2007 Lexus ES Complaint Log

I RECEIVED A LESS THAN REASSURING ASSESSMENT TODAY OF HOW MY '07 LEXUS ES 350 WAS FIXED AT KEYES LEXUS, VAN NUYS, CA, FOLLOWING A RECALL NOTICE. ALTHOUGH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD BEEN TRIMMED, AND SOUND MATERIAL WAS REMOVED FROM THE DRIVER-SIDE FLOOR MAT AREA, THE PRINCIPAL SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM REMAINED UNSOLVED, ACCORDING TO BILL HORVATH, LEXUS SERVICE REP. BACKGROUND: WHILE TRAVELING WEST ON THE 60 FREEWAY IN MID-DECEMBER MY CAR TOOK OFF LIKE A BAT OUT OF '!@#$% AS I NEARED CHINO AIRPORT, LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES FROM HEMET, WHERE I VISIT MY 95-YEAR OLD MOTHER EACH WEEK. THE CAR'S CRUISE CONTROL HAD BEEN ACTIVATED AND IN USE FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES. MY SPEED WAS SET AT 68 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR SIMPLY TOOK OFF, ULTIMATELY REACHING NEARLY 100 MPH. AT THE TIME OF ACCELERATION MY RIGHT FOOT WAS NO WHERE NEAR THE GAS PEDAL OR BRAKE. I REMOVED THE ORIGINAL LEXUS CAR MATS LONG AGO. NEVERTHELESS, IT PROVED TO BE AN UNBELIEVABLE EXPERIENCE AND TERRIFYING RIDE. I SHUT OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL DEVICE, HIT THE BRAKE AS HARD AS A COULD, THREW THE AUTO-GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. I WASN'T HURT, BUT TERRIFIED BY THE EXPERIENCE. I WILL NOT LET MY WIFE OR DAUGHTER DRIVE THIS DEFECTIVE CAR--EVER! THE LEXUS TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE CRUISE-CONTROL INSTANT ACCELERATION PROBLEM, ACCORDING TO HORVATH. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR I TOLD HORVATH THAT I'M ACCEPTING IT UNDER PROTEST AND THAT THE DEALER'S SOLUTION AND FINDINGS TO MY VERY DANGEROUS INCIDENT WERE "INADEQUATE." FOR THE RECORD, THIS REPRESENTS A SINGLE ISOLATED EVENT. I NEVER HAD ANY OTHER ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER, I NOW FULLY UNDERSTAND HOW EASY IT MIGHT BE TO GET KILLED IN ONE OF THESE SO-CALLED LUXURY CARS. WHAT PISSES ME OFF THE MOST IS THAT TOYOTA HAS KNOW ABOUT THIS SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT FOR THE LAST NINE YEARS. *TR

MY 2007 LEXUS ES350 SOMETIMES ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN WHILE CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED. NO SIGNIFICANT EXPLANATION IS AVAILABLE. I AM TYPICALLY DRIVING IN CRUISE. I HAVE NOT TOUCHED ANYTHING, TRIED TO ACCELERATE OR ANYTHING. FOR LACK OF A BETTER EXPLANATION, IT IS AS IF IT IS POSSESSED, IT JUST HAPPENS. THIS OCCURS OCCASIONALLY, A COUPLE OF MONTHS CAN GO BY BETWEEN INSTANCES. IN MY CASE IT HAS BEEN ABOUT 2 MONTHS SINCE THE LAST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. ON THE OCCASIONS IT HAS HAPPENED I ALLOW I DO NOT ALLOW IT TO GO MORE THAN 10 MPH ABOVE THE SET SPEED BEFORE I DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. DISENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL SEEMS TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *TR

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT CAUSED BY SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE DRIVER WAS STOPPED FOR A RED LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, THE DRIVER RELEASE THE BRAKE AND THEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE AHEAD. THE ACCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO THE LEXUS AS A PRODUCT LIABILITY CASE, CAUSED BY A SUDDEN OR UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AT THE MAGNUSSEN LEXUS DEALERSHIPS, FREMONT, CALIFORNIA BY LEXUS TECHNICIANS ON JANUARY 26, 2010. ON FEBRUARY 10, 2010 THE LEXUS CLAIMS ADMINISTRATOR SENT US A LETTER STATING THAT THE VEHICLE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY VEHICLE DEFECTS. I REJECT THIS ASSERTION BY LEXUS AND HEREBY REQUESTING THAT NHTSA INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS ES350. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,100. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000. UPDATED 07/28/10. *LJ UPDATED 10/12/10

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS ES 350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE FELT A THRUST/SURGING MOTION WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AS IF SOMEONE HIT HER FROM THE REAR. SHE NOTICED THE PROBLEM ABOUT 6 DIFFERENT TIMES. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE WAS UPGRADED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT NOTICED THE PROBLEM SINCE THE UPGRADE. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 32,800.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS ES350. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN OR ACCELERATE FROM AFTER STOPPING, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE PARK-NEUTRAL SWITCH; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT IS STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 37000.

