NHTSA Complaint #10062276 — 2004 LEXUS ES 330

MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A NEW 2004 LEXUS ES 330 ON FEBRUARY 7TH, 2004. WE HAD READ MANY GOOD THINGS ABOUT THIS CAR, AND THOUGHT WE WERE BUYING THE BEST.HE SALESMAN REAFFIRMED OUR THOUGHTS. WE BOUGHT THE CAR IN SARASOTA AND DROVE IT HOME TO BRADENTON. I NOTICEDA DIFFERENCE FROM THE DEMONSTRATOR IMMEDIATELY. THE TRANSMISSION WHINED AS IT WENT THROUGH THE GEARS; IT SLIPPED NOTICEABLY IN THE GEAR CHANGES; AND IT FAILED TO DROP INTO LOWER GEARS IMMEDIATELY WHEN I GAVE IT THROTTLE TO PASS. I THOUGHT THEY WOULD FIX IT IN THE 1,000 MILE CHECKUP, BUT WHEN I TOOK IT IN ON MARCH 11,'04, THE TECHNICIAN,S REPORT SAID,"...ALL DATA NORMAL. TRANSMISSION IS IS WORKING AS DESIGNED." I OBJECTED TO NO AVAIL. WHAT KIND OF MANUFACTURER WOULD DESIGN A TRANSMISSION TO SLIP, WHINE, AND IN THE WORDS OF CONSUMER GUIDE OF APRIL, 2004,"...TRANSMISSION TENDS TO LOITER IN HIGHER GEARS AND HESITATES TO KICK DOWN FOR PASSING, CREATING DELAYS IN PART-THROTTLE RESPONSE." I AMFINDING OUT THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE AT LEAST '02 WITH NO CORRECTIVE MEASURES BEING TAKEN. WE THINK THIS PROBLEM MAKES THESE CARS UNSAFE IN TODAY'S HEAVY TRAFFIC. *AK