2007 Lexus ES Engine Problems

While entering into a parking spot the car suddenly surged, went over a curb, and crashed into a store front. The driver had her foot on the brake. We checked to see if the floor mat was against the accelerator and it was not. I have a photo of the mat.

I was driving and my car speed start going down and I saw engine and battery light came on so I pulled over and turned off the car and try to turn it back on but it's not turning on.

This is a second report of unexpected, unanticipated extremly high acceleration while braking. I reported this experience in November 2019, NHTSA Complaint Number 11279155. At that time, the car was moving and I was braking on an uphill curve. On October 10, 2021, at approx 12:30 p.m. The unexpected, unanticipated extremely high acceleration occurred as I was starting my car in a Pittsburgh area restaurant parking lot. The car requires that my foot be on the brake while starting. The car was in Park when I depressed the start button. Immediately the car started with extremely high revolutions to the point the loud engine noise frightened several individuals standing 15-20 feet on an adjacent sidewalk. The tachometer was in or close to the redzone. I immediately shut the engine down. At no time did I have my foot on the accelerator and neither the floor mat nor any other item was touching the accelerator.

Smoke started coming out of hood when returning home. Opened hood to check engine and choked on smoke. After engine cooled, found VVT-I tube is leaking at lower end of rubber hose. Engine oil had accumulated around engine compartment aft, a bit foward of VVT-i tube, and to passenger side. Searched Internet and saw that LSC-90K oil line "campaign" has the exact same part that is part of campaign that failed on my engine, but my VIN is not part of campaign.

THE FRONT TIMING COVER SEAL ON MY CAR WAS RESEALED AT 105,124 MILES @ A COST OF $2,804.52 PLUS TAX ON NOVEMBER 2014. THE CAR WAS 8 YEARS OLD. I AM NOW BEING TOLD THAT THE TIMING COVER NEEDS TO BE RESEALED/REPLACED AGAIN. THE CAR HAD 160,830 MILES WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE ON 5/3/2021. BY THE WAY, THE SERVICE ADVISER WROTE THE WRONG MILEAGE. HE MISTAKENLY WROTE 168,036 MILES AS THE ODOMETER READING. WHEN I ASKED WHAT IS CAUSING THIS ISSUE HE HAD NO ANSWER. I CONTACTED LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE TO INQUIRE INTO WHAT CAUSES THE SEAL TO NEED REPLACEMENT EVERY 7 OR SO YEARS. CASE # 210506001409 WAS ASSIGNED. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE CALLED TODAY AND INFORMED ME THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER AT CROWN LEXUS IN ONTARIO INFORMED HER THE SEALER SHRINKS OVERTIME. HOWEVER, SHE COULD NOT PROVIDE A REASON FOR THE SHRINKAGE. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT CAUSES THIS SO I CAN DECIDE WHETHER TO CONTINUE PUTTING MONEY INTO THIS CAR. THIS DOES SEEM RIGHT TO ME. I THINK IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I SIMPLY NEED TO KNOW WHY THEY CONTINUE TO USE SEALERS THAT THEY KNOW WILL SHRINK. THE NEW COST TO REPAIR THIS CAR IS APPROXIMATELY $3500. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON DID NOT KNOW THE NAME OF THE SEALER THAT WAS BEING USED. SHE COULD ONLY REFER ME TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER AND I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE TALKING TO HIM ABOUT THIS BECAUSE HE GAVE HER NO REAL EXPLANATION OTHER THAN IT SHRINKS. OTHER CUSTOMERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR CARS. IF I HAVE CONTACTED THE WRONG OFFICE PLEASE DIRECT TO ME TO SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP. BY THE WAY, I ASKED FOR A WRITTEN RESPONSE AND WAS TOLD SHE COULD NOT PROVIDE ONE.

