FaultScore

2004 Lexus ES 330 transmission problems

62 of the 188 complaints about the 2004 Lexus ES 330 are about the transmission — 33% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 500 miles.

D

62

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Automatic Transmission 48 77.4%
Power Train 7 11.3%
Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) 6 9.7%
Driveline 1 1.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 150,000 miles Olive Branch, MS

POWER TRAIN

UPPER RIGHT MOTOR MOUNT HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. NOW CAR IS VIBRATING BETWEEN 45-60 AND HAS NO POWER AND IS TAKING UP TO 1-2 MINUTE'S.

NHTSA complaint #11203848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles Edwardsburg, MI

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS ES330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT FROM SECOND TO THIRD, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM HESITATED AND AS A RESULT, THE COMPUTER MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE UPDATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING UP TO THEIR STANDARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA complaint #10426920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 97,834 miles Rancho Murieta, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING, MY TRANSMISSION FAILED ON MY 2004 LEXUS ES330 WITH 97,000 MILES. CARS WERE SWERVING TO AVOID HITTING ME AS MY CAR ALMOST CAME TO A STOP WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY ROAD. LEXUS CORPORATE GAVE ME HALF OFF THE PARTS FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND THE DEALER GAVE ME HALF OFF OF LABOR. HOWEVER, TRANSMISSIONS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO FAIL ON 1984 BUICKS, LET ALONE 2004 LEXUS' WITH UNDER 100,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10344972 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 42,000 miles Odessa, FL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS ES330. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS RANGING FROM 0-10 MILES PER HOUR, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION JERKED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HESITATE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 42,000.

NHTSA complaint #10329342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 32,000 miles Hamptonville, NC

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MY TRANSMISSION FEELS CONFUSED IN MY 2004 LEXUS ES 330. WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO TURN IN THE CITY OR PULL OUT OF YOUR DRIVEWAY MY CAR WILL HESITATE AND PAUSE FOR ABOUT A SECOND BEFORE ACCELERATING. THIS SEEMS TO BE VERY DANGEROUS AS I AM AFRAID THAT SOMEONE WILL HIT ME IN THE BACK BEFORE I CAN GET THE CAR UP TO THE DESIRED SPEED. I FIND MYSELF ALWAYS DOUBLE CHECKING SOMETIME TRIPLE CHECKING BEOFRE I PULL OUT. I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE AT MANY DIFFERENT WEBSITES AND I HAVE FOUND ABOUT 1900+ PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10323596 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 52,050 miles Fair Oaks, CA

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

MY LEXUS 2004 MODEL ES330 HAS BEEN ACCELERATING BY ITSELF. THIS ACCELERATION HAS BEEN HAPPENING TWO TO THREE TIMES A WEEK FOR ABOUT A YEAR. I DID NOT REALIZE THAT THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING BY ITSELF, BUT HAVE NOTICED MORE DURING LAST 3 TO 4 MONTHS.

NHTSA complaint #10314754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 10,047 miles Snellville, GA

POWER TRAIN

ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASING MY CERTIFIED/PREVIOUSLY OWNED 2004 LEXUS ES330 ON 9/30/05, I HAD THE DEALER CHECK VEHICLE'S SLOW TO SHIFT, SLIPPING THROUGH GEARS WHILE ACCELERATING, AND 'SURGING' WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP, AS IF GEARS/TRANSMISSION WERE SLOW TO GET THE MESSAGE. I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE CHECKED 5 TIMES (2005-2009), AND EACH TIME, THEY EITHER SAY THEY DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM OR, TWICE, RESET THE COMPUTER. I FEEL AS THOUGH I'M 'AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN,' HOWEVER, HAVE SEEN NO REPORTS/ INVESTIGATIONS/RECALLS ADDRESSING THESE LEXUS/TOYOTA PRODUCT ISSUES. PLEASE ADVISE HOW NHTSA/I CAN ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BEFORE I OR SOMEONE ELSE GETS HURT OR KILLED.

