2008 Lexus ES Complaint Log

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS ES350. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE AS SHE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IT RESPONDED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, DROVE THE VEHICLE, AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 29,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS ES350. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED, WHICH SHOULD HAVE ACTIVATED THE AIR BAGS. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BLACK EYE AND HEAD INJURY DUE TO STRIKING THE EXTERIOR SIDE MIRROR. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SHOP FOR REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,300.

I WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON INTERSTATE 5 IN CALIFORNIA NEAR OCEANSIDE ON MAY 10, 2009 FROM ORANGE COUNTY TOWARDS CARLSBAD, CA. WHEN APPROACHING HIGHWAY 78, I FELT THE VEHICLE INCREASING IN SPEED TO ABOUT 90 MPH, WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. I HAD BEEN ON CRUISE CONTROL AT ABOUT 73 MPH (PROBABLY 68-69 MPH ACTUAL SPEED). I HAD TWO PASSENGERS IN MY CAR. THE FEMALE PASSENGER SCREAMED AT ME TO SLOW DOWN. I WAS UNABLE TO DO SO EVEN AFTER STEPPING FORCEFULLY ON THE BRAKES. ALSO DISENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL, BY PUSHING THE BUTTON ON THE END OF A STEM, SO THAT THE GREEN CRUISE INDICATOR LIGHT DISAPPEARED, SINCE I NOTICED THE CRUISE CONTROL STILL ON EVEN AFTER TOUCHING THE BRAKES ( I ASSUMED FROM PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE THAT SPEED CONTROLS ARE IGNORED WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKE) MY COMMANDS TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN WERE INACTIVE, BUT I CONTINUED PUMPING THE BRAKES AND THE OTHER PASSENGER SUGGESTED TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF; SO I PUSHED THE START/KILL BUTTON ON THE DASHBOARD BRIEFLY, BUT DID NOT HEAR OR NOTICED THE ENGINE STOPPING. SOMEHOW, A FEW SECONDS LATER THE CAR FINALLY SLOWED DOWN AND I STEERED THE CAR TO SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STOPPED THE CAR TO GET MY BREATH BACK. AFTER A FEW MINUTES I STARTED THE ENGINE AND SHE (THE VEHICLE) RESPONDED NORMAL. AND PROCEEDED ON I-5 TO MY HOME IN CARLSBAD (ABOUT 3-4 MILES) FROM WHERE I FINALLY GOT CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. SO FAR THIS INCIDENCE ONLY OCCURRED ONCE. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, AFTER HEARING ABOUT A FATAL ACCIDENT CAUSED BY A SIMILAR EVENT ( STUCK ACCELERATOR) WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR CHECKED OUT OK AND COULD NOT REPEAT THIS PROBLEM. PRELIMINARY CAUSE FOR THE FATAL CRASH IN THIS AREA WAS EXPLAINED BY A MAT THAT WAS NOT PROPERLY ANCHORED. I DID HAVE NON-STANDARD MATS IN THE CAR, BUT COULD NOT HAVE CAUSED A STUCK ACCELERATOR DURING MY INCIDENT IN MY OPINION, HOWEVER I HAVE REMOVED THE DRIVER'S SEAT MAT . *TR THE CONSUMER SENT IN PICTURES. UPDATED 11/16/09

THE "BLUE-TINGED" HIGH INTENSITY LIGHTS ON NEWER, EXPENSIVE CARS ARE A HUGE PROBLEM. I HAVE TO LOOK AWAY WHEN ONE IS COMING AT ME. THE BEAMS ARE EXTREMELY BOTHERSOME. OTHER DRIVERS I HAVE TALKED TO FEEL THE SAME WAY. WHY DO YOU ALLOW THEM ON THE ROAD? *TR

