Lexus hesitation follow up -- and more

Wow, I guess that's better than a free IPOD! ;-)

RR

Actually, the article states that it's the NHTSA...but the point is that the government is looking into it, which is great for all of us who have been frustrated with this problem. I emailed the following comments to the NHTSA, and I encourage others to do so as well. I feel that Lexus has let me down as a consumer. I cringe every time I hear their arrogant advertising claim about the "relentless pursuit of perfection". I'm not so sure they are referring to their vehicles as much as to their executives' bonuses and perks. I can't afford to sell my 2002 ES to purchase another vehicle, so I'm trapped with this problem. Hopefully the increasing pressure will produce a correction.

================================ Comments: Hello, I wanted to send my encouragement for any investigation you can begin with regard to the hesitation problem, or lag, in the Lexus ES300/330 series of vehicles. I own a 2002 ES300, and this vehicle has been plagued with an unsafe hesitation since I purchased it new. The dealer has always said the vehicle is operating as designed. Lexus released a firmware upgrade in August 2003, and it helped a little bit for highway-speed hesitation, but it made slow speed hesitation much worse. As an individual consumer, I have no power or authority to demand anything of Lexus, or even to make them acknowledge that a widespread problem exists in their technology. I feel like Lexus has committed a fraud against consumers as they continue to deny that a hesitation problem exists in their vehicles. I would be grateful if the NHTSA could investigate all the myriad reports of hesitation problems in the Lexus 2002-2005 ES models, with the ultimate goal of requiring Lexus to produce a firmware fix for this line of vehicles. Thank you very much.

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Good job Steve! I am amazed that Lexus is capable of doing this. You know it's a matter of time before someone gets killed. Maybe they are waiting for this? But that would make their corporate culture as bad as that at Ford. In either case, I called Lexus Corporate when I traded my ES330 in, so that on file they can see that I do not own it any more and the reason was the hesitation. I also asked for a copy of the file, which of course they denied. However, this did prompt at least 3 calls from the corporate office. I am now getting some 'voucher' and I really do not know what this could be. I told them I do not plan on buying any more new cars for at least 5 years.

Alright going with the Beemer might have not been the best thing... they ride great but the reliability is fairly bad. Look at JD Power. I also hear from friends that own them, they are fidgety. Especially the electronics. Plus the GPS is extremely bad, not even touch screen.

Thanks for the update. Fight the power! I will never buy another Lexus. I am telling anyone who listens about my experience and the way my dealer lies to me about this issue. If they had integrity, they would give us full refunds! Lexus will lose at least 100 potential customers because of me personally.