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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 19 of 141

#181 of 1407 2002 Lexus ES 300 (Dan Jedlicka 's review) by motownusa

Oct 13, 2003 (4:57 pm)

"Despite the zoomier styling, the emphasis is on luxury and refinement. The ES 300 is not a sports sedan. If you want such a car, Lexus would be happy to introduce you to its harder-edged IS 300 sedan, which now can be had with a manual transmission
 
Acceleration is strong, but hardly neck snapping (0-60 mph in 8.1 seconds). A new electronic throttle feature provides sharper accelerator pedal response, and the engine loafs at 2300 rpm at 70 mph.
 
But, while the new 5-speed automatic transmission upshifts seamlessly, it is slow to downshift—leaving the impression that the ES 300 would rather not be driven aggressively".
 
The above review is from carpoint.msn.com. Looks like when test driving the car he felt the so called problem. But his reasoning is that the car is geared toward comfort and refinement rather than spirited driving. Nowhere in the review does he calls the slow downshift nature a safety issue. Other magazines like Consumer Report, Consumer Digest and JD Powers gave glowing reviews about the 02 and 03 ES300. In fact JD Power called it the best entry level Luxury sedan. 90% of the people who own this car don't drive like some of the people who are posting here drives.

#182 of 1407 That's why I'm turning down these by zueslewis

Oct 13, 2003 (5:15 pm)

cases when presented - I've only seen two, and I don't believe there's a problem.
 
I certainly won't support the issue and testify on behalf of a consumer in a lemon law arbitration or trial.

#183 of 1407 zueslewis - Too bad you can't ride with texas83 by atoews

Oct 13, 2003 (6:30 pm)

I suspect that if you were in a vehicle where the problem was repeated, you might see things a little differently.
 
This topic is really beginning to fascinate me!! Those of us who feel the problem just can't conceive of a driver who has NEVER felt it!! And those who don't have the problem just can't seem to repeat it. Very, very strange.

#184 of 1407 Perhaps - but my job by zueslewis

Oct 13, 2003 (8:04 pm)

is to devalue vehicles with major issues, not a quirk. Most state's lemon laws are very specific - the ones I deal with (PA, NJ, DE) certainly are. If it's not a "significant impairment of use, safety, or value"...
 
I've yet to hear of a vehicle being wrecked or needing to be towed for this anomoly.

#185 of 1407 zeuslewis - I agree with you by atoews

Oct 13, 2003 (11:07 pm)

I have not experienced the issue as danger to my safety. I think it can seem that way, however. Some folks say they experience a two to three second delay when they are trying to accelerate. I think it is more like one second, but when you are in the midst of freeway traffic, that one to three seconds can seem like a long time.

#186 of 1407 Riding with someone by texas83

Oct 18, 2003 (6:43 am)

I had a judge actually drive my car. The result was the judge awarded me another car. The transmission failed twice for the judge. Lexus looked pretty stupid, and I think that is proof enough. Unfortunately, the new one has similar though somewhat different problems. I've driven the Camry, the IS, the RX and I and didn't notice the problem at all. In fact, I was really impressed with the way the IS shifted. I've also driven two loaner ES's. One ES I noticed the problem and one I didn't.
 
I've been persistently pushing Lexus about this and they were always saying they would come out with something to fix the problem. Now the same people are saying there absolutely is no problem, and that the dealerships have been previously misinformed. Sound fishy? I don't think we can expect anything more from Lexus.
 
I really goofed with that judge. I should have asked for my money back, but I believed in Lexus. Now I know they're just another auto manufacturer. The Texas Motor Vehicle commission was surprised that Lexus didn't try to intervene and avoid a hearing. The problem is Lexus doesn't know how to fix the transmission. My car is definitely better after the last upgrade but not fixed. Don't count on anymore upgrades.

#187 of 1407 texas83 by lexusrock

Oct 18, 2003 (9:20 am)

Sounds like some ES have it and some don't (were the two loaners from the same year)? Can you describe what exactly the sympton is. And what do you mean by new ES having similar but different problem?

#188 of 1407 My transmission has been fixed! by hmehrman

Oct 18, 2003 (9:35 am)

About a week ago I complained in this forum (message #178) that after having the software update installed on my 03 ES300, I experienced a 1-2 second delay when the vehicle shifting from L to 2nd. I took my Lexus back to the dealer yesterday. The shop manager and I took a test drive. As we were leaving the shop and drove down an alley the car shifted from L to 2nd. The shop manager was astounded. There was no question in his mind that there was a problem. We drove back to the shop and the shop manager installed a diagnostic device under the steering wheel. After pushing a few buttons and removing the device we went for a second test drive. The shifting is now much much smoother. He explained to me that when the software change was made, one step had not been done. Apparently the computer on the Lexus creates a driver profile (lead foot, light foot?) and adjusts the transmission operation over a period of time to give a smoother shifting experience. My previous profile should have been deleted so that a new profile could be started. The initial test drive, diagnostic test, profile deletion and second test drive took no more than half and hour. I am once again a happy Lexus owner.

#189 of 1407 2003 Lexus ES 300 Steering - Impressions by billb18

Oct 20, 2003 (11:34 am)

My 2003 ES 300 seems to have a tendency to drift on flat straight-aways going at typical highway speeds (65 MPH). I was under the impression that a car of this calibre would behave "as if it were on rails", not needing me to slightly correct/counter-correct its tendency to drift either right or left. I would not think that there is an alignment problem or a wheel balance problem in a brand new car with 3000 miles on it. I am the only driver and I have not run into any curbs or damaged the front end in any manner. Is it possible for me to have the steering linkages "tightened up" so that it would feel more rock solid on flat straight-aways? Thanks for any feedback.

Messages Page 19 of 141

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