View Poll Results: What was the result after your transmission replacement?
Voters: 21. You may not vote on this poll
Transmission Replacement Success\Failure Poll - Dec 2006+
02-18-07, 10:42 PM
#46
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
I was initially interested in trading for a "newer" more improved es350. However, a service rep. was honest enough to discourage me from seeking a replacement es350 and offered to give me a refund. I was told that my repacement es350 would most likely have the same problem. I was also told that the slipping between 3rd and 4th gear was now considered a "normal characteristic" of the car and is not considered a "defect" by Lexus. I was also told that Lexus would not be required to produce a fix since this transmission slipping is now considered a "normal characteristic" of the car. I wonder how many of us would knowingly purchase a car with this "normal characteristic? I definitely would not choose a replacement es350; just give me a refund, please.
So I'm off car shopping!
So I'm off car shopping!
2007es350 - are you now looking at another Lexus or further afield? I'm not sure what to think of Lexus anymore. I thought the GS might be all clear of its bugs by now, but then I read this thread. Maybe those engine people also worked on the ES trans?
02-19-07, 04:35 AM
#48
Lexus Champion
I was told that my repacement es350 would most likely have the same problem. I was also told that the slipping between 3rd and 4th gear was now considered a "normal characteristic" of the car and is not considered a "defect" by Lexus. I was also told that Lexus would not be required to produce a fix since this transmission slipping is now considered a "normal characteristic" of the car. I wonder how many of us would knowingly purchase a car with this "normal characteristic?
If the above is true, just count the weeks till the lawsuits fly, likely one large class action like the oil gel suit. People with elderly passengers and very small children will clean up big for that level of arrogance, negligence and non-disclosure.
02-19-07, 06:36 AM
#49
Lead Lap
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: TX
Posts: 400
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I had two loaner ES350s since Christmas while my GS430 was in the shop. Both of those have some slipping but the newer one was worse. The newer one had less than 1k miles. This dealer has several buybacks on there loner lot as well. If you ask me, 1) they do not know what the problem is, 2) they know but two expensive to fix at the factory.
Oh, and the whisper after talking causally with the guys there, they are replacing transmitions left and right. Sad, because the car drives much nicer than the last years model.
Oh, and the whisper after talking causally with the guys there, they are replacing transmitions left and right. Sad, because the car drives much nicer than the last years model.
02-19-07, 03:21 PM
#50
Lead Lap
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: ca
Posts: 410
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2007es350 - are you now looking at another Lexus or further afield? I'm not sure what to think of Lexus anymore. I thought the GS might be all clear of its bugs by now, but then I read this thread. Maybe those engine people also worked on the ES trans?
So yes, I am thankful for the buyback. But I'll be turning in my es350 with a heavy heart.
I am looking at the gs and ls from lexus, the rl from acura, the m35 from infiniti. I'm leaning towards the ls since it is the most comfortable and similar to the es in features...but the ls will cost substantially more than what I initially wanted to spend. Any other suggestions for an es350 replacement?
02-19-07, 06:20 PM
#51
I wish I could get another es350 since it is my ideal car (for size, comfort, and price.) However, the Lexus Rep discouraged getting an es350 as my replacement because the buybacks are over and I would be stuck with my replacement es350 if it had the tranny slipping issue (which he said would be almost a certainty.) Again, refer to the slipping transmission as a "normal characteristic".
So yes, I am thankful for the buyback. But I'll be turning in my es350 with a heavy heart.
I am looking at the gs and ls from lexus, the rl from acura, the m35 from infiniti. I'm leaning towards the ls since it is the most comfortable and similar to the es in features...but the ls will cost substantially more than what I initially wanted to spend. Any other suggestions for an es350 replacement?
So yes, I am thankful for the buyback. But I'll be turning in my es350 with a heavy heart.
I am looking at the gs and ls from lexus, the rl from acura, the m35 from infiniti. I'm leaning towards the ls since it is the most comfortable and similar to the es in features...but the ls will cost substantially more than what I initially wanted to spend. Any other suggestions for an es350 replacement?
If you stay with Lexus, why not the GS?
02-19-07, 06:47 PM
#52
Lexus Fanatic
The ES is just too buggered right now. Some people are lucky, and they don't perceive problems.
However, out of the 3 loaner es350's I've had, 2 of them have trans slip, including the one I'm driving right now. The only one that didn't slip had just 1000 miles, and was too new to tell. But I bet that will slip in no time.
