Okie56KDM

I have a 2013 ES350 with 8K miles. Since car has been new, experienced intermittent surging and uneven driving at speeds between 25-40mph. At times the RPM gauge will spike and other times RPM stays stable. It seems like it is searching for the right gear and very noticeable when it does this. I have tried different grades of gas, different driving modes. Nothing helps. Problem is inconsistent but persistent. UGH!

Also, experiencing cruise control issues going up and down hills where vehicle feels like it trying slow itself down and then shifting hard to maintain speed.

Both problems have been reported to dealership twice with no diagnosis of any problems. So far been very disappointed with driving experience of this car. Has anyone else had these problems and found a fix for it?

ElliotB

I would imagine this is very annoying. Has the dealer experienced the issue? If not, video tape the tachometer and then show it to them.

A band-aid solution might be to manually select the appropriate gear for the speed you are travelling at. This will at least prevent the surging and make the drive a little more comfortable. I am guessing that either 4th or 5th will work for you.

kmmcgra

Mine does it also. Very annoying. Most of my 20 minute drive to work are at these speeds so the jerky shifting is very unplesant. I also got the musty smell from the air unit some has posted about. Plus the very rough idle. And i dont have Michelins! The car has its moments of bliss but i am very disappointed in the car so far. I want my 07 back
Someone posted before about the the shifting and brought it in. Dealer said normal. I'm sure thats what i'll hear when mine is in for first service.

Mike728

What driving mode are you in? I've noticed more aggressive shifting in Sport mode. In Eco mode that goes away. That said, I prefer Sport mode over the other 2 when not highway cruising.

dCota

I've also experienced the rough (though not too bad really) idle once or twice, but not in quite a long time....at least 3 or 4 months, so figured maybe I got some bad fuel

My issue remains -- that ungodly "whining" sound when accelerating and when slowing down and the car downshifts. VERY upsetting and annoying, but the tech said "all ES's do that".........interestingly, I test drove 3 different '13 models (all 350's) and none of them did it.....he had no explanation..........

Even MORE interesting, when they kept it a couple days to try to figure it out, they gave me a '13 350 loaner and it DID make the same sound!!!

The tech said, again, it was "normal" for all the ES's, but he would report it to Lexus...........I just turned 8k miles (bought it in November/2012)............thought I might get used to it, but NO WAY. It's absolutely obnoxious!

Aside from this issue, I absolutely love the car, but I really hope something is done about that whining on the first 3 gears. Not as noticeable with the windows up, but if my driver's side window is down, it's REALLY bothersome. Anyone else experienced this? (I think a couple other folks mentioned it too, with the same response from their dealer/techs.)

kmmcgra

I also have the whining noise which seems to be coming from the engine bay. It's very loud with the window down.

LexPaul

I suspect that the problem is in the NORM-ECO-SPORT mode programming, because that is the only thing mechanically (engine/trans) that is different from my 09. I also believe that Lexus stiffened the chassis to accommodate the different modes, especially the sport mode. I can't accept that these problems are 'normal' for any car, but especially for one in the $40k range and one by Lexus. I hope that the dealer will elevate these problems to corporate so Lexus can take a serious look at them,

Kenya

I too have experienced the issues you folks have mentioned. Has anyone been able to come up with some rationale as to what causes this?? this is very frustrating I just bought the car too?

NickTee

Transmission surging has been a problem since the first generation ES350. It was worst on the 2007, got better with the 08+, but it's still there.

sapd911

had the same problem, happened once or twice, had 9K miles (2013) and recently traded it in for a 16. I never had it checked out. No issues in my 16 so far, fingers crossed!

airgas1998

the surging is actually the constant up/down shifting between gears. the zone of issue in which at least for me is in the 35-40 mph range. if i get annoyed by it i just shift into 4th manually and problem solved. other than this one issue of the U660E it's a wonderful transmission. ever noticed when it's cold(1st start of the day)it shifts firmly and then once it's warmed up it turns into butter. there is a reason for that...