2002 Lexus ES

The contact owns a 2002 Lexus ES 300. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH in the driveway and turning into the garage, the vehicle unintentionally accelerated, hit a beam, drove through the garage wall, and into the dining area of the residence, crashed into the furniture, and stopped. The air bags did not deploy. The contact noticed sparks and smoke coming from the dashboard after the impact. There was no injury sustained. There was property damage. The contact stated that she had previously filed a complaint regarding the vehicle's sudden and unintended acceleration. A report police was filed with the police. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and was later towed back to the residence. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

During a trip on the highway the accelerator was to low and take harder to accelerate the car. When we arrived home close to parking end the car suddenly accelerated while I was using the brakes pedal. I was lucky to stop on time. Thanks for your attention.

I TRIED TO START MY CAR OUT OF NO WHERE IT WOULDN'T START NO WARNING OR ANYTHING I CHECKED THE STARTER THAT WASN'T IT I'M NOT SURE OFF IT'S THE ENGINE OR AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM

TL* THE CONTACT'S MOM OWNED A 2002 LEXUS ES 300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EMIT A THICK WHITE, YELLOWISH SMOKE FROM THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER,THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AS A BYSTANDER ALTERED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE VEHICLE AND THE AUTHORITIES WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. DUE TO THE FIRE, THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. NO INJURIES WERE SUFFERED AS A RESULT OF THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER HAVE YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 173,000.

WHEN I STOP AND TRY TO ACCELERATE THE CAR HESITATE AND THEN STARTS TO JERK. IF I GIVE IT HEAVY GAS IT DRIVES NORMAL

CAR BEGAN TO LURCH, STOPPED, SMOKE AND FLAMES BEGAN COMING OUT OF FRONT OF CAR. FIRE ENLARGED, SEVERAL SMALL EXPLOSIONS. FIREMEN PUT OUT FIRE, BUT FRONT HALF OF CAR TOTALLY BURNT. *TR

THIS IS THE 2ND 2002 LEXUS ES300 IVE OWNED WITH HALF THE MILES OF THE 1ST ONE...YET BOTH CARS CATALYTIC CONVERTORS FAILED!! HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE AT ONLY 136K MILES THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED!! THE 1ST CAR HAD ALMOST 268K MILES WHICH I FELT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR FAILURE WASNT AS SURPRISING...BUT BETWEEN MY BOYFRIEND AND I WE HAVE OWNED 4 LEXUS VEHICLES: 1997 ES300 1999 RX300 AND 2 ES300 AND ALL OF THEM HAD CATALYTIC CONVERTOR FAILURES!!! I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC AS LONG AS YOU PUT IN THE CORRECT FUEL AND CORRECT OIL THE CONVERTORS SHOULD LAST FOREVER!! SO WHY IS IT THAT LEXUS CARS CONVERTORS FAIL AS LOW AS 136K MILES!! THATS REDICULOUS!!

