2003 Lexus ES300 complaints

OWNER OF THE CAR WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON INTERSTATE, CROSSING A BRIDGE, TAPPED BRAKES WHEN APPROACHING SLUSH AND SNOW, LEXUS ES300 WENT INTO A SPIN, SPUN AROUND ONCE, SPUN ONTO THE SHOULDER AND ROLLING DOWN AN EMBANKMENT, ROLLING OVER TWICE AND LANDING UPSIDE DOWN IN DRAINAGE DITCH. DRIVER WAS SUSPENDED UPSIDE DOWN, HANGING IN SEAT BELT THAT HAD DEPLOYED THE FULL LENGTH OF THE BELT. SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD DRIVER IN THE SEAT, WINDSHIELD, BACK GLASS AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED. NO FRONT OR SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED DURING CRASH OR ROLL OVER. DRIVER SUSTAINED CONCUSSION, NECK AND SHOULDER INJURIES. CAR WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY INSURANCE CARRIER. *TR

THE LEXUS ES300 HAS HAD A SERIOUS HESITATION PROBLEM SINCE DELIVERY IN MARCH 2003. I HAVE HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. ON MAY 8TH,2006, MY WIFE WAS TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT AN INTERSECTION AND UPON ACCELERATING THROUGH THE TURN THE CAR HESITATED/LAGGED AND WAS STRUCK BY AN ONCOMING AUTO. AFTER CONTACTING LEXUS DIRECT, THEY CAME OUT TO TEST DRIVE THE AUTO. I WAS CONTACTED SEVERAL DAYS LATER AND WAS TOLD THAT MY LEXUS HAS NO PROBLEM. SINCE THIS PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, I TOOK THE CAR BACK IN FOR SERVICE ON MAY 26TH, 2006 AND AGAIN WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR HAD ALREADY RECEIVED A TRANSMISSION COMPUTER UPDATE AND THEIR FINAL WORDS WERE "VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED AT THIS TIME". THIS CAR STILL HAS THE PROBLEM. *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH IN THE FAST LANE ON THE FREEWAY, MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO GET MY CAR TO THE RIGHT AND GET OFF THE FREEWAY TO A GAS STATION. AS I WAS SLOWING TO A STOP, THE CAR WAS SHUDDERING BEFORE IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I CHECKED THE OWNERS MANUAL AND IT SAID IT WAS PROBABLY THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL. I FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE MANUAL AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR AT LOWER SPEED TO GET HOME AND THEN GET IT TO THE DEALER THE NEXT MORNING.*JB

SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR, I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT A HESITATION AND STUTTERING WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER A SLOW-DOWN OR A STOP. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG SEVERAL TIMES AND MORE RECENTLY HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE COMPUTER-CONTROLLED ACCELERATOR AND CANNOT BE FIXED. I HAVE SEVERAL TIMES HAD A CLOSE CALL ON THE FREEWAY WHEN I NEEDED TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY AND THE CAR HESITATED BEFORE ACCELERATING. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT, BUT HAVE BEEN VERY FRIGHTENED BY THE DELAY IN PERFORMANCE. I HAVE HAD 2 PREVIOUS LEXUS ES 300'S THAT DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *NM

DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT AT NIGHT THERE WAS A TIME DELAY IN THE HEADLIGHTS WHEN BEING SHUT OFF. IF THE TRUNK WAS PROPPED OPEN ONLY 1/8 OF AN INCH THE LIGHTS STAYED ON UNTIL THE BATTERY IWASDEAD. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY UNHOOKED THE TIME DELAY. THE BATTERY DIED TWICE BECAUSE OF THIS ONLY IN THE NIGHTTIME.*AK

AS I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, MY 2003 LEXUS ES SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND WENT OVER THE CURB AND A SMALL GRASS EMBANKMENT. I IMMEDIATELY APPLIED BRAKES AND IT DID START SLOWING DOWN. I FINALLY GOT THE CAR STOPPED. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS IN THAT PARKING LOT. DON'T KNOW WHAT DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE TO THE CAR. THIS IS FRIGHTENING BECAUSE THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR.

