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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 69 of 142

#676 of 1407 Re: I have had four ES 300s; am presently driving a 2002 [atoews] by jragosta1

Feb 03, 2005 (7:57 pm)

Replying to: atoews (Feb 03, 2005 1:11 pm)
As I've explained earlier, one of my biggest complaints about the way Lexus is handling this is their insistence that the car operates as designed.
 
Now, if they said 'some drivers experience a hesitatation but we don't think it's severe enough to cause a safety issue', that would be better. Insisting that the car is DESIGNED to have a huge lag for many drivers is just plain offensive.
 
WHy do I bring it up now? I just took my car in for its 20,000 mile service and asked them to look at a few other things. One of them is an item I've complained about at least 5 times. I like my seat all the way back. I move it back and program the memory to stay there. After my wife drives the car (she moves the seat way forward), I hit the memory button to return the seat to the furthest back position - but it doesn't go all the way back. It stops about an inch short. I've taken it in 5 times and they always say they can't duplicate it.
 
Today, the service manager said 'oh, yes, we've seen that problem before and it's designed that way'. Huh? They designed it to go to a different position than it was programmed? And if it was designed that way, why didn't they tell me that the first 5 times?
 
Again, an honest answer would have been 'because of the tolerances, it's not unusual to get an error of 1" or so in the memory settings, but we have never found a way to avoid that' or something like that. Telling me time after time that I'm imagining the problem is the worst possible customer service.
 
I'm even more convinced that this is my last Lexus. I just talked someone else out of buying one today.

#677 of 1407 Re: transmission problems? [greathanny] by turnbowm

Feb 03, 2005 (11:49 pm)

Replying to: greathanny (Nov 27, 2004 10:26 am)
From what other posters in various forums have indicated, the hesitation problem has NOT been solved in the 2005 ES330.
  
I recently test drove a new 2005 ES330 and the hesitation was VERY noticeable. Others have suggested that the electronic throttle is a contributing factor. I was also contemplating the purchase of a new ES330, but a real safety issue is suggested by the sheer number of complaints filed with the NHTSA.
  
Hesitation problem aside, the 2005 ES330 offers a VERY comfortable ride with a well-designed interior. In driving the car, however, I had a strange feeling of being DISCONNECTED! A very different driving experience from my wife's '98 ES300.
  
For those who value comfort above all else, however, the ES330 is an easy choice.
  
Martin T.

#678 of 1407 Re: toydriver [davidz] by turnbowm

Feb 04, 2005 (12:04 am)

Replying to: davidz (May 19, 2004 7:02 pm)
The sheer number of complaints (almost 100 over the 2002-2005 period) filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) suggests that the hesitation problem poses a real safety issue.
 
It's interesting that pre-2002 ES300s with 4-speed automatics and mechanical linkage between gas pedal and throttle control didn't have the problem. Makes you wonder if they're the ones with the advanced technology!
 
Martin T.

#679 of 1407 Re: Major problem today, related to tranny? [toyo_z] by toyo_z

Feb 05, 2005 (11:19 am)

Replying to: toyo_z (Feb 03, 2005 6:09 pm)
So the dealer called me back today, the computer that runs the engine needs to be replaced. This is really distressing, since the car is only a couple of years old and had it been out of warranty (it's getting close), this is a kilobuck+ repair.
 
Maybe the replacement unit will take care of some of the tranny issues too, but i doubt it.
 
Is there a thread anywhere on edmunds discussing the over-computerization of modern cars?
 
I think the pendulum has swung too far on the side of technology, and since the late 90's cars have actually been getting less reliable.