ON NOVEMBER 5, 2008 I WAS DRIVING ON A FREEWAY IN MY 2008 LEXUS ES 350 WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. I GAVE THE CAR A LITTLE EXTRA GAS TO PASS ANOTHER CAR AND THE CAR JUST TOOK OFF. I TRIED TO DISENGAGE THE ACCELERATOR BY TRYING TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AS WELL AS TAPPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT IT WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. I TRIED TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE BY PUSHING THE KEYLESS IGNITION BUTTON, BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I CHECKED THE FLOOR TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING ON THE ACCELERATOR, AND THERE WASN'T. I THEN PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, BUT WHEN I DID THIS, THE ENGINE SOUNDED AS IF IT WERE GOING TO EXPLODE, SO I PUT IT BACK IN GEAR. BY THIS TIME, I WAS GOING WELL OVER 100 MPH. MY ONLY CHOICE WAS TO STAND ON THE BRAKES. WITHIN SECONDS, THE CAR WAS IN A CLOUD OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE 4 WHEELS/BRAKES. THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW AS THANKFULLY THE BRAKES WERE STRONGER THAN THE ENGINE WHICH WAS GOING AT ITS MAXIMUM RPM'S. THE CAR WENT OVER A MILE BEFORE FINALLY COMING TO A STOP. I WAS THEN ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND STOP THE ENGINE. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS, WHEN I HAD CALMED DOWN A BIT, I STARTED THE ENGINE AGAIN AND IT IMMEDIATELY START RACING AT MAXIMUM RPM'S AGAIN, SO I SHUT IT OFF AND CALLED HENDRICK LEXUS. THEY SENT A TOW TRUCK TO TOW THE CAR IN. WHEN WE GOT TO THE DEALERSHIP, I TOLD THE SERVICE DIRECTOR THAT I WAS LUCKY THAT I WASN'T KILLED AND I DID NOT WANT TO EVER GET IN THAT CAR AGAIN. HE STATED THAT HE UNDERSTOOD THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE EVENT. LEXUS INVESTIGATED AND SAID THAT THERE MUST HAVE BEEN SOMETHING HEAVY ON THE ACCELERATOR. THIS IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE. THE "EXPERTS" THAT LEXUS BROUGHT IN FROM OUT TO DO AN INVESTIGATION NEVER EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED THAT I WAS UNABLE TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL DURING THIS LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. AN INTERNET SEARCH HAS DETERMINED THAT THERE ARE MORE THAN 40 CASES OF "RUNAWAY ACCELERATOR" REPORTED TO THE NHTSA ON THE ES350, AND MANY OF THESE INCIDENTS HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS CRASHES AND PERSONAL INJURIES. *TR

I BOUGHT A NEW LEXUS ES350 (MODEL YEAR 2008) IN THE SUMMER OF 2008 FROM A DEALERSHIP IN TEXAS. I SOON NOTICED THAT, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE CAR LOCKS WOULD OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY BY THEMSELVES WHEN I WAS NEAR THE CAR. TO CLARIFY, ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS MY CAR WAS PARKED, I APPROACHED THE CAR BUT DID NOT TOUCH THE CAR NOR DID I TOUCH MY KEY FOB, AND THE LOCKS WOULD OPEN WITHOUT EXPLANATION.*TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS ES-350. THE CONTACT LIGHTLY APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SLOWLY ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY ABRUPT PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR WHENEVER THERE WAS LIGHT PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKES. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER VERIFIED THE DEALER'S DIAGNOSIS AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,700.

OCCASIONALLY AND RANDOMLY, MY CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS "STALLING" WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN FROM A STOP OR ALMOST A COMPLETE STOP. IT HAS HAPPENED A COUPLE TIMES TURNING LEFT BUT MOSTLY MAKING A RIGHT-TURN. I'VE BROUGHT THIS UP TO MY SERVICE ADVISOR AND WAS AT FIRST TOLD THAT THE ENGINE COULDN'T "STALL" AND SINCE THEN I'VE REPORTED IT DURING MY NORMAL SERVICES. THEY WOULD TAKE IT FOR A DRIVE AND COULDN'T REPLICATE IT. THE LAST TIME I COMPLAINED ABOUT IT THE DEALERSHIP SAID I COULD LEAVE IT FOR A FEW DAYS SO THEY COULD DRIVE IT AROUND MORE. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ME BUT THEN MY HUSBAND HAD IT HAPPEN TO HIM TOO. IT IS SCARY AND UNSAFE WHEN IT HAPPENS. I BOUGHT MY CAR IN 2008 AND IT STILL CONTINUES TO HAPPEN TODAY. *TR