ON THE NIGHT OF AUGUST 20, 2019, AT 9:45, I PARKED MY LEXUS ES 300 AND WENT INSIDE THE LOCAL ACME. ACME IS APPROX MILES FROM HOME. I ENTERED THE STORE AND HEARD OVER THE INTERCOM ALL SHOPPERS HAD 12 MIN BEFORE CLOSING. I QUICKLY SHOPPED, AND UPON EXITING THE STORE, MY CAR HAD A SIGNIFICANT FIRE, AND THE FIRE COMPANY THAT WAS ACROSS THE STREET HAD TO RESPOND AND PUT IT OUT. MY CAR HAD NO POWER, AND IT MYSTERIOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE. I WAS GIVEN THE DIRECTIVE TO HAVE IT TOWED IMMEDIATELY BY THE POLICE AND FIRE CO WHO WAS ON THE SCENE. I QUICKLY GRABBED ANY SALVAGEABLE PERSONALS AND HAD TO GET A RIDE HOME BY THE POLICE OFFICER. THE FOLLOWING DAY AUGUST 21, 2019, AAA TOWED THE VEHICLE TO MY HOME. I HAD TO ATTACH THE BATTERY CABLE TO HAVE POWER FOR WINDOWS AND LOCKS ALONG WITH THE TRUNK. I GATHERED ALL MY BELONGINGS AND REMOVED THE WIRE. I CALLED THE FIRE MARSHALL FOR A REPORT, AND HE SAID HE COULDN'T GIVE ME A REPORT. IT WAS COMPROMISED BY BEING TOWED. COMPROMISED FOR TOWING WHEN I WAS TOLD OR RATHER DEMANDED TO REMOVE THE VEHICLE OF THE PROPERTY IMMEDIATELY. I GOOGLED THE WORDS LEXUS AND FIRE AND NOTICED BY A FEW POSTS MY ISSUE WAS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THEREFORE, I CONTACTED LEXUS, WHO HAD ME TOW MY VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE CAR SAT AND IS STILL SITTING FOR ALMOST THREE WEEKS BEFORE AN INSPECTOR LOOKED AT IT ON SEPTEMBER 10. 2019. I WENT TO CHECK THE ONLY CAR AFTER AND TOOK A VIDEO OF WHAT I SAW. I WAITED THE 30 DAYS FOR A REPLY IF THEY'D ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY. I GOT MY LETTER ON THE 31ST DAY AND THEY CAN NOT IDENTIFY HOW THE FIRE STARTED AND ASSUME NO LIABILITY. HOW DOES A CAR MYSTERIOUSLY CATCH FIRE PARKED? BECAUSE THIS ISSUE ISN'T ISOLATED, IS THERE ANY RECOURSE ACTION AGAINST LEXUS FOR DAMAGES? I HAVE VIDEOS AND PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE AFTER THE FIRE AND AFTER THE INSPECTION.

IN A COMMERCIAL PARKING LOT, I SHIFTED FROM R TO D TO EXIT A PARKING SPACE AND, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, MY LEXUS SUDDENLY SPED FORWARD AND RAMMED A PARKED CAR, DRIVING IT INTO A 3RD CAR.

I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM ALL AUTO SALES. THE SAME DAY, LESS THAN AN HOUR LATER I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME AND IT BROKE DOWN IN FRONT OF A RED LIGHT. THE SALESMAN REASSURED ME THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. I TRIED TO START IT BACK UP AND IT WOULDN'T START SO I HAD TO PUSH IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHILE PREGNANT AND TWO KIDS PRESENT. IT WAS SOLD TO ME "AS IS" AND I HAVE NO TEMP TAGS AND I'M EXPECTED TO PAY A BI WEEKLY CAR NOTE. I HAD TO PAYOUT OF POCKET FOR A TOW TRUCK AND AT THIS POINT I JUST WANT MY MONEY BACK IT'S ONLY BEEN TWO DAYS AND I'M ALREADY EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS OUT OF THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP.

TAKATA RECALL, MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT @35MPH IN WHICH HER AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I AM CONCERNED THAT SINCE THE SENSORS WERE KNOCKED OFF DURING THE IMPACT, WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO PREVENT THE AIRBOYS FROM DEPLOYING? SHE WAS TRAVELING AT 35 MPH INTO AN INTERSECTION WHEN SHE RAN A RED LIGHT AND T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY THE VEHICLE SHE HIT WAS A JEEP WRANGLER WITH A STEEL SIDE BUMPER ON ALL SIDES. SO THERE WAY MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THE JEEP.