I TURNED RIGHT INTO THE PARKING LOT AND PROCEEDED APPROXIMATELY 120 FEET AND TURNED RIGHT INTO THE FIRST AVAILABLE PARKING SPOT. THERE ARE SPEED BUMPS IN PARKING LOT THAT DO NOT ALLOW ANY SPEED TO BE GAINED BETWEEN DRIVEWAY AND PARKING SPOT. AS SOON AS MY CAR ENTERED THE PARKING SPOT, AND WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND SURGED FORWARD JUMPING THE PARKING CURB AND HITTING THE OUTSIDE OF THE DENTAL BUILDING. THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD OVER THE PARKING CURB, THROUGH SHRUBBERY, STRUCK A PARKING SIGN AND FINALLY THE BUILDING, A TOTAL DISTANCE OF ABOUT 6 FEET, BEFORE STOPPING. THE SITUATION HAPPENED ONLY ONCE AND WAS ENOUGH FOR US TO REQUEST LEXUS TO BUY THE VEHICLE BACK FROM US. LEXUS LOOKED AT THE FLOOR MATS AND DEEMED THEY WERE SECURELY IN PLACE NOT CAUSING THE ACCIDENT. THEY CHECKED THE CAR MECHANICALLY AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG & NO COMPUTER ERROR CODES RECORDED. THEY DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO THE VEHICLE AND RETURNED IT TO US CLAIMING NO MALFUNCTION OF THE CAR. THE FRONT BUMPER AND HOOD NEEDED REPLACEMENT AND WE HAD TO PLACE AN INSURANCE CLAIM AND PAY OUR DEDUCTIBLE TO GET THE CAR REPAIRED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS ES350. AFTER SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, THE ENGINE HAD BEGUN TO REV. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. SINCE THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE, THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 35308. UPDATED 11/23/09 *BF UPDATED 11/24/09

FAULTY ACCELERATOR ON 2007 ES 350. VEHICLE SPED UP WITH FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR. ONLY ONE OCCURRENCE. WAS ABLE TO USE BREAK TO SLOW DOWN VEHICLE. ACCELERATOR FINALLY STOPPED. IMMEDIATELY CHECKED FLOOR MATS WHICH WERE SECURED AND HOOKED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS ES350. AS THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH INTO HER DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE GARAGE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 14000. UPDATED 8/4/10 *CN THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 08/09/10*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS ES350. THE FLOOR-MATS SHIFTED UNDER THE ACCELERATED PEDAL; WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE FROM 45 TO 55 MPH. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT IF THEY COULD DUPLICATE THE FAILURE, THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 .

2007 LEXUS ES350 SUDDEN ACCELERATED*CW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING SOUTH ON THE INTERSTATE, HE PULLED OUT TO PASS AN 18-WHEELER TRUCK, WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. ANOTHER TRUCK WAS IN FRONT OF HIM AND THE ONE THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO PASS WAS ON THE RIGHT. A STEEL CLIFF WAS ON THE LEFT AND AS THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. HE TURNED OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THERE WAS STILL NO RESPONSE. HE TRIED TAPPING THE ACCELERATOR AND FORTUNATELY THAT WORKED AND THE VEHICLE RETURNED TO NORMAL AND UNDER CONTROL.

LTR FWD RE SUDDEN ACCELERATION INCIDENT INVOLVING HIS 2007 LEXUS ES350. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO PASS AN 18-WHEELER TRUCK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. ANOTHER TRUCK WAS IN FRONT OF HIM AND THE TRUCK THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO PASS WAS ON HIS RIGHT. A STEEP CLIFF WAS ON THE LEFT AND WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. HE TURNED OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THERE WAS STILL NO RESPONSE. THE CONSUMER TIRED TAPPING THE ACCELERATOR AND FORTUNATELY THAT WORKED AND THE VEHICLE RETURNED TO NORMAL OPERATION. LATER THAT DAY, AFTER LEAVING THE GAS STATION, THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK AGAIN. *JB

I HAVE A 2007 LEXUS ES 350. LAST SEPTEMBER AS I WAS ENTERING A FREEWAY AND SPEEDING UP IN ORDER TO JOIN THE CARS DRIVING AT ABOUT 60 MPH, MY ACCELERATOR STUCK WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF AND I CONTINUED WITH THE ENGINE REVVED UP AS I BRAKED WITH BOTH FEET. I CONTINUED TO BRAKE WITH ONE FOOT AND REACH DOWN WITH MY OTHER FOOT AND GOT IT UNDER THE ACCELERATOR AND WAS ABLE TO LIFT IT BACK UP. I DID NOT HAVE THE HEAVY DUTY CARPET THAT IS ON RECALL. THE DEALER CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. I HAVE THE RECEIPT VERIFYING THIS. IT WAS A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE! *TR

OUR 2007 LEXUS ES 350 ABRUPTLY AND WILDLY ACCELERATED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. SHE STOOD ON THE BRAKES AND DEPRESSED THE PARKING BRAKE WHILE MOVING INTO THE SLOW LANE AND TOOK THE NEXT EXIT RAMP. THE CAR FINALLY SLOWED SOMEWHAT BEFORE REAR ENDING A STOPPED CAR. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS HURT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE LEXUS DEALER. THEIR DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER SYSTEM DID NOT "CALL OUT" ANY PROBLEMS. THEY IMMEDIATELY BLAMED THE FLOOR MATS. HOWEVER, THE FLOOR MATS WERE TWO INCHES AWAY FROM THE GAS PEDAL. THEY THEN TRIED TO BRUSH ME OFF BY ASKING ME WHERE I WANTED THE CAR TOWED TO GET BODY WORK PERFORMED. I REFUSED AND ESCALATED TO LEXUS USA. THEY ARE NOW TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THEY CAN FIND A PROBLEM. THIS REMINDS ME OF THE AUDI ACCELERATION PROBLEM AND WARRANTS AN COMPLETE AND FULL INVESTIGATION. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION PROBLEMS WITH THE 2007 LEXUS ES 350. I KEEP THINKING THAT THE 2007 MODEL IS THE FIRST OF THE NEW ES BODY STYLES AND THERE IS SOMETHING TERRIBLY WRONG. *TR