NHTSA complaint #10314578 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 16,000 miles Boca Raton, FL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2004 LEXUS 330 SINCE THE AUTO WAS PURCHASED AND DRIVEN OFF THE LOT, THERE HAS BEEN A NOTICEABLE DELAY FROM STOP OR SLOW SPEED ACCELERATION FROM THE TIME THE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED UNTIL THE ENGINE ACTUALLY STARTS TO DELIVER THE POWER. IF YOU STOMP THE PEDAL FOR A JACK-RABBIT START, THE DELAY IS NOT AS NOTICEABLE. THE DEALER J AND M, HAS BEEN GIVING ME THE RUN-AROUND SINCE PURCHASE WITH THE "NORMAL" PARTY LINE.

NHTSA complaint #10308516 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Scranton, PA Crash 1 injured

POWER TRAIN

I WAS IN A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT WHEN I STARTED MY CAR AND AS I PUT IT IN GEAR THE CAR SPED OUT OF CONTROL. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE AVOIDED THE OTHER CARS IN THE LOT BECAUSE THE BRAKES DID NOTHING BUT SQUEAL. UPON HITTING A CURB ON THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT, THE CAR SPUN AROUND AND CAME TO A STOP. MY CAR WAS NOW FACING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WITH A LOT OF DAMAGE. I WAS TREATED AT THE HOSPITAL AND RELEASED BUT HAD SEVERAL MONTHS OF THERAPY ON MY NECK. A FEW MONTHS AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM THERAPY, I HAD TO RETURN FOR A SECOND ROUND BECAUSE OF NECK PAIN. TOYOTA TIED UP MY CAR FOR A MONTH TO INVESTIGATE THE MATTER AND SENT ME A LETTER STATING THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR BUT IT WAS THE AFTER MANUFACTURE MATS. WHEN I ASKED FOR A COPY OF THE INVESTIGATORS REPORT, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR POLICY TO DO SO. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THEY ARE NOT RECALLING THE LEXUS ES330, AND OTHER PEOPLE MAY BE AT RISK. SINCE I STILL HAVE THE CAR, I WONDER IF THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM AND COVERED IT UP OR IF THE SAME THING MAY HAPPEN AGAIN. PLEASE INVESTIGATE PROBLEMS WITH THE LEXUS ES330 SERIOUSLY. I DO NOT FEEL THAT TOYOTA CARES ABOUT SAFETY WHEN IT MAY DIG INTO PROFITS.

NHTSA complaint #10304833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 64,500 miles Medina, OH

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MY 2004 LEXUS ES 330 SEDAN HAS A TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEM THAT I HAVE DESCRIBED TO THE DEALER AS "SLIPPING". WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS UNDER LOAD (GOING UP A HILL) AND YOU ACCELERATE OR DECELERATE YOU FEEL AND HEAR A DEFINITE ABRUPT SHIFT IN THE VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR TO TWO SEPARATE DEALERS OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS BEHAVIOR IS "TYPICAL".

NHTSA complaint #10303511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 94,000 miles Desoto, TX

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS ES 330. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING JERKS, CLICKS, AND FEELS AS IF IT COULD DETACH FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. IN ADDITION, TRANSMISSION FLUID IS LEAKING AND THE COMPUTER REFLASH CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDS TO BE REPROGRAMMED FOR FREE SO THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT FAIL. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THEY WILL NOT REPAIR IT BECAUSE IT EXCEEDS THE 50,000 MILE WARRANTY. THE MECHANIC WILL ONLY PROVIDE A TEMPORARY REMEDY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 94,000.

NHTSA complaint #10255049 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,500 miles Smyrna, GA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

DUE TO A LEXUS ADMITTED TRANSMISSION DEFECT, AT TIMES YOU PRESS THE GAS AND THE CAR SIMPLY DOESN'T GO. IT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET CRUNCHED WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. THERE'S NO DOUBT THIS WILL EVENTUALLY COST SOMEONE THEIR LIFE.

NHTSA complaint #10236768 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wiesbaden,Germany, AE

