heidihidin

Perception due to comparison with a 1985 Toyota corolla or a 2015 BMW 750il

Mike728

The topic is about lane wandering. Are you saying one of those vehicles you referenced inherently has that issue?

Rafadog

Count me is with the loose feeling steering. I just accepted it as the normal feel for the car when I bought it in Jan. of this year. My previous car and current beater/dogmobile is an 08 Mercury Milan AWD and it tracks truer with crappy tires that are worn than my 15 ES300 with brand new rubber.
Like a previous poster stated, it does feel like an older Oldsmobile or Buick LaSabre of the early 90's. Mine isn't as bad and I wouldn't call it wondering so much as constant slight corrections. In the Milan I can look at the GPS and know that when I look at the road again I'll be on the same track. With the ES, I don't take my eyes off of the road for more than a split second.
I still love the car though and have zero regrets with my purchase.

st1800

Try putting it in Sport mode, seems to tighten up the steering.

OBLexus

It definitely does!
I always drive in sport mode as I prefer the tighter steering - no issues of lane wandering with me (mine is a 2018 though).

lex2gfe

I just started experiencing this same issue with my 2014, this is my second 6th gen es350, the 2013, no issue and now the 2014, 2 months ago I don’t have this issues. There is a straight road that I let go of the steering and for about 40 seconds it goes straight and I don’t have to steer, now I feel every 1 second it either veering left or right.

morgan1819

Did you ever get this looked into by the dealer?

I'm starting to feel like there may be something in the steering box assembly or front bushings that is too easy susceptible to being knocked out of spec by hitting a pothole, or just normal driving on rough roads.

I swear, people probably think I'm a drunk driver by how much this thing carves back and forth within the lane. Every other car I drive feels like they track amazingly well. (and my ES has a fresh alignment and Michelin Premiers with 8k miles)

lex2gfe

I didn’t do anything, I just got used to it and I totally forgot all about it.

UKEE

My previous 2016 had this issue and it literally make my arm tired and ache from the constant correction. I mentioned it to dealer but that was secondary to the resonating sound that I had from the car in idle (which I finally traded it because of). Dealer said the alignment was good. The 2019 ES300H I have now is a million times better than the 2016 ES350 in the steering department (other than the lane assistance occasionally goes off un-necessarily). The 2019 feels more like every other car that I've had on steering (solid, tracks straight, etc).

I did hit a deep pothole a short time after I got the 2016 ES350 and it jarred the living hell out of it. I don't remember though if it started wandering before or after that. I want to say before.

For reference, the car would wander to both sides and constantly require minor corrections. If I didn't correct, it would go across the line or off the road at times.

norakat

I know this is an old thread, (I'll reply for others looking for answers) but the problem can be outer tie rods. As they get worn there is play in the ball joints on the outer tie rods. This play can cause your steering to wander and you continually have to make small adjustments in your steering. Maybe the Lower Ball Joints can also cause a similar symptom.

norakat

Other things that go usually before 100k miles - Sway Bar links (all 4), (I already said front Lower Ball Joints, Outer Tie Rods, not sure about inner..), Suspension system (Struts/shocks, strut mounts, bearing, etc.). Without everything being tight, your car does not handle or steer well, and does not feel stable. Another thing I am considering Front wheel bearings, and eventually - front control arms.

Eslader

I had the same car. The OEM tires on those things were terrible. I put Michelin Pilot Sport A/S+ tires on it and it had a very good ride. Not as plush as the ES, but it could also run circles around the ES in the handling department.