Power Train Problems of Lexus ES300

I purchased a used 2003 Lexus es30from used car dealer. After a couple days of driving it I noticed it was shifting gears innormally. It would surge up to 4000rmp before shifting to 2nd gear and at one point wasn't moving while I hit the gas the acceleration very fast out of nowhere. My mother also had this same year make and model vehicle a few years back and it had the same problem before the transmission went out. I did some research online and found many other Lexus customers experienced the same problem. I found a web site that claimed that there was a TSB put out for this vehicle and that the Lexus/Toyota dealerships would fix this problem with an upgrade. I was wondering if this upgrade is still available and if my vehicle would qualify? and if so how would I go about this process.

See all problems of the 2003 Lexus ES300 🔎.

I was driving and the vehicle started to stall and then jolt increasing and decreasing in acceleration by itself I have already had the transmission serviced and rebuilt a couple years ago and now it seems to be doing the same thing.

See all problems of the 2000 Lexus ES300 🔎.

Dealer and finance company claim clean title but documents reflect otherwise.

See all problems of the 2002 Lexus ES300 🔎.

I purchased my vehicle from carmax about 2. 5 months ago with an extended warranty. After driving my vehicle daily back and forth to work, I noticed the hesitation while coming to complete stop or a traffic light. The rpm would increase while the transmission would hesitate when I pushed the accelerator between the speeds of 10 - 35 mph. At first sign, it appeared the transmission was defected, so I decided to take it to carmax service center. Two days later I received my 2003 Lexus Es300 with a clean slate (the service technicians indicated the transmission did not indicated wear) and I was told to bring it back if I still had the same problem. I am taking my vehicle to the service center with more information tomorrow. Lexus/Toyota needs to either recall these vehicles to fix this issue or they will have a major lawsuits from a lot of people with a class action suite. This is a very dangerous situation and needs to be address from Lexus/Toyota representatives to keep Toyota/Lexus in good standings. After reading other complaints, I am really nervous about driving my vehicle and I just purchased it.

My 2002 Lexus Es300 has been jerking and shifting very hard on acceleration. It seems to have more of a problem when I accelerate slowly in the lower gears. It jerks very noticeably. I was told it was just the nature of the car, but it has been getting much worse over the course of the last year. It also hesitates when stepping on the gas after deceleration.

The contact owns a 2001 Lexus Es300. While driving 8 mph, the contact noticed a bump vibration coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact also noticed that the vehicle would unexpectedly shift into reverse. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that metal fillings were found inside of the transmission. The vehicle was then taken to a local mechanic, where the transmission was replaced. The failure and current mileages were 110,000.

See all problems of the 2001 Lexus ES300 🔎.

We have experienced on several occassions that vehicle hesitates when trying to accelerate at stop sign or when initialy in start to drive at about 20-30 miles per hour at times for few seconds & at times it rattles 3-4 times. This car was purchased as certified pre-owned from Lexus dealer in excellent condition in 2006 that came with extended warranty upto 75000 miles but this problem started with slight & smooth jerk about 3 years back, took it to dealer after noticed for few times to diagnosis. At first instance they could not feel it since it was not consistent but when again complained for second time was told that it could be fuel injectors cloged followed by other list of potential service items we were talking about $1000+ expense which we denied it since we have always maintained our car good & always use 93 or 89 octaine gas with maintenance service as recommended. This one is my wife's vehicle & used to commute to work mostly on express way. We do have couple other issues with this car but not as important. Now, lately this hesitation frequency have increased & from what I hear is that we are not alone and this seems to be an ongoing issue with some other Es300 owners as well.

On 11/20/09, I was parked in front of my house in my 2002 Lexus Es300. When I put the car in drive, it boomed forth, and the brake didn't work. I tried to get around the car that was parked in front of me but the speed was such that I hit it. There was damage to my car and the car I hit. The driver was in the car and has since claimed she was injured. I had another instance of unintended acceleration 2 years prior to this incident but was able to stop. I urge you to push Toyota to admit that there are cases of unintended acceleration in models that pre-date the ones they are recalling and to rectify the problem.

I was driving slowly, less than 10 mph, approaching a red light behind another vehicle. Suddenly, my car accelerated forward and could not be stopped by braking. I collided with the rear end of the car in front of me. There were no injuries, but both cars had significant damage.

