Are there still issues with the transmission on the '05 ES300?

Looking at Lexus at the Auto Show, and the sales rep says there are no problems with transmissions on the '05 model. He suggested it only affected some '03 ES300 models. True? AA

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A A
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Well, that's not true. (He is, after all, a sales rep.) The problem was apparent in the '02 (when the ES 5-speed trans was introduced), and the '03. At that point, Lexus worked on, and introduced, a firmware change that made the problem less apparent to some. Buyers of '04 and '05s have reported the same problems, though. Some in the form of hesitation; some in the form of jerky shifting. Strangely, however, some buyers (even of '02s) say they haven't noticed any problem with the trans..........

I have an '02 and have lived with this crappy trans for a full 3 years this month. My brother in law bought an '05 ES in December and tells me the same problem is now affecting his.

An otherwise great car, and the trans probably won't quit on you, but I'd expected a lot better from Lexus.

BTW: Don't ask a Lexus sales rep about it - but rather, a Lexus repair tech (when he's off, on his own time).

Reply to
njbok

I had an '03 for a year (until I traded it for an LS430) and it ran fine. I don't get this all this bortchin' about ES tranny problems.

Reply to
D.D. Palmer

As I said, some people never seem to experience the problem at all..........

Reply to
njbok

I meant ES330 ... but you probably figured that out. My error. First damn mistake I've made all year! (NOT) AA

Reply to
A A

Yes it's true. It affects the 2002-2003 models to my understanding. The ES330 has a new transmission so the issue is non-existant.

You can read about the info here

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Reply to
LexusLoversDotCom

That is simply not true. The problem is still there. My brother-in-law bought an '05 ES330 in December 2004 - He has the hesitation/shifting problem. It's the same as my '02 Es300. It is the same transmission.

They have changed the controlling firmware. The firmware change greatly improved the hard acceleration ay appx 40mph problem.......It did not help the hard acceleration from slow roll (pulling out of friveways, etc.

As a matter of fact, more than one Lexus service techs at the dealership I use, have told me nothing will change until the next generation ES is introduced. I've driven all years between 2002-2005. Some are worse than others. NONE I've driven are without the problem.

Reply to
njbok

My Lexus ES is the first and last Lexus I or anyone in my family will be buying. Thank god for Honda and BMW.

Reply to
ichoor0416

I can understand that. I presently have (2) Lexi - a '98 and an '02. The '02 problem has turned me off completely. The design/engineering is flawed, yet they continue to manufacture and install it, conceding nothing. I too, will never buy another Lexus.

My reason is not so much the problem (which remains un-addressed and un-admitted), but the Lexus corporate attitude ("No problem exists with the ES transmission - just keep making it. Those idiots will keep buying it because of the nameplate.")

It's sad. They had the correct formula for quality automobiles. Then some executive made a poor decision and then is not held accountable. Sure we buyers suffer, but I suspect Lexus' image and then sales will suffer as well.

They just don't get it. (They used to get it....but they don't anymore.)

Reply to
njbok

This lingering question has stopped me from buying an '05 ES330. I presently have a '98 ES300 and it is the BEST car I've ever owned. I am considering an '05 Avalon, which is basically all new, and getting very positive reviews. Norskey

Reply to
A A

My 98 ES300 is, by far, the best car I've ever owned too. Hands down.

My '02 ES is, well, downright embarrassing when others are in the car. Relatives, friends, and co-workers always saying "What the heck was THAT ??!!" whenever the trans hesitates, and then slams into gear. I'm sick of it. Sick of explaining it to them. Sick of telling the service techs. Sick of dealing with it altogether. Sick of people saying: "I can't believe a Lexus makes a car like this !" I feel like a sap for spending over $37K for a car that others are laughing at.

Lexus would have restored at least some of my faith, had they just admitted they had a problem. I know others, who have witnessed it while in my car, will never buy one. They can't believe a Lexus rides like that.

Unfortunately, it seems the company that made the 1998 ES300 has handed control of the company over to those who make the 2002 - 2005 ES.

Reply to
njbok

njbok wrote in news:BE7CA268.4E5BB% snipped-for-privacy@nospam.com:

It's been a while since I've been to this NG.

Have you or anyone else noticed the lag on any other Lexus models? Or is it just a problem on the newer ES?

thanks

Reply to
Dave Stone

The only other model I've driven was the IS, when I've had them as loaners.

No problems were evident with that model, at least when when I had them.

Reply to
njbok

I had a '98 SC400 that had this problem. I complained to the dealer, but he said there was no problem.

David

Reply to
David

Reply to
<djmcreynolds1

Honda, OK. But BMW? Are you nuts?

Reply to
GRL

Haha. I know but BMW has 4 years free service so if you get a lease it is an ok deal and BMW's reliability becomes less of an issue. That's just one measure of how much Lexus's bad customer service and downright embarrassing transmission has affected my thinking. My ES is absolutely the worst car I've ever driven due to this transmission problem. I will not consciously make the same mistake twice. When I'm ready to move to the $70K+ class of cars, I will not be looking at Lexus. And neither will any of my friends or relatives if I can help it. Over my lifetime, I'd like to think that I'm either directly or indirectly responsible for about $4 million in lost revenues for Lexus. Not a big deal for them so they don't care.

Reply to
ichoor0416

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