My wife was driving her 2007 Lexus IS250 when it began to accelerate and the brakes would not work. This is her account of what happened.
“It was about 4:45 during rush hour on a Friday evening, I was driving on the highway in the center lane, traffic was very thick and I needed to get into the right lane because my exit was about a mile up. I put on my turn signal to get over but the car in the right lane did not slow down so I could not easily get over so I pushed the gas a little to accelerate and I began to get over, when I did this the pedal started to move away from my foot and accelerating without me, I hit the brake, which was like pressing a brick it did not budge, so I swerved back into the center lane because the car in the right lane in front of me was much closer than the one in the center. When I swerved it caused the car in the left lane to swerve almost off the road. At this point I had absolutely no control over the car it was continuing to accelerate and I had no brakes, the dashboard brake light was on as if I had pulled the emergency brake (which I had not). The car in front of me is getting closer and closer and I am sure I am going to slam into it because I am boxed in by other traffic. I got about a car and a half away from it when my brakes finally kicked in and I was able to decelerate, my legs were shaking so uncontrollably, I could barely push the gas pedal to pull off the road. It was the scariest thing I have ever been through, I had absolutely no control over the car.”
I immediately called Lexus and spoke with a technician, I described everything that had happened to my wife and he said, “I have a 2007 IS 250 same as you and mine does the same thing.” He said he has had his looked at 10 times by the service dept and they can’t figure out what the problem is. At this point I just can’t believe what I’m hearing and I started to really get upset thinking that Lexus knows about this problem and I just almost lost my wife the Mother of my three kids to a defect that Lexus is aware of. This is a known problem with over 432 complaints and no one has contacted me or anyone else about the possibility of being trapped in a car while it accelerates down the highway with no brakes, you would think that human life would be priority with any company.
The GM told me they would have someone pick up my car and leave me a loaner car to drive, the tech that I spoke to on the phone with the same vehicle and same problem as my car showed up at my house, left me a loaner car and drove my 2007 Lexus IS 250 away. About 10 minutes after he left I received a phone call from him, he said in a shaky voice, “I just wanted to tell you that I just had to pull off the highway and that was the scariest moment of my life” He said he hit 65 MPH and the car did the same thing to him as it did to my wife, He said “I have never seen anything like this” I could tell he was really upset about what just happened, he said” I’m not driving this car I’m going to have it towed to the shop and I will call you next week and let you know what we find out.
After talking with Rich the technician I could tell he was reluctant to talk about what really happened on the way to the dealership, so I decided to start recording our phone calls. Watch and listen to this video.
Here are some questions that I have……
1. A trained Lexus technician doesn’t know to look down at the floor mat for a mile and a half while the car accelerates down the highway with no brakes ?
( I have him on tape saying he could not stop the car for a mile and a half )
2. Why was the brake light flashing on the dash ?
( A clear sign that a computer is malfunctioning )
3. Why did the brakes not work and override the accelerator when pressed?
( all normal cars stop when you apply the brakes even if you are accelerating )
4. How can a floor mat make the accelerator pedal move slowly away from your foot?
( should tell you that something has taken control of the throttle )
5. Why was Rich the “Lexus technician” with the same car as me able to have his car looked at ten times? why didn’t they tell Rich it was a floor mat that caused the acceleration problems with his 2007 IS 250?
( Same car as me with the same problem, shouldn’t this raise some red flags? )
The Conclusion after filing a complaint with 1-800-25-Lexus
Toyota flew in to look at my car at the dealership, they had my car for almost 2 weeks and never offered me a rental car or a loaner from Lexus. I called Lexus customer service and they told me my car was ready to be picked up and I would receive a letter from their attorneys with an explanation of what is wrong with my car. I still have not received a letter, since they are telling me my car is ready to be picked up I know they are going to tell me its the “floor mat” that cause the sudden acceleration.
This car almost killed my wife and I can’t get a courtesy phone call telling what the conclusion was? No phone call and no letter!
A total of 432 customers have reported
unintended or sudden acceleration in their vehicles,
resulting in 51 crashes and 12 injuries.
Things that are consistent with these complaints 1. The car accelerated all by itself
2. the brakes would not work while accelerating
3. Uncontrolled speeds can reaches between 65mph and 110mph
4. Lexus responds to all with “Improper installation of floor mats”
Make:
LEXUS
Model:
ES350
Year:
2007
Complaint Number:
10203221
Summary:
ON TWO PRIOR OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FROM SPEEDS BETWEEN 20-30 MPH, TO SPEEDS UP TO 50-60 MPH. ON 9/11/07, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT SPEEDS UP TO 80-90 MPH. WE ARE AWARE OF THE LEXUS NOTIFICATION OF FLOOR MAT INTERFERENCE, SO WE REMOVED THE MATS AFTER THE FIRST TWO TIMES, BUT THE LAST AND MOST FRIGHTENING, OCCURRENCE HAPPENED WITHOUT THE MAT IN THE VEHICLE. THE CAR HAD TO BE FORCED INTO PARK IN ORDER TO SLOW IT DOWN TO A HALT. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME AND SHE STATES SHE ALMOST HAD SEVERAL MULTIPLE CAR ACCIDENTS WHILE TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT’S THE FLOOR MAT, BEFORE EVEN DRIVING THE CAR. WE WON’T DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN UNTIL SOMEONE OTHER THAN LEXUS DETERMINES WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.
