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Transmission problems with Lexus ES?

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Comments

  • toydrivertoydriver Member Posts: 227
    Motownusa:
    The 2004 Avalon has the "old" 4 speed auto transmission that was in the 2001 and earlier ES 300 models. The 2002-2004 ES 300/330 models have the 5speed auto with (drive by wire) electronics - which is the transmission of contention in this website. The 4 speed was "silky-smooth" and had satisfied (happy)owners.

    Edmunds is predicting that the new 2005 Avalon will have the 5speed transmission (unhappy) when it hits the showroom.

    It will be interesting to see if a new "transmission problem" website will be started by someone for the Avalon later this year!!
  • jragosta1jragosta1 Member Posts: 49
    It's pretty easy to see which models have this problem. Go to the NHTSA site above and look for models you want to compare. For example, the 2002 ES300, 2003 ES300, 2004 ES330 and 2004 RX330 all have between 30% and 60% of their complaints related to this problem. The 2004 Camry has less than 10% of its complaints related to the transmission in any way and none of these appear to be our hesitation problem (they're mostly self-acceleration reports). Interestingly, the 2004 Avalon only has 2 complaints (vs 29 for the 2004 ES300) and neither of them is related to this problem. The Avalon's a nice car - not quite as nice as the ES, but at least its transmission works.
  • mrdlexusmrdlexus Member Posts: 23
    I have just traded my 2004 ES330 with 6500 miles for a new 2004 GS300. I am sick and tired of the transmission, and the lack of desire to fix the problem. Where is the relentless pursuit of perfection? I would not have purchased another Lexus, except for the fact that I am paying just below invoice on the new car. The GS is silky smooth, just as the ES should have been. I would not purchase another ES until they fix the problem (if ever). As far as Lexus customer service is concerned they told me that it was operating as designed, and there was nothing more they could do. They did an investigation into my problem and they found it to be normal. So I was left an unhappy customer with little or no solution to the problem. I had 2 choices; arbitration, or trade it in for something else. I feel bad for so many ES owners out there because Lexus simply does not give a sh**. Good luck to all you ES owners out there, and all potential buyers stay clear of this car, or you will regret it just like the rest of us.
  • dennydenny Member Posts: 17
    Could you tell us how the new GS is equipped and what the net cash difference was not including title and taxes.
  • wypcwypc Member Posts: 6
    I'm interested in ES300/ES330, but not sure whether they have the model with manual transmission. I read part of the comments here and feel astonished. So anybody knows whether the same transmission problem exsits on manual ES300/ES330? Thanks in advance.
  • mrdlexusmrdlexus Member Posts: 23
    The GS is not set up the same as the ES. Rear wheel drive, less wood on the dash, cd changer in the glove box. I wanted the HID lights that are in my ES, but that is stuffed in w/navigation only and cannot find one near the Boston area. Inventory is low 2-3 per dealer thats it. I bought my ES MSRP $35,174 for $31560(non navigation). The GS MSRP $41,794 for $36,794(non navigation). Trade in $28,000, That has 6,600 miles and is in brand new condition, you can't tell the difference between my car and one that is actually new(except for the miles). Basically I am paying $5,234 more for the GS than the ES. If you wait the GS is being redesigned for 2006, and should be out in late 2005. Good luck!!
  • maxhonda99maxhonda99 Member Posts: 1,289
    The last time the ES300 was available with a manual was for the 1994 model year. Since then, no manual transmission.
  • wypcwypc Member Posts: 6
    That's really bad :(
    Anyway, thanks a lot!
  • myes330transprmyes330transpr Member Posts: 4
    Add me to your list of complaints. My husband and I have bought our 3rd Lexus and now own a ES330, which we now have 1500 miles on. We have taken this beautiful car back to the dealer three times for transmission problems described in post one on this board. I also have described to my husband that I feel like a deer in the headlight of on-coming cars and experience the same shifting problems. Fremont Magnussen's Lexus (Calif.)has had our 330 for four days now, as their top mechanic is taking it home with him in an attempt to experience our complaints of hesitation and shifting issues. We called him yesterday to learn he felt the car was doing good with no problems. We were upset to hear this as we spent big money for this car and wanted some type of fix. Frustrated, we checked the web and found this site and post. We were relieved to find we were not alone or crazy. We will keep you posted and would like info on any progress or fixes.

    Info we found from Toyota #TC005-03 "Technical Service Information Bulletin" (not for general public) This addresses ATM shifting issues with the 2004 Rx330. So Lexus obviously knows somethings not right.

