2007 LEXUS ES350 Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS ES350. HE RECEIVED A LETTER REGARDING A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT PERTAINING TO THE YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF HIS VEHICLE FOR THE AIRBAGS. HE STATED THAT HE WAS INSTRUCTED TO SUBMIT A COMPLAINT. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,500.

THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG DOES NOT READ ON ALL THE TIME WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT. IT KEEPS READING OFF AND ON WHILE DRIVING. COULD STAY OFF FOR 30 MINUTES, GO ON TO TWO MINUTES AND THEN GO OFF AGAIN. *JB

PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG ON MY NEW 2007 ES350 LEXUS GOES OFF AND ON CONTINUOUSLY, GIVING NO PROTECTION IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT IF OFF. LEXUS SAID THEY HAVE NO FIX FOR IT AND I FIRST REPORTED IT IN JULY 2006. THEY HAVE HAD THEIR ENGINEERS, SERVICE MANAGERS, ETC. CHECK IT AT MY HOUSE AND THEIR PLACE AND CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *JB

I OWN A 2007 LEXUS 350 PURCHASED IN SEPT OF 2006. I HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, AT 3,000 MILES WHICH RESULTED IN LEXUS REPLACING THE TRANSMIION. MOST RECENTLY I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE AND WHILE PASSING A CAR MY CAR ACCELERATED ON IT OWN TO 140MPG. I WAS BRAKING CONTINUOUSLY FOR SEVEN TO TEN MINUTES. I SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL. THIS DID NOT HELP. THE CAR ONLY SLOWED DOWN WITH THE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO PICKED UP THE CAR WHEN I RETURNED HOME AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A FLOOR MAT ISSUE MY FLOOR MAT WAS PUT IN BY THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS INJURED AND HAVE SINCE REQUIRED SURGERY. IN MY OPINION THERE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. *TR

WHILE ACCELERATING TO MERGE ONTO AN INTERSTATE, THE LEXUS ES350 PURCHASED EARLIER IN THE MONTH CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I HAD TO BRAKE WITH MY LEFT FOOT WHILE PUMPING THE ACCELERATOR WITH MY RIGHT FOOT TO FREE THE STUCK ACCELERATOR. WHEN I ARRIVED HOME, THE ONLY THING I COULD THINK OF WAS THAT THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK ON THE FLOOR MAT. I HAD THE ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MAT ON TOP OF THE CARPET MAT. I SLID THE ALL WEATHER CAR MAT AS FAR BACK AS POSSIBLE. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT RECURRED. DESPITE HAVING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 3 TIMES SINCE THIS INCIDENT, NO ONE AT THE DEALERSHIP DID ANYTHING TO CORRECTLY INSTALL THE ALL-WEATHER MATS NOR DID ANYONE AT THE DEALERSHIP ASK ME IF I EVER EXPERIENCED SUCH A PROBLEM. *TR

ON MAY 20, 2007 WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN A HIGH TRAFFIC PRIVATE PARKWAY THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT THREE OTHER CARS. THE ROAD HAD A VERY GENTLE UP SLOPE AND A SMALL CURVE. THE ENGINE WAS ROARING VERY LOUD AS I TRIED VERY HARD TO BRAKE, BUT THE BRAKE WAS NOT EFFECTIVE. I HIT THREE CARS: RIGHT, FRONT AND FRONT RIGHT. ONE OF THE BY STANDER TOLD ME THAT HER PARENTS HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE WITH THE SAME MODEL CAR LESS THAN A WEEK BEFORE THAT ON A HIGHWAY. ALSO, THE FRONT CAR PASSENGER REPORTED THAT SHE HEARD AN UNUSUAL LOUD ENGINE NOISE FROM MY CAR IN THE POLICE REPORT. LATER, THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S ASSESSOR INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A MEMORANDUM FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO INSURANCE COMPANIES ABOUT THE ALL WEATHER FLOOR MAT FOR THIS MODEL COULD CAUSE SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON THE THROTTLE. I REPORTED THE ACCIDENT TO THE CUSTOMER SERVICE SPECIALIST FROM THE MANUFACTURER ON MAY 21, 2007. THEY HAVE SENT A FIELD TECHNICIAN TO INSPECT THE CAR ON JUNE 7 , 2007, AND HE CONCLUDED THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. THE SPECIALIST TOLD ME TO SUBMIT ANY CAR RENTAL EXPENSE CLAIM THROUGH THE INSURANCE COMPANY ,AND ANY FURTHER ACTION WILL HAVE TO DEAL DIRECTLY WITH THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT. I ALSO TALKED WITH TWO SERVICE STAFFERS FROM 2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS, AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FLOOR MAT PROBLEM ABOUT THE SAME MODEL OF MY CAR. SINCE THEN I HAVE FOUND 18 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME MODEL CAR IN THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION WEB SITE. I WANT THE MANUFACTURER TO REIMBURSE ALL MY CAR RENTAL EXPENSES AND TO REPLACE MY CAR BECAUSE I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE ABOUT THE CAR WARRANTY, AND I SHOULD NOT BE BEARING THE DEPRECIATION COST FOR A CRASHED CAR. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD RECALL ALL THE CARS THAT HAVE THE FLOOR MAT PACKAGE.*AK

VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY AND WOULD NOT STOP, EVEN AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPS TO BRAK CREATING AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE. I EVENTUALLY WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, AND THE ENGINE RACED VIOLENTLY, AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION. AFTER CALLING LEXUS ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, WHILE WAITING FOR THE ASSISTANCE TO ARRIVE, I NOTICED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD BEEN WEDGED IN THE RUBBER FLOOR MAT. I HAVE NOT YET DETERMINED IF THE INCIDENT DAMAGED THE ENGINE OR BRAKES. *AK

I DO NOT OWN THE 2007 LEXUS ES 350 OR THE TOYOTA CAMRY BUT IN THE COURSE OF TEST DRIVING BOTH OF THE VEHICLES, I WAS SHOCKED TO DISCOVER THAT THE "START/STOP" BUTTON DEFEATS THE OLDER IGNITION KEY INTERLOCK SYSTEM. IN THE OLDER KEYED IGNITION SYSTEM THE CAR MUST BE IN PARK TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. IN THE 2007 MODELS OF LEXUS AND CAMRY THE ENGINE CAN BE TURNED OFF WITH THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE SIMPLY BY TOUCHING THE BRAKE--THERE IS NO IGNITION KEY TO PLACE IN THE STEERING COLUMN.. PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING WHICH I SENT TO YOUR SITE THIS MORNING AND WAS ASKED TO FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2007 TOYOTA CAMRY AND LEXUS ES 350 DO NOT USE AN IGNITION KEY. THEY USE A "REMOTE" WHICH MUST BE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE VEHICLE WHEN THE "START/STOP" BUTTON IS PRESSED. OTHER MANUFACTURERS (BMW, VOLVO) USE BOTH A "KEY" IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE "START/STOP" BUTTON. WHILE THIS SECOND OPTION AT FIRST SEEMS REDUNDANT, IT IS A SAFETY FEATURE AND TOYOTA/LEXUS PRODUCTS MAY BE PRONE TO "ROLLING WHEN STOPPED" IN THE FOLLOWING SCENARIO: TOYOTA/LEXUS: DRIVER TOUCHES BRAKE AND HITS THE "START/STOP" BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE, BUT DRIVER FORGETS TO MOVE THE TRANSMISSION FROM "DRIVE" TO "PARK". UPON RELEASING THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE WILL MOVE, IF NOT ON LEVEL GROUND. BMW/VOLVO: AS ABOVE, BUT DRIVER IS UNABLE TO PULL "KEY" FROM STEERING COLUMN BECAUSE VEHICLE IS NOT IN "PARK". THEREFORE, DRIVER PLACES TRANSMISSION IN "PARK" BEFORE EXITING THE CAR, OTHERWISE HE WILL NOT HAVE THE VEHICLE "KEY" WITH HIM ON LEAVING THE CAR, THEREBY AVOIDING THE PROBLEM OF VEHICLE MOVING BECAUSE IT IS MISTAKENLY LEFT IN "DRIVE" ON EXITING THE CAR. IN SUMMARY: REDUNDANCY (KEY/START-STOP) BUTTON SERVES A USEFUL SAFETY PURPOSE AND SHOULD BE INCORPORATED INTO THE TOYOTA/LEXUS PRODUCTS. *TR

