2007 Lexus ES350 power train problems

“This is a second report of unexpected, unanticipated extremly high acceleration while braking. I reported this experience in November 2019, NHTSA Complaint Number 11279155. At that time, the car was moving and I was braking on an uphill curve. On October 10, 2021, at approx 12:30 p.m. The unexpected, unanticipated extremely high acceleration occurred as I was starting my car in a Pittsburgh area restaurant parking lot. The car requires that my foot be on the brake while starting. The car was in Park when I depressed the start button. Immediately the car started with extremely high revolutions to the point the loud engine noise frightened several individuals standing 15-20 feet on an adjacent sidewalk. The tachometer was in or close to the redzone. I immediately shut the engine down. At no time did I have my foot on the accelerator and neither the floor mat nor any other item was touching the accelerator.”

“THE TRANSMISSION WON'T SHIFT PASSED 3RD GEAR. I TRIED DRIVING ONE DAY AND THAT'S WHAT IT BEGIN DOING. THE OIL WAS AT THE CORRECT LEVELS AND IT STILL BEHAVED THAT WAY. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS EVER SINCE.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS ES350. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE FAILURE CODES WERE FOUND FOR THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM AND TRANSMISSION DRIVE TRAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.”

“THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS BETWEEN GEARS. WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE OR DECELERATE FOR ABOUT 20 SECONDS. IT'S EXTREMELY DANGEROUS BECAUSE YOU LOSE YOUR ABILITY TO AVOID DANGEROUS SITUATION. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS ES350. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO THE PARK POSITION, IT INDEPENDENTLY REVERSED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS STRUCK BY THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED RIGHT FOOT THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.”

“THIS VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH RANDOM HARD DOWN SHIFTING WHEN IT IS ALMOST STOPPED. THE HARD DOWN SHIFT WILL HAPPEN AND THEN VEHICLE WILL LUNGE FORWARD. I DID SLIGHT RUN INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT. THIS COULD BE POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS IF THE LUNGE WOULD HIT A PEDESTRIAN OR CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ENTER HEAVY TRAFFIC. I HAVE REPORTED THIS MANY TIMES TO THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP, WHO IS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE RANDOM NATURE. *TR”