THE FLOOR MATS ON MY LEXUS 350 CAUSED THE ACCELERATOR TO STICK IN A DEPRESSED POSITION RESULTING IN A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. FORTUNATELY FOR ME I WAS ABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT. FOR A MOMENT I HAD THE IMPRESSION THAT I DID NOT HAVE BREAKS. THIS MUST GET FIXED OR THERE WILL BE DEATHS. THE REASON FOR THIS IS DUE TO A NUMBER OF FACTORS. 1) THE FLOOR MAT WAS NOT FASTENED TO THE CAR USING THE CLIPS. I HAD JUST WASHED THE CAR AND I WAS UNABLE TO FASTEN THE FLOOR MATS INTO THE CLIPS. THE DESIGN OF THE CLIPS IS POOR. 2) THE FLOOR MAT SLID FORWARD. 3) WHEN THE FLOORMAT SLID FORWARD IT CAUSED A SITUATION THAT WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR GETS CAUGHT UNDER THE LEADING EDGE OF THE FLOOR MAT. YOU CANNOT LIFT THE ACCELERATOR UP BECAUSE THE FLOOR MAT IS PREVENTING IT FROM COMING UP. 3) THE FLOOR MAT HAS TO BE PULLED AWAY FROM THE ACCELERATOR IN ORDER THAT THE ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED. 4) THE DESIGN OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS TO CLOSE TO THE TOP OF THE FLOOR MAT. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MUST BE REPLACED WITH A PEDAL THAT IS FURTHER AWAY FROM THE FLOOR MATS. THE CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED BY MAKING THE PEDAL SMALLER. MY WIFE IS CURRENTLY DRIVING THIS CAR IN TX. I AM IN MN. I'VE TOLD HER TO BE CAREFUL TO MAKE SURE THE FLOOR MATS ARE PROPERLY FASTENED. I AM 50 YEARS OLD AND DRIVEN NUMEROUS CARS. THIS LEXUS IS THE BEST CAR I HAVE EVER DRIVE BUT THIS DESIGN FLAW WILL KILL PEOPLE IF IT'S NOT FIXED. FEEL FREE TO CALL ME AT: THANK YOU, *TR

2007 LEXUS ES350 UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *NJ THE CONSUMER WAS BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE, WHEN THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK. HE APPLIED THE BRAKES NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. CONSEQUENTLY, THE CONSUMER HIT A BUSH AND A TREE. THE CONSUMER THEN PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND AGAIN, IT ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND WENT STRAIGHT INTO THE GARAGE AND STOPPED AFTER IT HIT A CHEST. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED UNWANTED ACCELERATION FOR THE SECOND TIME ONE NOVEMBER 14, 2009 WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO HIS HOUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER AND THEY STATED NOTHING WAS WRONG. THE SAME DAY, AFTER THE CONSUMER LEFT THE DEALER, HE ONCE AGAIN EXPERIENCED UNWANTED ACCELERATION CAUSING MORE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *JB

I WAS DRIVING A 07 LEXUS 350 WHEN THE GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK UNDER THE FLOOR MAT. I AM SORRY THAT I DID NOT REPORT THIS PRIOR TO THE DEADLY CRASH IN SAN DIEGO. I FIRST THOUGHT THAT I POSSIBLY DID NOT PUT THE MAT BACK CORRECTLY AFTER VACUUMING THE CAR. I REMEMBER SECURING THE TABS WHEN I REPLACED THE MAT. I WAS MERGING ONTO INTERSTATE 480W AT THE TIME. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC. I WAS TALKING ON THE CELL PHONE AT THE TIME TO MY HUSBAND ON THE WAY TO WORK. I REALIZED THAT I WAS GOING FASTER AND FASTER AND STARTED TO PANIC. I YELLED "THE CAR IS OUT OF CONTROL I AM GOING FASTER I CANT STOP, RYAN ,RYAN OH MY GOD". I THREW THE PHONE DOWN AND I COULD HEAR HIM YELLING PUT IT IN NEUTRAL SO I DID. THE CAR WAS REVVING SO FAST THAT IT WOULD NOT STOP. I GOT OFF TO THE SIDE AND WAS ROLLING SLOWLY. I PUSHED THE BUTTON BUT IT WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. I THEN THOUGHT TO JAM IT INTO PARK HOWEVER REVERSE COMES FIRST ! THE CAR THEN SHOT BACKWARDS AND I PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL AGAIN. FINALLY I STARTED REACHING DOWN TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG AND PULLED ON THE MAT. THE TABS MADE IT DIFFICULT TO REMOVE. ONCE THE MAT WAS FOLDED BACK THE PEDDLE LET LOOSE. I WAS HORRIFIED AND SAT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR AT LEAST TEN MINUTES. I WAS LATE FOR WORK AND UPSET ALL DAY. I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS MY FAULT. THE CAR COMPANY NEEDS TO MAKE THE PUBLIC AWARE OF THIS! *TR INVOICE RECEIVED. UPDATED 11/13/09

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES WITHOUT WARNING. SHE STATED THAT THE ENGINE MADE A SQUEALING NOISE WHEN SHE PRESSED THE PUSH TO START BUTTON. SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, AND THE VEHICLE SPED UP AND WOULD NOT STOP. SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH ALL OF HER STRENGTH, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. IT FINALLY CAME TO A STOP WHEN IT STRUCK THE SIDE OF A GARAGE. THE CONTACT WAS BRUISED AND STARTLED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

MY 2007 LEXUS ES 350 ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING ON AN IL HIGHWAY. EARLIER THAT DAY ONE OR TWO WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED AND I CALLED THE LEXUS SERVICE DEPT. A FEW QUESTIONS WERE ASKED BY THE RECEPTION OPERATOR AND I WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. ON MY RETURN HOME, THE ACCELERATION HAPPENED. MY BRAKES DID NOT SLOW THE CAR DOWN. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL WHILE PRESSING THE BRAKES AND WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE TRAFFIC LANE ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE CAR FINALLY CAME TO A STOP AND I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, CALLED AAA, AND WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST LEXUS DEALER. AT THE SERVICE DEPT I WAS TOLD IT WAS MY FLOOR MAT AND THE MAT WAS REPLACED. THIS DID NOT SEEM A LIKELY EXPLANATION BECAUSE THE GAS PEDAL HAD SIMPLY LOCKED AND ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. MY BRAKES WERE CHECKED AND IT WAS DETERMINED I NEEDED NEW REAR BRAKES WHICH WAS NOT A SURPRISE SINCE IT SEEMED LIKE I WAS 'KILLING' THEM IN MY ATTEMPT TO CONTROL AND SLOW DOWN THE CAR. THE MATS WERE TO HAVE BEEN EXCHANGED EARLIER WHEN THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE APPT BUT SOMEHOW THAT WAS NEGLECTED BY A DIFFERENT LEXUS DEALER. *TR