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES FROM MY HOME. UPON ENTERING THE PARKING LOT, I HAD TO YEILD TO A SCHOOL BUS AND STOP. AFTER THE STOP I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH TO PARK THE CAR. I TURNED FOUR TIMES TO GET TO THE PARKING SPACE WITH FOOT ON THE BREAK OR JUST COASTING. AS I TURNED INTO THE PARKING SPACE WITH THE BRAKES PRESSED. THE CAR ACCERALATED AND WENT OVER THE CURB AND PROCEEDED ON THE GRASS. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE INCIDENT. I TRIED TO STOP THE CAR BY PUSHING THE BRAKES DOWN HARDER. SINCE THE BRAKEKS WERE NOT RESPOND, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND STOMPED/PUMPED THE BRAKES WITH NO AVAIL. THE BRAKES WERE NOT RESPONDING. THE CAR WAS ON THE GRASS AND LUCKILY SINCE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS IN A LEFT HAND TURN POSTION I AVOIDED HITTING STUDENTS AND A HUGE TREE. USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FINALLY STOPPED THE CAR. 3. I CALLED 180025LEXUS AND HAD THEM PICK THE CAR UP AND TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP (STERLING MC CALL LEXUS) THE SERVICER ADVISOR (LOPEZ) CALLED SAYING THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VECHILE AND IT WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP. WHEN THE CAR WAS PICKED UP MY HUSBAND MADE A NOTATION ON THE SERVIE SHEET SAYING HE DID NOT AGREE. HE ALSO WENT TO TALK TO THE SALES MANAGER (COOK) TO LET HIM KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND HOW UNHAPPY WE WERE. HE ALSO LET HIM KNOW THAT WE HAD RESEARCHED LEXUS ON THE NHTSA SITE AND FOUND THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND MANY ORTHER REPORTS HAVE BEEN FILED CONCERNING BRAKES NOT W

SUDDEN ACCELERATION- DELIVERING FOOD FOR SOMEONES FUNERAL.

WHILE SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION HAD A TEN MINUTE DELAY BEFORE RESPONDING, AND THE TRANSMISSION JERKED UNCONTROLLABLY. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. *AK

FROM THE DAY I GOT THE CAR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN IN TROUBLE. THE PROBLEM IS THE SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND. UNDER LIGHT THROTTLE THERE IS FREE WHEELING AND ENGINE RUN-UP AND IT BUMPS INTO SECOND. I KNOW IT WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL. LEXUS HAS PLAYED WITH THE COMPUTER CONTROL BUT CAN'T CORRECT THIS. THEY TELL ME THIS NORMAL, BUT I KNOW IT IS NOT NORMAL FOR ANY NON- LEXUS TRANSMISSION.*AK

ON JAN 20, 2005 AT ABOUT 7:30PM I WAS RETURNING FROM WORK DRIVING MY LEXUS 2003. JUST BEFORE REACHING MY HOME, I TURNED RIGHT INTO NOTLEY ROAD FROM STONE GATE DRIVE AT SILVER SPRING, MD AFTER STOPPING AT THE STOP SIGN. BEFORE I REALIZED, THE CAR KNOCKED OVER THE MAIL BOX OF THE HOUSE ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND STARTED RACING ON THE YARD OF THE HOUSE. NEXT THE CAR KNOCKED DOWN THE STREET LIGHT, CROSSED A ROAD AND RACED TOWARDS A TREE. ALTHOUGH I APPLIED, THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING. ULTIMOTELY THE CAR CRASHED ON TO A TREE, TURNED OVER AND I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO CRAWL OUT OF THE CAR WITH MUCH EFFORT. I WAS TAKEN TO THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY GENERAL HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE AND AFTER BEING EXAMINED BY THE PHYSICIAN AND XRAYS I WAS RELEASED. THE CAR WAS ULTIMATELY TOWED TO LEXUS BODY SHOP AND WAS PRONOUNCED A TOTAL LOSS I FEEL THAT THE LEXUS TOOK OFF ON ITS OWN WHEN I TURNED RIGHT FROM A STOP SIGN INTO THE NOTLEY ROAD DAMAGING PROPERY AND ULTIMOATELY CRASHING ON TO A TREE. BECAUSE THERE WAS SNOW ON THE YARD, I WAS ABLE TO VIDEOTAPE THE TRACK MARKS MADE BY THE CAR FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END OF THE CRASH. I HOPE THAT YOU WILL INVESTIGATE THIS INCIDENT AND GIVE ME SOME REPORT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. THE DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES FROM HITTING HIS HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

