2013 LEXUS ES Complaints

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN TWO YEARS THE BATTERY HAS DIED ON THIS CAR. THE FIRST TIME WAS AUGUST 2014, JUST ONE MONTH PAST THE CAR ONE YEAR MARK. THE SECOND, THAT IS WHY I AM WRITING THIS COMPLAINT, IS ALMOST ONE YEAR TO THE DAY OF THE LAST BATTERY FAILURE. WHILE THE FIRST MAY BE WRITTEN OFF AS A BAD BATTERY, I DO NOT BELIEVE IN COINCIDENCES AND FEEL THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ON-LINE SO I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING MORE TO THIS PROBLEM THAN JUST BAD BATTERIES...UPDATED 09/03/15 *BF UPDATED 12/4/2015*JS

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A 3-POINT TURN, I FIRST BACKED OUT OF A DRIVEWAY ONTO THE ROAD, PAUSED TO CHECK FOR TRAFFIC, SHIFTED FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE AND PULLED FORWARD AND .STARTED TO TURN TO MY LEFT. AS I DID I EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES AND THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR LIGHTS ALL LIT AT ONCE. MY CAR DRIFTED ACROSS THE CENTER LINE AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP IT FROM ROLLING TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE IT ENDED UP PERPENDICULAR TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND ONLY STOPPED WHEN IT HIT AN EMBANKMENT. MY CAR SUSTAINED FRONT BUMPER AND GRILLE DAMAGE.

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW FROM SEWELL LEXUS IN FT. WORTH TEXAS IN SEPTEMBER 2013. SHORTLY THERE AFTER IN LATE OCTOBER, I WENT TO START MY VEHICLE WHICH IS PARKED IN MY GARAGE. THE CAR WOULD NOT START, DEAD BATTERY. I JUMP STARTED IT AND IT STARTED RIGHT AWAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED SIX TOTAL TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. THIS MAINLY HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR SITS FOR MORE THAN 2-3 DAYS IN MY GARAGE. I HAVE NEVER LET THE CAR SIT MORE THAN 5 DAYS, BUT WHEN I DO LET IT SIT FOR 3-5 DAYS, THE BATTERY IS DEAD. CURRENT MILEAGE IS AROUND 4200. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IN SEP. 2014. DEALER COULD NOT FIND AN ISSUE AND SAID THE BATTERY IS FINE. 2 WEEKS AFTER I LEFT THE DEALER, MY VEHICLE BATTERY DIED AGAIN. DEALER RECOMMENDED A NEW BATTERY. A NEW AFTERMARKET BATTERY (INTERSTATE) WAS PUT IN THE VEHICLE. 2 WEEKS AFTER THE NEW BATTERY WAS INSTALLED, MY CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN. THE CAR HAS NO AFTERMARKET PARTS, ACCESSORIES, OR REMOTE START. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER AND THEY CANNOT SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM. SEWELL LEXUS CONTACTED LEXUS ABOUT THIS, AND LEXUS ADVISED THEM THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH MY MODEL YEAR VEHICLE AND THEY BELIEVE IT IS AN UNKNOWN COMPUTER PART RANDOMLY TURNING ON AND DRAINING THE BATTERY. THEY SAID THIS MAINLY HAPPENS WITH VEHICLES SITTING FOR A FEW DAYS. THEY SAID THEY DO NOT HAVE A CURRENT FIX FOR THE CAR. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED INSTALLING A BATTERY TENDER IN MY CAR. TOO WHICH, I DECLINED AS IT DOES ME NO GOOD TO HAVE THAT INSTALLED IF I AM ON VACATION, PARKED AT THE AIRPORT, ECT. I AM REQUESTING A NEW CAR AS I BELIEVE THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND OR REFUND MY MONEY DUE TO THEY CANNOT FIX MY CAR. I STILL DO NOT HAVE MY CAR AND I AM AWAITING LEXUS TO COMPLETE THEIR INVESTIGATION. *TR

THE LEXUS ES 300H 2013 MODEL CAR WHILE PARKING ON THE FLAT DRIVE-WAY (NO SLOPE), HAVING THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED AND MOVING THE GEAR LEVER FROM D TO PARK, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHIN A FRACTION OF A SECOND AND HIT THE GARAGE DOOR, COMPLETELY BREAKING THE GARAGE DOOR. THE FRONT OF THE CAR GOT DAMAGED AND A CAR PARKED INSIDE THE GARAGE ALSO GOT DAMAGED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR STOPPED AFTER THE GEAR LEVER WAS MOVED TO PARK. THIS EXPERIENCE WAS FRIGHTENING AND IS A VERY SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS SAFETY HAZARD. THIS HAPPENED AROUND 6:30PM IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, CUPERTINO CITY, ON A BRIGHT SUNNY DAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS ES350 EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN PRIMACY MXV4 TIRES SIZE 215/55 R17. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING ON EVEN ROAD SURFACES AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE EXPLODED AND THERE WAS A THREE INCH HOLE IN THE SIDEWALL. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO LOW TIRE PRESSURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000. THE DOT WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