ON JULY 16, 2009, MY WIFE WAS TRAVELING SLOWLY BEHIND A TRUCK WHEN A TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNED RED. SHE TRIED TO STOP AND HAD HER FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE, BUT THE CAR DIDN'T STOP AND CRASHED INTO THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF HER, CAUSING ABOUT $8,000 DAMAGE TO HER CAR AND NONE TO THE TRUCK. NO ONE WAS INJURED, BUT MY WIFE MISSED A DAY OF WORK. WE SUSPECT THAT THIS WAS REALLY A "STUCK" ACCELERATOR PROBLEM OR, REALLY AN ELECTRONIC PROBLEM WITH THE ACCELERATOR. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONLY ONE TIME. THE LEXUS DEALER AND THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP SAID HER BRAKES WERE FINE. SUBSEQUENTLY, IN FEB 2010, THE LEXUS DEALER CALLED US AND HAD HER BRING IN THE CAR (2007 LEXUS ES350) FOR ACCELERATOR/BRAKE REPAIRS. ALTHOUGH HER CAR HAS NOT OFFICIALLY BEEN RECALLED FOR THE RECENT TOYOTA ACCELERATION PROBLEM, THEY WANTED TO PRE-EMPTY A FUTURE RECALL AND GET HER CAR FIXED. LAST YEAR, HER CAR WAS RECALLED FOR A FLOOR MAT PROBLEM, BUT THEY SAID HER FLOOR MATS HAD BEEN INSTALLED PROPERLY AND NOTHING WAS DONE. *TR

I HAD STOPPED FOR GAS MIDPOINT IN A 10 HOUR DRIVE. AFTER COMPLETING MY STOP, I ACCESSED INTERSTATE 40 E FROM THE ENTRANCE RAMP AT WHICH POINT THERE WAS A SUDDEN INDEPENDENT INCREASE SURGE IN SPEED BY THE CAR AND NOT ME. I WOULD LIKEN IT TO THE SURGE ONE EXPERIENCES WHEN THE CAR IS ON AUTO CONTROL AND IT IS ADJUSTING TO GO UP A STEEP INCLINE. I REMEMBER FEELING LIKE THE CAR WAS POSSESSED-IT HAD A MIND OF IT'S OWN. I DID HAVE THE CLEAR ALL WEATHER MATS IN MY CAR, WHICH WAS PURCHASED THROUGH LEXUS. SINCE I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AND THERE WASN'T A LOT OF TRAFFIC I DIDN'T FEEL PANICKY. I TRIED TAPPING ON THE BRAKE A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THIS DIDN'T SLOW ME DOWN. I REMEMBER LOOKING AT MY CONSOLE TRYING TO SEE WHAT GEAR I WAS IN WHICH WAS INDEED DRIVE AND THEN ATTEMPTING TO LOOK AT THE ACCELERATOR. BECAUSE I'M SHORT, AND MY SEAT IS PRETTY FAR FORWARD IN ORDER FOR MY FEET TO REACH THE ACCELERATOR I DIDN'T HAVE A CLEAR VIEW OF IT. AS QUICKLY AS IT STARTED IT STOPPED WITHOUT ANY HELP FROM ME. I PULLED OVER TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE FLOOR MAT TO SEE IF IT HAD SLID AND IT HAD NOT. THE ALL WEATHER MAT HAS BEEN REMOVED AND LEXUS HAS SHORTENED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AS WELL AS INSTALLED THE NEW OVERRIDE SOFTWARE ON MY CAR. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY FURTHER INCIDENTS OF UNEXPLAINABLE ACCELERATION SINCE THAT ONE INCIDENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS COLD THERE WOULD BE A RATTLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE ENGINE AND COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED HIM THAT A REPRESENTATIVE HAD INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE NOISE WAS NORMAL. NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. UPDATED 3/28/11 *CN THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONSUMER THE PROBLEM WAS KNOWN AS A PSITON SLAP. UPDATED 04/25/11

ON 07/2009 WE TOOK OUR 2007 LEXUS ES350 IN FOR SERVICE WITH 20K MILES. IT WAS BEING TAKEN IN FOR A BRAKE PROBLEM, FAULTY VISOR AND VEHICLE TILTED/LEANING. I WAS ADVISED THAT THE BRAKES HAD 1MM LEFT (NEAR BRAKE FAILURE). A LEXUS TECH REPLACED THE BRAKES, VISOR AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TILTED/LEANING. SINCE THEN THE VEHICLE RETURNED SEVERAL TIMES FOR SERVICE INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING: BRAKES AND TILT/LEANING. THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED AGAIN AND ANOTHER TECH CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TILTED/LEANING WITH VISUAL AND PHYSICAL INSPECTION. THE TECH MEASURED FROM THE WHEEL WELL TO THE GROUND. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT SUSPENSION BUT THE RESULTS WERE THE SAME. THE VEHICLE IS STILL TILTED/LEANING AND NOW LEXUS IS REFUSING TO FIX IT AND STATED, THEY HAVE DONE ALL THEY CAN DO TO FIX IT. AFTER I COMPLAINT THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE A CORP FIELD TECH WAS SENT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE FIELD TECH ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TILTED/LEANING AND STATED THAT THEY DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE A REMEDY FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 25K MILES. DUE TO THE STATEMENT ABOVE IT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THE THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. *TR

