Problems with 2003 Lexus ES 300 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Sudden acceleration, in motion in reverse

I purchased a used 2003 lexus es30from used car dealer. after a couple days of driving it i noticed it was shifting gears innormally. it would surge up to 4000rmp before shifting to 2nd gear and at one point wasn't moving while i hit the gas the acceleration very fast out of nowhere. my mother also had this same year make and model vehicle a few years back and it had the same problem before the transmission went out. i did some research online and found many other lexus customers experienced the same problem. i found a web site that claimed that there was a tsb put out for this vehicle and that the lexus/toyota dealerships would fix this problem with an upgrade. i was wondering if this upgrade is still available and if my vehicle would qualify? and if so how would i go about this process.

My car over the last couple of years started experiencing abnormal acceleration . there were times it uses to surge or sound like it was ramping up to go fast, even with my foot on the break, you could hear the acceleration trying to ramp up like if my foot wasn't on the break it would just take off. then the opposite started to happen. my car idle would just drop and basically when i would go to take off from a stop, the car would not accelerate at all. it was inconsistent so sometimes it would over accelerate and sometimes under. there was no accident, but i've had a few close calls and some people to get aggravated at my car.i took it to the pep boys they thought it needed flushed maybe injection cleaning like all other scenarios i am just now reading about. after that, it seemed to work for a short while, but then the issue start occurring again. i had my spark plugs changed and new coils , new air flow hose to make sure there was no apparent reason for the issues. the problem still exist so i took it to a lexus dealership where their suggestion is the problem is in the throttle bottle. it seems to be a common link with the acceleration issue and the same suggestions are made from the mechanics to fuel injection , to spark plugs to seeming like transmission issue and its the throttle body / please have lexus fix these issues.. they are expensive for the owner to have to go through all the trouble shooting and range of . information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

On 9/4/2011 at approx. 1: 41 pm, i was pulling my 2003 lexus es300 (with my foot on the brake) into a shopping center parking space when it suddenly surged, then accelerated over the curb and onto a sidewalk where people were dining at tables. as the car accelerated over the curb, i pushed harder on the brake and tried to steer the car away from the diners. as the lexus goes over the curb and onto the sidewalk, the car continued to accelerate like it was being pulled, and the driver's side bumper hit a table of diners. three people are injured; one with compound fracture. the car continued to accelerate as i continued to push on the brake, trying to will this car to stop. it hit tables and chairs as people jumped out of the way of this runaway car! the car deflected off a building and came to a stop on the sidewalk. my foot was still on the brake. tire marks from the braking were visible on the curb and sidewalk as local news stations recorded and aired. airbags did not deploy. the weather and visibility were clear. around 10/4/2011, one month after the wreck, a toyota investigator inspected the car's accelerator pedal and found it "operated smoothly and returned to its idle position withoutany binding or sticking...[it was] correctly aligned...no damage observed. the electrical connector was in place and secure....a diagnostic system check showed that there were no trouble codes relating to the operation of the vehicle." but my foot was on the brake. as of 3/12/2012: property damage: $20,000. lexus body damage:$9000. personal injuries: one settled, one countered, one talking with a personal injury lawyer. i no longer own the car. i was terrified to drive it. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 lexus es300. the contact was driving approximately 35 mph when the accelerator pedal suddenly became stuck and the vehicle crashed into a concrete railroad. the dealer had not been notified. the contact called the manufacturer who stated that they would investigatie. a police report was filed. the vehicle was destroyed. the current and failure mileages were approximately 118,000.

My 17 year old daughter was driving my 2003 lexus in town. we have never had any previous similar incidents, and have not experienced the same thing since. she had stopped at a stop light, but was too far back, so she wanted to pull up a little. she took her foot off the brake, and the car moved forward. she repeatedly pushed the brake, but they did not work. the car stopped when she hit the car in front of her. i had the car checked after the accident, but they couldn't find anything obvious. however, she, and the other passengers, have verified that she repeatedly pushed the brake to no avail. *tr

Backing out of parking space in small parking lot, car accelerated out of control. would not stop when stepped on brake and crashed into two other cars. reported to dmv in ca, where car registered, although accident occurred in nevada. car severely damaged and repaired by insurance co. lexus dealer checked car after repair and blamed floor mats but we disagree. if anyone had been behind car they would have been killed or injured. *tr

The 2003 lexus es300 suddenly accelerated without warning, causing the vehicle to come out of a driveway, go completely across the street, up onto the sidewalk, and hit poles/fence, causing severe injuries. the gas pedal was not pressed down hard at the time, and there was no explanation for the rapid acceleration. *tr

