Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!

Transmission problems with Lexus ES?

12224262728

Comments

  • atoewsatoews Member Posts: 637
    I am going to guess that you live in an area that is fairly flat, i.e. devoid of hills and mountains. Is this true?

    I will also guess that you did not stop for fast food ever during the time you got that great gas mileage.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Price is high retail price. It had better be very very clean for this money. Miles are a little scary though...more like 110K-125K would be nice if you could find one. At 165K you might not have but a few years left in this car.
  • fredvhfredvh Member Posts: 857
    Thanks amf1932 for the info. Did you happen to see what the driver information computer had for that tank of gas? When I fill mine up next time I will advise as to the mpg that I get.
  • es4jbes4jb Member Posts: 17
    I do the same thing. I rarely use "D", I just consider it overdrive when I am at freeway speeds. I usually stay in 3rd gear for most street traffic and up to 4th gear as soon as I hit 2000 rpm in 3rd gear. I realize it sounds a bit crazy but to a great extent it reduces the transmission hesitation problem. As far freeway onramps, I always enter at 3rd gear and count 2 full seconds before hitting the gas, and she takes off like a rocket.
  • toydrivertoydriver Member Posts: 227
    Just wanted to say goodbye to those of you who communicated about the perils of the ES300/330 transmission performance over the past 3 years.
    I traded it in on a IS250AWD, and I'm a happy camper. Great car and the drive train works flawlessly and is much more responsive than the ES.
    Thanks for all the advice and wish you all the best.
  • psychdocpsychdoc Member Posts: 147
    ...I have the 2002 ES 300 and I can't tell you how annoying it is to come to stop signs and feel the awful tranny refuse to down shift as you slow to 1mph. Then on acceleration the damn thing doesn't know what to do. As soon as you put your foot on the accelerator, it hunts frantically for a gear and jerks like a bucking bronco.

    Lexus claimed to have a "fix" for this disaster about a year after I bought it. The "reprogramed" the tranny. Or so they said. Didn't do a darn thing though.

    I'm picking up my 2007 ES350 in a few days and I'm really hoping that this sorry chapter in Lexus' history is going to be a very bad memory and nothing else.

    Anyone know?
  • amf1932amf1932 Member Posts: 79
    I'm sure you'll be extremely happy with the transmission in the ES350. I look forward to driving this new car, unlike my '03ES, which gave me mucho grief for the 3 years I owned it. It's like night and day!!!
  • terry503terry503 Member Posts: 1
    I wished I would have read the posts before buying my
    2006 ES330 in April. I am experiencing the same transmission problems...tried to do a quick lane change
    in slowing traffic and almost got hit because the car
    did not respond..experiencing hesitation and lagging
    ...taking it to the dealer this friday...hopefully there is a software fix....I had a 1997 ES300 which ran like a dream...expect the same from the 2006 ES330!!!! I will post the results of my visit to the dealer..
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    This engine delay/hesitation issue, problem, seemingly, has been embedded in almost all Toyota/Lexus FWD V6 DBW models since the 2002 model year. Now I see it's showing up in the new RAV4 with the I4 engine.

    At this point it seems that there MUST be a regulatory or serious safety related issue that is forcing Toyota/Lexus to continue to build passenger cars with this "feature".
  • pearlpearl Member Posts: 336
    in which people endure seemingly endless transmission problems in the ES for year after year, then go out and buy another one (especially since by many accounts the problems continue in the Camry/ES for 07). Considering how much "bashing" of MB takes place on those boards by Lexus owners, one would think that you wouldn't put up with such shoddy workmanship and reliability. Sounds like a major black eye for the vaunted Lexus "reliability".
  • user777user777 Member Posts: 3,341
    At this point it seems that there MUST be a regulatory or serious safety related issue that is forcing Toyota/Lexus to continue to build passenger cars with this "feature".

    why then aren't we seeing Honda/Acura complaints of this nature and frequency?

    do you think Toyota/Lexus is so MPG and tranny lifing conscious they are doing this on purpose?

    wwest - come on - if this is designed in - EVERYONE, EVERY OWNER would have the same story to tell.

    they do not.
  • dingchavezdingchavez Member Posts: 19
    I wonder if the new ES350 shares the same transmission?
  • dingchavezdingchavez Member Posts: 19
    This is the same question I was asking. Hopefully someone who has one will respond here and let us know.
  • scoti1scoti1 Member Posts: 676
    I think wwest answered this...