    [email protected]
  • shopper777shopper777 Member Posts: 3
    Just a question. Have you looked under your hood? I did. And found the upper vacume hose that goes into the engine air filter compartment was disconnected. I promptly went to a Toyota Dealership and verified that the Camry SE (has same engine) has the vacume hose connected. I promptly connected the hose and no hesitation any more. The acceleration on the car improved noticeably. However, it does suck regular unleaded like it's going out of style (even driving on cruise control). This hose is located on a T connector and connects up to the upper left hand side of the upper part of the engine air filter container (when you are facing the car from the outside). Hope this helps.
  • myes330transprmyes330transpr Member Posts: 4
    I will print out this post so to try the hose check under the hood thing when i pick up my car from lexus. We also have an appointment this week with Lexus' dealer/owner, Bow Magnison, as we feel that we are not going to get anywhere.

    keep you posted
  • vanboyvanboy Member Posts: 6
    Hi folks....just was browsing the lexus site when I came across a page stating that there is a "snow mode" that you can put the car in. When in this mode, the acceleration is electronically reduced to help tackle any slippery conditions such as snow. Is it possible that some of the posters have this switched on? Or that its switched on in error....that is the switch may be off but the car is still running in this mode?

    There seems to enough people buying car without noticing any transmission lag and loving the car for this to be really such a widespread problem.

    I'm looking to buy one but am waiting for the 2005's to arrive to see the differences.

    Happy driving to all!
  • auburn77auburn77 Member Posts: 1
    I purchased my 2002 ES one year ago and have been bothered with the same tranny problems everyone else is talking about. I decided the car had to go so I traded for a 2000 GS with 24,000 miles. Wow! What a difference in these two vehicles. Plenty of power and very smooth tranny. There's a little less wood trim inside but this is no big deal. This is probably one of the best car buying decisions I've ever made.
  • billp1billp1 Member Posts: 1
    No, this is a real problem that Lexus will not acknowledge. My dealer said all EX330 have this transmission hesitation.
    I wrote a letter to the CEO of Toyota North America and the Lexus VP & General manager and received no help with this problem. DO NOT BUY THIS CAR !!!
  • myes330transprmyes330transpr Member Posts: 4
    goodthought vanboy, even though the swith is in the off mode it may be still on???

    just got my es330 back last night. they drove it for a week+ and admit shifting/hesitation issues. they feel that not all es330s hvae this problem and dont know way some do, werd. the loaner i have had just has the pause/hesitation issues obviously "operating as designed". they are good people at fremont magnussen, i have dealt with top sales dude "neal", he is far and honest, no i didnt know him prior to buying our last es330 few months ago. he will treat you fair for sure. neal knows that issues on shifting and hesitation has come up, but has not exereance the shifting issues he says. we are going to see them this week, they said that they will make it right for us, im not a gulible person but believe they will.

    this isnt any type of sales pitch but buy your lexus in fremont, im 50 and have bought dozens of cars in my live and these guys are custemers first, well may be money too, they got to pay the bills.

    if i were to do it again i would buy the upgrade GS or and older GS. good luck
  • davidzdavidz Member Posts: 35
    As I understand it, all ESs from 2002 to 2004 (and probably 2005 as well) have the hesitation problem. It just bothers some drivers more than others.
  • dgoodrowdgoodrow Member Posts: 2
    Like many of you, I have reported ES330 transmission problems to the dealer that I purchased my car from. During a recent sit down with the service manager, he stated that there has been some success in alleviating the hesitation and slow shifting problems by running premium fuel (93 octane) in the car. He stated that the onboard computer knows what octane is currently being burned but cannot adjust the engine timing to accommodate the increased octane from regular to premium on it’s own. He suggested running the car for three tanks of premium and bringing the car in to have the computer reset. He said the procedure would be as follows: reset the computer, drive the car for seven miles as conservatively as possible…let the car cool down and repeat the process. If regular fuel was used anytime in the future, the computer could adjust downward with no problem.