That's a pretty consistent failure rate.
On Yahoo! Autos, the es350 only gets 2.5 stars/5, with 64 reviews. I don't care how unscientific the reviews are. All I know is that there are many people that hate the car enough to post on the internet.
However, out of the 3 loaner es350's I've had, 2 of them have trans slip, including the one I'm driving right now. The only one that didn't slip had just 1000 miles, and was too new to tell. But I bet that will slip in no time.
That's a pretty consistent failure rate.
On Yahoo! Autos, the es350 only gets 2.5 stars/5, with 64 reviews. I don't care how unscientific the reviews are. All I know is that there are many people that hate the car enough to post on the internet.
02-19-07, 07:00 PM
#53
Lexus Champion
The ES is just too buggered right now. Some people are lucky, and they don't perceive problems.
However, out of the 3 loaner es350's I've had, 2 of them have trans slip, including the one I'm driving right now. The only one that didn't slip had just 1000 miles, and was too new to tell. But I bet that will slip in no time.
That's a pretty consistent failure rate.
On Yahoo! Autos, the es350 only gets 2.5 stars/5, with 64 reviews. I don't care how unscientific the reviews are. All I know is that there are many people that hate the car enough to post on the internet.
However, out of the 3 loaner es350's I've had, 2 of them have trans slip, including the one I'm driving right now. The only one that didn't slip had just 1000 miles, and was too new to tell. But I bet that will slip in no time.
That's a pretty consistent failure rate.
On Yahoo! Autos, the es350 only gets 2.5 stars/5, with 64 reviews. I don't care how unscientific the reviews are. All I know is that there are many people that hate the car enough to post on the internet.
02-19-07, 07:19 PM
#54
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
Current averages out of 5:
07 ES350 - 2.5 stars - 64 reviews
07 Camry - 2.5 stars - 225 reviews
07 RX350 - 3.5 stars - 48 reviews
07 GS350 - 4.5 stars - 29 reviews
06 ES330 - 3.5 stars - 28 reviews
06 Camry - 3.5 stars - 97 reviews
06 RX330 - 3.5 stars - 37 reviews
06 GS300 - 3.5 stars - 98 reviews
07 Acura TL - 4.5 stars - 45 reviews
06 Acura TL - 4.5 stars - 179 reviews
07 Acura RL - 4.5 stars - 28 reviews
06 Acura RL - 4.5 stars - 44 reviews
07 Infiniti M - 3.5 stars - 24 reviews
06 Infiniti M - 4.5 stars - 104 reviews
07 Infiniti G - 4.5 stars - 47 reviews
06 Infiniti G - 4.5 stars - 59 reviews
Most of the comments on the ES350 relate to trans issues and wind noise. The Yahoo reviews are an interesting composite of users. You can see there are many happy people, as well as those who have problems across all vehicle makes. It will be interesting to see what the ES comments are in the coming weeks\months as they seem to have a review added almost every day.
02-19-07, 07:53 PM
#55
Lexus Champion
On Edmunds, there isn't much difference in the Consumer Ratings between '06 and '07 Camry's and the ES 350:
'07 ES 9.2/10 99 reviews
'06 ES 9.1/10 25 reviews
'07 Camry 8.8/10 279 reviews
'06 Camry 9.1/10 66 reviews
'07 ES 9.2/10 99 reviews
'06 ES 9.1/10 25 reviews
'07 Camry 8.8/10 279 reviews
'06 Camry 9.1/10 66 reviews
02-19-07, 07:57 PM
#56
Lead Lap
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: ca
Posts: 410
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
02-19-07, 08:12 PM
#57
In that case, I would look at the M45 too. V8 power and the same room as the ES. You sure you want a car as big as the LS?
Last edited by widlfiresd; 02-20-07 at 08:27 AM.
02-20-07, 05:05 AM
#58
Lexus Champion
well esbob,
to redeem myself.. here is an account of a toyotnation.com member who post the following...
Well, after driving a loaner car for nearly three weeks, I got my SE back tonight. It went in to service for the trans flare, pulling to the left hard, brake squeek, and a popping in the dash.....
They replaced the trans with a new design: my paperwork says: #30510-33530 transaxle assy per TSBTC002-07
They Swapped two tires and did an alignment per TSB 05-01
They added front and rear fitting kits to the brakes and greased the calipers per TSB BRO-10-06 Road tested and found the squeek still was there. They then followed TSB BRO-20-06 and added rear brake shims
Finally they took apart the dash and found the windshield retainers tapping. They followed TSB NV009-06 to fix by removing windshield locating pins top and bottom.
