Hesitation and a hard downshift
04-07-19, 02:36 PM
#1
Rookie
Thread Starter
Hesitation and a hard downshift
Today while driving two odd things that have never happened before happened. I have a 2019 RX 350 with 2500 miles on it.
While accelerating to merge with highway traffic the transmission down shifted and it was one of the hardest downshifts I’ve ever felt - a straight up clunk. After that no issues until a few hours later when I was coming home and again accelerating to merge with highway traffic and the car accelerated until 3000 RPM where it abruptly stopped accelerating, the tachometer bounced up and down for 5 seconds (foot was still to the floor) and then as nothing had happened it continued to accelerate. Almost felt like stability control cutting fuel because of wheel slippage except it’s 70F on a dry and beautiful day and I was going 40+ miles per hour already. No warning lights and after that the car acted normally.
I have noticed lately too that in 3rd gear and above if I floor it but it doesn’t cause a downshift the engine has subtle but still detectable “surges” throughout the RPM range.
Anyone experience this? Some cars have known quirks like occasional hard downshifts and while I’ll say something at the 5000 mile would love to not have to go in early.
On a side note my wife drives a 2018 Honda Pilot with similar output numbers - 280 hp and 262 lb-ft and the Pilot has a similar weight but man that engine, while significant louder under full throttle and especially once the V-Tec kicks in, feels much, much, much faster. With the RX 350, in any gear, there is just no sense of urgency for a car with 295 hp. It’s weird....
While accelerating to merge with highway traffic the transmission down shifted and it was one of the hardest downshifts I’ve ever felt - a straight up clunk. After that no issues until a few hours later when I was coming home and again accelerating to merge with highway traffic and the car accelerated until 3000 RPM where it abruptly stopped accelerating, the tachometer bounced up and down for 5 seconds (foot was still to the floor) and then as nothing had happened it continued to accelerate. Almost felt like stability control cutting fuel because of wheel slippage except it’s 70F on a dry and beautiful day and I was going 40+ miles per hour already. No warning lights and after that the car acted normally.
I have noticed lately too that in 3rd gear and above if I floor it but it doesn’t cause a downshift the engine has subtle but still detectable “surges” throughout the RPM range.
Anyone experience this? Some cars have known quirks like occasional hard downshifts and while I’ll say something at the 5000 mile would love to not have to go in early.
On a side note my wife drives a 2018 Honda Pilot with similar output numbers - 280 hp and 262 lb-ft and the Pilot has a similar weight but man that engine, while significant louder under full throttle and especially once the V-Tec kicks in, feels much, much, much faster. With the RX 350, in any gear, there is just no sense of urgency for a car with 295 hp. It’s weird....
Last edited by PWMDMD; 04-07-19 at 02:45 PM.
04-09-19, 11:44 AM
#2
Driver School Candidate
My 2017 does that. And when starting to move from a stop, the engine lugs badly (too high gear causes <1000rpm) causing little movement.
Passing vehicles is dangerous from the hesitation.
Dealer says factory is aware but says all things are working as designed. No fix available.
There is a long thread about the hesitation. May be time for a class action lawsuit or to get NHTA involved.
Personally, I would take your car back and demand they fix it. They cannot, so you get a refund. Good luck though
Passing vehicles is dangerous from the hesitation.
Dealer says factory is aware but says all things are working as designed. No fix available.
There is a long thread about the hesitation. May be time for a class action lawsuit or to get NHTA involved.
Personally, I would take your car back and demand they fix it. They cannot, so you get a refund. Good luck though
04-09-19, 01:54 PM
#3
Racer
My 2017 does that. And when starting to move from a stop, the engine lugs badly (too high gear causes <1000rpm) causing little movement.
Passing vehicles is dangerous from the hesitation.
Dealer says factory is aware but says all things are working as designed. No fix available.
There is a long thread about the hesitation. May be time for a class action lawsuit or to get NHTA involved.
Personally, I would take your car back and demand they fix it. They cannot, so you get a refund. Good luck though
Passing vehicles is dangerous from the hesitation.
Dealer says factory is aware but says all things are working as designed. No fix available.
There is a long thread about the hesitation. May be time for a class action lawsuit or to get NHTA involved.
Personally, I would take your car back and demand they fix it. They cannot, so you get a refund. Good luck though
04-13-19, 10:54 AM
#4
Driver School Candidate
ECO, Normal, Sport, Sport+ all do it.
Contemplating filing a lemon law case because Lexus acknowledges the issue and has decided not to fix it. Once the lemon law case is won. then a class action suit would be trivial to sponsor and win.
Contemplating filing a lemon law case because Lexus acknowledges the issue and has decided not to fix it. Once the lemon law case is won. then a class action suit would be trivial to sponsor and win.
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