Make:
LEXUS
Model:
ES350
Year:
2007
Complaint Number:
10241027
Summary:
ON SUNDAY AUGUST 31ST, I LEFT A DEPARTMENTAL PICNIC AT A COLLEAGUE’S HOUSE AROUND 8:30 AT NIGHT TO GO HOME TO KENT OHIO. I LEFT EARLY BECAUSE I WANTED TO GET HOME BEFORE IT GETS TO DARK. I ENTERED THE I 76 RAMP AT THE LAKE MILTON/NEWTON FALLS ENTRY. AFTER DRIVING PERHAPS AROUND 35-40 MPH HOUR ON THE RAMP I STARTED TO ACCELERATE TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY. SUDDENLY I FELT THE CAR ACCELERATED BY ITSELF, I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE MAKING THE ASSUMPTION THAT I MAY HAVE STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL TO MUCH. HOWEVER, THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATING REACHING 80-85 MPH. I WAS GETTING CLOSER TO CARS IN FRONT OF ME. THE CAR ACCELERATED VERY FAST AND I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN. THE SPEED CONTINUED TO BE EXCESSIVE IN SPITE OF ME TRYING TO BREAK THE SPEED. I THOUGHT AT FIRST THAT THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK, BUT NOTICED IMMEDIATELY THAT THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. I WAS STILL MOVING 80-85 MPH. TRYING TO AVOID CARS IN FRONT OF ME. I PUT MY BREAKDOWN LIGHT ON TO WARN OTHER DRIVERS. I MANAGED TO DRIVE OVER TO THE SHOULDER, TRYING TO AVOID HITTING ANYTHING. I PUT MY FOOT DOWN ON THE BRAKE AND KEPT IT ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE SPEED DOWN TO 40MPH WITH MY FOOT CONTINUOUSLY ON THE BRAKE. I TRIED TO LET MY FOOT GO BUT THE CAR IMMEDIATELY SPEEDED UP AGAIN. I MANAGED TO PUT MY CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND THAN IN PARK, THE CAR SLOWLY CAME TO A HOLD. THE BRAKES SMELLED AND SMOKED. IT WAS GETTING RAPIDLY DARK AND I WAS SCARED AND IN A STATE OF SHOCK, BUT ALSO RELIEVED TO BE ALIVE. AT THAT TIME A STATE TROOPER STOPPED AND I TOLD HIM WHAT HAPPEN. HE CALLED A TOWING TRUCK AND PUT RED FLARES UP TO KEEP ME SAFE ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE DARK. HE POINTED OUT TO ME THAT I WAS ON MILE MARKER 5.3 ON I 76. I HAD TO WAIT ABOUT 30 MINUTES UNTIL THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. THE DRIVER TOLD ME THAT MY BRAKES WERE STILL VERY HOT
Make:
LEXUS
Model:
IS250
Year:
2006
Complaint Number:
10169969
Summary:
ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK DOWN GOING AT A SPEED OF LESS THAN 5 MILES AN HOUR WHILE TURNING OUT OF A PARKING LOT. FOOT BRAKE AND EMERGENCY BRAKE WERE APPLIED BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. WHEN MY CAR HIT THE OTHER CAR, THE ACCELERATOR POPPED BACK UP.
Make:
LEXUS
Model:
ES350
Year:
2007
Complaint Number:
10226564
Summary:
WHILE DRIVING MY 2007 LEXUS 350 ES ON SATURDAY, MAY 3, I EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. MY VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED AND I WAS UNABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY BRAKE OR SHUT OFF THE CAR WITH THE PUSH BUTTON IGNITION. WHILE STRUGGLING TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE (AND AVOID HITTING OTHER VEHICLES), I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO STOP THE CAR USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK AND HOLDING THE PUSH BUTTON IGNITION FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. A GREAT DEAL OF SMOKE RESULTED… I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED WOODFIELD LEXUS, MY LOCAL LEXUS DEALER. I WAS TOLD TO BRING THE CAR TO THE DEALER ASAP FOR REVIEW. I DID SO, AND MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY WITH THE DEALER TO PERFORM NECESSARY TESTING. WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE DEALER, THE SERVICE MANAGER NOTICED THAT MY FLOORMATS WERE SECURED, BUT UPSIDE DOWN — THE RESULT OF A RECENT OIL CHANGE (2 DAYS PRIOR) — WHERE THE WOODFIELD LEXUS SERVICE TECHNICIAN TURNED MY FLOORMATS OVER — THEN FORGOT TO PROPERLY SECURE THEM IN THE CORRECT POSITION. I NOTIFIED WOODFIELD LEXUS OF ANOTHER ACCELERATION ISSUE IN 2007, HOWEVER I WAS TOLD THAT THE “JUMPING” ACCELERATION IS A KNOW GLITCH WITH MY MAKE/MODEL/YEAR. MY VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
Make:
LEXUS
Model:
ES350
Year:
2007
Complaint Number:
10218961
Summary:
WE PURCHASED A NEW LEXUS ES 350 18 MONTH AGO. THEY SENT US A RECALL ON THE FLOOR MATS ABOUT HOW THEY WOULD CAUSE VEHICLE TO TAKE OFF. WELL WE DO NOT HAVE THE MATS THAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT AND AS OF FRIDAY OUR VEHICLE WILL JUST TAKE OFF ON IT OWN. ITS AT THE DEALER AGAIN FOR THE AT LEASE 5TH TIME AND THEY CAN NOT FIX IT. MY WIFE DOES NOT FEEL SAFE BECAUSE OF THIS. WE HAVE CONTACTED LEXUS AND THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN BACK TO US YET. CAN YOU HELP US WITH WHAT WE SHOULD DO IN THIS MATTER. WE ARE AFRAID FOR OUR SAFETY. PLEASE NOTE EACH TIME ITS AT THE DEALER ITS THERE FOR A WEEK AND THEY SAY THAT ITS FIXED. THEY HAVE PUT IN NEW TRANSMISSION, COMPUTER ETC. LAST TIME THEY EVEN HAD SOMEONE FROM LEXUS WORK ON THE COMPUTER. SO THATS WERE WE ARE. WE ARE HOPING THAT LEXUS CALLS US MONDAY TO TELL WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO. MAYBE THEY WILL GIVE US A NEW CAR THAT WORKS RIGHT. WITH ANY LUCK WE WILL NOT HAVE TO DRIVE THIS ONE AGAIN. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF WE SHOULD GET A LAWYER OR CAN YOU HELP US. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.PHIL DERBY.
