Ran into the issue after going to see my parents for Christmas. It was hailing/pouring bad so since I had my key card key only on me, I thought it would be a better idea to remote unlock the car in the app, then make a run for it and jump inside the car.

Once inside I pressed the start button only to be greeted with a ding and the "Press and hold brake then press start to start engine" notice on the dash. The car wouldn't start. I opened and closed a few doors, locked and unlocked, and then pressed start and the car started.

Fast forward to later that night I tried to replicate the issue by locking the car, unlocking the car in the app, and then getting in and starting the car. Same issue, pressing the doorlocks from inside allowed me to then start the car. Today I tried again today, ran into the same issue, but I had to open the driver side door, get out, and then get back in to start the car.

I plan on taking the car to the dealer, but wanted to see if anyone else has ran into this or can replicate.

1. Lock car
2. Unlock car in the Lexus App
3. Get in car a minute or so after, I've only tried it with the keycard, but try starting the car to see if it starts or if it just tells you to press the brake and push the start button.

 

I don't have the keycard, but never had this issue with the keyfob.

 

Seems like a software glitch. Good catch. Betcha we see a firmware update as a result.

 

Dropped it off at the dealer and confirmed with a couple of other employees there that have the ES350 as well...theirs all does the same thing.

They put in a issue request, may or may not ever be fixed. Will most likely need more people to report the issue to get it moved higher up the chain. Only workaround is to hold the key just right at the start button to get the car to start, otherwise the car will not recognize there is a key in the vehicle unless you exit the vehicle, shut the door, and reenter.

 

Interesting. I have a 23' 300h and use exclusively with keycard & app. Will try and report back.

Edit: I was able to replicate the issue but was presented with a different message "Press Break Pedal and Touch Power Switch with Key" (Image below). I remembered having something like this happen some time ago in a different scenario. I think this could be a security feature of the immobilizer system to make sure we have the physical key after using the app; or perhaps to prevent someone getting into it the car before you and stole it. Can you confirm the display message as they look very similar?

 

When I grabbed the door handle on my previous RC350, I had to wait a beat after touching it before pulling on the handle to open the door. When I got my '24 ES 350, I noticed, with the great approval that I reserve for minor improvements to unnecessary conveniences, that the unlocking is almost instantaneous with the touch of the handle. In other words, I grab the handle and pull to open the door, and the unlocking takes no additional time.
This is why I have never thought to unlock the door from the app, as it saves no time. Perhaps this is why Lexus dealerships are not aware of this bug which few owners would encounter.
It should be fixed, of course, and probably will be corrected on future builds.

 

I still get a wee bit perturbed at the tiny delay on touching the handle. One of the best features on my ex-Acura TLX was proximity sensing locks. You get within, I dunno, 10 feet of the car and the doors unlocked before you could even touch it. Conversely, as you walk away, the car locks itself. Very cool and very useful feature.

 

Highly doubt this will be treated as a System Bug. It appears to be some kind security measure of the immobilizer system to prevent something Toyota think it could happen.

I remembered the following scenario which should produces the same message / error:

• Parked to fill up gas.
• Went to the cashier counter with the key/fob in my wallet but the car was still on since there were people inside.
• Returned to the car and turned off before fill up.
• When trying to start again, the "...Touch Power Switch with Key" was required.

Maybe it's there to make sure we have the physical key before starting the car; or perhaps to prevent someone getting into it the car and stole since it's already open.