WE BOUGHT A 2007 LEXUS ES 350 IN NOVEMBER. AT ~1,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER I HAD ONE EPISODE OF UNWANTED ACCELERATION. I WAS MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY. I WAS TRYING TO KEEP A CONSTANT SPEED BUT THE CAR ACCELERATED IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE. I DO NOT REMEMBER THE SPECIFICS. I THINK I WAS GOING ABOUT 30 AND THE CAR ZOOMED TO 60. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR SLOWED DOWN. I DO NOT REMEMBER THE EXACT DATES SO I AM ESTIMATING FOR THE ENTRY BELOW. I HAVE ALSO HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH STOPPING. I WOULD SLOW TO STOP AND PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE BUT THE CAR WOULD CONTINUE TO LURCH FORWARD. THERE AGAIN I JUST KEPT PUSHING HARD ON THE BRAKES. THIS DID NOT OCCUR AT A RAPID RATE OF SPEED. SINCE I HAD THE RUBBER FLOOR MATS REINSTALLED I HAVE NOT NOTICED IT. I DROPPED THE CAR OFF AT THE DEALERSHIP IN MAY OF 2007. I EXPLAINED THAT I HAD HEARD THERE HAD BEEN SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE BLACK RUBBER MATS AND I REQUESTED THEY INSTALL THEM PROPERLY. I HAD TRIED TO INSTALL THEM MYSELF BUT WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE CARPET MATS THAT CAME WITH THE CAR SO THE MATS HAD BEEN SITTING ON TOP OF THE CARPET MATS. THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED OUT THE CAR AND SAID IT WAS OKAY. *TR

HERE IS THE DESCRIPTION I GAVE MY LOCAL LEXUS DEALER ALONG WITH THE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE WITNESS MARKS OF THE IMPACT TO THE DOOR. LEXUS IS EVALUATING THE CAR. I HAVE ASKED FOR A FACTORY ASSISTED REPLACEMENT CAR OF A DIFFERENT MODEL. THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED YET: DAVE, ATTACHED IS THE EXTRACT FROM THE NHTSA ON THIS PROBLEM WITH THE ES350 MODEL ALONG WITH THE MEASUREMENTS ON THE GARAGE DOOR AND PHOTOS OF THE CAR. THERE IS THE DESCRIPTION: I WAS WATCHING MY WIFE SLOWLY (3-5 MPH) APPROACH OUR GARAGE DOOR WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO OUR GARAGE DOOR AT 10-15 MPH. MY WIFE SAID HER FOOT WAS HOVERING OVER THE BRAKE AFTER TRANSITIONING FROM THE THROTTLE AS THE CAR WAS COASTING TOWARD THE DOOR. SHE JAMMED ON THE BRAKE BUT COULDN'T GET IT STOPPED FAST ENOUGH TO KEEP FROM HITTING THE DOOR. I'M A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL MECHANICAL ENGINEER AND OWN A DRIVE A FERRARI F355 SPIDER FOR FUN SO I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH HOW A CAR SUSPENSION AND BODY ANGLE RESPONDS TO ACCELERATION AND BRAKING. IT LOOKED TO ME LIKE THE CAR LAUNCHED BUT WAS IMMEDIATELY FORCED INTO A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AS MY WIFE WAS DESPERATELY TRYING TO STOP. UNLIKE LIKE THE AUDI PROBLEM OF A FEW YEARS AGO HAD SHE MISTAKENLY HIT THE THROTTLE SHE WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO HIT THE DOOR IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND THERE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN TIME TO TAKE HER FOOT OFF THE GAS AND ONTO THE BRAKE - AS A RESULT - IT HAD TO BE AN UNCOMMANDED ACCELERATION. THE CAR LAUNCHED IN A WAY THAT WOULD BE CONSISTENT OF AT LEAST 2500 RPM MINIMUM. I MADE SOME VERY CAREFUL WITNESS MARK MEASUREMENTS ON THE BROKEN GARAGE DOOR AND THE IMPACT POINT FOR THE LICENSE PLATE SCREW IS 3/8 OF AN INCH LOWER THAN ITS NORMAL FREE STANDING HEIGHT ON THE CAR INDICATING SHE MUST HAVE HAD HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE BY THE TIME OF THE IMPACT THUS RULING OUT THE AUDI SCENARIO. MAKE NO MISTAKE THIS IS NOT THE FLOOR MAT PROBLEM AND WE RESTARTED THE CAR TO CONFIRM THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS OFF. *TR