2 SECONDS. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES "SHIFTING COMFORT" ISSUES ARE THE NUMBER ONE COMPLAINT FOR THE CAR BUT SAYS NO FIX IS AVAILABLE. I HAVE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER ON THIS ISSUE FOR OVER 8 MONTHS AND HAVE HAD NO HELP.*AK

WE HAVE A SURGE OR SKIP ON DEACCELERATION.THIS WILL HAPPEN FROM 40 TO 60 MPH. THE DEALER WILL ONLY TELL US THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HAVE NO CURE. I FEEL THAT AFTER 7 MONTHS THEY SHOULD HAVE A FIX.*AK

VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE SPEEDOMOTER - DARK BACKGROUND WITH DARK NEEDLE REQUIRES TOO MUCH TIME TO SEE SPEED. *AK

CANNOT SEE SPEED READING ON DASHBOARD IN SUNLIGHT. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THE CHANGE OF INSTRUMENTS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THIS MODEL HAS THE SAME LIGHTING. RIGHT FRONT DOOR HARD TO CLOSE DUE TO BEING MISALIGNED, DEALER ADJUSTED DOOR STRIKER, SPEEDOMETER NEEDLES DIFFICULT TO SEE. *SCC

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

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

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

WE HAVE AN ESCALATING SHUDDER WHEN DOWN SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SOFTWARE BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND THE POWERTRAIN/TRANSMISSION. THEY DO NOT HAVE A FIX AND ARE ASKING CUSTOMERS TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR ANOTHER POSSIBLE 45 TO 60 DAYS UNTIL THE FIX IS ISSUED. WE HAVE REQUESTED ANOTHER CAR SINCE THIS IS OUR 4TH ES400 IN THE PAST TEN YEARS AND THE 97 LEXUS WE TRADED WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION. WE ARE NOT WILLING TO WAIT FOR A REPAIR AND HAVE NOTIFIED THE COMPANY THAT THEY NEED TO RESOLVE OUR PROBLEM CAUSED BY THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT WITH A NEW VEHICLE.*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

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*JB

THE CAR STALLS AND PAUSES IN TRAFFIC. THE CAR HAS ROUGH VIBRATION WHEN THE GEARS SHIFT. THE DEALER SAID THE COMPUTER WAS DESIGNED TO OPERATE IN THAT MANNER AND THAT THERE IS PRESENTLY NO CORRECTION FOR THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM, BUT REFUSES TO REPLACE THE CAR OR TO BUY ME OUT BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT RESULTED IN ANY FATALITIES.

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GAUGES HAVE RED NEEDLES AGAINST A BLACK BACKGROUND WHICH ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE IN DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS, ESPECIALLY IN FULL SUNLIGHT AND ARE IMPOSSIBE TO SEE WEARING SUN GLASSES. THIS, IN MY OPINION, CONSTITUTES A SAFETY HAZARD, BEING UNABLE TO READ THE GAGES, ESPECIALLY THE SPEED.*AK

LIGHTS TO READ SPEED ODOMETER AND GAS, ARE HARD TO READ, CAUSING CONSUMER TO ONLY SEE IN DARK AREAS, AND NOT DURING DAY TIME.*AK

UPON PURCHASING VEHICLE THERE WAS A DESIGN DEFECT IN FUEL TANK. CANNOT GET GAS CAP OFF VEHICLE TO PUT GASOLINE IN IT. CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE FILLER CAP WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW VERSION BUT IT REQUIRED A TOOL TO REMOVE IT AND DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *YH