Make:
LEXUS
Model:
IS250
Year:
2006
Complaint Number:
10171756
Summary:
WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WITH THE CRUISE ON DOING ABOUT 65 MPH, AND SHE DECIDED TO PASS A TRUCK. SHE ACCELLERATED SLIGHTLY, AND THE CAR SUDDENLY “FLOORED” TO OVER 90 MPH AND THE RPM’S WENT ALL THE WAY UP. SHE TRUNED OFF THE CRUISE, BUT IT WOULDN’T SLOW DOWN. SHE TRIED TO BRAKE, BUT THE ENGINE WAS STILL REVING AT THE HIGHEST SPEED. SHE FORCED HERSELF OFF INTO THE GRASSY MEDIAN AND SAT ON THE BRAKE UNTIL SHE COULD JAM THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. VEH TOWED TO LEXUS DEALER. TECH COULDN’T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THIS, BUT AFTER TALKING TO LEXUS HEADQUARTERS, THEY FOUND THAT THE RUBBER CAR MAT AND THE BACK OF THE ACCELLERATOR SOMEHOW CONNECTED AND FORCED THE CAR TO BE “FLOORED”. YOU COULD NOT TELL BY LOOKING AT THE MAT THAT IT WAS CONNECTED TO THE ACCELLERATOR. MY WIFE WOULD OF DIED IF THERE HAD BEEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CLOSE TO HER. NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY. I HAVE NO COMPLAINT WITH THE DEALER. THEY DID EVERYTHING THEY COULD TO HELP.
Make:
LEXUS
Model:
ES350
Year:
2007
Complaint Number:
10218118
Summary:
ACCELERATION OF VEHICLE ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS ON INTERSTATE NEARLY CAUSING DEATH OR INJURY. COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE. BY THE GRACE OF GOD ONLY MY CAR SUSTAINED INJURY. THE TERROR EXPERIENCED SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME, LET ALONE TWICE! FIRST TIME AUGUST 2007, CLAIMED IT WAS THE FLOOR MATS. I FELT THE “LURCH” AFTER THAT AND THOUGHT MAYBE I WAS JUST BEING PARANOID. UNTIL IT HAPPENED THE SECOND TIME. IT HAPPENED NINE DAYS AGO. THE DEALER HAS HAD MY CAR SINCE THE INCIDENT. I HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM THEM. I WILL NOT TAKE THE CAR BACK.
Make:
LEXUS
Model:
ES350
Year:
2007
Complaint Number:
10199857
Summary:
I PURCHASED 2007 LEXUS ES 350 IN DECEMBER OF 2006. SOMETIME IN LAST MONTH, WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A HIGHWAY, ITS BRAKE STOPPED WORKING ALL OF A SUDDEN, AND STARTED ACCELERATING BY ITSELF. I LOOKED AT MY FOOT WONDERING IF MY FOOT WAS ON GAS PEDAL, INSTEAD OF BRAKE PEDAL, BUT IT WAS ON BRAKE PEDAL. I WAS IN A TOTAL PANIC, BUT MANAGED TO DROVE THE CAR AWAY TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY BY PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK MODE. I THOUGHT I WAS DEAD AT THAT MOMENT. I AM TRYING TO SUE THE LEXUS. I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT CAR WILL KILL SOMEONE. BEFORE STARTING A LEGAL PROCEEDING, MY ATTORNEY SENT A LETTER TO LEXUS HEADQUARTER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NO PROBLEM, AND THAT THE CAUSE WAS THE FLOOR MAT. BUT, IT WAS NOT. AS I SAID EARLIER, I LOOKED AT MY FOOT WHEN THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, AND AFTER I STOPPED THE CAR, I CAREFULLY LOOKED AT BOTH GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE AGAIN. I AM NOT BLIND. HAVE YOU SEEN ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS? PLEASE LET ME KNOW. IT WILL BE REALLY HELPFUL FOR ME TO WIN THE CASE. I AM NOT TRYING TO MAKE MONEY BY SUING LEXUS, BUT TRYING TO HAVE LEXUS RECALL ALL OF ITS ES 350 SINCE IT WILL KILL SOMEONE.