CONCERN ABOUT VERY BRIGHT WHITE HEAD LAMPS ON SOME NEWER AUTOS. THEY TEND TO BLIND ON COMING DRIVERS BECAUSE OF THEIR BRIGHTNESS. ACCORDING TO DR ISADORE ROSENFELD THEY CAN TRIGGER MIGRAINE HEADACHES. THIS IS A ROAD HAZARD AND CAN LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. *TR

PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT KEEP SWITCHING FROM ON TO OFF AND OFF TO ON. WE BROUGHT IT IN TWICE INTO LEXUS TO HAVE THEM FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY KEEP SAYING THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I KNOW THEY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE 2007 LEXUS ES 350. MY 2008 IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. ALL I'M ASKING THEM IS TO HAVE FIX THE PROBLEM, BEFORE ANY ACCIDENT HAPPEN. MY HUSBAND AND I CARPOOL EVERYDAY TO WORK, AND WE ARE SO AFRAID THAT IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT, THE AIRBAG MIGHT NOT DEPLOY BECAUSE OF THE SENSOR PROBLEM AND TURNING THE AIRBAG OFF. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2008 LEXUS ES 350 ON FEBRUARY 21, 2008. ON MAY 28, 2008, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, LEXUS OF JACKSONVILLE, FL, BECAUSE THE GAS PEDAL STUCK ON MAY 26, 2008. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE CAR ACCELERATED TO OVER 80 MPH AND I HAD TO INSERT MY FOOT UNDERNEATH THE PEDAL TO UNSTICK AND RAISE THE PEDAL TO DECREASE ACCELERATION. LEXUS OF JACKSONVILLE CHECKED THE PEDAL AND I WAS TOLD THE PEDAL HAD BEEN ADJUSTED. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RECURRED. ON FEBRUARY 19, 2008, I WAS CONTACTED BY LEXUS OF JACKSONVILLE TO SCHEDULE THE VEHICLE FOR SERVICE AS A RESULT OF THE RECALL OF THE GAS PEDAL STICKING AND AN ENGINE HOSE REPLACEMENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS ES350. ON MARCH 27, 2008, WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A HIGH PITCHED SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. A SECOND LATER, SHE HEARD A ROARING NOISE LIKE THAT OF A ROCKET SHIP COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND STOPPED WHEN IT CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE COLLISION SHOP. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DID NOT PROVIDE A REPORT FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES TO HER LEGS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,242. CONSUMER SENT IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON 06/26/08. *KB THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH WAS THE ELECTRONIC WIRE ACCELERATOR. UPDATED 06/26/08

TL*THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY LEASED A 2008 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WITHIN ONE YEAR OF LEASING THE VEHICLE, SHE WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE BECAUSE THE PEDAL WAS STUCK. SHE WAS ABLE TO RELEASE THE PEDAL AND AVOID A CRASH. SHE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE MATS WERE THE CAUSE SO SHE TOOK THEM OUT OF THE VEHICLE. ON 01/22/2010, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FROM 60 MPH UP TO ALMOST 100 MPH. SHE KICKED THE PEDAL UNTIL IT RELEASED. SHE THEN RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND REFUSED TO DRIVE IT. SHE WAS WAITING FOR THE DEALER TO TERMINATE THE LEASE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 37,000.

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR DOES NOT CONSISTENTLY DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A 100 POUND ADULT WOMEN IN THE SEAT. LED INDICATOR ON THE DASHBOARD DISPLAYS "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" EVEN WHEN A 100 LB ADULT PERSON IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. DEALER SAYS SYSTEM OPERATING NORMALLY. TOYOTA IS UNRESPONSIVE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS ES350. WHILE DRIVING ON A DARK ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 30-45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT PROVIDING THE NORMAL LIGHTING COVERAGE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND INFORMED THEM THAT THE HEADLIGHTS NEEDED ADJUSTING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ADJUSTED CORRECTLY BY THE FACTORY AND NOTHING MORE COULD BE DONE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,612 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS 350. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN THE ANTI-SKID SYSTEM FAILED, IT DISENGAGED THE WHEEL AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATING INDICATING THAT A FAILURE WAS OCCURRING. THE ANTI SKID SHOULD STOP THE WHEEL FROM SKIDDING WHEN THERE WAS SNOW ON THE GROUND OR WHEN IT WAS WET. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ANTI-SKID SYSTEM WORKED PROPERLY AND THERE WERE NO FAILURES. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE OR PRODUCE A CODE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT INSTALL A SWITCH BECAUSE THIS WOULD CAUSE OTHER COMPLICATIONS TO VARIOUS COMPONENTS WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.