    "This engine delay/hesitation issue, problem, seemingly, has been embedded in almost all Toyota/Lexus FWD V6 DBW models since the 2002 model year. Now I see it's showing up in the new RAV4 with the I4 engine.

    At this point it seems that there MUST be a regulatory or serious safety related issue that is forcing Toyota/Lexus to continue to build passenger cars with this "feature". "
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    PAY ATTENTION.....!!!

    Almost all of these engine/transaxle delay/hesitation complaints, if not all of them, involve FWD or front biased AWD vehicles.

    When you are coming to a stop, coasting down to a stop, if the roadbed happens to be quite slippery there is a real danger that almost any level of engine compression braking will/can result in complete loss of directional control.

    What is, will be, the very first thing you would do, instinctively, if you felt the vehicle was not following the direction set by your stearing inputs?

    Lift the accelerator pedal..QUICKLY...!!

    If you are very near coming to a full and complete stop and the transaxle has already downshifted into 1st gear the level of engine compression braking could well be high enough to cause the front wheels/tires to completely break traction with the slippery roadbed.

    I have been involved in moderately slippery roadbed conditions with a RWD wherein the ABS was so active the vehicle would literally not come to a complete stop. I'm quite sure that had it been a FWD with just a slight level of engine compression braking the ABS would have been ineffective, maybe totally so.

    It is in these conditions that the AAA is currently recommending that drivers practice and learn to quickly shift a clutchless FWD vehicle's transaxle into neutral in order to increase the probability of maintaining directional control.

    It is hard for me to believe that Toyota would go to these measures to increase the safety factor of their FWD and front biased AWD vehicles and then silently endure the adverse publicity without speaking up with an explanation.

    So let's suppose that the insurance industry held a meeting with the automotive industry executives and told them that if they didn't in some way act to reduce or alleviate the number of accidents, injuries and deaths due to FWD engine braking they would go public and start charging a premium for policies involving operation of FWD and/or front biased AWD vehicles.

    We all know that BA, Brake Assist, involves monitoring the rate at which the brake pedal is applied and ASSISTING the level of braking if the application rate indicates a PANIC stop.

    So what if they are now also monitoring the RATE at which you lift the throttle and then quickly upshifting the transaxle accordingly. A simulation of the AAA recommendation.

    And no individual company dare go public absent an agreement amongst all FWD manufacturers.

    Look at Honda/Acura, the SH-AWD system specifically, who among us would have ever thought of that marque to the first to break ranks and begin the move away from FWD??
  • aminkleinaminklein Member Posts: 8
    Since I bought the 2005 ES 330 last year, I've had the persistant hesitating and lurching at low speeds. The transmission performance is the worst I've ever experience in any car or truck, and it's constantly "in your face". Both Lexus and my local dealership have given me the same standard answers. Reboot the transmission computer, give the transmission a chance to "self-adjust" and use premium gas. Nothing has corrected the problem. The car has the most recent transmission download. Nothing has helped. I think that this problem is just a fact of life with Lexus. They cannot correct this problem. The car is a great dissapointment and the response from Lexus is a greater disappointment. I've complained numerous times to Lexus, the NHTSA and state AG's office. I have a pending Lemon Law complaint, but don't hold much hope for success. My last hope is to dump the car and take a loss. I'd never deal with this company again.
  • lpeters3lpeters3 Member Posts: 7
    Sorry to hear about the problem.

    Does the transmission problem yu are having with your Lexus sound like the hesitation problem as described in the following article?