Make:
LEXUS
Model:
ES350
Year:
2007
Complaint Number:
10190167
Summary:
CAR GAINED SPEED, COULD NOT BRAKE THE CAR, WITH FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL IT WENT EVEN FASTER, HIT OTHER VEHICLES AND SMASHED THROUGH A GARAGE DOOR, STOPPING ONLY WHEN IT RAN INTO A TREE. CAR WAS REPAIRED AT A COST OF OVER $33,000. THE VEHICLE HAD 400 MILES ON THE ODOMETER.
Mimi of Los Altos CA (07/01/08)
I was getting on Hwy 101 ramp #386B near San Jose International Airport on a Saturday morning around 10:45 am when traffic was moderate. Suddenly I felt my 2007 Lexus ES350 began accelerating by itself. At first I thought maybe I stepped on the gas pedal too much so I eased up on the accelerator. However, my car didn’t slow down and instead it kept accelerating uncontrollably on its own. I was getting very close to the car in front, my 3 other passengers yelled for me to slow down. I stepped as hard as I could on the brake but the car didn’t slow down at all. I realized the cruise control light was on and thought maybe I have accidentally turned it on to cause such acceleration. My husband who sat next to me helped me turn the cruise off while I tried to maintain control of my car to avoid hitting any vehicle in front. Meanwhile, I tried to pump the brake and stepped as hard as I could on the brake. The car wouldnt slow down and instead accelerated to 105 mph. All I could do was keep changing lanes to avoid hitting vehicles in front while having my emergency signal and continuous hitting my honks. I somehow managed to move over to the shoulder without hitting any cars but the vehicle was still moving at 100+ mph. Finally my husband had to force the gear box to park and I applied the emergency parking brake before the vehicle finally started to slow down and eventually stopped near exit #389. My car has traveled for about 3.5 miles at over 100 mph and there were some very close calls where I could have hit vehicles at high speed seriously injuring someone and myself. After the incident, the vehicle was towed to a nearby Lexus dealership. Two days later on Monday, I was informed by the dealer that the sudden acceleration was caused by improper installation of the all weather floor mat. When I questioned why the brake did not work at all, their answer was basically when the gas throttle was open, the horsepower of the car was so great that the brake wasn’t able to stop it. It is like stepping one foot on the gas and the other on the brake pedal. My husband and I were not convinced by the explanation that improper installation of mat (even if it is) could have cause such completely uncontrollable acceleration that could have disastrous consequence. We demand to have Lexus Corporation send a field technician or have an independent and qualified technician to do a full and complete diagnosis. Our request was promptly refused by the dealership service department manager. They said when they did a computer diagnosis, no error code was shown on their tool and therefore we have to trust them that the sudden and uncontrollable acceleration problem has been resolved by the replacement of the floor mat. We refused to pick up the car out of safety concern. Meanwhile we are researching consumer rights suggested by various consumer advocate groups before we decide how to proceed with this incident. Our research found this problem has happened in a lot of different models of vehicles under both Toyota and Lexus brand. For example NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation database contains 40 reports of similar sudden and uncontrollable acceleration in 2007 Lexus ES350 model alone, resulting in many injuries.
Carol of Sutton MA (05/27/08) Runaway acceleration of my Lexus 350. My husband was driving onto Rte 4 NJ Teaneck. (No breakdown, or emergency lane) Cruise control seemingly took control of engine. Braked hard, engine continued with RPM’s accelerated, smoking brakes. Tried unsuccessfully to shift to manual, neutral. Car was still moving when he pressed off button. Car stopped with a jolt. We checked that mats were in place. Since we were in an unsafe space he started car again to pull onto exit. Repeat of acceleration and loud noise, strong smell of burning brakes. Stopped only by pressing button. We ended our stop this time blocking entrance to highway. Police came. Officer and tow truck driver confirmed that engine mad terrifying accelerating noise. Police yelled, Stay away from that car, it could explode. Heard briefly from service department this morning nothing apparently wrong. Still checking and that we would be responsible for getting car back to Boston. I am terrified to ever drive this car again.
Harold of Blairsville, GA (08/18/06)
My wife owned a 2003 Lexus ES300. While turning into a parking space the car accelerated and ran into a concrete wall. She had only minor injuries caused by the seat belt across her chest. A police report was Filed with the Deland Florida Police Department. We contacted the dealer in Orlando Fl and told them what happened. My wife was terrified to even get in the car again so we traded it in on another Lexus. All of this information was passed on to corporate headquarters for Lexus of America. They insured me that the ES300 that was traded in would not be sold and that a tecnical team was being sent to that dealership and would tear that car down from bumper to bumper to find the problem.A couple of weeks later I called the dealership to find out if they had discovered the problem. The salesman, named Sharieff, told me the car had been sold by the dealer agaist the instructions they had received from Lexus. I asked to speak to the sales manager, Mr. Dent. He came on the phone and I asked him why he sold the car when he was told not to and he stated that I’ll do anything on I want with the car. Now some unsupectiing woman is driving a defective 2003 ES300.Contact with my insurance agent at state farm indicated that they had bee notified of this problem with the ES300 by Lexus but Lexus would not issue a recall or let the public know. I will never buy another Toyota/Lexus product again. They will not admitt to a problem or step up to the plate when required then I can take my business elseware.
