Lexus ES transmission problems
38 complaint narratives mention transmission terms.
Key facts
665 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
61,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 to 2025 model years. Data snapshot: . 293 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Transmission and shifting evidence
38 of 665 complaints match this topic (5.7%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 10514170 · 2013-05-29 (May 29, 2013)
I SMELLED WHAT I THOUGHT WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID OR ANTI-FREEZE. THE NEXT DAY MY WIFE SMELLED GAS AND SOME FRIENDS CALLED MY CELL TO TELL ME GAS WAS RUNNING OUT FROM UNDER THE CAR. I COULD NOT FIND A LEAK UNDER THE CAR. I LIFTED THE HOOD AND FOUND GAS RUNNING DOWN THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE. AFTER TAKING THE LEXUS COVER OFF THE ENGINE, I FOUND GAS SHOOTING STRAIGHT UP INTO THE AIR. IT WAS COMING FROM A VACUUM LINE THAT HAD POPPED OFF. I RE-ATTACHED THE LINE AND STARTED THE ENGINE. THE LINE POPPED OFF AND GAS AGAIN SHOT STRAIGHT INTO THE AIR. I REPLA…
Owner-reported narrative. 235,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10514170 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10212960 · 2007-12-27 (December 27, 2007)
ATTEMPTING TO MERGE UNTO THE HIGHWAY, VEHICLE (2001 LEXUS ES300) WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 35 MPH, FORCING ME TO GET OFF TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING AS TO ANY PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION (WAS JUST FULLY SERVICED AT THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP IN AUSTIN 2 MONTHS PRIOR TO INCIDENT). HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS BEYOND REPAIR. AUTOMOBILE HAS ONLY 101,000 MILES. LEXUS REPAIR COST IS JUST UNDER 6000.00. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 101,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10212960 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10154949 · 2006-04-10 (April 10, 2006)
THIS VEHICLE HESITATES INTERMITTENTLY IN TRAFFIC AND HAS A DANGEROUS LOSS OF POWER. WHEN I PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC, OR TURN A CORNER, THE VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY LOSES POWER AND WILL NOT ENGAGE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, THEN THE VEHICLE WILL PROCEED. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY BLOW UP AND THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOST POWER, AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THE DEALER HAS DENIED THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS, AND THAT I AM THE ONLY ONE THAT IS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. THEY HAVE REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10154949 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10167071 · 2006-08-30 (August 30, 2006)
THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLE WILL HESITATE AND SURGE CAUSING ERRATIC BEHAVIOR. THIS BEHAVIOR IS DANGEROUS AND ANNOYING. ONE NEVER KNOWS HOW IT WILL REACT. I WOULD LIKE THIS FIXED ONCE AND FOR ALL. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE LEXUS USER GROUP HAS MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS BEHAVIOR. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT MAY GET SOMEONE INJURED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10167071 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10171497 · 2006-10-21 (October 21, 2006)
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ROUGHLY AND SOMETIMES ABRUPTLY IN THE LOWER GEARS. THE DOWNSHIFT AT TIMES IS VERY HARD. THE VEHICLE WILL ALSO SURGE FORWARD AT TIMES OR WILL NOT ACCELERATE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AFTER THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10171497 at NHTSA ↗