DEAR SIR, MY COMPLAINT IS ABOUT TOYO TIRES. I HAVE A LEASED LEXUS ES300. THE LEASE STARTED IN DECEMBER OF 2002, FOR 39 MONTHS /36,000 MILES. WE HAVE 18,875 MILES ON THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE & THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE TIRES ARE BOLD. I TOOK IT TO THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP , SCANLON OF FT. MYERS & THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME FOR NEW TIRES. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF TIRES WEARING OUT AT 18,000 MILES. THE TOYO TIRES ARE CHEAP TIRES. THE TIRES CAME WITH THE CAR, & I HAD NO IDEA THAT THEY ARE MANUFACTURED SO POORLY. IS IT FAIR THAT WE HAVE TO PAY FOR NEW TIRES? THANK YOU, LEONARD MOJTA. *JB

LEXUS 300 HESITATION. STEPPED ON ACCELERATOR, CAR HESITATED AND HAD TO PUMP ACCELERATOR TO GO FORWARD. *BF THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MANY TIMES. THE CONSUMER ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THE CONSUMER PUMPED THE ACCELERATOR TO GO FORWARD. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. *SC

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

THE CONSUMER STATED AT ANY TIME THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. NO IMPACT REPORTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB THE VEHICLE STICKS IN GEAR. *TC

I WAS IN A AUTO ACCIDENT AND WAS HIT ON THE LEFT FRONT OF MY 2003 LEXUS AND THE AIR CURTAIN DID NOT ACTIVATE. I HIT MY HEAD ON THE DRIVERS DOOR WINDOW. DAMAGE WAS ESTIMATED OVER $3000.00 ON MY VEHICLE. I TRIED TO GET ANSWERS FROM THE DEALER BUT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHERE THE SENSOR WAS LOCATED AND WHY IT DID NOT DEPLOY. *NM

I HAVE NOW SENT MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE TWICE TO LEXUS OF ORLANDO ABOUT UNEXPECTED SURGING OF THE VEHICLE AND VEHICLE HESITATION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM, AS I DO NOT KNOW WHEN IT WILL OCCUR. WHEN IT DOES OCCUR THE UPSHIFT IS HARSH, THE DOWNSHIFT DELAYED AS IF THE TRANSMISSION IS CONFUSED ABOUT THE DRIVER'S INTENTION, AND THERE IS PRONOUNCED HESITATION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED. THIS LACK OF RESPONSIVENESS LEAVES BOTH THE VEHICLE AND PASSENGERS EXPOSED TO ACCIDENT AND INJURY. ON MY FIRST VISIT, I WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE COMPUTER WOULD BE RESET, AS THE VEHICLE LEARNS YOUR DRIVING STYLE IN THE FIRST 30 OR SO MILES, AND I MUST HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE HARSHLY. THIS SO CALLED RESET DID NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM; LESS THAN A WEEK LATER, I NARROWLY ESCAPED A CRASH AFTER MY CAR HESITATED WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION. I PROMPTLY RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. UPON COMPLETION OF THE SECOND SERVICE, WHICH INCLUDED A DRIVE WITH THE TECHNICIAN, LEXUS SERVICE NOW SAYS THESE PROBLEMS ARE INHERENT TO THE MODEL AND THEY CAN'T FIX THEM. IN ADDITION, I AM AWARE THAT NUMEROUS OWNERS FREQUENTLY COMPLAIN OF HESITATION AND SURGING IN 2002, 2003, AND 2004 MODELS AND MANY COMPLAINTS (OVER 100) OF THE SAME NATURE HAVE BEEN FILED WITH THE NHTSA. THIS STATEMENT IS TO ISSUE NOTICE THAT I AM NOT SATISFIED, AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED.*AK

