2004 Lexus ES330 complaints

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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