greglongo

UPDATED 04/19/04

I have a 2004 Rx-330 basic all wheel drive, with the most recent software upgrade, for the second time. The transmission still exhibits dangerous safety & self destructive characteristics that Lexus indicates is quite acceptable and we should learn to live with it. The transmission shifts prematurely from 1st. to 2nd. a very low speeds, leaving one, dangling in merging traffic forcing a very violent downshift back into 1st.; with a resultant surge of power that would most certainly would compromise even the most experienced driver. The transmission also hunches & hunts when accelerating, slipping and stumbling when it shifts. In fact the transmission seems to exhibit new forms of incompetence every day, as it seems to re-invent itself. The vehicle, adding insult to injury will exercise a fuel cut with mid to heavy acceleration, right in the middle of the torque range, of 3000-4500 R.P.M., well below the red line; this feature is supposed to protect the engine from overloading. It usually occurs when I am the only person on board and combined with probably the most neanderthal operating transmission that I have experienced in over 41 years of driving, literally slaps me in the face every time I take this vehicle out in anything but bumper to bumper driving. Oh yes I have pulled the ECU # 1 fuse and oh yes I have given it a fair amount of education time so please spare me the rhetoric. This is the most dangerous operating transmission that I have ever experienced and I find that Lexus's savoirfaire attitude, unforgiviable and totally unacceptable. This attitude smacks of earlier North American auto attitude towards owners not having the wherewithal or experience to protect ourselves against big business. Please speak up to Lexus and don't sacrifice safety just because you are made to feel that you are being unreasonable in your expectations of this Lexus product .