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Transmission problems with Lexus ES?

1407 messages,  Last post on Sep 22, 2012 at 10:23 AM

You are in the Lexus ES Forum.

What is this discussion about? Lexus ES 300, Lexus ES 330, Transmission, Sedan

Messages Page 101 of 141

#1001 of 1407 Lexus ES hesitation by lounger

Jan 12, 2006 (9:58 am)

We have an 03 ES 300 and an 05 ES 330. Both cars exhibit the much discussed hesitation.
 
I greatly appreciate wwest's theorizing and believe he is on the right track.
 
I am looking forward to test driving the new Camry. I bet that Toyota will have made some changes to the way the car drives.
 
If you are looking to buy a new or used 02-06 front drive Toyota/Lexus with the 5 speed automatic transmission, make sure to test drive it thoroughly.
 
We have learned to live with its quirks. We also own an 03 Mercedes Benz E 320. It has been in the shop for a lot more issues including the electrohydraulic brake (SBC) recalls. That said, the Benz's transmission works much better than the Lexi transmissions. I cannot vouch for the newer MB 7 speed transmission.
 
The most annoying thing for me occurs when slowing to a stop but not making a full stop and still traveling about 5 to 10 mph. If I apply the gas pedal in that situation, the car hesitates and then usually gives me a harsh downshift. So I very gently ease onto the gas in that situation to give the transmission time to downshift to 2nd gear. I have had to adapt to the car. My girlfriends 1999 4 cylinder Camry with a 4 speed automatic transmission is a marvel of sophistication when compared to the 5 speed front drive Lexi transmission (at least our two cars).
 
I am curious about VW/Audi DSG transmission, which would be my suggestion to test out if you want crisp postitive lightning fast shifts. Don't get mad at Lexus/Toyota if the car is really driving you nuts. Just try something else.

#1002 of 1407 Re: Lexus ES hesitation [lounger] by cxc

Jan 12, 2006 (10:45 am)

Replying to: lounger (Jan 12, 2006 9:58 am)
We also have a 02 ES300 that shows similar hesitation discussed here; it is extremely annoying when doing stop/go or driving at a low speed. We bought it because of the reputation of 2001 or earlier ES300. However, the past performance has no guarantee for the future. The 02 ES300 has a unpredictable transmission, a set of bad brakes (I have the third set of brakes), and rattles here and there. Its CR reliability rating dropped from top to who knows where; it is even less reliable than Hyundai.

#1003 of 1407 Re: www.nhtsa.gov 2002 Lexus ES300 [hylyner] by user777

Jan 12, 2006 (10:54 am)

Replying to: hylyner (Jan 12, 2006 4:15 am)
You realize that VINs have many more digits than those shown on the NHTSA site right? Personally, I have 17 digits in the VINs of my vehicles. How about you? Apparently, the site isn't displaying them all.
 
I never claimed to be an expert in Systems Engineering nor Human Factors.
 
Scoti helps people find relevant information and in a professional manner. He does not bash Toyota. History: perhaps you were around when the Hesitation Forum was started because our hosts didn't want people posting in discrepant forums on the same topic... Then we collectively shot ourselves in the foot by getting it shut down. Scoti has merely been directing people from the other forums to the Hesitation forum, or relevant active forum when they post about their problem. People with the problem are beneficiaries of his efforts.
 
I'm sure - and I think this has been written before, the regulars are merely interested in this phenomenon, perhaps for reasons related to systems engineering, human factors, automotive automation, arbitration, desires to provide balance to what they perceive is slanted against one particular manufacturer, or maybe because they own the vehicle and have a problem. I have yet to see a post which is purposefully bashing any particular manufacturer. No doubt, we have seen a few posters with a problem doing some passionate venting.

#1004 of 1407 Re: www.nhtsa.gov 2002 Lexus ES300 [user777] by motownusa

Jan 12, 2006 (10:59 am)

Replying to: user777 (Jan 12, 2006 10:54 am)
Sorry I don't believe some of the people are just merely interested in this phenomenon. The nature of the post indicates they have either an axe to grind or some kind of ulterior motive. But you and WWEST are not two of them so chill out.

#1005 of 1407 Not sure.... by wwest

Jan 12, 2006 (11:12 am)

But I seem to remember that when I filed a complaint with NHTSA about the spontaneous windshiedl fogging on my 1992 LS400 in about 93 it got listed on the site in multiple "bins", visibility problems, climate control problems and possibly more.
 
The multiple listing arose simply because the person at NHTSA wanted it that way to get the widest exposure.
 
I could see this one easily being categorized in engine controls/response, transmission controls/response, and throttle control/DBW, provided all of those exist in some form or another.

#1006 of 1407 posts by billran

Jan 12, 2006 (12:06 pm)

user777, There have been a couple occasions in the past where you have interpreted something I have written to have implications that I truly did not intend. That is very easy to do and I think all of us have written things that we believed conveyed a certain message, while others may have read it to have other implications.
 
After being involved in this discussion for awhile and reading lots of posts, my opinions have changed a bit and I have tried to tone my posts down at least a little.
 
I agree that wwest has indeed done more research and speculation on this topic than anyone else, and much of it I believe has been unbiased and valuable. I acknowledge and respect that. And I do agree with many of the things that you and he have written, although I know we still do have differing opinions on certain aspects of this topic.
 
I strongly believe however that there have been some obvious posts and actions on this board that are not unbiased and have a specific intent. And I would like to believe you are unbiased enough to at least see a little of what I am talking about.
 
When I see what I believe to be misleading, inaccurate, distorted or exaggerated statements, or actions that are clearly designed to simply throw stones at a manufacturer, I have to speak up. My intent however is to question the statements being made, as well as the intent, not attack the individual.

#1007 of 1407 Re: Not sure.... [wwest] by scoti1

Jan 12, 2006 (12:08 pm)

Replying to: wwest (Jan 12, 2006 11:12 am)
I found some under "vehicle speed control", and this is also where unintended acceleration complaints were filed. There were some people reporting complaints multiple times -- some it was obvious that they complained, had the TSB done with no improvement, then complained again. In my count of 30 on the 2002 Lexus ES 300, I eliminated all those with duplicate VINs, even if the second post was legitimately to tell the NHTSA that the Toyota fix was not working.

#1008 of 1407 I'm Gone by pwgilbert

Jan 12, 2006 (12:21 pm)

I initially thought this was (could be?) a useful forum where people would actually help people solve problems. Instead, it is some sort of sophomoric debate team experience it seems--more interested in expressing opinions and philosophy and arguing and trying to support a particular viewpoint and putting people down instead of sticking with the issue at hand. I've outgrown my college debate team fun times. Have fun guys and gals. Bye. I won't miss you either.

#1009 of 1407 Re: I'm Gone [pwgilbert] by scoti1

Jan 12, 2006 (12:38 pm)

Replying to: pwgilbert (Jan 12, 2006 12:21 pm)
Sorry. The discussion did go off on an tangent shortly after your post. Sorry it didn't go the way you wanted. Didn't you post about a Honda Pilot? Maybe someone in a Honda forum (as opposed to Lexus) can have more to offer...

#1010 of 1407 Re: Lexus ES hesitation [cxc] by lambda

Jan 12, 2006 (4:23 pm)

Replying to: cxc (Jan 12, 2006 10:45 am)
Nice slam on Hyundai who tied Honda last year for second place in overall reliability (JDP) and made the most reliable car avalible in the US for 2005 with the Sonata according to Consumer Reports.

Messages Page 101 of 141

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