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, I HAVE TAKEN MY 2003 LEXUS ES300 IN FOR SERVICE TO REPAIR A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE 23,511 MILES ON MY VEHICLE AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING ERRATICALLY AND HESITATING. IT IS CAUSING UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. LEXUS DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION VEHICLE JERKED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT COMPUTER RECALIBRATED (EMC) ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION TO THE COMPUTER. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK

VERIFICATION ON THE INVESTIGATION OF THE 2003 LEXUS ES300 INVOLVED IN SURGING, REPORTING 30 CRASHES DUE TO A POSSIBLE DEFECT. *MR *SC *JB

ONGOING AND WORSENING LACK OF ACCELLERATION PREDICTABILITY. CAR WILL HESITATE ESPECIALLY WHEN POWER IS REQUIRED (SUCH AS MERGING TRAFFIC, LEFT TURNS, ETC.) AUTOMATIC RANSMISSION SOUNDS LIKE IT DELAYS ENGAGING WHEN NECESSARY.*AK

LEXUS ES300 2003 - EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM 5-10 MPH TO FULL ACCELERATION (PASSING/MERGING ONTO HIGHWAY FOR EXAMPLE). TRANSMISSION HESITATES A VERY LONG TIME (1-2 SECONDS) BEFORE KICKING IN. DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BUT NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT. RESEARCHING LEXUS FORUMS INDICATES THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM FOR 2002, 2003 YEARS AT LEAST. THE HESITATION IS EXTREMELY UNNERVING IN A HIGH STRESS MERGING ENVIRONMENT AT LEAST AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ACCIDENT POTENTIAL AT WORSE.

VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED.*MR THIS CAUSED CONSUMER TO HIT A SIGN. DEALERSHIP CHECKED BRAKE SYSTEM AND FOUND NO CODES OF DEFECT. ALSO, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON DUE TO A MISFIRE ON THE CYLINDER. *LA

CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE FROM STOP AT TIMES. ENGINES REVS BUT TRANSMISSION WILL NOT CATCH. SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS AT STOP SIGNS AND TRAFFIC LIGHTS. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY ROUGH AND MAKES CAR STEER ERRATICALLY. CAR WILL BE PARKED UNTIL REPAIRED. LEXUS DEALER STATES THIS IS NORMAL. *JB

WHILE SHIFTING GEARS VEHICLE JERKED AND HESITATED TO MOVE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE RESET, AND HE RESET IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM REOCCURED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. CURRENTLY, THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN THE CONSUMER LIFTED FOOT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, AND HIT A WOMEN WHO WAS STANDING IN THE FRONT OF THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, THE WOMAN FRACTURED HER ANKLE AND ARMS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE TRANSMISSION JERKED, WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY. THE DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK THE VEHICLE JERKED AT ACCELERATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING AT SLOWER SPEEDS. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH NO WARNING AND WAS INTERMITTENT WHICH ALSO DISPLAYED A SLUGGISH DELAY. *SC *JB

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

WHILE WAITING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AT AN INTERSECTION AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO REAR END THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED THE VEHICLE. *AK THE DEALERSHIP INSISTED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. *NM