JUNE 9, 2009 MY 2007 ES 350 LEXUS TOOK OFF WITH ME REACHING A FRIGHTENING SPEED OF 95 MILES AN HR WHEN I REACHED THE MAT UNDER MY RIGHT KNEE AND YANKED THE CARPET AND AT LAST FREED THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDAL. I KNOW THE WHERE BOTH INVOLVED AS I HIT THE BRAKES TO NO AVAIL AS THE SPEED BECAME FRIGHTENING AND KEEPING IT ON THE ROAD WAS A MIRACLE. I THINK IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY RECALL NOTICE FOR ALMOST 4 MOST AFTER THIS INCIDENT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON I10 IN CA, MY MOTHER ACCELERATED TO PASS A TRUCK AND WHEN SHE EASED UP ON THE ACCELERATOR NOTHING HAPPENED. IN FACT, SHE STARTED TO ACCELERATE. SHE TRIED TO BRAKE AND PUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON AND SHE KEPT GOING IN EXCESS OF 90 MPH. SHE DROVE THROUGH A REST AREA BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP. FINALLY SHE HIT THE GAS PEDAL AGAIN AND THAT DID IT - SHE FINALLY HAD CONTROL AND SLOWED WAY DOWN. SHE DID SO MUCH DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE WHILE TRYING TO GET IT TO STOP THAT CATHEDRAL CITY LEXUS REPLACED THE WHOLE ENGINE. SHE WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY HER ALL WEATHER FLOOR MAT. SHE WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY RECALL ON FLOOR MATS NOR HAD TUSTIN LEXUS, WHO ALWAYS SERVICES HER CAR, EVER SAID ANYTHING TO HER AND THE MATS HAVE BEEN IN THE CAR SINCE SHE PURCHASED IT. *TR

CATASTROPHIC MAJOR ENGINE OIL LEAK CAUSING VEHICLE TO BLOW APPROXIMATELY 2 GALLONS OF OIL ON THE ENGINE AND EXHAUST. OIL LEAK VERY LARGE. LOSS OF ALL ENGINE OIL. THE OIL BLEW ALL OVER THE EXHAUST ALMOST CAUSING VEHICLE FIRE. ALSO AN ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD OIL DISCHARGED INTO ENVIRONMENT.*TR

WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE ENGINE SPEED INCREASED FROM IDLE WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I SLAMMED MY FOOT DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR A FEW TIMES THINKING IT WAS LODGED. IT DEPRESSED AND RETURNED TO POSITION WITHOUT STICKING. AFTER APPROX. FIVE OR MORE SECONDS THE ENGINE SPEED RETURNED TO IDLE ON ITS OWN. I SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED IT. THE PROBLEM HASN'T OCCURRED SINCE - KNOCK ON WOOD. THE SPEED INCREASE WAS NOT MINOR AS ONE WOULD EXPECT FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING TURNING ON - THE ENGINE SPEED WAS SEVERAL THOUSAND RPM'S BUT DID NOT RED-LINE. *TR

THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL OUT FOR THE 2007 LEXUS ES 350 IN RESPECT TO ALL WEATHER FLOOR MATS POTENTIALLY CAUSING A JAMMED ACCELERATOR (NHTSA ACTION # EA07010). THE RECALL WAS INITIATED IN SEPT. 2007. THE LAST REPORT FILED BY LEXUS WITH YOUR OFFICE INDICATED THAT THERE WERE OVER 32,000 OWNERS OUT OF 55,000 THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO CONTACT. MY VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICING AT THE LOCAL LEXUS DEALER BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER IN AUG. 2008 AND THE DEFECTIVE MAT WAS IN PLACE. WHEN I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THIS SAME DEALER TO HAVE MY NAME INDICATED AS THE OWNER OF RECORD. I SPECIFICALLY ASKED IF I HAD TO DO ANYTHING ELSE FOR RECALL NOTIFICATION ETC. AND WAS TOLD NO. LAST WEEK MY WIFE EXPERIENCED THE JAMMED ACCELERATOR DUE TO THE FAULTY MAT AND WAS EXTREMELY FORTUNATE THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO BRING A RUNAWAY VEHICLE DOING 80 OR 90 MPH TO A STOP WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. I CALLED THE LEXUS DEALER IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE INCIDENT AND WAS TOLD ABOUT THE MAT PROBLEM BUT NOT ABOUT A RECALL. I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL FROM YOUR WEBSITE. I ALSO WENT TO THE NATIONAL WEBSITE FOR LEXUS AND FOUND THAT I WAS NOT REGISTERED AS THE OWNER AND SO I REGISTERED. I LATER CALLED THE LOCAL LEXUS DEALER TO SEE ABOUT THE RECALL AND THE PERSON SAID" YOU ARE LISTED IN THE NATIONAL LIST, I AM SURPRISED SOME ONE TOOK THE TIME". (IN REALITY THAT SOMEONE WAS ME , NOT ANYONE AT THE DEALERSHIP) MY PROBLEM WITH THE MAT HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF BY THE LOCAL DEALER AFTER I ASKED ABOUT THE RECALL, BUT THIS ISN'T MUCH HELP TO ALL THE OTHERS OUT THERE DRIVING AROUND WITH THESE FAULTY MATS. ACCORDING TO YOUR WEBSITE, ONE PERSON HAS DIED AND SEVERAL HAVE BEEN INJURED....... SO FAR. *TR

DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN UNCONTROLLABLE SURGE IN ACCELERATION CAUSING MY SPEED TO INCREASE FROM ABOUT 60 MPH TO 80+ MPH. IMMEDIATELY I BEGAN TO BRAKE HARD AS I WAS RAPIDLY APPROACHING TRAFFIC JUST AHEAD OF ME. FORTUNATELY THE INSIDE LEFT LANE WAS UNOCCUPIED AND I WAS ABLE TO MAKE AN IMMEDIATE LANE CHANGE. INITIALLY I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HARD AS I COULD USING BOTH FEET BUT ONLY MANAGED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE TO 40-45 MPH. WITH MY SPEED REDUCED, I ALTERNATED BETWEEN PUMPING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND PULLING UP ON IT FROM THE UNDERSIDE WITH MY RIGHT FOOT AS IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THE THROTTLE WAS STUCK IN AN OPEN POSITION. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SPEED BACK UP TO OVER 65 MPH WITH LESS PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. WITH TRAFFIC JUST AHEAD OF ME, I MOVED OVER TO THE LEFT SHOULDER NEXT TO THE CENTER BARRIER AND CONTINUED TO TRY TO RELEASE THE OPEN THROTTLE. THERE WERE CLOUDS OF SMOKE AROUND THE VEHICLE AND THE SMELL OF BURNING MATERIALS FROM THE OVERHEATING BRAKES. AFTER FINALLY GETTING THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 25-30 MPH, I SHIFTED INTO 'NEUTRAL' AND DEPRESSED THE START/STOP PUSH BUTTON A NUMBER OF TIMES HOPING TO STOP THE ENGINE BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. INSTEAD THE RPMS MOVED UP INTO THE REDLINE RANGE ON THE TACHOMETER. I QUICKLY SHIFTED BACK INTO 'DRIVE'; THE VEHICLE JOLTED AND RAPIDLY ACCELERATED TO 60+ MPH. AS THE BRAKES WERE FADING QUICKLY, I WAS CERTAIN THAT I WOULD NEED TO SHIFT BACK INTO 'NEUTRAL' AND LET THE ENGINE BLOW UP TO STOP THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY THE ACCELERATION SURGE STOPPED AND I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP ' ABOUT 1 TO 2 MILES FROM WHERE IT HAD STARTED. I QUICKLY SHIFTED INTO 'PARK' AND DEPRESSED THE START/STOP PUSH BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO 'SHUTTER' AS I DID SO. UPON RESTARTING THE CAR, I DROVE CAUTIOUSLY TO LEXUS OF WAYZATA A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY FULLY PREPARED TO SHIFT INTO 'NEUTRAL' IF THE ACCELERATION REPEATED. THE CAR REMAINS THERE OVER 5 WEEKS LATER. *TR

PETITION FOR ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE UNWANTED AND UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF MODEL YEAR 2007 LEXUS ES350. *NJ THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE UNWANTED ACCELERATION WAS A RESULT OF THE FLOOR MATS INTERFERING WITH THE THROTTLE PEDAL. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED UNWANTED ACCELERATION AND DOES NOT BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE FLOOR MATS. SEE ALSO 10261660 *DSY.

HOOD HAS COMPLETELY FADED. ACCORDING TO BODY SHOPS, MUST BE A DEFICIT. GLOSS ON TOP OF HOOD COMPLETELY GONE. CAR WAS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A LEXUS. *TR

07/LEXUS/ES350/4DR FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS, MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN GOING ON AND OFF. I CAN BE DRIVING AT NIGHT, AND THE LIGHTS WILL JUST GO OUT. THEN I AM LEFT TO DRIVE IN THE DARK. SOMETIMES IF I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN, THEY WILL COME BACK ON, BUT ONLY BRIEFLY. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I AM FINE AS LONG AS IT IS DAYTIME, BUT AT NIGHT, THIS IS QUITE SCARY. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD COST $800 DOLLARS TO REPLACE BOTH LIGHTS. THEN THEY SAID IT WOULD COST $400 TO REPLACE THEM WITH LESS THAN STANDARD BULBS. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE - JUST FOR HEADLIGHT BULBS. PLEASE HELP ME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. THANK YOU *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2007 LEXUS ES 350 WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE HEADING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION LOST CONTROL, CROSSED A MEDIAN DIVIDE, GOT AIRBORNE, AND HIT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE QUARTER PANEL, HOOD, DRIVERS DOOR AND DRIVERS WINDOW. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED - INCLUDING SIDE AIR BAGS WHICH ARE INSTALLED ON THIS VEHICLE. WE HAVE CONTACTED LEXUS REGARDING WHAT WE BELIEVE IS A FAILURE OF THE AIR BAGS TO PROPERLY DEPLOY BUT AM CURRENTLY RECEIVING 'FORM' RESPONSES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS ES350. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S SPEED SUDDENLY INCREASED TO 70 MPH. THE CONTACT QUICKLY PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE COMPUTER DID NOT SHOW ANY FAILURES. THE FAILURE WOULD HAVE TO RECUR IN ORDER FOR A REPAIR TO BE PERFORMED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 03/23/09.*LJ UPDATED 03/23/09. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED SHE COULD SEE HOW THE FLOOR MAP COULD CATCH THE EDGE OF THE PEDAL, BUT DOESN'T BELIEVE THAT WAS THE CASE FOR HER. UPDATED 11/17/09

WITHIN HAVING MY BRAND NEW LEXUS A FEW YEARS, THE SEATS STARTED COMING APART. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LEXUS, THEY TOLD ME MY WARRANTY DOES NOT COVE COSMETICS. I TOLD THEM FOR THE COST OF THE VEHICLE MY SEATS SHOULD NOT BE DETERIORATING THIS SOON. YOU CAN SEE THE COTTON STUFFING THROUGH THE SEATS. MY DASHBOARD IS ALSO MELTING. IT IS STICKY AND NASTY FEELING. IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE HAS STUCK HOLES IN IT. IT IS GROSS. I FEEL ASHAMED IN DRIVING THIS CAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS ES350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV, FOLLOWED BY UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE BRAKE PEDAL REQUIRED GREATER FORCE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,200. UPDATED 05/26/09 *BF UPDATED 05/28/09.*JB