    Has anyone else heard of this?
  • umpalumpaumpalumpa Member Posts: 2
    Drove my es300 for 3 yrs (lease) and i loved that damn car! shouldve bought it - sporty, fun - good lookin. now i took over my dads lease 2002 es330 - definite tranny problem. he said he got the upgrade this summer - it feels lousy to me. same problems as everyone else. this car sucks - not even close to the old es. talk about changing styles of the car - taller, less sporty, and yippy in the tranny - especially in stop go 35 mph fwy traffic. only have to drive it till the end of the year....g35, here i come!
  • amf1932amf1932 Member Posts: 79
    2002 & 2003 = ES300
    2004 & 2005 = ES330
  • motownusamotownusa Member Posts: 836
    How do you know that the 05 ES330 has the problem? Is it even out yet.
  • shopper777shopper777 Member Posts: 3
    I'm getting really lousy gas mileage also. Is anyone getting anything close to 20mpg in the city? I don't seem to be able to get this except on the highway.
  • igibanigiban Member Posts: 530
    My 03 has averaged around 23 mpg on an average of 31 mph. On freeway only it can get high 20's to low 30's average, but pure city drives can get ugly average (to < 20), depending how much stop and go there. See the real time mpg reading on city driving and you'll see. Overall 23 mpg on mixture of city and freeway is respectable for the size of ES I think. 04 has a bigger engine and may suffer a bit loss on mpg though.
  • rhpcparhpcpa Member Posts: 3
    i have the same problem with my gs 300 year 2001.
    i have taken it back three times and the service guy finally told me it was due the "drive by wire"
    feature. will most likely buy another vechile because of this. almost had several wrecks due to slow take off.\

    rhpcpa
  • jragosta1jragosta1 Member Posts: 49
    That's rather odd (having the problem on a 2001 GS).

    You can check the frequency of these problems on nhtsa.dot.gov. For the 2002-04 ES, about 1/2 or more of the cited problems are due to the hesitation problem. I don't remember the exact numbers, but I think the total number of problems related to this issue is approaching 100 for the 3 years combined (out of roughly 200 total problems cited).

    For the 2001 GS, there are only 7 complaints - and NONE are related to the hesitation issue. The same is true of more recent years.

    I would suggest that you have the dealer look for another cause. If it were really due to the same problem as the ES problem, there would almost certainly be more complaints.
  • browniebearbrowniebear Member Posts: 2
    I test drove a 2005 ES 330 yesterday and I observed all the issues that people have been talking about with the transmission. The salesman said that he "had never heard of any issues". Sure!
  • mmratnermmratner Member Posts: 14
    I am returning my 2002 ES300 back to the dealer after my lease expires in October. After 3 Lexuses (the first two were LS400s) I do not think that I will be getting another one. The downshift hesitation problem bothered me slightly in my previous LS400, but it is just terrible in the ES (being a loyal Lexus fan I decided to ignore the problem when test-driving the ES -- what a mistake!).

    While the problem is particularly bad in the ES, it seems like pretty much all 5-speed automatics suffer from it in one degree or another. Driving the previous generation Maxima SE recently was such a breath of fresh air.

    Can anyone suggest a car with a similar level of refinement and luxury, which would not have the problem? I can go up to $50K. Right now I am considering the upcoming Acura RL, but obviously haven't test-driven it yet. Any alternatives?
  • tprnjtprnj Member Posts: 3
    thinking of buying a 05 in six to eight months, i have read a lot of pretty bad complaints concerning the 330 transmission. my question is to any one who or will be buying a 05, has this problem been fix, i cannot believe that lexus would sell such a defected product.
  • jragosta1jragosta1 Member Posts: 49
    The problem has not been fixed in the '05 models.

    The more research I do, the more it becomes obvious that nearly every Lexus model has this problem. I guess they just don't know how to fix it. Their only response is to pretend that it's normal.

    By the way, it doesn't appear to be solely a transmission problem. It's actually a problem caused by the way the transmission and drive by wire work together.
  • sharpwitzsharpwitz Member Posts: 30
    I don't know who's posting all of these transmission problems, but they are false. New vehicles that have tranny issues are at risk of accidents, which means that the vehicle is required to be recalled. Do your homework. To see which vehicle has been recalled for what issue, take a look at the NHTSA's records (National Highway Safety Admin website).

    http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/recallsearch.c- fm

    Use the box on the right side
    Click on "Vehicle"

    You can search any manufacturer. Lexus's record is extraordinarily impressive.

    Also, you can search JD Powers for their awards.

    http://www.jdpa.com/studies/pressrelease.asp?StudyID=860&CatI- D=1

    Myself, I am set in my ways and will buy the Acura TL. I'll trade looks over reliability. Different strokes for different folks.