MY SON-IN-LAW, MARK KUHAR, WAS DRIVING MY (ROBERT LEHMAN'S) 2008 LEXUS ES350 WITH PERMISSION, WHEN IT WENT OFF THE ROAD DOWN AN APPX. 100 FOOT HILL, ROLLING END OVER END, APPX. 8 TIMES. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS WERE ACTIVATED. HE RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES WHICH HE IS NOW RECOVERING FROM. THE CAR IS BEYOND REPAIRS. INSURANCE COMPANIES FOR MARK AND MYSELF HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED AND ARE ACTIVE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH KEYLESS ENTRY AND A PUSH BUTTON IGNITION. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, SHE PRESSED THE IGNITION BUTTON AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE STILL IN THE DRIVE GEAR. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF WHILE IN DRIVE MODE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 4,700. UPDATED 11/07/08 *BF UPDATED 11/07/08. *JB

THIS IS PROBABLY NOT THE CORRECT FORUM FOR THIS BUT THE COMPLAINT THAT I HAVE IS WITH THE NEW CARS AND THE HID HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE READ AND HEARD OLDER FOLKS SAY "THEY ARE GREAT, I CAN FINALLY SEE AT NIGHT" BUT THE ISSUE IS THEY ARE SO BRIGHT THAT WHEN ON A TWO LANE ROAD OR WHEN THE GROUND IS WET THE ONCOMING DRIVER HAS TO LOOK AWAY BECAUSE THOSE LIGHTS ARE BLINDING. HOW SAFE IS THAT TO TAKE YOUR EYES OFF OF THE ROAD AND NOT LOOKING AT ONCOMING TRAFFIC BECAUSE YOUR BLINDED? THOSE NEW LIGHTS NEED TO BE OUTLAWED FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL DRIVERS. *TR

TAKATA RECALL I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR LEXUS TO CALL ME TO FIX THIS FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG RECALL FOR ALMOST A YEAR, THEY KEEP SAYING THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY REPLACEMENT PARTS TO DO THE JOB, IS THERE ANYTHING NHTSA CAN DO TO SPEED THINGS UP AS THIS IS COULD BE A LIFE AND DEATH ISSUE. REGARDS, [XXX] *DL INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*JB

2008 LEXUS ES350. ACCELERATION ISSUES *GR THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING AN OFFICIAL, WRITTEN RESPONSE FROM LEXUS DETAILING THE EXACT MODIFICATION INTENDED TO BE PERFORMED UNDER THE RECALL AND A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF HOW THE SYSTEM INSTALLED WILL PERFORM INCLUDING SPECIFIC DETAIL OF THE CERTAIN SPEEDS AND DRIVING CONDITIONS REFERRED TO IN THE AFOREMENTIONED RECALL LETTER. THE CONSUMER STATED HE DOES NOT INTEND TO HAVE ANY RECALL RELATED MODIFICATIONS PERFORMED ON HIS VEHICLE UNTIL SUCH TIME, HE RECEIVES A SATISFACTORY WRITTEN RESPONSE TO HIS QUERY. *JB

2008 LEXUS ES 350. CONSUMER WRITES TO ADVISE OF A RECENT EXPERIENCE WITH THE MANDATED RECALL TO CORRECT THE SUPPOSED ACCELERATION PROBLEM. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS WITH HIS VEHICLE BEFORE THE RECALL WORK. AFTER THE RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED, THE CONSUMER WAS VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE POSITION OF THE PEDAL AND THE LOUD NOISE THAT WAS PLAINLY AUDIBLE WHEN DRIVING. UPON HIS INSISTENCE, THE SERVICE WAS PERFORMED AGAIN. THE PEDAL PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED, BUT THE ROAD NOISE PERSISTS. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED WITHOUT HIS KNOWLEDGE, THE DEALERSHIP HAD REPLACED THE ORIGINAL INSULATION WITH STYROFOAM. STYROFOAM INSTEAD OF SOUND-PROOFING MATERIAL DOES NOT SEEM TO BE AN APPROPRIATE SOLUTION, SINCE IT MAGNIFIES SOUND. *JB