I was in the drive through at the dunkin donuts in germantown, md giving my order in the speaker. i remember hearing a roaring sound like a train and the next thing i know all of a sudden my car shot forward and hit the back of the car at the service window. it was quite strange. i am convinced i had my foot on the brake. the ems and police said i must have hit the accelerator by mistake. i am not convinced in my own mind that this is what happened. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 lexus es300. the driver was driving in a parking lot approximately 10 mph when the vehicle began to accelerate on it's own. the vehicle accelerated above 80 mph which caused the driver to crash into 6 vehicles. the driver was injured and was taken to the emergency room. the police confirmed that the driver was traveling at 86 mph due to the uncontrollable acceleration. the contact was not aware that the vehicle had increased at that speed. the failure mileage was 35,000 and the current mileage is 41,000.

While driving at 70 mph in the fast lane on the freeway, my car suddenly lost acceleration and the check engine light came on. i was able to get my car to the right and get off the freeway to a gas station. as i was slowing to a stop, the car was shuddering before it came to a complete stop. i checked the owners manual and it said it was probably the electronic throttle control. i followed the instructions in the manual and was able to drive the car at lower speed to get home and then get it to the dealer the next morning.*jb

Odi 10126111 filed 6-21-2005 sudden acceleration 2003 lexus es300. *tr

The consumer stated at any time the vehicle accelerated without warning. no impact reported. please provide additional information. *jb the vehicle sticks in gear. *tc

I have now sent my car in for service twice to lexus of orlando about unexpected surging of the vehicle and vehicle hesitation when the accelerator is pressed. this is an intermittent and dangerous problem, as i do not know when it will occur. when it does occur the upshift is harsh, the downshift delayed as if the transmission is confused about the driver's intention, and there is pronounced hesitation when the accelerator is pressed. this lack of responsiveness leaves both the vehicle and passengers exposed to accident and injury. on my first visit, i was told the vehicle computer would be reset, as the vehicle learns your driving style in the first 30 or so miles, and i must have driven the vehicle harshly. this so called _x001c_reset_x001d_ did nothing to fix the problem; less than a week later, i narrowly escaped a crash after my car hesitated while crossing an intersection. i promptly returned the vehicle to the dealer for service. upon completion of the second service, which included a drive with the technician, lexus service now says these problems are inherent to the model and they can't fix them. in addition, i am aware that numerous owners frequently complain of hesitation and surging in 2002, 2003, and 2004 models and many complaints (over 100) of the same nature have been filed with the nhtsa. this statement is to issue notice that i am not satisfied, and the problem has not been fixed.*ak

Ongoing and worsening lack of accelleration predictability. car will hesitate especially when power is required (such as merging traffic, left turns, etc.) automatic ransmission sounds like it delays engaging when necessary.*ak

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 lexus es300 purchased april 2004. she immediately began experiencing failures when the vehicle surged and violently lunged forward while it was idle. the dealer stated that the vehicle was a "smart car" and was aware when there was a driver, other than herself behind the wheel, which would "confuse" the vehicle. no diagnostic test were performed. the failure progressed and the vehicle was taken back to dealer a second time. although the dealer became familiar with the failure; they stated that she needed to wait a year until the "new programming" was available. one year later, the vehicle was taken back to the dealer for the software reprogramming and the failure became progressively worse. the vehicle continued to lunge violently while sitting idle, driving at speeds of under 35 mph or while coasting. when the vehicle lunged it felt as if she was being struck from the rear by another vehicle. there were no additional repairs made to the vehicle. the vin was not available. the failure and current mileages were approximately 78,000.

When pulling into a parking spot driver depressed the brake pedal and vehicle suddenly accelerated. vehicle went over the curb, and hit a light pole. front left side of the vehicle was damaged. upon impact, front air bags did not deploy. driver sustained minor bruises. *ak *la

While entering a parking lot vehicle accelerated on its own. consumer tapped the brakes, and speed increased even more. as a result, driver loss control of vehicle, and hit a wall. *ak see voq 10062702 *dsy updated 7/3/12 *cn

The vehicle lunged upon parking. as a result the consumer lost control and hit a wall. the front end repairs cost $2,275.00. *ak (sudden acceleration) *sc *jb

When the consumer lifted foot of the brake pedal vehicle suddenly accelerated, and hit a women who was standing in the front of the consumer's vehicle, the woman fractured her ankle and arms. *ak

While parking consumer depressed the brake pedal and vehicle lurched forward, hitting a building. the front of the vehicle was damaged. vehicle was taken to the dealer, who could not determine the cause of the problem. *ak

Due to the design of the speedometer consumer cannot read the gauge during the bright daylight hours. the pointer is bright red, and with the bright sun shining down, it is very hard to see where the dial is on the dashboard. *ak *mr