    Toyota Transmission Hesitation Problem
  • aminkleinaminklein Member Posts: 8
    Yes. It sounds like the same problem. In fact, I provided a copy of that very 2004 Business Week article as an attachment with my complaint.
  • lpeters3lpeters3 Member Posts: 7
    I've read quite a few complaints about the 07 ES trans on another board. Not too suprising considering all of the complaints on Edmunds regarding the 07 Camry transmission problems. Itseems the problem continues even though the transmission was updated.
  • zone_effectszone_effects Member Posts: 2
    I read these boards with interest some while back. At that time I had a 2000 RX300 that had the same 'hesitation' issue, and well, at about 70,000 miles, the transmission started making these awful 'whining' noises, like it was slipping, and after a while the engine light came on too, so I took it to the dealership. They replaced the transmission FOC as per warranty. 73,000 miles --- The car literally comes to a skidding stop with a big bang, like someone else complained of in one post I read. I managed to crawl home in low gear (luckilly was about 2 miles from home when it happened). Well, I did what others have done, I disconnected the battery and then it worked (or either the action of me putting it in R to get out of my garage fixed it). Well, worked for about 30 miles! Engine light then on again.

    So I go back to the dealership (praying I got there without car failing totally) - and talked to the service manager, told him my problem and made VERY clear I was pissed and that I thought Lexus was meant to be reliable and they BETTER sort things for me.

    Well, I got them to take that car of my hands, and I got a really good deal on a 2005 ES330 - and only by literally shouting at the sales and service people and telling them I'll report them to every publication I can think of and that Lexus owners expect better service than this. At one point they actually suggested "I leave, I must not like Lexus"....no kidding, at that point I did not. But they did eventually give me a deal, so I'll see how it goes with the ES330.

    So far, no hesitation issue, no harsh down shifts, no noticable slipping, it drives beatifully (with the normal very slight delays I've noticed on all drive-by-wire vehicles, not just Lexus). Still I've only had it just over a week now - so we will see!

    I will certainly post back if I start getting issues with the new vehicle, and will be checking this board for further updates.

    Makes me wonder (I have read many posts on here, but not all, way too many to get through) if it just affects some vehicles, or if it's driving style --- though I have to say, I'm a fairly harsh drive, I do push my vehicles, and this one seems up to the job, at least what I would expect the performance of an ES330. I also drove a 2007 ES350, it didn't seem to suffer the issues either - but didn't want to go new car route, in case I had issues, cause I've lost too much value just getting it off the lot, only to have it break on me!

    So Lexus - lets see if you can get a disgruntled customer back to a loyal one, and hope the RX issue was not the norm.

    Sorry for the long post everyone! Just thought I'd post my experiences so far.
  • curt2005curt2005 Member Posts: 70
    I just got an ES330 which uses the previous generation of transmission and computer. It sometimes hesitates on acceleration but I have never felt in danger because of it.

    After careful tests I have determined that on my car there is hesitation only if I gently press the gas pedal. This is fine because it saves gas.

    When I stab the pedal, the car takes off briskly.

    The hesitation problem for the newest transmission and software combination may also be related to how quickly and how far you press the pedal. The computer can easily determine how fast you are moving the pedal, which makes this different from what we are used to with a non-computerized transmission.
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    I think, actually, the hesitation has more to do with how you release the gas pedal. If you release the pedal quickly, sharply and definitively then the ECU should NOT upshift as a result of "thinking" you wish to enter cruise mode.

    On the other hand if you are somewhat hesitent, release the pedal s..l...o...w.....l.......y, the ECU has every reason to believe that you wish to cruise along at the current speed.

    I suspect, sincerely, that the delay/hesitation problem "begins" with an upshift or the beginning of an upshift sequence, at which point the driver re-applies pressure, sinificant pressure, to the accelerator pedal. Now it will be clear to the ECU that the transaxle needs to be in a lower gear than the upshift just commanded.

    The problem is that the ECU must now wait for the previously commanded upshift to complete before it can "command" a new shift sequence, down to the more appropriate gear ratio for YOUR newly commanded acceleration requirement.