Mabel of Gainesville FL (09/26/08)
On 9/19/08 I experienced major problems with my 2008 RX350 Lexus as the vehicle made abnormal loud grinding sounds in which power to the car (acceleration) and the brakes went out. Fortunately I was in a place I could pull off onto a turn land and stop the car with the emergency brake. I immediately called Lexus 24-hour Roadside Assistance. They dispatched a local towing company through AAA to tow my auto to the closest dealership in Orange Park, FL. (I am approx 1 1/2 hrs away). I watched the car being loaded onto the flat-bed tow truck. That afternoon, the dealership called to say the car had arrived and they would determine why the car failed.
Make: LEXUS
Model: ES350Year: 2007
Complaint Number: 10230560
Summary:
ON JUNE 10, 2008 ABOUT 11:00PM, I WAS ON MY WAY FROM INDIANAPOLIS, IN TO COLUMBUS, OH. I WAS USING CRUISE CONTROL AND WENT TO REDUCE MY CRUISE SPEED WITH THE SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN. MY 2007 ES350 IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE UNDER FULL POWER. I SWITCHED MY CRUISE CONTROL OFF, BUT IT WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. MY SPEED WAS INCREASING STILL. I HIT MY BRAKES AS HARD AS POSSIBLE, BUT THEY WOULD BARELY KEEP THE CAR AT IT¿S SPEED ABOVE 80 AS I WAS DODGING TRAFFIC ON I-70 EASTBOUND. AFTER 2 MILES OF TRYING TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR, FULL BRAKES AND MUCH LESS BRAKE PAD FOR THE EXPERIENCE, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO STOP AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DID FINALLY DISENGAGE ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED ¿ BUT NOT BEFORE. ALL MATS WERE LOCKED IN PLACE WITH CLIPS. NO VEHICLE ERRORS TO REPORT. THIS IS A DEADLY SITUATION. I AM 6¿4¿, 250 LBS AND IT TOOK EVERYTHING I HAD TO STOP THE CAR. HAD THIS BEEN IN A MORE CONGESTED AREA, THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN FAR WORSE.
Make:
LEXUS
Model:
ES350
Year:
2007
Complaint Number:
10226899
Summary:
TL*THE CONTACT HAD A COMPANY LEASED 2007 LEXUS ES350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS AND AN INVESTIGATION. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER KNEES. MINNESOTA HIGHWAY PATROL FILED REPORT NUMBER USS04311. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,552. UPDATED 05/29/08. *LJ UPDATED 05/29/08
Make:
LEXUS
Model:
ES350
Year:
2007
Complaint Number:
10226564
Summary:
WHILE DRIVING MY 2007 LEXUS 350 ES ON SATURDAY, MAY 3, I EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. MY VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED AND I WAS UNABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY BRAKE OR SHUT OFF THE CAR WITH THE PUSH BUTTON IGNITION. WHILE STRUGGLING TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE (AND AVOID HITTING OTHER VEHICLES), I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO STOP THE CAR USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK AND HOLDING THE PUSH BUTTON IGNITION FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. A GREAT DEAL OF SMOKE RESULTED… I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED WOODFIELD LEXUS, MY LOCAL LEXUS DEALER. I WAS TOLD TO BRING THE CAR TO THE DEALER ASAP FOR REVIEW. I DID SO, AND MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY WITH THE DEALER TO PERFORM NECESSARY TESTING. WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE DEALER, THE SERVICE MANAGER NOTICED THAT MY FLOORMATS WERE SECURED, BUT UPSIDE DOWN — THE RESULT OF A RECENT OIL CHANGE (2 DAYS PRIOR) — WHERE THE WOODFIELD LEXUS SERVICE TECHNICIAN TURNED MY FLOORMATS OVER — THEN FORGOT TO PROPERLY SECURE THEM IN THE CORRECT POSITION. I NOTIFIED WOODFIELD LEXUS OF ANOTHER ACCELERATION ISSUE IN 2007, HOWEVER I WAS TOLD THAT THE “JUMPING” ACCELERATION IS A KNOW GLITCH WITH MY MAKE/MODEL/YEAR. MY VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
Make:
LEXUS
Model:
ES350
Year:
2007
Complaint Number:
10223792
Summary:
TL*THE CONTACT WAS GIVEN A 2008 LEXUS ES350 AS A LOANER WHILE HER VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ABRUPTLY ACCELERATE TO 60 MPH. SHE ATTEMPTED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP OR DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE STRUCK A LARGE PIECE OF CEMENT AND CAUSED THE OIL PAN TO DETACH. OIL BEGAN TO POUR FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 12,000. UPDATED 05/05/08 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED. UPDATED
Make:
LEXUS
Model:
ES350
Year:
2007
Complaint Number:
10222320
Summary:
WHILE COMING OUT OF A PARKING LOT,ACCELERATOR PETAL GOT STUCK,CAR ACCELERATED FROM 0-70 IN SECONDS AND COULD NOT SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN, LEXUS RECENTLY SERVICED CAR FOR MAT RECALL AND DID NOT INSTALL CLIPS ON ALL WEATHER FLOOR MAT, MY INSURANCE IS INVESTIGATING BOTH ACCELERATOR THROTTLE AND ALSO THE REASON WY MAT DID NOT HAVE CLIPS INSTALLED AFTER LEXUS STATED THEY CORRECTED THE MAT RECALL,I AM ALSO HIRING A INDEPENDENT AUTO FORENSIC SPECIALIST,I COULD OF KILLED MYSELF AND OTHERS TOO,T HIS SO CALLED MYSTERIOUS ACCELERATION MUST BE CORRECTED.