    I have to admit the luxury line is getting very exciting as manufacturers are starting to focus on the interior layout and amenities.

    http://www.autospies.com

    Do your homework!
  • tprnjtprnj Member Posts: 3
    counted 20 transmission complaints on nhtsa web site, if all those es330's that lexus sells have that big of a problem why not a major recall or class action suit. or at the very least have it fixed for the 2005 model year, something not adding up.
  • mrdlexusmrdlexus Member Posts: 23
    I owned a 2004 es330, and it does have major problems. Yes that is past tense, I have already traded in the car! The transmission has rough shifting and the drive by wire throttle causes the delay in acceleration. These two components do not work well together, causing potential safety issues. If you drive any other car there generally will be immediate acceleration, with fairly smooth shifting, not in the lexus es330. My dealership(Lexus of Northborough) has admitted to many complaints from es owners and frankly they do not know if Lexus will ever fix the problem. Lexus is aware of the problem , but as long as people continue to buy the car they will not fix it. I believe the quality of Lexus in general has gone down hill, cheapening their cars to sell more to the average consumer. The initial quality of the es is comparable to the Maxima or G35, not far exceeding expectations. I believe the entry level Lexus automobiles are overpriced and the quality is less than I would expect from Lexus. Trust me I owned an es330 and was in shock how poorly I was treated by Lexus customer service. Once I purchased the car there was nothing I could do, except try to get rid of it. If Lexus could fix the transmission and drive by wire throttle it would be an excellent car. I owned a 1999 Camry and overall it drove better than the Lexus, I made a huge mistake thinking Lexus was better than the average Toyota. I should have kept the Camry. I urge anyone considering the purchase of the es330 to thoroughly test drive the car before you buy it, preferably two or three times just to make sure you like it. Test the car against an Infiniti, Acura, or BMW and then tell me there is no hesitation from the car!!! Good luck to all with the hesitation problem. Continue to post your dissatisfaction with Lexus on the NHTSA website.
  • tprnjtprnj Member Posts: 3
    Thanks mrdlexus, it's really hard to believe. acura tl here i come.
  • sharpwitzsharpwitz Member Posts: 30
    I'm sorry, but there must be a misunderstanding.

    The transmission problems are with the 2004 LS 430 and not the 2004 ES330.

    You need to look over the site again.

    Also, 13,000 recalls for the LS 430 is a VERY small number compared to other recalls (One manufacturer has 1 million recalls)

    I can't believe I'm defending Lexus when I don't plan on buying one. It's a great car, and the transmission is smooth. I test drove one just to see and was impressed. But I'm a young guy who wants a car to have a "bling bling" appearance. Otherwise, I would go with Lexus.
  • jragosta1jragosta1 Member Posts: 49
    Sharpwitz:

    Interestingly, you don't even seem to own one of the affected Lexus models, but you'll insist that my statements are false.

    Check NHTSA like you've suggested. But instead of looking at recalls, check for consumer complaints. You'll find over 100 complaints on the 02-04 ES300/330 models related to this problem. You don't get 100 complaints that are imaginary. Nearly 1/2 of ALL ES complaints have to do with this particular problem. It's real.

    You could also try:
    http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3584&amp;

    The problem is that Lexus refuses to admit that there's a problem - so they haven't recalled the car. And until there are a significant number of accidents, the DOT won't make them. That doesn't make the problem any less real.
  • jragosta1jragosta1 Member Posts: 49
    Actually, the problem seems to happen on most of the current Lexus models. I know for a fact that the LS, ES, GS, and RX are affected.

    Apparently, it's a combination of things. First, the drive-by-wire controller is stupid and can't respond in less than a second or two in some circumstances. Second, Lexus programs their cars to move into higher gear as early as possible - which means more downshifting which is where the problem is most severe.

    Perhaps that's the reason Lexus won't fix it. They can't simply recall one model - they'd have to recall nearly their entire product line. To make matters worse, they would apparently lose ULEV status if they make the fix (based on the fact that they are able to fix the cars in Canada where there is no ULEV issue).

    Bottom line is that Lexus knows there's a problem and is stonewalling for some reason.
  • dsmoothedsmoothe Member Posts: 1
    Hello:

    I am also looking into the 2005 ES 330 and have heard about transmission problems. Here is what was said on another popular discussion board. The first is by a car expert (test driver) and the second by a user. Hope this helps
    ------------------------------------------------
    If you drive around in D4 all of the time, you are effectively limiting your five-speed automatic to a four-speed automatic. This may limit problems if the car tends to shift in and out of 5th gear around town but your highway fuel mileage will suffer.
    Most automatics now are electronically controlled - it's nothing special. I've seen a fair number of Toyota/Lexus owners complain here about shift behavior. I put a few hundred miles on our ES330 and didn't have any complaints about the shifting. Some automatics "learn" driver behavior and adjust shift points accordingly - that may affect this issue. It won't be a safety hazard; the worst ramification of the problem is that it makes a very smooth and refined car less smooth. We haven't seen any marked number of transmission problems in recent Toyota/Lexus products.