    ~1 second to complete the upshift and ~1 second to complete the downshift, 1-2 seconds during which time the DBW system keeps the throttle CLOSED to prevent inordinate wear to the transaxle clutches.

    When you foresee that an acceleration may be the next activity then release the gas pedal quickly, fully, and definitively. It may even help if you were to use your left foot to apply the brake lightly during this sequence. Braking, along with a quick lift of the pedal should, without any doubt, indicate to the engine/transaxle ECU firmware that your wish is to COAST DOWN to a lower speed.

    I'm not by any means saying that this is something we must adapt our driving styles to, but when it comes to driving the vehicles with this "feature" safely, better to be alive and complaining than......
  • curt2005curt2005 Member Posts: 70
    Very good point that the computer would also take into account how fast you let up on the accelerator.
  • bluebell2bluebell2 Member Posts: 21
    I inherited a 1996 ES 300 with less than 40,000 two years ago. Since then the car has needed a starter, an axle, and a replacement sun roof. The driver's seat leather seam burst open and the cushion stuffing is coming out. The passenger seatbelt had to be replaced. Then, last week the transmission broke on the interstate. Contacted Lexus corporate customer service and it sounded like Lexus might entertain a repair after taking a look at the car. Any similiar experiences with Lexus or this model/year? Thankx.
  • scoti1scoti1 Member Posts: 676
    I am surprised that Lexus would do anything for you on a 10 year old vehicle! I wouldn't have even thought to contact them. You are very lucky. Granted, the mileage is/was low, but some things just wear with time, regardless of mileage. Congrats.
  • aminkleinaminklein Member Posts: 8
    There are now about a dozen complaints on the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration web site regarding the transmission. There are also about 17-18 complaints on the Center for Auto Safety web site. When you file a complaint on that site, they ask you if you would be interested in a class action suit. I suspect if enough people complain, a suit may be a possibility. Given the thousands of complaints on all of the internet forums and discussion groups, this may be the only way to get action from Lexus. I don't believe that they'll do anything voluntarily.
  • garmogarmo Member Posts: 20
    The transmission on my 2007 ES-350 hangs and slips at slow speeds. The problem is particularly noticeable in the morning, after the car has been sitting overnight, at about 30-35 mph when it seems like it is shifting from 3rd to 4th gear. Two days ago I wrote a “lemon law” letter to Lexis and told them that on two occasions the dealer had determined that the transmission was not defective and had failed to undertake any repairs. Just received a call from the dealer advising me that a new part (think he said it is some kind of pump) was coming in and that it should take care of my problem. I would be interested in hearing from anyone else with similar transmission problems with their ES-350.
  • jkeimerjkeimer Member Posts: 1
    Thanks for the posting this. I'm encountering the same problems with my 2005 ES330. I have not been able to quickly find the complaints reported as being posted on the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration website, nor the Center for Auto Safety website. Can somebody direct me to the specific pages on those websites were they are found, please? Thanks.
  • aminkleinaminklein Member Posts: 8
    The web sites are:

    www.autosafety.org
    www.nhtsa.dot.gov
  • aminkleinaminklein Member Posts: 8
    After about a year of filing complaints to various government and private organizations (including the MA attorney general) the Lexus area representative contacted me and stated that Lexus would like to buy back the car. She said that she would send me a formal letter with the offer in the next several weeks. I don't have high expectations for the amount of the offer.