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

THERE'S A "LAG" IN THE SHIFTING OF GEARS DUE TO SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2004 LEXUS ES330. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW FROM A MAJOR LEXUS DEALERSHIP AT ROSEVILLE AUTO MALL, ROSEVILLE, CA. ALTHOUGH I NOTICED FROM THE START, A "SLIPPAGE" OR "LAG" DURING THE AUTOMATIC SHIFTING OF GEARS, AND BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP, THEY BRUSHED IT OFF AS "NORMAL". MY LEXUS NOW HAS 23,000 MILES ON ITS ODOMETER AND THIS "LAG" IS DRIVING ME NUTS! DRIVING IN EUROPE REQUIRES RAPID RESPONSES AND ADVANCED SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING ON THE AUTOBAUNS. THIS "GEAR SHIFT HESITATION" IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND OFTEN FINDS ME IN A SEMI-DANGEROUS SITUATION. MY DRIVING SKILL AND HABITS HAVE ACCOMMODATED THIS TRANSMISSION IDIOSYNCRASY BUT WHENEVER ANOTHER DRIVER DRIVES MY CAR THEY IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM AND I HAVE SO OFTEN BEEN ADVISED TO PLACE A COMPLAINT WITH THE LEXUS MANUFACTURER, I HAVE YET TO DO SO BECAUSE I SUSPECT IT WILL FALL ON DEAF EARS. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE? MY LEXUS HAS FEW MILES ON IT AND IS STILL WELL WITHIN IT'S WARRANTY. I HAVE RECENTLY READ THAT THE 2004 LEXUS ES330 IS WROUGHT WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. HAS LEXUS SERVED A RECALL ON MY MODEL? PLEASE ADVISE. I WILL APPRECIATE WHATEVER ASSISTANCE AND GUIDANCE YOU MAY SUGGEST. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I AM A US CITIZEN, AND RETIRED FEDERAL SERVICE WORKER. MY WIFE CURRENTLY WORKS FOR US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS HERE IN WIESBADEN, GERMANY. WIESBADEN RECENTLY OPENED A NEW AND LARGE LEXUS DEALERSHIP. DO YOU THINK THIS DEALERSHIP MIGHT KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IF I DISCUSS THE TRANSMISSION WITH THEM? DO YOU KNOW OF ANY "FIX" LEXUS IS PROVIDING FOR THIS PROBLEM? THANK YOU AGAIN. MY PHONE NUMBER IS TO LENGTHY TO FIT INTO THE SPACE PROVIDED BY THIS WEBSITE. APPRECIATIVELY, LEROY CLEMANS HALB . DR AND AS FINHESITATION" I NRLAG IN THE.

NHTSA complaint #10223768 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Roswell, GA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION ISSUES AND HESITATION IN ACCELERATION. HAVE BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES SINCE OCT 2006. DEALER "REPROGRAMS" THE TRANSMISSION BUT IT DOES NOTHING.

NHTSA complaint #10203203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100 miles Glendale, AZ

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE 2004 LEXUS MODEL ES 330 HAS A SAFETY DEFECT IN THE ITS TRANSMISSION THAT THE COMPANY REFUSES TO FIX. WHEN THE DRIVER TAKES HIS FOOT OFF THE GAS AND SLOWS DOWN, THEN STEPS BACK ON THE GAS, THERE IS A HESITATION AND AT TIMES A JERKING IN THE TRANSMISSION. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO LEXUS HAVE ONLY BROUGHT THE RESPONSE THAT THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT, BUT LEXUS WILL NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. AFTER SPENDING 35,000 DOLLARS FOR A CAR, THIS IS NOT THE RESPONSE ONE EXPECTS TO HEAR! AS ONE'S LEVEL OF FRUSTRATION WITH THE PROBLEM INCREASES, THE TEMPTATION IS TO SLAM YOUR FOOT ON THE GAS TO TRY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, WHICH COULD OBVIOUSLY LEAD TO MORE SERIOUS ISSUES. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE LOCAL LEXUS DEALERSHIP STATES HE HAS HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ISSUE, BUT LEXUS REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. THE DATE REFERENCED BELOW IS ONLY ONE OF CONTINUOUS DATES THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED; AGAIN LEXUS HAS BEEN NON RESPONSIVE AND BLATANTLY CALLOUS TO REQUESTS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10202253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 54,000 miles Friendswood, TX

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION SHIFTING LURCH BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MPH STILL RE-OCCURRING AFTER TWO SOFTWARE PROGRAM UPDATES.

NHTSA complaint #10201993 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 2,500 miles Alpharetta, GA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

OUR 2004 LEXUS E330 HAS EXHIBITED MANY LIFE THREATENING PROBLEMS INVOLVING ITS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PERFORMANCE. OF GREATEST CONCERNS ARE LIFE THREATENING INSTANCES OVER THE TWO YEARS. HESITATIONS OCCUR WHEN PRESSING THE GAS DURING CRITICAL ENTRY ATTEMPTS ONTO INTERSTATE HWYS, ETC. WHERE WE HAVE EXPERIENCED NEAR DEADLY TRANSMISSION HESITATIONS OF NEEDED POWER GETTING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. MY WIFE WAS ALMOST KILLED BY AN 18 WHEELER WHEN SHE OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE HAD ADEQUATE TIME TO SAFELY MERGE HAD THE TRANSMISSION NOT HESITATED. SHE WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE SURVIVED. JUST ONE OF MANY CLOSE CALLS. ANOTHER ES 330 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS THE UNTENABLE, UNTIMELY, ROUGH DOWN AND UP SHIFTING BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND GEARS THAT LEXUS HAS ADVISED HAS BEEN CORRECTED IN THE 2007 MODELS WHICH OF COURSE WILL NOT HELP WITH THIS VEHICLE I AM STUCK WITH. SUCH ADMITTANCE SUPPORT MY ARGUMENT THAT THEY ARE QUITE AWARE OF THIS VERY UN- LEXUS TYPE PERFORMANCE IN THE 2004. WHAT A SHAME THAT LEXUS WOULD LET THE GREAT LEXUS NAME BE SO DEGRADED BY THEIR FAILURE TO SUPPORT THEIR FAITHFUL CUSTOMERS IN SUCH JUSTIFIED COMPLAINTS; THIS IS OUR THIRD LEXUS!

NHTSA complaint #10167745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 35 miles Lutz, FL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

VERY BAD HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING. TOOK DELIVERY 4/27/04 AND FOUND THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY. COMPLAINED AT 1000 MILE CHECKUP. TOLD TO GIVE IT TIME. COMPLAINED AGAIN AT 5000 CHECKUP. THEY SAID THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND IT WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. PROBLEM CONTINUED. COMPLAINED AT 15000 CHECKUP (9/28/05). PERFORMED AT THIS CHECKUP PER INVOICE: EG5017 26 99 .9 PERFORM TSB TC004-03. RECALIBRATE ECM ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM IS BETTER BUT STILL EXISTS. HAVE NOTICED VIA INTERNET RESEARCH THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THE LEXUS ES. SPOKE TODAY (11/28/05) WITH A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT MY DEALERSHIP AND HE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM THEY ARE DEALING WITH AND THERE APPEARS TO BE NO ONE GOOD FIX FOR IT.

NHTSA complaint #10143782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 12,000 miles Greensboro, NC

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WE HAVE A 2004 LEXUS ES330 WITH 22,000 MILES. WE HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HESITATION, HARD SHIFTS AND MISSED GEARS FOR THE LAST 10,000 MILES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPUTER MODULE AT 16,000 MILES AND THE CAR IS A LITTLE BETTER BUT NOT MUCH. I TOOK IT BACK IN FOR THE PROBLEM AT 21,000 MILES AND THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR, BUT THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT LEXUS TOLD THEM THAT THEY WERE HAVING TROUBLE WITH A NUMBER OF THE ES CARS AFTER THE MODULE WAS CHANGED BUT THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO TELL THE DEALER TO FIX IT. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH LEXUS AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVE AGAIN ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SHIFTING IN THE ES. ALTHOUGH BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER HAVE BOTH ADMITTED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET THEM TO EVEN ATTEMPT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR OVER 1/3 OF THE TIME THAT WE HAVE HAD THE CAR AND NOW I HAVE TO WAIT 2 MORE WEEKS FOR A LEXUS REP TO COME INTO TOWN TO "TALK TO ME". THE LEXUS PEOPLE TOLD ME THEY WERE GOING TO LOOK INTO MY COMPLAINTS AND CALL ME BACK IN A COUPLE OF DAYS AND 10 DAYS LATER I STILL HAD NOT HEARD FROM THEM. NOT ONLY DO I FIND THE PROBLEM VERY ANNOYING I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE HESITATION PROBLEM COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT, AND I AM QUITE SURE THAT THE ERRATIC SHIFTING WILL LEAD TO PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10142992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Morton Grove, IL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2004 ES 330 EXHIBITING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS EVEN AFTER "DEALER FIX". THERE IS SEVER GEAR HUNTING AT EVERY SPEED SOMETIMES RESULTS IN A LAG OF ACCELERATION OR ACCELERATION LURCHES THAT RESULT IN CLOSE CALL ACCIDENTS. NOTE THAT THIS PROBLEM DID NOT START OCCURRING UNTIL AFTER 2,000 MILES OF DRIVING AFTER THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AS BRAND NEW.