    ----------------------------------------
    ---------------------------------
     
    When I bought my new es330 month ago I faced little shifting issues. I later learned that I was driving in wrong gear(D). I was told to drive in D4 gear and Shifting issues has practically gone away. If you have any questions give me call at 408-391-3146

    I suggest you test drive this car a lot before making this purchase. I test drove comparable cars like g35, 325 and s60 sport. But after driving es330 they dont even come close as far as smooth ride, quietness is concened.

    --------------------------------------------------
  • jragosta1jragosta1 Member Posts: 49
    I disagree with the previous message. I actually own and drive this car - unlike the 'expert' who doesn't.

    First, putting the car into 4th gear all the time lessens the problem, but does not eliminate it. I've tried it and the problem still occurs - just not as often.

    As for 'it won't be a safety hazard', he's dreaming. When you step hard on the gas, there's often a second or two delay before the car begins to accelerate. In many situations (like pulling onto a busy on-ramp), that second or two hesitation could cause a serious accident.

    Finally, as for 'we haven't seen a marked number of transmission problems', he sounds like a paid Toyota spokesman. This problem is widespread as evidenced by over 100 complaints to NHTSA, hundreds of complaints here, and other web sites with hundreds of complaints.
  • georgeb7georgeb7 Member Posts: 35
    I really don't understand the resistance to accepting the fact that the ES330 has a transmission problem. There are only three things I can think of;

      1) Denial - many people don't want to
         admit they made a bad purchase because it is
         too painful

      2) Lexus name - they can't have a transmission
         problem - "it's a Lexus"
      3) Mine works - therefore yours must

    All illogical - and all display a lack of understanding the big picture about how vehicles are manufactured. (Every year cars are manufactured with major problems).
  • motownusamotownusa Member Posts: 836
    If you read the carpoint.msn.com review you will see that the transmission problem is being felt by some of the reviewers. Now the question remains is it an isolated problem afflicting just a handful of cars or does the 02+ ES300/330 has a fundamental flaw in the way the transmission was designed. Lexus does sell a lot of ES300/330 (around 25K a year); so the question is despite the transmission flaw people are still buying this car and overall review of the car has been pretty good. I guess the positive does outweigh the negative.
  • atoewsatoews Member Posts: 637
    At the risk of beating a dead horse (I note that many of those who purchased an ES300 at the same time I did do not post as much as they once did), I am convinced that the problem is there in all ES300s/330s.

    I believe that the most likely reason for the varying reports is that the degree to which each driver perceives the same symptom varies.

    I also suspect that varying driving styles result in different frequency and intensity of having the symptom occur.

    I actually was a passenger in a vehicle (not an ES300) where the driver did not maintain a steady gas flow to the engine even while maintaining a constant speed. The driver kept backing off and depressing the accellerator to the point where I felt as though she kept slowing down and speeding up ever so slightly. Such a driver would find the ES300 transmission a nightmare!!
  • eastoncarguyeastoncarguy Member Posts: 29
    This issue extends beyond the Lexus line of vehicles. It extends into the Toyota cars too with drive by wire and the 5 sp automatic.

    I have a 2004 Sienna with the same engine/tranny config as the ES. The hesitation is terrible there too. Even my wife, who never has any complaints about acceleration says it is terrible.

    I attended Lexus' Taste of Luxury event this weekend, and let me tell you the hesitation is painfully obvious when you move from one car back to the ES or RX. You can floor it and wait for 1-2 seconds for it to respond. Try flooring the BMW 330 or 530 or the Infiniti G and see what happens.