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. ALSO, THE LEXUS CORPORATION SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, AND THEY CLAIMED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER WAS PULLING OUT FROM A PARKING SPACE WHEN VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD AS SOON AS CONSUMER STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. *LA

UPON STOPPING, AND WHEN CONSUMER REMOVED FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD BEFORE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THIS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. ONCE, RESULTING IN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CRASHING INTO A CONCRETE POLE WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT. ALSO, STARTING AT 5000 MILES BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES BECAUSE IT DIED. THIS WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK *LA

VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD AND VEERED TO THE RIGHT RUNNING INTO A WALL. *MR NO INJURIES OCCURRED, BUT THERE'S DAMAGE IN THE VEHICLE'S FRONT END AND THE GARAGE WALL. *LA

LTR FM BRETT WOODY (TX) RE DANGEROUS DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE PROBLEMS IN THE 2002-2003 LEXUS ES300, REPLY ATTN JAN CROW/ HOUSTON OFC. *PH CONSUMER WOULD APPLY MORE AND MORE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. *PH THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE. LEXUS HAD GIVEN THE CONSUMER A NEW VEHICLE AND IT HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS TAPPED, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE BUT THE RPM'S WOULD RISE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD BARELY MOVE. IN STOP IN GO TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE FORWARD. (IT FELT AS IF THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED THEN THE SURGING OCCURRED) THERE WAS AN ANNOYING RATTLE IN THE CEILING CONSOLE. *SC UPDATED 7/5/12 *CN

WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT DRIVER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. VEHICLE WENT OVER THE CURB, AND HIT A LIGHT POLE. FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. UPON IMPACT, FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISES. *AK *LA

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND FRONT END SHOOK AND PULLED TO THE LEFT.CONSUMER, WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT HOME. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WILL HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR THE NEXT DAY. *AK

THE VEHICLE LUNGED UPON PARKING. AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL AND HIT A WALL. THE FRONT END REPAIRS COST $2,275.00. *AK (SUDDEN ACCELERATION) *SC *JB

AUTO ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING ACCIDENT, STRIKING A BUILDING. *JB SEE VOQ 10061753. *DSY UPDATED 7/5/12 *CN

THERE IS A DANGEROUS AND UNPREDICTABLE TENDENCY FOR THE VEHICLE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION COMBINATION TO ACCELERATE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WHICH MAKES IT ESPECIALLY UNNERVING. IT IS MOST NOTICEABLE AT SPEEDS BELOW 40 MPH, WHEN FIRST SLOWING, FOLLOWED BY ACCELERATION. IT APPEARS TO BE EXACERBATE BY UNCERTAIN TRANSMISSION "HUNTING" FOR PROPER GEAR/ENGINE SPEED COMBINATIONS. THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSES A RAPID AND JERKY THROTTLE RESPONSE TO MILD ACCELERATOR PEDAL INPUT. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER ON AT LEAST TWO OCCASIONS FOR THIS ISSUE. THE FIRST TIME, THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE TRANSMISSION. THE SECOND TIME, THE TECHNICIAN TESTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTE "NO PROBLEM FOUND". AT CURRENT MILEAGE OF 32,000, THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WORSENING. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT, IF LEFT UNDRESSED, IS LIKELY TO BE THE CAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT, SERIOUS INJURY OR MUCH WORSE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 4 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKES BRAKE PEDAL PULSATED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE HITTING AN EMBANKMENT HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNWANTED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. WHEN THIS OCCURRED CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL TO STOP THE ACCELERATION. *AK

WHILE ENTERING A PARKING LOT VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER TAPPED THE BRAKES, AND SPEED INCREASED EVEN MORE. AS A RESULT, DRIVER LOSS CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND HIT A WALL. *AK SEE VOQ 10062702 *DSY UPDATED 7/3/12 *CN