The transmission in this car is unpredictable. It jerks, jumps and on occasion lurches ahead. It will hesitate when starting from stand still or when moving ahead at very low speeds. I have repeatedly taken it to the dealer. They have done 2 computer down loads of a supposed fix. The first lasted a day. I've been told to use only premium fuel, as this would help. I've used premium since that time with little change in the cars perfomance. My wife does not want to drive the car because of a near t-bone in a cross pattern traffic. I've had 4 similar experinces. This probem became apparent at about 1000 to 1200 miles and exits tody at about 4000 miles. All of these querky problems exist below 40 miles per hour. If you drive very aggressively (stomp on the accelerator)they aren't evident. . . To some exte the same is true if you barely depress the accelerator when starting to move.

After starting the vehicle, the consumer pressed on the accelerator pedal and the vehicle hesitated before moving. The cause was not determined.

There is a pronounced hesitation when the accelerator is floored. This has been there since I leased the car and I do not know if it is due to a transmission lapse or throttle problem. I have had a number of near accidents when I pulled out to pass and there was no acceleration. Lexus has acknowledged this problem and offered a fix, but it did not solve the problem. They now say that the car is performing as designed.

The Lexus specialist at the repair shop informed me that he has seen similar problems with other ES 300 models as well as the rl models at about the same mileage. The ones with the Toyota camry engines haven\\\\\\'t had any problems. There is a TSB on the NHTSA website and I have also filed a complaint there.

See all problems of the 1999 Lexus ES300 🔎.

Transmission gets confused when shifting into and out of the lower gears, then spends too long trying to figure out what gear to be in. This causes dangerous delays in acceleration, the effect is the same as a momentary engine stall. We have had this happen on several occasions, freeway ramp entrances are certainly the most dangerous place that this has occurred. Dealer acknowledges that there have been complaints about the shifting delays but they say no fix is available. This is our third Es300, the previous models used a cable between the gas pedal and the throttle, this new one uses what is called "fly by wire", a position sensor on the accelarator that a computer is supposed to use to figure out what to tell the engine and transmission. It isn't working very well. If not rectified this problem will certainly lead to a crash someday, then we'll get to see how good the safety equipment is.

The consumer states that he cannot view the instrument panel during the daytime. The mfr advised the consumer that the panel is designed that way. The consumer states that the white numbers on the instruments were okay, but it is extremely difficult to see the red needle during the day light (unless your in the shade/or in the evening). The consumer states that he is unable to tell the speed of travel, whether the engine is overheating, and/or the amount of fuel left. Also the multi-information displays and the odometer readings are barely visible during the daylight hours. The consumer states that he receives a standard answer that the instrument panel is working as designed.

In day light hours when sun is out consumer can't see dials on speedometer, unable to tell how fast vehicle was going. Consumer felt this was very unsafe. Consumer also can not see the fuel gauge, engine speed and engine temperature.

When the transmission shifts between first and second gears at a slow steady speed(approx 20mph) the car will frequently violently jerk. My car has 75000 miles and has done it since day one.

On oing problem with erratic odometer not registering properly. Dealer notified ,and informed nothing could be found. Please feel free to provide any further details.

See all problems of the 1997 Lexus ES300 🔎.

2000 Lexus Es300 engine began losing power while driving at 65-70 mph. When the accelerator was pressed there was no acceleration but the tachometer was swinging wildly. The vehicle was towed to a service facility who indicated that the transmission needed to be replaced.

2002 Lexus Es300 has a lag in time between stepping on the gas and the transmission responding to put the car in motion. The hesitation is most pronounced when braking and then needing to rapidly accelerate. The consumer feels the inability of the vehicle to respond in a timely manner is hazardous. The manufacturer was contacted.

Can't read speedometer in bright daylight with headlights on and driver wearing sun glasses.

Very difficult to see speedomoter - dark background with dark needle requires too much time to see speed.

Cannot see speed reading on dashboard in sunlight. Dealership is aware of problem. The consumer also states that the change of instruments did not correct the problem. The service department said that this model has the same lighting. Right front door hard to close due to being misaligned, dealer adjusted door striker, speedometer needles difficult to see.

While driving when sun is shining consumer is unable to read speed odometer due to poor design, black back round with white numbers and a black needle. Dealer has been contacted. Please provide further information.