FAX FWD ON BEHALF OF (NJ) WHO WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT IN ON 11/18/08 IN HER 2007 LEXUS ES350 THAT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, WOULD LIKE HER TOYOTA INCIDENT RECORDED *TGW WHEN THE CONSUMER PULLED INTO HER DRIVEWAY AND APPROACHED THE OPEN GARAGE DOOR, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. SHE STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE SIDE OF THE GARAGE DOOR OPENING AND SENT BRICKS FLYING AND CONTINUED UNTIL IT RAMMED THE REAR WALL OF THE GARAGE WITH GREAT FORCE. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GARAGE, WAS A SMALL HALL BATHROOM. THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH KNOCKED TILE FROM THE STALL SHOWER OFF THE WALL AND BENT PART OF THE SHOWER DOOR FRAME. THERE WAS ALSO DAMAGE TO THE GARAGE WALLS AS WELL AS TO THE DOOR ENTERING THE HOUSE FROM THE GARAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE. *JB

HELLO, I BOUGHT A 2007 LEXUS ES 350, SEPTEMBER 2009, AND DROVE IT A FEW NIGHTS SINCE THEN. THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED IN MY GARAGE BECAUSE I CAN BARELY SEE WHEN I DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS WHICH ARE HID AFS HEADLIGHTS ONLY ILLUMINATE ABOUT 4 OR 5 FEET IN FRONT OF THE CAR . LUCKILY I HAVE A SECOND CAR TO DRIVE, BUT WOULD PREFER DRIVING MY NEW CAR. WE WERE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE WITH NO OTHER LIGHTS AROUND AND WE DROVE IT IN THE CITY THE NEXT NIGHT. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE UNACCEPTABLE BECAUSE WE CAN BARELY SEE WITH THEM AT NIGHT. IT'S WORSE OBVIOUSLY OUTSIDE CITIES, BUT ALSO DIFFICULT EVEN WHERE THERE ARE STREET LIGHTS. WE CAN SEE CLEARLY A FEW FEET IN FRONT OF THE CAR, BUT THEN THERE IS A LINE BETWEEN DARK AND LIGHT. ABOVE THE LINE IS WHAT CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS A BLACK WALL. THIS MAKES YOU OUT DRIVE YOUR HEADLIGHTS CONSTANTLY, LIKE DRIVING BLIND. THE HEADLIGHTS APPEARED TO BE SO LOW THAT YOU COULD BARELY SEE THE BOTTOM THIRD OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU. VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY. THE AFS ARE TURNED OFF. SO THAT'S NOT THE PROBLEM. I AM SCHEDULE TO VISIT THE LINDSAY LEXUS DEALERSHIP LOCATED IN ALEXANDRIA VIRGINIA, TOMORROW 11/13/09 AND ASKED IF THEY COULD ADJUST THE HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE CALLED THE LEXUS 1-800 CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER TODAY AND HOPE THEY WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM AT NO COST TO ME. I'VE SINCE HEARD OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM IN THIS CAR. I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY TO HAVE MADE IT HOME SAFELY. IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS ARE BEAMING TOO LOW TOWARDS THE ROAD, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. ***NO INCIDENTS AT THIS TIME*** I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP WITH THIS MATTER. *TR

UPON PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, ENGINE SUDDENLY FLARED UP EXCESSIVELY. BRAKES FAILED, ENGINE START/TURN OFF BUTTON WOULD NOT OPERATE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. TO PRECLUDE HITTING TRAFFIC ON A MAJOR STREET, I PUT CAR IN REVERSE. ENGINE CONTINUED TO FLARE EXCESSIVELY. BRAKES STILL WOULD NOT ENGAGE. I COULD NOT CONTROL VEHICLE THUS CRASHED INTO 3 PARKED UNOCCUPIED VEHICLES. *TR

LETTER FROM SENATOR DURBIN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE A PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA AND HIS 2007 LEXUS ES350 4 DR SDN SUDDEN ACCELERATION (DOT/I#2010-1239) THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DECELERATE AS HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE DIDN'T REGISTER ANY WARNING LIGHTS.

2ND REQUEST RE FAX FWD ON BEHALF OF (NJ) WHO WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT ON 11/18/08 IN HER 2007 TOYOTA LEXUS THAT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, WOULD LIKE HER TOYOTA INCIDENT RECORDED. *KB WHEN THE CONSUMER PULLED INTO HER DRIVEWAY AND APPROACHED THE OPEN GARAGE DOOR, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. SHE STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE SIDE OF THE GARAGE DOOR OPENING AND SENT BRICKS FLYING AND CONTINUED UNTIL IT RAMMED THE REAR WALL OF THE GARAGE WITH GREAT FORCE. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GARAGE, WAS A SMALL HALL BATHROOM. THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH KNOCKED TILE FROM THE STALL SHOWER OFF THE WALL AND BENT PART OF THE SHOWER DOOR FRAME. THERE WAS ALSO DAMAGE TO THE GARAGE WALLS AS WELL AS TO THE DOOR ENTERING THE HOUSE FROM THE GARAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE. *JB

WHILE BACKING MY 2007 LEXUS ES 350 UP MY DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE CORNER OF MY GARAGE. ALTHOUGH DRIVING CAREFULLY AND SLOWLY, THE VEHICLE JOLTED BACK AS IF THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM HAD KICKED IN. NO ONE WAS INJURED, AND I DID NOT FILE AN INSURANCE CLAIM FOR RESULTING DAMAGE TO THE CAR OR THE GARAGE. *TR