I took the car out tonight and it sat from 6:00pm - 8:45 pm outside with a temperature of +1 deg. F. Upon backing out of the driveway, and starting out on a 25mph road I got the flare. I got to the main road (40mph) and hit it. 1st...2nd...3rd...flare. I almost lost it.
In addition, the dash squeeks more than I started out with. In fact, the tick still comes from behind the radio, but now I have a squeek!
Also, now the car even after driving for 30 minutes is running at idle over 1100rpm. Seriously, I almost coasted through the garage wall as it simply wants to go...
So now what? of course a call to the dealer Friday first thing, but what now. Another three weeks?
I want to cry. Honest, I love the car, but soon I will be driving the loaner more than my own car. There is a quary nearby....think insurance would cover it?
hopfully you can use this bit as a negative on the tranny flare.. there are some others as well on the other forum...
to redeem myself.. here is an account of a toyotnation.com member who post the following...
Well, after driving a loaner car for nearly three weeks, I got my SE back tonight. It went in to service for the trans flare, pulling to the left hard, brake squeek, and a popping in the dash.....
They replaced the trans with a new design: my paperwork says: #30510-33530 transaxle assy per TSBTC002-07
They Swapped two tires and did an alignment per TSB 05-01
They added front and rear fitting kits to the brakes and greased the calipers per TSB BRO-10-06 Road tested and found the squeek still was there. They then followed TSB BRO-20-06 and added rear brake shims
Finally they took apart the dash and found the windshield retainers tapping. They followed TSB NV009-06 to fix by removing windshield locating pins top and bottom.
I took the car out tonight and it sat from 6:00pm - 8:45 pm outside with a temperature of +1 deg. F. Upon backing out of the driveway, and starting out on a 25mph road I got the flare. I got to the main road (40mph) and hit it. 1st...2nd...3rd...flare. I almost lost it.
In addition, the dash squeeks more than I started out with. In fact, the tick still comes from behind the radio, but now I have a squeek!
Also, now the car even after driving for 30 minutes is running at idle over 1100rpm. Seriously, I almost coasted through the garage wall as it simply wants to go...
So now what? of course a call to the dealer Friday first thing, but what now. Another three weeks?
I want to cry. Honest, I love the car, but soon I will be driving the loaner more than my own car. There is a quary nearby....think insurance would cover it?
hopfully you can use this bit as a negative on the tranny flare.. there are some others as well on the other forum...
reyrey,
I understand and in honor of ONS many contributions I see no harm counting one Clamry, as he calls them, in our poll since they share the same transmission.
02-20-07, 06:00 AM
#59
Lexus Champion
Even if you add all sources up you can see CL rules on accurate data on this car. The trend is in excess of 20 percent reporting hosed up transmissions, set aside engine noise or wind noise.
138 of our CL members polled
64 Yahoo polled
99 Edmunds polled
71 MSN polled
=372
We have in excess of 10 percent of that figure right here JUST at CL with over 37 reporting hosed up transmissions, add my 2 not in the polls and mjm who just joined and has not yet taken the comprehensive problem poll and you are at 40. Do a google search keying in.... ES350 transmission... and you will stop wasting your time counting at just Yahoo or Edmunds townhall which was linked on here months ago by someone, and you are over 20 percent of responses of owners indicating hosed up transmissions.
20 % of claimed 70,000 sold indicates very likely 14,000 plus vehicles with this issue from real data from actual owners. I believe it has been established 70,000 have not been sold as the 330 figures were included in that total sold the first 4 or 5 months of 2006, so 20 % of roughly 55,000 indicates very likely 11,000 plus vehicles with this issue.
Our CL members accurately indicated by poll the TSIB valve body would fail long before Lexus yanked that TSIB and we did it with far less than our larger number of problem poll participants.
CL has accurate data on these cars, no need to waste time going anywhere else. But if you are skeptical, just key in ES350 transmission on a google search and stop wasting your time counting when you reach 34 total reports of hosed up transmissions from the other sites and you will see just how accurate CL member contributions are.
02-20-07, 06:34 AM
#60
Lexus Champion
The point of my post wasn't to determine the level of trans problems. It was merely to report overviews from owners on how they felt about their cars. Any disatisfaction in one area or another would be reflected in their overviews. With 70,000+ vehicles out there the more sources of information, the better IMO.