NHTSA complaint #10136790 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100 miles Fullerton, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH MY 2004 ES330 I AM BECOMING VERY CONCERNED WITH MY NEW 2004 LEXUS. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SERVICE CENTER FOUR (4) TIMES NOW WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE SERVICE CENTER KEEPS TELLING ME THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT IT IS THE WAY I DRIVE... MY 1999 LEXUS DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND I AM PERPLEXED ON WHY I AM BEING TOLD IT IS ME AND NOT THE CAR. THIS LAST SERVICE CALL ON AUGUST 22ND I WAS TOLD TO USE A HIGHER GRADE OF GASOLINE. I HAVE NOW GONE THROUGH A TANK OF THE HIGH GRADE GAS AND MY TRANSMISSION IS STILL SLIPPING. I NOTICE IT WHEN I SLOW TO NEGOTIATE A TURN, WHEN I AM DRIVING BETWEEN 15 AND 20 MILES PER HOUR, ALSO NOW WHEN I AM MERGING INTO TRAFFIC EITHER SLOW OR FROM A STOP THE CAR HESITATES AND THEN LURCHES FORWARD WITH A KICK.. I AM BEGINNING TO BE AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR NOT KNOWING WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT. I HAVE 3 CHILDREN THAT NEED TO BE SHUTTLED AROUND EVERY DAY AND I AM CONCERNED FOR THEIR SAFETY AS WELL.. I WANT TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE SERVICE CENTER BUT THE FEELING I AM GETTING IS THAT THEY THINK I AM CRAZY. THIS IS DUE TO THEY SAY THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. ALSO, I DON'T NEED EXTRA HORSE POWER WITH THE HIGHER GRADE OF GAS, THE LEXUS HAS PLENTY OF POWER... CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME IN THIS MATTER? THIS TRANSMISSION IS JUNK... I HAVE HAD MY HUSBAND DRIVE THE CAR AND HE CONCURS THAT THE TRANSMISSION DOES SLIP AND HE FEELS IT MUST BE SOME TYPE OF MODULATOR THAT IS NOT GETTING THE FLUID TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.. I HAVE LESS THAN 15,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND WITH THIS PROBLEM IT FEELS LIKE I AM DRIVING A CAR WITH 150,000 MILES ON IT... I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE NOR SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR... PLEASE HELP... I HAVE CALLED LEXUS 2 DAYS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF MY CAR WHEN I FIRST FELT THE IRREGULAR SHIFTING PATTERNS.. THINKING IT WOULD GET BETTER I WAITED UNTIL MY 1000 MILE SERVICE CHECK TO BRING IT UP A AGAIN.. IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE.

NHTSA complaint #10135696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50 miles Mission Viejo, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE CAR HESITATES WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED AND THEN IT LURCHES INTO GEAR. IT HAS ALSO PULLED TO THE LEFT SINCE WE BOUGHT IT DESPITES NUMEROUS REPAIR ATTEMPTS. WE ARE CURRENTLY ENAGED IN A LEMON LAWSUIT REGARDING THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10133241 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 8,000 miles Danbury, CT

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

I NOT LONGER HAVE CONFIDENCE IN DRIVING MY LEXUS 2004 ES330 WITH 12,500 MILES DUE TO 2 MAIN REASONS. (A) THIS CAR CONTINUE TO PULL TO THE LEFT TO THE POINT THAT I MUST CONTINUALLY PUT PRESSURE TO THE STEERING WHEEL SO THE CAR WONT MOVE TO THE LEFT. THIS IS HAPPENING EVEN AFTER THE DEALER HAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED ISSUE. (B) THE VERY WELL KNOWN TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN MANY INSTANCES WHERE YOU NEED TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC AND THE CAR DOES NOT RESPONDED TO THE GAS PEDAL. THE SYMPTOM IS VERY NOTICEABLE WHEN YOU ARE ON STOP AND GO TRAFFIC OR IN SLOW TRAFFIC. I URGE YOUR AGENCY TO INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER BEFORE ANY CASUALTY OCCURS. LEXUS NORMAL RESPONSE IS THAT THE CAR IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE DEALER MUST HAVE BEEN TOLD TO EXPRESS THE SAME LINE AS THEY ALWAYS HAVE THE SAME ANSWER FOR ANYTHING THEY DO NOT HAVE A SOLUTION FOR.