#680 of 1407 Re: Major problem today, related to tranny? [toyo_z] by scoti1

Feb 07, 2005 (7:00 am)

Replying to: toyo_z (Feb 05, 2005 11:19 am)
Regarding over-computerization - check out the Engine Hesitation discussion forum and a recent posting by User777 -- some interesting discussion on this issue.
 
http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.ef4cdbd/180
 
Also, FYI, there is a new Post-Gazette article posted in that forum about NHTSA considering opening an investigation on the hesitation issue:
 
  
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05036/453222.stm

#681 of 1407 Re: Major problem today, related to tranny? [scoti1] by mrdlexus

Feb 07, 2005 (8:27 am)

Replying to: scoti1 (Feb 07, 2005 7:00 am)
I hope a formal investigation is opened, this problem has gone on long enough!! The hesitation and poor shifting has destroyed an otherwise beautiful car. If Toyota/Lexus can permanently fix the problem I would purchase another ES, but if they don't I will look to other car manufacturers. Hopefully some bad publicity thrown at Lexus will motivate them to fix the problem. If you look at all the complaints towards the ES a very high percentage is for the throttle/transmission, very few complaints about anything else. Fix this problem and Lexus will definitely have the best car with the highest owner satisfaction. All you have to do is look at the JD Power rankings for the 04 model year, mechanical quality is about equal to a Hyundai!!!! The pre 02 ES's were awesome, lets get back to where we were a few short years ago.

#682 of 1407 Re: Lexus 'customer service' again [kreativ] by jragosta1

Feb 10, 2005 (8:04 am)

Replying to: kreativ (Feb 03, 2005 4:01 pm)
The problem with the memory issue is that it takes several days for it to appear. I drive the car with the seat all the way back - and set the memory. My wife drives it with the seat forward. I move it back. And so on. I might have to spend all afternoon in the car to make it happen - and the dealer would simply say "there's some variation, but yours is within acceptable limits" anyway.

#683 of 1407 Re: Lexus 'customer service' again [jragosta1] by shocaser

Feb 18, 2005 (12:52 pm)

Replying to: jragosta1 (Feb 10, 2005 8:04 am)
I have an 04 ES330 and had a problem with the memory on the drivers seat. I am 6' 5" tall and set the seat all the way back, tilt the front all the way up and tilt the back of the seat all the way down. After setting the memory 1 button, the settings would gradually move. After 4 weeks, the memory would be off at least 1".
 
When I took the car in for the 5,000 mile check-up, they fixed the creaking from the seat, but told me they could not duplicate the problem with the memory. They also suggested that I change brands of gas to eliminate the rotten-egg smell. They did not fix the rattle that I was hearing from the dashboard.
 
When I picked up the car I reset the memory. I took the car back in 1,000 miles later for the passenger seat recall. I showed the tech the amount that the seat moved. They replaced the entire driver's seat. They also found that the dashboard rattle was from the wiper blade assembly and fixed that. But now, the drivers seat is creaking again.

#684 of 1407 Hesitation Problems by turnbowm

Feb 18, 2005 (8:35 pm)

Recently talked to a Lexus salesman who admitted that every 2005 ES330 that he has driven exhibited the hesitation problem! He went on to say that a totally new throttle control system will be used in MY2006, which will take care of the problem for once and for all.
 
As a related point of interest, drove a new 2006 GS300 with the new 6-speed tranny and 3.0L V6 with the new throttle system and I was very impressed. NO hesitation and the upshifts/downshifts were flawless!
 
Martin T.

#685 of 1407 Re: Hesitation Problems [turnbowm] by atoews

Feb 19, 2005 (2:47 pm)

Replying to: turnbowm (Feb 18, 2005 8:35 pm)
This kind of thing irritates me. If Toyota/Lexus does not admit that there is problem, then how can this salesman say that the 2006 will fix the problem? The salesman is hoping that a new throttle control design will fix the problem, but there is no way he can be sure. There is no way he can be sure because if Toyota won't admit the problem, then there is no way the salesman knows the engineering/design details that caused the problem in the first place, and therefore he can't be certain of how the problem will be fixed.
 
My own view is that the problem will likely be fixed with a new design, but there is no way I'd rely on this being true. As a potential buyer, I'd want some way to prove it to myself before I bought the car.

Messages Page 69 of 142

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