WHILE PARKING CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD, HITTING A BUILDING. THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE SPEEDOMETER, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ THE GAUGE WENT THE SUN WAS SHINING BRIGHTLY THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. *PH *JB

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

I REALIZE THAT MY PROBLEM, WITH A BAD RADIO IS NOT A MECHANICAL ONE. HOWEVER, I AM SENDING THIS FOR YOUR INFORMATION, AND TO INDICATE THAT LEXUS DOES NOT LIVE UP TO ITS ADS AS PURSUING PERFECTION I HAVE SPOKEN TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE AT LEXUS, IN MY DEALERSHIP AND AT THE MAIN OFFICE OVER A PERIOD OF 10 MONTHS. I HAVE EVEN WRITTEN TO THE VICE PRESIDENT OF LEXUS. HE DID NOT REPLY TO MY FIRST LETTER SO I SENT HIM A SECOND LETTER, CERTIFIED. RETURN RECEIPT. I RECEIVED A RESPONSE TO THAT SECOND LETTER FROM SOMEONE AT CUSTOMER RELATIONS. IN ADDITION TO THAT CALL, I HAVE RECEIVED A CALL FROM A SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED MY CAR, AND FROM ANOTHER PERSON. THE FINAL DECISION SEEMS TO BE THAT, ALTHOUGH THEY KNOW THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE RADIO IN THE ES 300, AND THAT THEY REALIZE THAT IT IS DUE TO A FAULTY ANTENNA IN THE REAR WINDOW, BUT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. I TOLD THAT PERSON THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO ME AND AM WAITING FOR A RESPONSE WHICH I ASSUME WILL BE NEGAZTIVE.

THERE IS A PRONOUNCED HESITATION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS FLOORED. THIS HAS BEEN THERE SINCE I LEASED THE CAR AND I DO NOT KNOW IF IT IS DUE TO A TRANSMISSION LAPSE OR THROTTLE PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF NEAR ACCIDENTS WHEN I PULLED OUT TO PASS AND THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION. LEXUS HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS PROBLEM AND OFFERED A FIX, BUT IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEY NOW SAY THAT THE CAR IS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED.

THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS CAR IS UNPREDICTABLE. IT JERKS, JUMPS AND ON OCCASION LURCHES AHEAD. IT WILL HESITATE WHEN STARTING FROM STAND STILL OR WHEN MOVING AHEAD AT VERY LOW SPEEDS. I HAVE REPEATEDLY TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER. THEY HAVE DONE 2 COMPUTER DOWN LOADS OF A SUPPOSED FIX. THE FIRST LASTED A DAY. I'VE BEEN TOLD TO USE ONLY PREMIUM FUEL, AS THIS WOULD HELP. I'VE USED PREMIUM SINCE THAT TIME WITH LITTLE CHANGE IN THE CARS PERFOMANCE. MY WIFE DOES NOT WANT TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE OF A NEAR T-BONE IN A CROSS PATTERN TRAFFIC. I'VE HAD 4 SIMILAR EXPERINCES. THIS PROBEM BECAME APPARENT AT ABOUT 1000 TO 1200 MILES AND EXITS TODY AT ABOUT 4000 MILES. ALL OF THESE QUERKY PROBLEMS EXIST BELOW 40 MILES PER HOUR. IF YOU DRIVE VERY AGGRESSIVELY (STOMP ON THE ACCELERATOR)THEY AREN'T EVIDENT...TO SOME EXTE THE SAME IS TRUE IF YOU BARELY DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR WHEN STARTING TO MOVE.

DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE SPEEDOMETER CONSUMER CANNOT READ THE GAUGE DURING THE BRIGHT DAYLIGHT HOURS. THE POINTER IS BRIGHT RED, AND WITH THE BRIGHT SUN SHINING DOWN, IT IS VERY HARD TO SEE WHERE THE DIAL IS ON THE DASHBOARD. *AK *MR

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH DRIVER WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A CONCRETE BARRIER. BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK