Hello All,
I posted this same issue in April 2022 where my LS was jerking when accelerating from 6-8 MPH when the car is cold. Once the car is warmed up the issue is not reproducible. The dealer applied a tech bulletin (L-SB-0003-22)
which seemed to correct the issue however I'm now experiencing the shift jerking again during 6-8 MPH, but not as severe as it was initially pre-tech bulletin.
I brought this up again during another visit with the Lexus dealer, exhibited the issue with a service person in the passenger seat while driving around. The only thing they came up with was it was due to the adaptive variable suspension system?! in addition the service record says that the vehicle is functioning normally. A ticket was also logged with Toyota corporate to watch this issue.

I'm bringing in the car for it's 15K service next week and will talk with the service rep again.
Has anyone else experienced this issue especially post tech tip applied? I'm baffled that they are blaming it on the adaptive variable suspension. In addition the service person didn't check anything else on the car. I would have thought that there are other diagnostics around transmission issues to check?

Is it time to contact Lexus Corporate?

Thanks in advance.

 

I used to have the same issue but you are correct, it is alot less severe after the TSB was applied. It still happens occasionally but pretty rare now. It does feel a little scary or weird, but I haven't had to deal with it for awhile now. It was alot worse before the TSB and I was pretty concerned. You figure it would have been figured out for the 2021 model, since mine is a 2018, but I guess not. Has to be specific to the 10 speed transmission because I dont see anyone else having these issues. :\

Hope you get it sorted out. Let us know what happens!

 

You can ask the dealer to re init the transmission ECU via Techstream and do the road test patterns for it to relearn the shift points.

 

My 2022 had it. Firmware update solved the problem entirely.

 

Thanks for the reply. Is the firmware update in addition to the tech service bulletin?

 

No. The TSB directs the tech to apply the firmware update via techstream.

 

I have a 2018 and I had the same issue. I got the TSB done and it has drastically reduced the amount of times it does it now. I'm really surprised Lexus has not fixed it by now for the 2022's. Must be an issue with all the 10 speed transmissions. I don't think I have heard of anyone with the LS500h have any transmission issues, but I suspect it is probably a totally different transmission.

 

I have a 2021 350 ES that has done the same thing since brand new. Engine simply acts a little cold for a little while when I first start out in the morning. Have a steep hill as soon as I leave my driveway and that’s where I feel it during acceleration. It now has 7,500 miles on it and is 1.5 years old. It seems to do it less and less as time goes by and miles add on. Wife doesn’t even feel it. It doesn’t bother me much—-goes away as soon as car is less than full cold. If it persists, I’ll have it checked at next service interval, as I don’t to be ignoring anything that’s harming the car.

 

Hello All,
Just wanted to give an update on my vehicle. The shift jerking is still happening. I've visited Lexus service 3 times to see if they can correct the issue. Last visit was in July 2022. The service person was able to duplicate the issue. He called Lexus Corporate and they told him that the car is working as expected. I'm not buying that explanation.
I contacted Lexus Corporate to formally complain about the issue and the dealership. They are in the process of investigating the issue with the dealership. Contacting Lexus Corporate and getting a call back is was also a challenge. Hopeless.
This is my first CPO Lexus purchased. Prior to that I've had 3 previous new Lexus. I've never had transmissions issues as I have with this 2021 LS. Stay tuned...

 

How frustrating! I fear you may have bought someone else’s troubles. For someone to trade in such an expensive late model car and endure that depreciation hit, they must have been fed up, too. Is there a way to access the prior service records to see if previous owner reported the issue? Potential Lemon Law case. Just terrible! You’ll go back to buying brand new, now, I bet.

 

I recently purchased an 2022 AWD Lexus LS500 after being in an Audi A8 for 10 years. I used to drive Lexus and wanted to come back “home” to a car brand that I trusted for quality. After driving the car for a month, it drives me crazy that this jerking while driving at highways speeds is so noticeable. I, too, took the car to the Lexus dealership and they initially stated they could t duplicate the error. I didn’t accept that and asked them to have the technician ride with me. We were in the car for 5 mins and the technician finally felt the jerking and stated that he knew what the problem was. He stated it was related to the AWD system in the Lexus LS500 and they had typically addressed this with the firmware update, which I already had. He stated the problem had improved over the 2018 model. I asked do they proactively do the upgrades when there is a new firmware revision. He stated, “No. The customer had to ask for it”. That said, I will do as one gentleman suggested and have them do a fresh reinitialization of the firmware with hopes that this will address the issue.

Lexus, if you’re reading these comments, please resolve this. This is not the brand I remember. Quality was always a given and that’s why I’ve always considered myself a Lexus man even when I temporarily drove another car. Now that I’m back, you’re starting to have me questions the level of quality you have always demonstrated.

 

What finally happened to the problem that you had with the shift jerking on you LS? Did Lexus fix the problem?

 

Yeah, different allright,the LS500h has TWO transmissions, a CVT and a four speed automatic.
I haven’t noticed any jerking at low speed when cold with my 2020 LS500. If I had I might suspect it was due to the emissions system. Lots of cars have cold, low speed habits due to the emissions.
According to your EPA:
“Active transmission warm-up is a system using waste heat from the vehicle for targeted warm up of the transmission. This reduces friction losses and enables a faster transition from cold operation to warm operation, thereby decreasing CO2 emissions, and increasing fuel economy.”
I’m not saying this is a good excuse, but it’s a likely cause of what you are experiencing. If it stops after warmup you might just live with it.

 

Is your LS AWD or RWD?

 

I still have the jerking issue at low speeds when the car is cold/just start driving. It's typically between 6-8 mph. Lexus refuses to acknowledge that there is an issue. Ugh! So frustrating.