MY OIL LINE IS LEAKING, I DID RESEARCH AND FOUND A RECALL ON THIS PART. CAN I GET THIS REPAIRED...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS ES350. WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THEY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 114,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS ES350. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS COLD STARTED, THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD RATTLING NOISE. ALSO, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE OIL LEVEL LOWERED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CAM SHAFT GEAR ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE AND UNABLE TO HOLD OIL TO REDUCE EMISSION CONTROL OF THE ENGINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO BREDEMANN LEXUS (2000 N WAUKEGAN RD, GLENVIEW, IL 60025, (847) 510-5535) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING LATER THIS WEEK. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS THE SAME AS IN OTHER VEHICLES THAT WERE RECALLED, THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

AT THE TOP OF OUR DRIVEWAY JUST OUTSIDE THE GARAGE DOOR, MY WIFE PUT OUR 07' LEXUS ES350 IN GEAR AND SECONDS LATER THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE WILDLY. SHE WAS UNABLE TO SLOW THE CAR'S WILD ACCELERATION DOWN THE DRIVEWAY AND CAUGHT PART OF A RETAINING WALL ON THE PROPERTY WHICH FLIPPED THE VEHICLE ON IT'S SIDE. I WAS INSIDE THE HOUSE AT THE TIME BUT HEARD THE CAR'S ENGINE REV JUST BEFORE THE CRASH. THE ACCIDENT APPEARS TO HAVE INITIATED BY SOME EXTREMELY DANGEROUS MECHANICAL FAILURE THAT ALLOWED THE ENGINE TO REV UNCONTROLLABLY . OUR INSURANCE COMPANY WILL SOON BE TOWING THE LEXUS TO THEIR FACILITY. I NOTIFIED A CLAIMS AGENT THAT THE ACCIDENT SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF NHTSA HOWEVER, THE AGENT WAS NOT AWARE OF HOW TO COORDINATE THE EFFORT SO I AM PROCEEDING FORWARD MYSELF ASAP. THE CAR IS OBVIOUSLY TOTALED AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT INSURANCE WILL DO WITH THE VEHICLE.

WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT AFTER BUYING AND OWNING FOR A YEAR. AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR NUMEROUS REPAIRS OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR I ENDED UP HAVING TO BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND GETTING STUCK WITH A LIEN FOR THE LEXUS IN WHICH THE CAR IS NON-FUNCTIONAL. PAID OUT OF POCKET THUS FAR FOR A NUMBER OF ISSUES, INCLUDING: RADIATOR FAILING, ALL HOSES REPLACED, AXLE REPLACEMENT, TO NAME A FEW. CAR ONLY HAD 15000 MILES PLACED ON IT, BOUGHT USED. PURCHASED A WARRANTY THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP AND WHEN ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A CLAIM, CLAIM WAS DENIED DUE TO DEALERSHIP NON-PAYMENT & "FORGETTING TO FILE PAPERWORK." OPENED UP CLAIM WITH MARYLAND INSURANCE COMMITTEE AND REPORTED DEALERSHIP FOR FRAUD.

TRANSMISSION HAD ISSUES WITH FLARE AT SPEEDS OF 30-40 MPH ON A COLD START AND BROUGHT IT TO LEXUS AND THEY UPDATED MY ECU WITH THE SOFTWARE. AFTER GETTING THE CAR BACK THEY HAD A JERKING/HESITATION BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME WHEN WHEN AT A STOP AND SLOWLY ACCELERATING. LEXUS RECOMMENDED A NEW TRANSMISSION, BUT I DID SOME RESEARCH AND LOTS OF OWNERS HAD THIS ISSUE FOR THE EARLY 2007 MODELS OF THE ES350. APPARENTLY LEXUS IS A WARE OF THE ISSUE BUT HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT.

THE ENGINE MAKES A TICKING NOISE AT STARTUP BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE VVT-I GEARS. LEXUS IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE (SB0028-09R2) BUT REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO SUDDENLY LOSE ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING LEADING TO A CRASH.

OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AT LEAST 7 TIMES, I HAVE HAD MY CAR STAY RUNNING WHILE I AM AT A RESTAURANT OR WHEN I RETURN HOME. I PARK OUTSIDE AND AT LEAST 3 TIMES OVER THE LAST 6 YEARS NEIGHBORS HAVE CALLED AND SAID DID YOU KNOW THAT YOUR CAR ENGINE WAS RUNNING. ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO, IN EARLY AUGUST, I WAS AT A RESTAURANT IN CLINTON, NEW YORK WHERE THE CAR WAS RUNNING ON THE STREET SEVERAL BLOCKS AWAY FOR THE WHOLE TIME WE WERE IN THE RESTAURANT. EACH TIME I THOUGHT I'D PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND PUSHED IN THE BUTTON TO SHUT OFF THE CAR. I AM SO GLAD THAT YOU ARE INVESTIGATING THIS. IF I HAD AN INTERIOR GARAGE WHERE I PARKED AT MY HOME, I COULD HAVE KILLED PEOPLE WITH THE BUILD UP OF THE CARBON MONOXIDE. I CAN'T SEE WHY TOYOTA CAN'T HAVE A BLINKING LIGHT WHEN THE CAR IS ON OR HAVE THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY CUT OFF AFTER A FEW MINUTES. ONE OTHER THING, IS THAT MY CAR, WHICH I LOVE, RUNS SO QUIETLY, THAT IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO HEAR THE ENGINE WHEN IT IS IDLING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVESTIGATING THIS SERIOUS ISSUE. *TR

THE WATER PUMP FAILED WITH LESS THAN 40000 MILES AND UNDER 5 YEARS OLD. IT WILL COST $1500. THE PUMP WAS $175. DO TO THE DESIGN OF THE ENGINE AND PLACEMENT OF THE PUMP IT WILL TAKE 11 HOURS. *TR

IN MAY/JUNE 2011 MY AC WENT OUT AND AUGUST 2011 MY PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WENT OFF TRACK DUE TO A BROKEN CLIP. I HAVE A 2007 LEXUS ES350 WITH 102,000 MILES. MY WARRANTY RAN OUT JUST BEFORE YEAR 2 DUE TO THE HIGH MILEAGE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE AC AND WAS TOLD THE AC EVAPORATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE TECHNICIAN TOLD MY HUSBAND THAT THE WATERPUMP WAS LEAKING AS WELL AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN FORGOT TO WRITE THE WATER PUMP INFORMATION ON THE TICKET. I CONTACTED LEXUS CONSUMER ASSISTANCE BECAUSE I HAVE HAD CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE; REPLACED HALOGEN BULBS AT $200+ A PIECE IN 2009, REPLACED DRIVER SIDE WINDOW IN 2010 DUE TO A BROKEN CLIP, AND REPLACED REAR BRAKES IN 2008. LEXUS ONLY AGREED TO PAY 25% OF THE BILL FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AC EVAPORATOR AND NOTHING TOWARDS THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT OF THE WATERPUMP. I DID NOT CONTACT THEM REGARDING THE PASSENGER FRONT WINDOW. REPLACEMENT OF THE AC EVAPORATOR, WATER PUMP, AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW ARE VERY EXPENSIVE IF THE WORK IS DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP. REPLACEMENT OF AC EVAPORATOR IS $1605, WATER PUMP APPROX $3800, WINDOW $520+. LEXUS SAID THAT I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE WINDOW AND THAT THE CLIPS WERE NOT SOLD SEPARATELY WHEN I REPLACED THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW. TODAY (8/11), I TOOK MY CAR TO AN AUTO GLASS SHOP AND THEY FIXED MY PASSENGER WINDOW AND REPLACED THE CLIPS FOR ONLY $75. LEXUS IS DECEIVING A LOT OF PEOPLE WHICH IS THE REASON I WANT TO BRING THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF NHTSA. IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT I STATED ABOVE ARE RECURRING WITH OTHER OWNERS. THEREFORE, I'M ASKING NHTSA TO RESEARCH THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND PROBLEMS WITH THE AC EVAPORATOR, WINDOWS, REAR BRAKES, AND WATER PUMP. THESE SORT OF PROBLEMS SHOULD NOT OCCUR IN A RELATIVELY NEW CAR AND I STRONGLY BELIEVE A RECALL OF THE 2007 LEXUS ES350 VEHICLE NEEDS TO HAPPEN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS ES350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP LIGHT AND CHARGING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS OIL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE BEGINNING DECEMBER 2010. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,490 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,494.

I HAVE A 2007 LEXUS, ES, AND I FEEL THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ELECTRONIC PUSH BUTTON ENGINE STARTER, AND NOT THE FLOOR MATS! PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED FATAL CAR CRASHES DUE TO ITS COMPUTER MALFUNCTIONING. DIDN'T A DRIVER AND HIS FAMILY LOSE THEIR LIVES IN A LEXUS 350. WHY IS TOYOTA RELUCTANT TO GIVE ME PERSONAL SAFETY AND PEACE OF MIND? *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 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.

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