2006 LEXUS GX470 Complaints

FROM:[XXX] SUBJECT:2006 LEXUS GX 470 ACCELERATION HELLO, MY 44 YEAR-OLD WIFE [XXX] WAS DRIVING HER 2006 LEXUS GX 470 THIS MORNING IN SEATTLE, WA. AS SHE WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. DESPITE HITTING THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES, THE CAR DID NOT STOP AND ENDED UP JUMPING A CURB AND CRASHING INTO A CHAIN LINK FENCE. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS HURT. SHE CALLED OUR LEXUS DEALERSHIP IN BELLEVUE, WA. THEY TOLD US THAT SINCE IT WAS A PRODUCT LIABILITY ISSUE THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE US A LOANER CAR AND WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO INSPECT THE CAR FOR TWO WEEKS. MY WIFE HAS NO CONFIDENCE IN OUR LEXUS AND WANTS TO SELL IT AS SOON AS IT IS FIXED UP FROM THE ACCIDENT (WE ARE FILING AN INSURANCE CLAIM AND ALSO FILED A POLICE REPORT). I AM ALSO VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE RESPONSE OF LEXUS NOT TO PROVIDE A LOANER VEHICLE AND IMMEDIATELY INSPECT THE CAR. A FRIEND OF OURS SUGGESTED WE CONTACT NHTSA. YOU MAY REACH ME AT [XXX] OR [XXX]. PLEASE ADVISE IF THERE ANY OTHER ACTIONS WE SHOULD TAKE AT THIS POINT IN TIME. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS GX470. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED POOR VISIBILITY WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. HE STATED THAT STREAKS APPEARED WHEN THE WINDOW ROLLED UP AND DOWN, PREVENTING VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE, BUT HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. THE PART HAS BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIME. , HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 20,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPURCHASED BY THE TOYOTA DEALER. UPDATED 06/13/07 *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS GX470. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL MADE CONTACT WITH THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP IMMEDIATELY. THE CONTACT HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES FOUR TO FIVE TIMES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO AN AIR BUBBLE. THE CONTACT HAD THE SAME FAILURE A MONTH LATER. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR. ALSO, THE DEALERADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE MASTER AND SLAVE CYLINDERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THREE MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKE PEDAL FOUR TIMES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SHIM AND REPLACED THE SHIM ON THE BRAKE PEDALS. THE CURRENT AND RECENT FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON A STEEP LOOSE GRAVEL ROAD WHICH TURNED, MY VEHICLE STARTED SLIDING OUT TOWARD THE EDGE NEXT TO A RATHER LONG DROP OFF. I STOPPED MY VEHICLE TO SEE THE PROGRESS AND SELECT A ROUTE. THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LET ME USE IT. I HAD TO DRIVE THE MOST DANGEROUS PART OF THE ROAD WITHOUT A SEAT BELT. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! IS THERE SOME WAY TO GET THE BELT TO RELEASE? NONE WAS FOUND IN THE MANUAL. AFTER A LITTLE DIGGING AND A COUPLE OF TRYS, WE GOT OUT O.K., BUT HAD NO SEAT BELT PROTECTION IN THE PROCESS. LEXUS REPORTS THAT THIS FUNCTIONED PROPERLY; IF SO IT IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT BECAUSE THERE IS NO RELEASE TO ALLOW USE OF THE SEAT BELT. *NM

I HAVE A 2006 LEXUS GX470 WITH ABOUT 15,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS GOING UP A STEEP GRADE ON A DIFFICULT ROAD IN 4WD. WHEN I STOPPED AND GOT OUT TO LOOK AT THE ROAD, THE SEAT BELT LOCKED IN A RETRACTED POSITION AND WOULD NOT DEPLOY AGAIN UNTIL VEHICLE WAS ON MORE LEVEL GROUND. THUS, I HAD TO DRIVE THE MOST DANGEROUS PART OF THE ROAD WITHOUT A SEAT BELT TO PROTECT ME IN EVENT OF ROLLOVER. LEXUS SAYS THIS IS NORMAL: "NORMAL CONDITION WHEN VEHICLE IS NOT LEVELED. LOCK WILL RELEASE WHEN LEVEL." MY THOUGHTS ARE: (1) I HAVE GREAT 4WD BECAUSE I COULD BARELY WALK UP THE ROAD I FINALLY GOT UP, BUT (2) THE SEAT BELT LOCK SHOULD HAVE A RELEASE FOR THESE CIRCUMSTANCES BECAUSE THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. *JB

LEXUS HAS HAD NO RESPONSE TO THIS INQUIRY IN OVER ONE MONTH, EXCEPT "WE GOT YOUR MAIL": I'M CONCERNED FOR OTHERS IN THIS SITUATION. WHILE DRIVING ON A STEEP LOOSE GRAVEL ROAD WHICH TURNED, MY VEHICLE STARTED SLIDING OUT TOWARD THE EDGE NEXT TO A RATHER LONG DROP OFF. I STOPPED MY VEHICLE TO SEE THE PROGRESS AND SELECT A ROUTE. THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LET ME RE-CONNECT IT. I HAD TO DRIVE THE MOST DANGEROUS PART OF THE ROAD WITHOUT A SEAT BELT. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! IS THERE SOME WAY TO GET THE BELT TO RELEASE? NONE WAS FOUND IN THE MANUAL. AFTER A LITTLE DIGGING AND A COUPLE OF TRIES, WE GOT OUT O.K., BUT HAD NO SEAT BELT PROTECTION IN THE PROCESS. *JB