Make:
LEXUS
Model:
ES350
Year:
2007
Complaint Number:
10219328
Summary:
UNCONTROLLABLE VEHICLE ACCELERATION WHILE PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE AT APPROX 1 MPH. VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE STOPPED WITH FULL BRAKE APPLICATION. VEHICLE STRUCK BUILDING, BOUNCED BACKWARD, STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE AND ENDED UP BACKWARD ON TOP OF A SNOW BANK. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE FRONT, SIDE ,REAR AND UNDERCARRIAGE. DUE TO SNOW CONDITIONS, VEHICLE CONTROL PROBLEMS COMPOUNDED. PRIOR TO REPAIR, VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY LEXUS “LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY LEXUS DEALER. LEXUS CORPORATION ISSUED 2 LETTERS STATING THAT THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. OPERATOR ERROR WAS NOT CITED AS CAUSE. LEXUS CORPORATION WILL NOT RELEASE DETAILS OF VEHICLE INSPECTION CITING PROPRIETARY RIGHT.
Make:
LEXUS
Model:
ES350
Year:
2007
Complaint Number:
10212574
Summary:
WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SLOT IN A PARKING LOT WITH CARS ON BOTH SIDES AND IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE, MY VEHICLE INCREASED ACCELERATION AND RACED FORWARD UNCONTROLLABLY. THE BRAKE WAS PUSHED TO THE FLOOR BOARD OF THE VEHICLE AND HAD NO EFFECT ON SLOWING DOWN THE CAR. THE LARGE TRUCK IN THE SLOT IN FRONT OF ME WAS THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED THE VEHICLE. $87,43 DAMAGE WAS DONE TO MY VEHICLE. NONE TO THE TRUCK THAT STOPPED MY VEHICLE. LEXUS REVIEWED THE ELECTRONIC DATA RECORDER AND RELEASED A STATEMENT THAT THE VEHICLE OPERATED WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. LEXUS ALLOWED NO ONE TO TOUCH THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT WAS INSPECTED BY THERE TECHNICIAN. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT OR PREVENT A FUTURE REPEAT OF THE LIFE THREATENING ACCELERATION SURGE EXPERIENCED WITH THIS VEHICLE. WE HAVE REQUESTED FROM THE LEXUS LEGAL DEPARTMENT THAT THE DATA RECOVERED BY THE LEXUS TECHNICIAN BE PROVIDED TO US SO THAT WE CAN ASSESS FOR OURSELVES WHAT WENT WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE.
Make:
LEXUS
Model:
ES350
Year:
2007
Complaint Number:
10203221
Summary:
ON TWO PRIOR OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FROM SPEEDS BETWEEN 20-30 MPH, TO SPEEDS UP TO 50-60 MPH. ON 9/11/07, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT SPEEDS UP TO 80-90 MPH. WE ARE AWARE OF THE LEXUS NOTIFICATION OF FLOOR MAT INTERFERENCE, SO WE REMOVED THE MATS AFTER THE FIRST TWO TIMES, BUT THE LAST AND MOST FRIGHTENING, OCCURRENCE HAPPENED WITHOUT THE MAT IN THE VEHICLE. THE CAR HAD TO BE FORCED INTO PARK IN ORDER TO SLOW IT DOWN TO A HALT. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME AND SHE STATES SHE ALMOST HAD SEVERAL MULTIPLE CAR ACCIDENTS WHILE TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT’S THE FLOOR MAT, BEFORE EVEN DRIVING THE CAR. WE WON’T DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN UNTIL SOMEONE OTHER THAN LEXUS DETERMINES WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.
Experienced runaway acceleration in my 350ES today. It had nothing to do with mats or acccelerator. We were on 6 land highway with no breakdown lanes. Fast traffic.
Cruise control took control of engine and only strong pressure on brakes kept us from crashing into car in front of us. My husband was unable to trun off cruise control, shift down, or into neutral. Only could stop car by turning it off with jolt. Police confirmed that car restarted with frightening noise of acceleration of engine that indicated it was ready to runaway again.