    I bought the car in August 2005. It had a MSRP of $35,259, plus transportation. The car now has only about 3000 miles. It's in virtually NEW condition. I've researched values ranging from $26,500 (trade-in) to $29,500 (dealer sale). What do you think that Lexus will offer me for the vehicle? When I receive the offer, I'll post it.
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    I would be very surprised, extremely so, if the terms of the buyback doesn't require you to remain "silent".
  • jlom1265jlom1265 Member Posts: 1
    I have an '05 ES 330 that I've had this transmission issue with and I've gone 15 rounds with Lexus. They are trying to talk me into upgrading to an '07 ES 350 and have assured me that the problem that I've experienced with mine is no longer present since they've redesigned the the transmission for the '07. Your experience seems to indicate otherwise. I'd like to understand if the pump cured the patient.
  • garmogarmo Member Posts: 20
    I'll post the results of installation of the pump after it is installed.
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    If my theory is correct then a higher volume, larger displacement, internal hydraulic pump would likely help to alleviate the downshift delay.
  • psasalespsasales Member Posts: 4
    There is definitely a problem with these transmissions. It is on the Lexus website and they have a kit for the dealers to repair this which consists of a valve assembly, a gasket and an o-ring. There is also a note to the dealers to not tell customers avbout this unless they complain and the complaint is verified. My car is at the dealer right now for a repair for the second time because this fix DOES NOT WORK. Even the rental car I have which is a 2007 ES350 has this same problem. Lexus calls this a Transmission Flare up on shifting from 3rd to 4th gear when the car is cold. Sound faniliar????? This is my last Lexus !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • garmogarmo Member Posts: 20
    Thanks for the info. I'm waiting on the dealer to receive the kit to install in my car. The car also has a steering problem, which the dealer has confirmed. Waiting on a part for that too. What a hastle for a brand new car!
  • lsilvalsilva Member Posts: 3
    Yes, I bought my ES350 in June. My new Lexus was in the shop for over a week. The transmission had to be worked on. They offered me a new car or a 100,000 mile warranty. I asked them if I could use the loner car until my new car came in. They told me no and that a new car would not arrive for three months. This was at Lexus of Austin Texas. I still love my car and will just have to pretend this repair never happened??
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    try my suggested "fix". If you don't chose to use it long term, fine, but if it works then "we" have important information to publish, and possibly good feedback to Toyota and Lexus.

    It is now my firm belief that if one can avoid the upshift sequence that seemingly almost always occurs during any "coastdown" situation, then the 1-2 second downshift delay can also be avoided.

    To prevent the transaxle from "upshifting" during coastdown:

    Release the gas pedal quickly, fully and definitively. The quicker you can apply pressure to the brake pedal as/when you release the accelerator pedal the better. I would even suggest that those of you comfortable doing so practice using left foot braking so as to get the brakes "on" as quickly as possible AFTER the gas pedal is fully release.

    Note that I do not believe it to be necessary to actually apply any braking force, just enough pressure to trip the microswitch that turns on the brake lights and thereby "tells" the ECU that the brakes have been applied.
  • yotaowneryotaowner Member Posts: 14
    I had been reviewing the transmission issues on the 2005+ Avalon board and noticed the volume dropping off. Wow, I thought, I guess people have just grown accustomed to a hesitant transmission on a $35k automobile. Not so, I see that the new Lexus ES350 owners are also screwed. Now I read the wwest posts on this site and see the same prescription for novel driving techniques that involve feats of manual dexterity melded with quantum physics. For those of you who may not realize it, Lexus is Toyota and vice versa. What's garbage in one brand is garbage for the other; you just pay more for it with a Lexus.
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    Could it be that Toyota and Lexus are simply the first to recognize/acknowledge the hazards of FWD and front biased AWD and have decided to do something about it?

    I have no doubt that the use of the ASL, Aggressive Shifting Logic, is done out of the need (necessaty??) to improve FE. On the other hand why upshift, quickly, during coastdowns below ~10 MPH unless it is to prevent loss of control due to engine compression braking?

    Even if ASL was adopted only to improve FE why have, seemingly, no other FWD manufacturers adopted the technique?

    Or the others taking a wait and see attitude?
  • ykl2869ykl2869 Member Posts: 4
    I have same problem with my ES350 which I purchased on July/2006. RPM flares at around 40 mph during 3rd-4th gear shift. I also notice that gear slips when slowing down at around 1000 RPM which I can feel very slight quick accel forward while slowing down to stop. Anyway, dealer could not replicate the RPM flare problem. While my vehicle was in service for some other issue, they gave me another ES350 for a loaner. That vehicle had exact same problems. When I mentioned to service manager, he told me they now have a service bulletin out for the RPM flare issue. They replaced some parts but still, occationally, I notice there is RPM flare, not as severe as before. I requested an extended transmission warrantee but Lexus would not give.
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    "...very slight quick accel forward while slowing down to stop.."