CAR HAS BRAKE PEDAL CHARACTERISTIC WHICH ALLOWS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO REACH FULL STOP OF THE END OF FULL MECHANICAL TRAVEL (VS. HYDRAULICALLY LIMITED BY BRAKE PRESSURE) AND THE BRAKES ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO APPLY MORE BRAKING FORCE. THIS CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS CAR MODEL IS DIRECTLY LINKED WITH THE CAUSATION OF THE COLLISION AND WAS CERTAINLY A MAJOR SURPRISE TO THE OWNER AS THIS EVENT WAS OCCURRING. NO SUCH WARNING PROVIDED TO CONSUMERS WITH THIS PARTICULAR BRAKING ISSUE IN LEXUS ES300H. CHARACTERISTIC IS ENDEMIC TO THE MODEL AS TESTED IN OTHER IDENTICAL MODELS BY THE OWNER. STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG (ONE OF SEVERAL THAT DEPLOYED IN THIS TOTAL LOSS ACCIDENT) DID NOT PREVENT OWNER FROM PHYSICALLY STRIKING THE STEERING WHEEL EVEN THOUGH HE WAS UTILIZING THE SEAT BELT. CHEST FORCEFULLY STRUCK STEERING WHEEL, WHICH SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED AND SHOULD BE ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF THIS SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM. THE OWNER WAS NOT PROPERLY RESTRAINED FROM IMPACTING THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH INFLICTED SERIOUS BODILY INJURY. FURTHERMORE, HE WAS ABLE TO OBSERVE THE ENGINE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE FOLD UP DURING THE IMPACT AND SO NO VISUAL OBSTRUCTION OCCURRED IN THE MOMENTS OF IMPACT AND AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE AIR BAG DID NOT PROPERLY COVER THE STEERING WHEEL TO PREVENT STEERING WHEEL BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA. SEAT BELTS SHOULD HAVE RESTRAINED THE OWNER FROM HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH IT DID NOT DO. THE OWNER ALWAYS HAD THE SEAT POSITIONED WELL AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THROUGH A COMBINATION OF THE AIR BAG DESIGN, AND THE SEAT BELTS AND BRAKES NOT WORKING IN A MANNER THEY ARE EXPECTED TO DO SO, THE OWNER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE BRAKES ON THE CAR FEATURE TYPICAL ANTI LOCK CAPABILITY, WHICH WOULD MAKE THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSATE UPON ACTIVATION. NO SUCH PULSATION OCCURRED DURING THIS PRE-ACCIDENT AND ACCIDENT DECELERATION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO IMMEDIATELY STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,000. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE AND HER HUSBAND LEASED THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, AFTER THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION INCIDENT, THEY BROKE THE LEASE AND RETURNED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 05/08/14

IT WAS A SUNNY SATURDAY MORNING. AT APPROXIMATELY 9:30 AM, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AT ABOUT 35 MPH., LESS THAN ONE (1) MILE FROM HOME. SUDDENLY, THE CAR JOLTED AND RAPIDLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. IT KEPT INCREASING SPEED. SHE THAN HIT THE BRAKES. THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP AND CONTINUED TO INCREASE SPEED. THE CAR SPEED EXCEEDED 70 MPH. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO PARKED CARS OR PEDESTRIANS. SHE THEN MOVED THE GEAR SHIFT UP INTO PARK. THE CAR STILL WOULDN'T STOP. SHE WAS APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION OF THE SERVICE ROAD TO THE LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY. SHE CONTINUED TO HOLD HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO SPEED. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO ONCOMING VEHICLES. DESPERATELY, SHE PULLED THE GEAR SHIFT DOWN, SHE WASN'T SURE IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL OR DRIVE, AND THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED. IT STOPPED ONE HALF BLOCK BEFORE THE SERVICE ROAD, WHERE SHE SURELY WOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. WHEN I VISITED THE SCENE, THERE WERE TIRE SKID MARKS ALONG THE STREET.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS ES300 HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT LIGHTS AND OTHER OBJECTS THAT WERE VIEWED THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD WERE EXTREMELY DISTORTED AND CAUSED SEVERE EYE STRAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE DISTORTION WAS NORMAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

MOON ROOF EXPLODED OUTWARD WITH A EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE CAUSING ME TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THINKING I HAD MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. AS SOON AS I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED THE DAMAGE TO THE MOON ROOF WHICH HAD SHATTERED IN AN OUTWARD DIRECTION. A LARGE AMOUNT OF GLASS WAS LAYING ON THE INSIDE COVER WHICH HAD BEEN CLOSED. I WAS TRAVELING 70 MILES PER HOUR ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY IN A NON-CONSTRUCTION AREA AND NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE WITHIN A QUARTER OF A MILE FROM ME. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR AND APPROXIMATELY 70 DEGREES. WE WERE FORTUNATE TO HAVE HAD THE COVER CLOSED OR WE WOULD HAVE HAD SMALL PIECES OF GLASS FALL ON US AT 70 MILES PER HOUR POSSIBLY CAUSING A MORE SERIOUS INCIDENT. *TR