    Overall Lexus/Toyota build great cars but the new trannys need help.
  • cesces Member Posts: 2
    The ES330 transmission "learns" your driving pattern. If you are an aggressive driver, you will regret your decision to purchase this vehicle. The transmission problems are real and Lexus corporate doesn't care. The drive by wire lag is not the major problem, it is the inability of the car to decide what gear it needs to be in that is really annoying.
  • cesces Member Posts: 2
    The transmission problems are very real. The drive by wire lag is not the biggest issue. The main issue is the transmission cannot decide what gear to shift into and hesitates. I am used to the drive by wire lag, but the hesitation the car has while the transmission decides what gear to use is an engineering defect. The only thing worse than the defect is the Lexus "head in the sand" approach to the problem. The 2004 ES330 that I have is my first and last Lexus.
  • tomhanxtomhanx Member Posts: 6
    i test drove a fully loaded 2005 ES 330 and definitely noticed the transmission problem. at every stop sign, when i stepped on the gas, the car would hesitate for a couple of seconds before picking up.

    i also test drove a 2005 camry xle v6 and noticed the same problem there as well. no wonder toyota has already started giving $500 cash back on the camry's in barely their first month of the new model year!

    other than this, the es330 had a smooth and quiet ride with a luxurious feel. after the es330 experience i was hoping to test drive the acura tl, but its interior was revolting, to say the least. we didn't even bother for a test drive on the acura.

    it's amazing that inspite of this being a known issue for a long time, toyota/lexus has not bothered to rectify it for the new model year.
  • igibanigiban Member Posts: 530
    Hesitation from low speed has been mentioned quite often, and that seems to bother some more than the others due to how aggressively one drives. Has anyone experienced shuddering at freeway speed (around 65 mph) on ES 02+? Almost every driver drives in that mode on daily basis.
  • ddm2ddm2 Member Posts: 15
    I am not sure what you have been buying in the last 15 years ...I agree that there is a problem with the transmission and the dealer has acknowledged the problem and tried to install a software patch to improve the situation. The problem hasn't gone completely but it's an improvement - it's a 2003 ES300 - a little over a year old. However, I still find the car very luxurious, comfortable, and the service at the dealership (Lexus of Greenwich in CT.) fantastic. The pros far outweigh any cons and I am writing this for the benefit of anyone who is considering buying this car. I truly believe that the problem isn't an issue for a safe and steady driver and that even as I write this note Lexus is working hard to fix the problem.
  • jragosta1jragosta1 Member Posts: 49
    As for safety - I was nearly rear-ended three times last week. There are times (particularly in busy cities) when stepping on the gas means you really need to go. When the car sits there twiddling its thumbs, you have a problem. And as for Lexus working hard to fix the problem, what makes you think that? If they came out and said "we have a problem with the ES330 and are working on a fix and will provide it as soon as possible", most people would be happy. Instead, they keep denying that there's a problem. I'm going through arbitration right now because they just plain won't admit that there's a problem. What makes you think they're actually planning to fix a a problem that they deny exists?
  • ddm2ddm2 Member Posts: 15
    It takes years to build a brand and Lexus will be foolish to ignore this issue - however trivial it may appear to them. They may not classify it as a "problem" in a technical way but are obviously aware of the issue and I am sure are working to fix/improve it. I must admit though that they have been aware of this issue/problem for the past 2 years and it must be really something for them to take so much time to rectify it. I do think that you are in a unique situation... assuming that this wasn't happening to you in other cars that you have driven, this car must be really bad. I live in the metro NY area and believe it qualifies to be a "busy" area and yet have never experienced what seems to be happening to you - rear-end situations 3 times per week! Good luck with the arbitration!
  • georgeb7georgeb7 Member Posts: 35
    You cannot place the same weight of value on a transmission as you do the amenities in a car. Most people would agree that a tramsmission is far more important than dual climate controls or leather seats. Obviously, if you get rear-ended because your transmission can't figure out what to do, your dual climate control doesn't mean much. Safety always comes before aesthetics. If you take away the engine and transmission, you have nothing. The very fact that the older transmissions were more responsive seems to indicate that the technology is there, but it was not implemented properly this time. I personally would not spend $35,000 on a car with a transmission that does not run as good as one two or three years ago. Most would expect it to be better not worse. Recommending a car to someone when you know it has these transmission problems is questionable at best.
  • ddm2ddm2 Member Posts: 15
    The very fact that there has been no recall on the car despite the problem having persisted for over 2 years tells me that it isn't as much of a safety issue as is being made out on this message board. If it was really a safety issue, our friend would be considering suing Lexus rather than looking at arbitration! We may still get there some day but not just yet. I agree with your assessment about the importance of the transmission over luxury. As far as I know this is new technology and they need to debug the kinks in the software or replace the current software with something new. Basically, the function that used to be done with hard wires is now done with software and that's obviously not been successful. Perhaps they should revert to the old technology in the 2001 and earlier models - not sure if that is an option. The reliability, quietness, and comfort of the ride, combined with the proven Lexus track record and great customer service make me still recommend it although I do respect your opinion.
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