    When I first noticed that effect in my then new 2001 AWD RX300 shortly after purchasing it I referred to it as a feeling of being bumped slightly from behind.

    I suspect the purpose is to moderate the hazardous effects of engine compression braking on the front wheels should the roadbed be fairly slippery.
  • zone_effectszone_effects Member Posts: 2
    I previously had a 2000 RX300, and started noticing that issue after a time myself (and the awful hesitation problem) --- honestly, I had 2 transmission failures in the RX, thankfully fixed under warranty, and eventually got them to buy me out of that car, and after my complaining (or shouting at the dealership manager! lol) they gave me a great deal on a 2005 ES330.

    Mostly, the ES has been great, no noticable hesitation - but I notice the same bump or slip issues myself at times (not every time I drive), and my girlfriends 2006 RAV4 does the same now it has a couple thousand miles on it.

    I love the Lexus/Toyota brands, but if I get major issues with my ES, that will be me done. Seems to me this "issue"/feature has been going on for years, I can live with it mostly, and I can see how it might be to moderate compression braking, but I've never experienced this with other vehicles, and now it bothers me how much wear/stress this must put on the transmissions. Maybe I'm paranoid now because of my RX experiences, never had a transmission fail in a vehicle ever before - do I have anything to worry about in that department with the ES 330?
  • psasalespsasales Member Posts: 4
    I don't know about anyone else but I am going after them on the Lemon Law. My car has been in the shop more for this problem than out. Even all of the loaner cars have this problem. Lexus offered to replace the transmission but why? All of the transmissions have this problem so what would I be accomplishing.
  • camaddencamadden Member Posts: 8
    Well, I just happen to take a look out here 'cause I haven't checked the forum in a while. I could never get used to that transmission problem and after losing the mediation case, I got rid of my 2005 Avalon. I have never had a car for such a short time ! Took me a while to get used to a normal transmission. I keep anticipating that it's going to hesitate and it doesn't ! I am so happy to be rid of that car. All I can do, at this point, is spread the word so that none of my friends or family members get screwed. :-))
  • user777user777 Member Posts: 3,341
    What did you replace the Avalon with? Curious.
  • psasalespsasales Member Posts: 4
    I also purchased my ES 350 in June. It has been in the shop for transmission problems more than I have had a chance to drive it. They did the valve kit modification suggested repair and it was useless and drove worse than when I initially brought it in. They tried so many fixes that did not work that they are now talking about replacing my transmission (whcih I do not think will do any good because I have had 2 loaner cars that had the same problem). My next step is going after them under the lemon law act.
  • mojcmhmojcmh Member Posts: 2
    Transmission had to be replaced on my 1999 Lexis ES 300 at 107,000 miles. This seems like very low mileage for a transmission replacement on a Lexus. Any similar experience with the same model?
  • garmogarmo Member Posts: 20
    My dealer attempted the valve kit fix on my ES 350 (purchased 5/06) last week and it didn't work. The tranmission slips (or flares) between 3rd and 4th gear more than before. If Lexus has fixed the problem with newly manufactured tranmissions, I'm willing for them to try one more time by replacing the transmission with a new one; otherwise, I'm going to damand that they repurchase the car from me. Had a '98 ES 300 that I really liked, but this has really soured me on Lexus. If anyone has anymore info on this subject, please share it.
  • aminkleinaminklein Member Posts: 8
    Lexus finally gave me the formal offer for the repurchase of my ES 330. I complained for the last year, and finally my Lemon Law complaint got some results. They're insisting that this is a voluntary repurchase, but they're basically following the Lemon law formula in computing the price. They're refunding the purchase price and all associated expenses. After the process started, Lexus was very cooperative and accomodating. The Lesson learned is to use your state lemon law if you have one.
Sign In or Register to comment.