Make:
LEXUS
Model:
ES350
Year:
2008
Complaint Number:
10229189
Summary:
IT WASN?T THE MATS!!!! RUNAWAY ACCELERATION IN OUR LEXUS ES 350. DATE OF INCIDENT WAS 05/25/08, MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND I WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. WE BOTH SURMISED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD APPARENTLY TAKEN OVER THE ENGINE AND CAUSED THE ACCELERATION. (MY CRUISE CONTROL HAD ALWAYS BEEN A FLUKE, ONE WEEK PRIOR I HAD EXPERIENCED AND DISMISSED A BRIEF EPISODE WITH MY CRUISE CONTROL) ONLY GOOD BRAKES AND MY HUSBAND?S SKILL SAVED US FROM A HORRIFIC OUTCOME. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT ON THIS SITE 3/27/08. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ENGLEWOOD (NJ) LEXUS. YESTERDAY, THE SERVICE MANAGER THERE GAVE CONTRADICTORY EVIDENCE THAT IT WAS THE MATS. SINCE A LARGE ICE-COFFEE SPILLED DURING THE INCIDENT, MY HUSBAND AND I EXAMINED THE MATS TO MOP UP THE SPILL BEFORE THE CAR WAS TOWED AWAY AND SAW THAT THE MATS WERE IN THEIR CORRECT POSITION. IN NO WAY WERE THEY STUFFED UNDER THE BRAKES AND LODGED ON THE ACCELERATOR AS HE STATED AT FIRST. IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE TO ME THAT AN EXTENSIVE EXAMINATION OF THE CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM HAS NOT PERFORMED. INSKIP LEXUS (RI), WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR, HAS AGREED TO HAVE CAR TOWED AND WILL EXAMINE PROBLEM. I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN UNLESS THE PROBLEM IS RESOLVED. THE PROBLEM OF RUNAWAY ACCELERATION HAS BEEN REPORTED IN NUMEROUS CASES ON THIS SITE AND OTHER CONSUMER SITES ABOUT TOYOTA/LEXUS. MANY OWNERS DO NOT AGREE WITH DIAGNOSIS OF MATS BEING THE CULPRIT. ???QUESTION: IS TOYOTA/LEXUS THE NEW AUDI???? *TR
I’ve got a Chevy truck that exhibited similar symptoms. It would idle at 5000rpm, it would cruise at 70mph with cruise control off and w/o touching the gas. It would be rather difficult to brake to a stop w/o pushing in the clutch, and when you pushed in the clutch, it would race to near redline. It did that repeatedly for several weeks, until I decided it wasn’t amusing anymore.
Diagnosis? Failed throttle position sensor.
Skeptical? I’ve been putting wrenches on engines for forty years. I’m pretty sure know the difference between a throttle position sensor and a floor mat.
I have just encountered the same problem in April…as I just turned on my a/c, my driver side window of my RX300 rolled down, instead of closing (as I’d wanted to). Then the car took sudden acceleration… in just split seconds (less than 2 sec), I rear ended someone else.
Looking back on this blog, does anyone experienced the issue in concurrence with the air condition? (not the mat, please!)
Oh My GOD! is all I can say!!! On June 26, 2009 my 2007 Lexus IS did the same thing that I have read above. I literally saw my life and my daughter’s life flash before me. I just could not get the car to stop for about 5 minutes after it accelerated on its on. The brakes would simply not work. I kept banging on the power button and the car finally stopped. I feel the same way and that is that someone could have really got heart by this. Why is Lexus pushing this under the rug? This is people’s lives at stake. I am going back to the dealer and tell them that I want to trade this car in. I just no longer feel safe with this. Lexus is supposed to be the cream of the crop and this is appaling that so many people have experienced this. I pray to GOD that nobody gets badly hurt in this situation. Why has Lexus not sent out messages to consumers warning them of this situation? This is really a character and reputation Killer! Thank you so much for posting this valuable information for consumers to see. My heart was so heavy that I knew there had to be more to this and now I see it is!
My 2006 Lexus RX300 is also showing this abnormality. I ‘m from Hong Kong , and my car was bought from a reputated local used car retailer a week ago (during the late June). On the first day that i drove my RX back to home, i have stopped at the red signal at a stop. While taking off once again when the green light was on, the accelerator of my RX was suddenly floored and stuck ,and my RX accelerated itself to 70kmh within seconds …i have tried to counteract the force by pushing the brake hard, but it didn’t work… AT this time, i have found that the “emergency button” signal was shown, making me think that may be correlated to the unreleased emergency button, but i have found that it has been released. FInally i have slowed down the car by using the +/- shift and finally stopped the car by entering the neutral position….Even though my car has been forced to stop, i can hear clearly that the engine was still roaring and the peddle was still stuck firmly. I ‘m glad that there ’s only few vechicles ahead. On the other day ,i have got my RX checked by the Lexus technican , he couldn’t find anything wrong with my lexus, whatsover the transmission, or the throttle ..And he speculated that this incident may be correlated to the unsecured mat = =”.But honestly, i was not convinced..I don’t dare to drive my newly bought Lexus now.Coz this glitch may be fatal. WHat should i do? Gosh.
[...] Re: Toyota Floor Mats (news) Check out this link… unintended acceleration in a Lexus is a known problem. And same BS floormat explaination. Unintentional Sudden Acceleration Blog Archive Lexus Sudden Acceleration [...]
