Four problems related to automatic transmission have been reported for the 2002 Lexus ES. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2002 Lexus ES based on all problems reported for the 2002 ES.
Transmission shifts roughly and sometimes abruptly in the lower gears. The downshift at times is very hard. The vehicle will also surge forward at times or will not accelerate for several seconds after the accelerator is depressed.
The transmission on this vehicle will hesitate and surge causing erratic behavior. This behavior is dangerous and annoying. One never knows how it will react. I would like this fixed once and for all. The dealer has not been able to fix after several attempts. The Lexus user group has many complaints regarding this behavior. This is a problem that may get someone injured.
When my vehicle is immediately put in drive gear from reverse gear, foot taken off the brake and tap the gas pedal, my vehicle surges forward as if it is in full throttle. As result, my vehicle jumped the curb and impacted a brick wall. I suffered a bloody nose and a cut on my hand. The vehicle suffered frontal damage and is undriveable. I have contacted the auto manufacturer. They will tow and inspect it.
This vehicle hesitates intermittently in traffic and has a dangerous loss of power. When I pull out into traffic, or turn a corner, the vehicle occasionally loses power and will not engage for several seconds, then the vehicle will proceed. I have also had the transmission completely blow up and the vehicle completely lost power, and had to be towed. The dealer has denied that this problem exists, and that I am the only one that is experiencing this problem. They have refused any assistance.