MY LEXUS ES 350 RECENTLY HAD FLARE PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION. THERE IS A BULLETIN OUT BY LEXUS WHICH SUGGEST THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION WILL FLARE BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. HOWEVER, WHAT THEY DON'T TELL YOU IS THAT THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION WILL FLARE, BUT IN MY CASE, TAKE OFF ON ITS OWN. IN SHORT, EARLY MORNING I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND MY CAR'S TRANSMISSION FLARED AND SUDDENLY TOOK OFF WITH OUT ME DOING ANYTHING. BASICALLY, I HAD TO PUT BOTH FEET ON MY BREAKS AND STAND ON MY BREAKS TO KEEP THE CAR FROM CRASHING INTO ANOTHER CAR. LUCKILY, I REMEMBERED TO HIT THE OFF BUTTON ON MY CAR TO KEEP IT FROM RAMMING INTO ANOTHER CAR. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKES THIS BEFORE HAVING A CAR SUDDENLY SURGE FORWARD WITH ALL 8000 RPMS BLAZING. MY WIFE WOULD OF NEVER BEEN ABLE TO STOP THIS CAR IF SHE WAS DRIVING. I REPORTED THIS TO MY LEXUS DEALER IN LINDON BUT THEY REFUSED TO WRITE DOWN THE COMPLAINT AFTER FIXING THE TRANSMISSION. BASICALLY, THE LOCAL LEXUS DEALER SAID THEY WOULD NOT WRITE DOWN MY COMPLAINT AND SUGGESTED I CALL LEXUS CORPORATE....WHICH I DID ON FRIDAY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS ES350. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT BEGAN ILLUMINATING UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE WHILE SHE WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY, BUT ONLY WHEN SHE WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. OTHER PASSENGERS COULD SIT IN THE SEAT WITHOUT THE FAILURE RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHERE THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS RESET. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE COMPUTER OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR SO THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

I HAD GONE THOUGH A TOLL BOOTH AND WAS ACCELERATING AROUND A TRUCK BUT WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OF THE GAS, THE CAR ACCELERATED AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WITH ALL MY STRENGTH AND WAS BARELY ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR AT 60 MPH. LUCKILY THERE WAS LIGHT TRAFFIC, BUT THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT I WOULD HAVE HIT MULTIPLE CARS IF THERE HAD BEEN TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND BRAKE TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE WITH THE ENGINE SCREAMING THE WHOLE TIME. TRULY THE MOST TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO EXPLAINED IT WAS PROBABLY THE FLOOR MAT WHICH HAD NOT BEEN SECURED WHEN THE CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED THE DAY BEFORE. I ALMOST DIED BECAUSE OF A LOOSE FLOOR MAT?!!! *TR

ENGINE SURGES, UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. OCCURS AT LOW SPEEDS, APPEARS TO BE FAILURE OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. HAPPENS EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS. WAS TOLD IT WAS MY FAULT FOR NOT UNDERSTANDING HOW THE "INTELLIGENT" TRANSMISSION FUNCTIONS. *TR

ENTERED PARKING LOT AT FOOTHILL CENTER, PULLED UP TO CURB, SUDDENLY WAS CATAPULTED VERY FAST OVER CURB, UP SMALL DIRT GRADE, INTO A PERIMETER ELECTRIC FENCE. THE DIRT UNDER THE CAR AND DOWNED FENCE KEPT THE CAR FROM GOING INTO A DEEP RAVINE. HIT OFF BUTTON, STEPPED ON BRAKE. CAR WAS PULLED BACK INTO PARKING LOT. *TR

ON SUNDAY AUGUST 31ST, I LEFT A DEPARTMENTAL PICNIC AT A COLLEAGUE'S HOUSE AROUND 8:30 AT NIGHT TO GO HOME TO KENT OHIO. I LEFT EARLY BECAUSE I WANTED TO GET HOME BEFORE IT GETS TO DARK. I ENTERED THE I 76 RAMP AT THE LAKE MILTON/NEWTON FALLS ENTRY. AFTER DRIVING PERHAPS AROUND 35-40 MPH HOUR ON THE RAMP I STARTED TO ACCELERATE TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY. SUDDENLY I FELT THE CAR ACCELERATED BY ITSELF, I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE MAKING THE ASSUMPTION THAT I MAY HAVE STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL TO MUCH. HOWEVER, THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATING REACHING 80-85 MPH. I WAS GETTING CLOSER TO CARS IN FRONT OF ME. THE CAR ACCELERATED VERY FAST AND I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN. THE SPEED CONTINUED TO BE EXCESSIVE IN SPITE OF ME TRYING TO BREAK THE SPEED. I THOUGHT AT FIRST THAT THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK, BUT NOTICED IMMEDIATELY THAT THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. I WAS STILL MOVING 80-85 MPH. TRYING TO AVOID CARS IN FRONT OF ME. I PUT MY BREAKDOWN LIGHT ON TO WARN OTHER DRIVERS. I MANAGED TO DRIVE OVER TO THE SHOULDER, TRYING TO AVOID HITTING ANYTHING. I PUT MY FOOT DOWN ON THE BRAKE AND KEPT IT ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE SPEED DOWN TO 40MPH WITH MY FOOT CONTINUOUSLY ON THE BRAKE. I TRIED TO LET MY FOOT GO BUT THE CAR IMMEDIATELY SPEEDED UP AGAIN. I MANAGED TO PUT MY CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND THAN IN PARK, THE CAR SLOWLY CAME TO A HOLD. THE BRAKES SMELLED AND SMOKED. IT WAS GETTING RAPIDLY DARK AND I WAS SCARED AND IN A STATE OF SHOCK, BUT ALSO RELIEVED TO BE ALIVE. AT THAT TIME A STATE TROOPER STOPPED AND I TOLD HIM WHAT HAPPEN. HE CALLED A TOWING TRUCK AND PUT RED FLARES UP TO KEEP ME SAFE ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE DARK. HE POINTED OUT TO ME THAT I WAS ON MILE MARKER 5.3 ON I 76. I HAD TO WAIT ABOUT 30 MINUTES UNTIL THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. THE DRIVER TOLD ME THAT MY BRAKES WERE STILL VERY HOT. *TR

I HAVE A 2007 LEXUS ES350. WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE VEHICLE SLOWS AND THEN THERE IS A BUMP AS THOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN HIT IT THE REAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 4 TIMES. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN ACCELERATING THE TRANS WILL SPEED UP CAUSING ME TO HIT THE BRAKES. LEXUS STATED THAT THIS IS NORMAL. I THINK ITS DANGEROUS. *TR