Yesterday I had the most near death experience. I was travelling along the M3 at 8.15am at 70mph in the fast lane when my car suddenly started to leap forward. I tried to brake but the brake pad was hard as rock and wouldn’t budge. Being an experienced driver I tried to keep cool but experienced sheer panic as the car was leaping forward with astounding speed up to 110mph. i tried the brake at least 3 more time and no luck. I thought this was the moment when my life was end, it was terrifying and as I write this I still feel traumatised by the thought that if I did not act quickly enough as I did, by using the handbrakes to guide me out of the fast lane, then the middle and finally into the shoulder, I would not have been alive today to write this. I could picture myself rearing full on to the rear of the blue car at 110- 120mph, that car rearing onto the car in front etc. It would have surely been th death of a number of people yesterday. I am just thinking what the traffic police and drivers witnesses would have stated: death by dangerous driving, when in fact my brakes failed, a fault of Lexus as I have just read by other people’s testimony. I intend to notify Lexus of the fault. I am afraid to drive my Lexus anymore. signed…Traumatised!!
April 11th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
I’ve got a Chevy truck that exhibited similar symptoms. It would idle at 5000rpm, it would cruise at 70mph with cruise control off and w/o touching the gas. It would be rather difficult to brake to a stop w/o pushing in the clutch, and when you pushed in the clutch, it would race to near redline. It did that repeatedly for several weeks, until I decided it wasn’t amusing anymore.
Diagnosis? Failed throttle position sensor.
Skeptical? I’ve been putting wrenches on engines for forty years. I’m pretty sure know the difference between a throttle position sensor and a floor mat.
June 10th, 2009 at 12:18 am
I have just encountered the same problem in April…as I just turned on my a/c, my driver side window of my RX300 rolled down, instead of closing (as I’d wanted to). Then the car took sudden acceleration… in just split seconds (less than 2 sec), I rear ended someone else.
Looking back on this blog, does anyone experienced the issue in concurrence with the air condition? (not the mat, please!)
June 30th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Oh My GOD! is all I can say!!! On June 26, 2009 my 2007 Lexus IS did the same thing that I have read above. I literally saw my life and my daughter’s life flash before me. I just could not get the car to stop for about 5 minutes after it accelerated on its on. The brakes would simply not work. I kept banging on the power button and the car finally stopped. I feel the same way and that is that someone could have really got heart by this. Why is Lexus pushing this under the rug? This is people’s lives at stake. I am going back to the dealer and tell them that I want to trade this car in. I just no longer feel safe with this. Lexus is supposed to be the cream of the crop and this is appaling that so many people have experienced this. I pray to GOD that nobody gets badly hurt in this situation. Why has Lexus not sent out messages to consumers warning them of this situation? This is really a character and reputation Killer! Thank you so much for posting this valuable information for consumers to see. My heart was so heavy that I knew there had to be more to this and now I see it is!
July 4th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
My 2006 Lexus RX300 is also showing this abnormality. I ‘m from Hong Kong , and my car was bought from a reputated local used car retailer a week ago (during the late June). On the first day that i drove my RX back to home, i have stopped at the red signal at a stop. While taking off once again when the green light was on, the accelerator of my RX was suddenly floored and stuck ,and my RX accelerated itself to 70kmh within seconds …i have tried to counteract the force by pushing the brake hard, but it didn’t work… AT this time, i have found that the “emergency button” signal was shown, making me think that may be correlated to the unreleased emergency button, but i have found that it has been released. FInally i have slowed down the car by using the +/- shift and finally stopped the car by entering the neutral position….Even though my car has been forced to stop, i can hear clearly that the engine was still roaring and the peddle was still stuck firmly. I ‘m glad that there ’s only few vechicles ahead. On the other day ,i have got my RX checked by the Lexus technican , he couldn’t find anything wrong with my lexus, whatsover the transmission, or the throttle ..And he speculated that this incident may be correlated to the unsecured mat = =”.But honestly, i was not convinced..I don’t dare to drive my newly bought Lexus now.Coz this glitch may be fatal. WHat should i do? Gosh.
August 30th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
CHP officer among 4 killed in Santee crash. Unintended Acceleration in Lexus.
September 17th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
[...] Re: Toyota Floor Mats (news) Check out this link… unintended acceleration in a Lexus is a known problem. And same BS floormat explaination. Unintentional Sudden Acceleration Blog Archive Lexus Sudden Acceleration [...]
September 20th, 2009 at 6:07 am
Yesterday I had the most near death experience. I was travelling along the M3 at 8.15am at 70mph in the fast lane when my car suddenly started to leap forward. I tried to brake but the brake pad was hard as rock and wouldn’t budge. Being an experienced driver I tried to keep cool but experienced sheer panic as the car was leaping forward with astounding speed up to 110mph. i tried the brake at least 3 more time and no luck. I thought this was the moment when my life was end, it was terrifying and as I write this I still feel traumatised by the thought that if I did not act quickly enough as I did, by using the handbrakes to guide me out of the fast lane, then the middle and finally into the shoulder, I would not have been alive today to write this. I could picture myself rearing full on to the rear of the blue car at 110- 120mph, that car rearing onto the car in front etc. It would have surely been th death of a number of people yesterday. I am just thinking what the traffic police and drivers witnesses would have stated: death by dangerous driving, when in fact my brakes failed, a fault of Lexus as I have just read by other people’s testimony. I intend to notify Lexus of the fault. I am afraid to drive my Lexus anymore. signed…Traumatised!!