NHTSA Complaint #10063646 — 2004 LEXUS ES 330

VEHICLE DOES NOT ALWAYS RESPOND PROPERLY TO DRIVER DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR. IN SOME CASES, WHEN COASTING SLOWLY E.G., UNDER 10 MPH), SUDDENLY PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR SHARPLY WILL HAVE NO EFFECT FOR ABOUT 1.5 SECONDS. DURING THE DELAY, THE ENGINE WILL CONTINUE TO IDLE AND VEHICLE SPEED DO NOT INCREASE. AFTER THE DELAY, THE ENGINE AND VEHICLE SPEED INCREASE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION. THIS CAN LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT IF THE DRIVER IS MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN THERE IS ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THERE IS ANOTHER POSSIBLY RELATED ANOMALY WITH THE CAR: WHEN DRIVING, UNDER SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, WHEN THE DRIVER SHARPLY PRESSES THE ACCELERATOR, THE ENGINE AND VEHICLE SPEED WILL NOT CHANGE FOR ABOUT 1.5 SECONDS. AFTER THE DELAY, THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTS AND THE ENGINE SPEED INCREASES.*AK