5.7

fairly significant
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
15,142 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2002 Lexus ES 300 transmission problems

transmission problem

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2002 Lexus ES 300 Owner Comments

problem #5

Jul 232005

ES 300 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 48,480 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Upon acceleration in stop-and-go traffic, severe hesitation with brake-like effect, engine reviving, with driver thrown forward, then lurching into gear. Said was fixed with installation of tsib TC004-3. narrowly being missed by oncoming traffic when car basically stalled. Tsib not a fix. Now engine light on. Dangerous in stop-and-go traffic.

- Seguin, TX, USA

problem #4

May 112004

ES 300 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 10,000 miles
2002 Lexus ES300 with about 18,000 miles has a problem with hesitation when accelerating after slowing down, especially after completing a turn. It is like the transmission doesn't adjust with the pressing of the gas pedal. Almost had an accident because of the hesitation. Also I have had problems with the car down shifting as I come down a hill. Also a problem with the car trying to decide what gear to be in when going around 20 to 25 miles per hour. You can feel the car change gear. Passengers even have asked what was that? complained to dealership, and was told it was the way I drive. I had the sb-TC004-03 performed after receiving the letter from Lexus, but it didn't help. May have made it worse.

- Valrico, FL, USA

problem #3

Jan 012002

ES 300 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 0 miles
2002 Lexus ES300 exhibits most of the pecularities mentioned in PE 04021 and dp 04003 in addition to inconsistent 1/2 and 2/3 shifts and major lag time in downshifts at speed. A major defect that has caused numerous near misses.

- Georgetown, MA, USA

problem #2

Sep 082003

ES 300 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 17,000 miles
Dangerous condition exists with 2002 Lexus ES300, where a severe hesitation exists when accelerating at slow roll (< 5mph) at intersection turns, exiting driveways, and generally anywhere when trying to get into flow of traffic when nearly stopped - especially when a turn is involved along with the acceleration. Very dangerous condition exists when trying to enter lane, or make a turn, in front of fast-moving traffic. It seems the car's electronics does not regognize the accelerator's request for fuel under those conditions. A prior Lexus tsb addressed transmission shifting at higher speeds, but seems to have created a new, and potentially more dangerous condition.

- Bayonne, NJ, USA

problem #1

Dec 102002

ES 300 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 228 miles
Transmission gets confused when shifting into and out of the lower gears, then spends too long trying to figure out what gear to be in. This causes dangerous delays in acceleration, the effect is the same as a momentary engine stall. We have had this happen on several occasions, freeway ramp entrances are certainly the most dangerous place that this has occurred. Dealer acknowledges that there have been complaints about the shifting delays but they say no fix is available. This is our third ES300, the previous models used a cable between the gas pedal and the throttle, this new one uses what is called "fly by wire", a position sensor on the accelarator that a computer is supposed to use to figure out what to tell the engine and transmission. It isn't working very well. If not rectified this problem will certainly lead to a crash someday, then we'll get to see how good the safety equipment is.

- Worthington, OH, USA

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