I ACCELERATED FROM A STOP LIGHT AFTER IT TURNED GREEN. ABOUT 25 FEET THRU THE LIGHT I HEARD THE CAR BEHIND ME BLOWING THEIR HORN CONSTANTLY. I LOOKED IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING IN. THEN I THOUGHT I NOTICE LIGHT SMOKE COMING FROM MY TAILPIPE. I APPLIED MY RIGHT TURN BLINKER AND PULLED TO THE CURVE. AS SOON AS I PARKED, I COULD SEE ORANGE COLORED FIRE AROUND THE FRONT OF MY CAR AND ALONG THE SIDE OF MY DRIVER/PASSENGER DOORS. I FELT THAT ME AND MY PASSENGER WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO EXIT THE CAR WITHOUT BE BURNT, BUT I KNEW WE NEEDED TO GET OUT IMMEDIATELY. I TRIED TO CALMLY GET MY PASSENGER TO EXIT WHICH WE DID MAINLY BECAUSE SHE HADN'T SEEN THE FLAMES. WE WERE ABLE TO EXIT AND I IMMEDIATELY CALL 911 AND PROCEEDED TO CLEARING PEOPLE FROM NEAR MY CAR. THE FIRE DEPT AND POLICE ARRIVED ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES LATER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE CAR THEN LEFT. A POLICE OFFICER STAYED UNTIL THE TOW CO ARRIVED. THE CAR WAS TOWED AWAY AND I WAS GIVEN A RIDE TO MY RESIDENCE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS ES 300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED HEAD ON INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK, NECK, FACE, AND SHOULDER INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

I OWN A 2002 LEXUS ES300 AND AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I HAVE ENJOYED THE EXPERIENCE OF DRIVING THE CAR TO AROUND 175K MILES IN NEARLY 12 YEARS. SO FAR, I DID NOT HAVE ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR UNTIL RECENTLY. LAST FRIDAY, AUG 8, 2014, MY WIFE DROVE THE CAR TO A FRIEND'S PLACE AND WAS PARKED IN A PARALLEL PARKING AREA. THERE WERE 3 CARS IN THAT PARKING AREA INCLUDING MY CAR IN 5 CAR PARKING AREA. THE TWO PARKING SPOTS BEHIND MY CAR WERE VACANT. MY WIFE WAS TRYING TO BACK UP TO A SPOT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ANOTHER CAR WHICH WAS PARKED THERE. WHILE TRYING TO BACKUP, THERE WAS A SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF THE ENGINE AND HIT THE CAR RIGHT BEHIND AND THAT CAR WENT AND HIT ANOTHER CAR THAT WAS BEHIND THAT CAR. THE IMPACT WAS SO MUCH THAT THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND ANOTHER CAR THAT WAS RIGHT BEHIND AND MINOR DAMAGE TO THE THIRD CAR. NOT ONLY THE DAMAGE TO ONE CAR RIGHT BEHIND BUT DISPLACED ITS POSITION AND DIRECTION THAT IT WAS PARKED. THE THIRD CAR WAS PUSHED OVER TO THE CURB AND WAS ABOUT TO HIT THE PEDESTRIANS THAT WERE NEARBY. THERE WERE EYE WITNESSES AND POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE ACCIDENT SCENE AND REPORTED THE INCIDENT. AFTER THE INCIDENT OCCURRED, I WAS LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY ISSUES WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF THE CARS AND ANY SAFETY RECALLS. I DID NOTICE THAT THERE WERE QUITE A FEW COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND SAFETY ISSUES ON 2002 LEXUS ES300. I AM KIND OF DISAPPOINTED IN THE WAY THE CAR MALFUNCTIONED AND I WANT TO KNOW WHAT NHTSA IS DOING ABOUT IT AND HOW IT CAN HELP VICTIMS LIKE ME. THANKS AND APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSE. *TR