NHTSA complaint #10126975 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 1,000 miles Langhorne, PA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

SEVERE HESITATION WHEN MERGING ON TO A HIGWAY AT BETWEEN 20 AND 30 MPH. DEALER SERVICE HAS CHECKED VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY AND "ITS NORMAL FOR A LEXUS"

NHTSA complaint #10121789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 500 miles Morganville, NJ

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AT LOW SPEED ABOUT 20-25 MPH LETTING GO OF THE GAS PEDAL AND PRESS ON AGAIN CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO HESITATE FOR AT LEAST 1-2 SECOND LIKE IT IS SEARCHING FOR THE RIGHT GEAR. THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10121334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 200 miles Scottsdale, AZ

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHEN DRIVING, THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE COMPUTER SETTINGS WERE CHANGED, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HESITATE. *AK THERE WERE SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONSUMER WOULD ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE. LEXUS DID NOT SEEM TO HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *SC

NHTSA complaint #10115534 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Coral Springs, FL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THIS COMPLAINT IS ABOUT MY 2004 LEXUS ES 330 BOUGHT IN AUGUST 2004. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE TRANSMISSION WHICH HESITATES VERY OFTEN WHEN IT SHIFTS DOWN FROM 2ND GEAR TO 1ST GEAR AND THEN BACK UP. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM MANY TIMES IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS. EVEN THOUGH IT HAS NOT CAUSED ANY ACCIDENT, LEXUS SHOULD ADMIT IT IS A DEFECT DESIGN AND SHOULD FIX THE TRANSMISSION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

NHTSA complaint #10114292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Albertville, MN

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I OWN A 2004 LEXUS ES 330 AND THE TRANSMISSION JERKS AND HESITATES UPON ACCELERATION. THIS DEFECT HAS PUT ME AT RISK NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED; THE RISK BEING THAT THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES AND UPON GIVING IT MORE GAS IT DECIDES TO OVERCOMPENSATE, CAUSING NEAR COLLISIONS WITH THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. THE LEXUS DEALER HAS DISMISSED THE PROBLEM AND HAS NOT INCLUDE IT IN THE SERVICE REPORTS, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE REQUESTED IT BE EXAMINED. THEY STATE THAT THE CAR IS LEARNING MY DRIVING HABITS. THIS IS A SMOKESCREEN AND UNACCEPTABLE; I AM CERTAIN THIS COMPLAINT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE NHSTA BEFORE. LEXUS REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED ON NUMEROUS WEB SITES. THANK YOU!

NHTSA complaint #10112425 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Houston, TX

POWER TRAIN

VEHICLE HAVE EXPERIENCED HESITATION WHEN NEED TO ACCELERATE. *BF THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE COMPUTER THAT CAUSED A DELAY BETWEEN THE DEPRESSION OF THE ACCELERATOR AND THE RESPONSE BY THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP BETWEEN SHIFTS AND THE DRIVER SEAT SQUEAKED.

NHTSA complaint #10109393 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 7,000 miles Palm Beach Gardens, FL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

VEHICLE SURGED WHEN CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED AT 60 MPH. IT SURGED UP TO 80 MPH. IT FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING DOWN HILL. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ALSO, TRANSMISSION HESITATED AT 0-20 MPH, IT ALSO JERKED. *AK.......LEXUS HAS ADMITTED THE PROBLEM, BUT MAINTAINED THAT VEHICLE DROVE AS DESIGNED. HESITATION PROBLEM EXPERIENCED BY MANY LEXUS ES330 CAR VEHICLE HESITATION, THEN WILL LURCH FORWARD WHEN ACCELERATING A TLOW SPEEDS. LEXUS HAS ADMITTED THE PROBLEM, BUT INSISTED VEHICLE DROVE AS DESIGNED.

NHTSA complaint #10106940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2004 Lexus ES 330 problems

← Full 2004 Lexus ES 330 report