2003 Lexus ES300 from North America - Comments

The engine will surge out into traffic at anytime. When the car is at a complete stop and the gas is applied the car will hesitate for about three seconds then surge out into traffic. NHTSA has investigated five deaths and 30 crashes in 2004. While driving the gas must be applied very slowly or the car will surge at any speed.

The sunroof has creaked since the car was purchased, was told by the dealer that this could not be corrected.

Lexus Corporation has stated that if the car is driven by two different people the transmission will shift on its own due to the memory of the transmission. My car is driven by two different people and shifts on its own at all times. The transmission will stick for about 10 seconds which is very common with my car.

The catalytic converter has been replaced once due to the smell coming out of the vents. The smell still comes out of the vents and it does not matter if the heat is on or not.

The Lexus ES300 is a very unsafe car to drive. NHTSA should look into this matter more closely before more deaths occur due to the surge of the engine.

Learn how to drive your Lexus, its not a Kia. Get use to the amount of power it has. I have the same problem with mine, but it doesn't bother me, I've gotten use to it. Just don't gun the car getting into traffic on the freeway. Give it gas very slowly.

I'm afraid I have to agree with the original reviewer. A 3-second lag when you tromp the accelerator is unsafe, and a damned annoyance as well! Our 2005 Explorer does the same thing. Sometimes you need to move RIGHT NOW, but because of that lag, it leaves you hanging out there wondering when you'll be clearing the path of that semi bearing down on you...

The thing with the ES300 is it only hesitates when you give it gas off the line. If you take off slowly for about 2 seconds then push the pedal to the floor it will do fine. I'm very angry Lexus won't admit they have a problem. My 99 RX300s transmission went at around 70,000. I decided to give Lexus another chance after hassling with Mercedes on my 2001 S500. I'm very dissapointed Lexus won't admit their problem with transmissions. I will always drive a Lexus just as long as its in warranty, after the warranty expires its traded for a new one.

I have a 2005 model of ES300 and I enjoy riding on it. It hasn't got the problems that you had encountered. It could be that the recent models have made the rectification.

Try having your ecu flashed at the dealer. I thought that my ES had a slight lag when I got it, so I returned to the dealer. They told me that there is a fix for the issue. There is not a problem with the car, it is only a difference in driving preferences. By default, the car will be sluggish. When the dealer installed all new software for my transmission computer, my car immediately drove unmistakably different. After the car learned my driving preferences (which are: quick and responsive), the car memorized them after about 100 miles. ***My ES now responds immediately from a dead stop, and it also downshifts as soon as I hit the gas harder when I am already moving*** I am so spoiled, that when I get a loaner ES from the dealer, I can easily tell the difference.

"Learn how to drive your Lexus, its not a Kia. Get use to the amount of power it has. I have the same problem with mine, but it doesn't bother me, I've gotten use to it. Just don't gun the car getting into traffic on the freeway. Give it gas very slowly."

That's inane. Learn to drive around a recall?

I have never thought my ES300s lagging was a problem becuause my 93 SC400 does the same. It does not bother me what so ever. People are so picky these days. I hear all the time that people take there car in cause the seat belt squeaks when being put on. Get over it.

I am considering purchasing a 2003 Lexus ES300 to cut down on gas consumption over that used by my husband's V6 Dodge Dakota Quadcab half-ton truck and our V6 Winstar van. What is the typical mileage (mostly country, paved roads driving)?

Thanks... Arlene.

I am replacing the alternator today. I have less than 21,000 miles on my car. Am I the only one with this problem?

The alternator in my ES300 has developed a grinding noise (possibly due to worn bearings). It still puts out 14VDC, but I will be replacing it soon. The housing seems to be quite oxidized compared to other components. It has 35K miles on it. I read somewhere that ES300 that are driven infrequently, as mine is, or idle for prolonged periods have premature battery failure. There is supposed to be an improved replacement alternator for the vehicle.

Try resetting your ECU so it'll forget old driving habits, especially if you bought the car used. Just disconnect the battery for a while (10-15 minutes) and the ECU should forget it's settings. Keep in mind that your radio might will likely need it's unlock code, so have it ready if you decide to disconnect the battery!

I always tend to read similar complaints about Toyotas and Lexuses, but you have to realize that a lot of these "problems" are actually how the cars are supposed to be. The cars are trying to guess your driving style and learn to behave how it thinks you want it to behave, but at the same time you should be figuring out how it behaves when you behave a certain way.

I've even seen someone complain that the transmission might downshift when you brake hard-I've noticed the same thing happen once before in my car, but I figured that it was a feature to help slow the car down. I find it funny that people would immediately think something is wrong with the car when it's engine braking for you to try and help you out.

Anyways, if the car still doesn't learn to drive the way you want, you'll just have to learn to drive the way it wants I'm afraid. But try the ECU reset if someone else has been driving it a lot.