I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR (LEXUS ES 300 2002 SEDAN) FOR MY DAUGHTER LESS THAN A WEEK AGO ON 4/11/2014 FROM A PRIVATE OWNER, WITH 267,000 MILES AND IT RAN WELL FOR A TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE, SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN WELL CARED FOR MECHANICALLY, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR IS IN GREAT SHAPE AND WAS CHECKED OUT MY FRIEND A LONGTIME MECHANIC. MY DAUGHTER HAD JUST LEFT THE DMV WHICH WAS CLOSED TODAY 4/18/2014 AND STREET DRIVING BACK HOME. THE CAR MADE A LOUD POPPING SOUND, SMOKE STARTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND SOON FLAMES AND SHE HAD TO PULL OVER AND DITCH THE CAR. SOON IT BLAZED AND THE WHOLE FRONT END, ENGINE, WINDSHIELD THE FRONT TIRES ALL BURNED. FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS SHOWED UP, EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND DID TRAFFIC CONTROL. THE FIRE DAMAGE WAS CONTROL TO THE FRONT AND ENGINE, THE FIREWALL DID IT'S JOB. ALL THE INTERIORS, DASH AND CONSOLE ARE ALL IN TACT AND IN GOOD CONDITION NO SMOKE DAMAGE. VIN:[XXX] LEXUS ES 2002 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

MY WIFE, WHO DRIVES THE LEXUS ALL THE TIME, WAS PREPARING TO DRIVE THE CAR FROM THE GARAGE TO DRIVE DOWNTOWN. SHE HAD HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL (AS IS NECESSARY TO MOVE THE TRANSMISSION TO REVERSE). THE MOMENT IT WAS ENGAGED THE CAR LEAPED BACKWARD, LEAVING TIRE MARKS ON THE CEMENT OF THE GARAGE AND ALSO THE DRIVEWAY ITSELF. HER EFFORTS TO STOP THE CAR BY STOMPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD NO EFFECT. SHE GRAZED THE HOUSE, MOVED THROUGH A FLOWER BED, LEAVING A TIRE MARK THE WHOLE DISTANCE, STRUCK THE CORNER OF THE HOUSE AND CONTINUED UP A SMALL INCLINE IN THE NEIGHBOR'S YARD, LUCKILY MISSING A LARGE TREE THERE AND CAME TO A STOP. THE CORNER OF THE HOUSE REMOVED WAS ABOUT 3-4 FEET ON EACH SIDE OF THE CORNER JUNCTURE ITSELF. THERE WERE TWO WITNESSES ACROSS THE STREET IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE, BOTH OF WHOM IMMEDIATELY CAME TO HER AID AND VOICED THE OPINION THAT THE CAR WAS TRULY MOVING AT A HIGH SPEED. MY WIFE HAD NO INJURIES OTHER THAN BEING VERY SHOOK-UP AND THANKFUL THAT NEITHER SHE OR OTHERS WERE INJURED. OF COURSE, THE CAR IS A MESS: BRICKS FROM THE HOUSE IMPACT FELL ON THE HOOD, TOP, AND TRUNK LID. A THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR IS SCRAPED, ONE REAR WINDOW IS BROKEN, THE LARGE REAR WINDOW IS GONE, THE TRUNK LID IS IN BAD SHAPE AS IS THE REAR BUMPER. THE TOP HAS SEVERAL DENTS AND WINDOW TRIM ALSO. MY PRIMARY CONCERN IS WHETHER OR NOT THE CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE AFTER THE EXTERNAL REPAIRS ARE MADE. I BELIEVE ONLY LEXUS CAN TELL ME, IF THEY WILL. *TR

HAD TO REPLACE STATER,BRAKES WOULD START AND ENGINE WOULD STOP.HAD TO HAVE BRAKES REPLACED,LIGHTING INSIDE WOULD SOMETIMES COME ON OTHER TIMES NO LIGHTING INSIDE.

I WAS BACKING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT MY TOWN'S TRANSFER STATION. AS I CAME TO A STOP, I BEGAN TO SHIFT INTO PARK WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF MY CONTROL. THE VEHICLE SMASHED INTO A THREE FOOT CONCRETE WALL COMING TO A STOP. THE CAR SUFFERED EXTENSIVE BACK END DAMAGE. I WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL FOR XRAYS OF MY NECK AND SPINE. THANKFULLY I AM NOT INJURED. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER MY CONTROL. IT WAS AS IF IT HAD A MIND OF IT'S OWN. I AM A CLEAR HEADED, FORTY EIGHT YEAR OLD FEMALE. I HAVE A PERFECT DRIVING RECORD. THIS WAS THE RESULT OF SOMETHING OUT OF MY CONTROL. I BELIEVE THIS 2002 LEXUS ES 300 IS A DANGEROUS CAR. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR TWO YEARS. IT WAS PURCHASED AS A SECOND CAR FOR MY HUSBAND. THE CAR DOES NOT HAVE FLOOR MATS NOR DID I CONFUSE THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE. *TR

MY 2002 ES 300 HAS HEADLIGHT SENSORS WHICH MAKE IT GO UP AND DOWN DEPENDING ON WHAT ANGLE THE CAR IS PARKED/MOVING AT. SO GOING DOWNHILL, IT SHOULD DIP DOWN TO AVOID ONCOMING TRAFFIC FROM GLARE AND GOING UPHILL, IT SHOULD MAKE THE LIGHT GO FARTHER. SOMEHOW THE SENSOR (OR SOMETHING ELSE) GOT FAULTY. LEXUS DEALERSHIP MADE ME DRIVE AT LEAST 5000 MILES (I USED TO LIVE IN FARGO, ND AND THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP WITH 225+ MILES ONE WAY) BEFORE THEY COULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE LIGHTS. I HAD TO MAKE A VIDEO AT NIGHT (AS THEY DENIED TEST DRIVING AT NIGHT) TO SHOW THEM MY SAFETY CONCERNS ABOUT THE HEADLIGHTS. THE DISTANCE I COULD SEE WAS VERY SMALL AND IT GOT DANGEROUS AT NIGHT TIME, UNLESS I TURNED MY HIGH BEAM ON. LEXUS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM, KEPT MY CAR FOR ONE MONTH, DROVE IT FOR APPROXIMATELY 3000 MILES. ENGINEERS FROM CHICAGO AND LA CAME (I WAS TOLD) AND THE ANSWER WAS: WE COULD NOT FIND WHAT EXACTLY IS CAUSING THIS, BUT THERE IS SOME MAGNETIC FIELD AROUND THE WIRE TO THE SENSOR WHICH DISRUPTS THE FUNCTIONING OF THE SENSOR. WE HAVE PUT THE SHIELDED WIRE AROUND THE WIRE AND IT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. I HAD NOT BEEN DRIVING THIS CAR MUCH SINCE THEN AT NIGHT TIME DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS, TILL I MOVED TO ALBUQUERQUE. THE TERRAIN HERE IS HILLY AND I DON'T SEE THE LIGHTS TO DIP DOWN OR GO FARTHER WHILE GOING DOWNHILL AND UPHILL RESPECTIVELY. WHILE MAKING TURNS AROUND CANYONS AND CLIFFS , GOING UPHILL, IT BECOMES DANGEROUS AS YOU CAN' SEE MORE THAN 30-40 FEET (OR LESS) ON A FREEWAY WHICH IS NOT A SAFE BRAKING DISTANCE AT 65-70 MILES/HR AND IF YOU TURN THE HIGH BEAM ON IT'S NOT SAFE FOR THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I URGE THAT NHTSA INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE AND I AM WILLING TO PROVIDE MY CAR FOR DRIVING UP TO 300-400 MILES. EVEN THOUGH I HAVE PUT AUG 22ND 2003 AS THE INCIDENT DATE, THAT IS MY PURCHASE DATE FROM MY UNCLE (THE ORIGINAL OWNER) AND IT HAPPENS . EVERYTIME I DRIVE. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME IN THIS MATTER. *TR

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ROUGHLY AND SOMETIMES ABRUPTLY IN THE LOWER GEARS. THE DOWNSHIFT AT TIMES IS VERY HARD. THE VEHICLE WILL ALSO SURGE FORWARD AT TIMES OR WILL NOT ACCELERATE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AFTER THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED. *NM