2007 Lexus ES350 complaints

MY LEXUS ES 350 RECENTLY HAD FLARE PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION. THERE IS A BULLETIN OUT BY LEXUS WHICH SUGGEST THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION WILL FLARE BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. HOWEVER, WHAT THEY DON'T TELL YOU IS THAT THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION WILL FLARE, BUT IN MY CASE, TAKE OFF ON ITS OWN. IN SHORT, EARLY MORNING I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND MY CAR'S TRANSMISSION FLARED AND SUDDENLY TOOK OFF WITH OUT ME DOING ANYTHING. BASICALLY, I HAD TO PUT BOTH FEET ON MY BREAKS AND STAND ON MY BREAKS TO KEEP THE CAR FROM CRASHING INTO ANOTHER CAR. LUCKILY, I REMEMBERED TO HIT THE OFF BUTTON ON MY CAR TO KEEP IT FROM RAMMING INTO ANOTHER CAR. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKES THIS BEFORE HAVING A CAR SUDDENLY SURGE FORWARD WITH ALL 8000 RPMS BLAZING. MY WIFE WOULD OF NEVER BEEN ABLE TO STOP THIS CAR IF SHE WAS DRIVING. I REPORTED THIS TO MY LEXUS DEALER IN LINDON BUT THEY REFUSED TO WRITE DOWN THE COMPLAINT AFTER FIXING THE TRANSMISSION. BASICALLY, THE LOCAL LEXUS DEALER SAID THEY WOULD NOT WRITE DOWN MY COMPLAINT AND SUGGESTED I CALL LEXUS CORPORATE....WHICH I DID ON FRIDAY. *TR

I HAD GONE THOUGH A TOLL BOOTH AND WAS ACCELERATING AROUND A TRUCK BUT WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OF THE GAS, THE CAR ACCELERATED AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WITH ALL MY STRENGTH AND WAS BARELY ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR AT 60 MPH. LUCKILY THERE WAS LIGHT TRAFFIC, BUT THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT I WOULD HAVE HIT MULTIPLE CARS IF THERE HAD BEEN TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND BRAKE TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE WITH THE ENGINE SCREAMING THE WHOLE TIME. TRULY THE MOST TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO EXPLAINED IT WAS PROBABLY THE FLOOR MAT WHICH HAD NOT BEEN SECURED WHEN THE CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED THE DAY BEFORE. I ALMOST DIED BECAUSE OF A LOOSE FLOOR MAT?!!! *TR

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

WHILE BACKING OUT OF GARAGE, THE THROTTLE BECAME STUCK UNDER THE FLOOR MATE. THE VEHICLE TRAVELED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED ACROSS A BUSY STREET AND END UP ON A 5FT. SNOW BANK. OTHER THAN A SORE NECK AND BACK THE NEXT MORNING, MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS NOT NECESSARY. THE CAR HAD TO BE REMOVED FROM THE SNOW BANK BY A TOW TRUCK. THERE WAS $1,500 DAMAGE TO THE REAR OF THE CAR AND WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE THAT NOBODY WAS ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME. I HAVE SENT REGISTERED LETTERS TO LEXUS TWICE AND THEY HAVE FAILED TO RESPOND. CAUSE OF THROTTLE UNDER CARPET WAS THAT CARPET HAD BEEN PLACED ON WRONG SIDE BUT CLIPS WERE ENGAGED. OPERATORS MANUAL ONLY MENTIONS THAT FLOOR CLIPS BE ENGAGED, THEY WERE. TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, FLOOR MATE SHOULD NOT BE INTERCHANGEABLE AND FLOOR CLIPS SHOULD BE LOCATED SUCH THAT THEY CANNOT BE ATTACHED TO EITHER SIDE. I WANT LEXUS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND PEOPLE CAN GET SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. THEIR LACK OF RESPONSE TO MY LETTERS IS IRRESPONSIBLE AND UNACCEPTABLE. *TR

WHILE BACKING OUT OF OUR GARAGE, THE THROTTLE BECAME STUCK IN THE FLOOR MAT. THE VEHICLE TRAVELED ACROSS THE STREET AND WAS STOPPED BY A 5 FOOT SNOW BANK. THERE WAS NO INJURIES BUT THE CAR SUSTANDARD OVER $1,500 DAMAGE. *TR

BLUETOOTH DISCONNECTS ALL THE TIME, APPARENTLY, DUE TO INTERFERENCE FROM OTHER VEHICLES. CONNECT FUNCTION IS DISABLED WHILE THE CAR IS MOVING. THIS MAKES ONE TO USE PHONE HOLDING IT TO THE EAR, CAUSING A RISK OF POLICE PERSECUTION, AS WELL AS SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

I HAVE A 2007 LEXUS ES350. WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE VEHICLE SLOWS AND THEN THERE IS A BUMP AS THOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN HIT IT THE REAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 4 TIMES. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN ACCELERATING THE TRANS WILL SPEED UP CAUSING ME TO HIT THE BRAKES. LEXUS STATED THAT THIS IS NORMAL. I THINK ITS DANGEROUS. *TR

WE BOUGHT A 2007 LEXUS ES350. WHENEVER I WOULD SIT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR WOULD SHOW ON (I'M ABOUT 115 LBS.). DURING THE JULY 4TH WEEKEND THOUGH, WE NOTICED THAT THE SENSOR WAS SHOWING OFF WHILE I WAS SITTING ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. WE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE LOCAL LEXUS DEALER BUT WE WERE JUST TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT AND THAT IT IS WORKING AS DESIGNED. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT THOUSANDS HAVE ALREADY COMPLAINED ABOUT THE FAULTY AIRBAG SENSORS. *TR

I WAS GETTING ON HWY 101 RAMP ON A SATURDAY MORNING AROUND 10:45 AM WHERE TRAFFIC WAS MODERATE, SUDDENLY FELT THE CAR BEGAN ACCELERATING BY ITSELF SO I EASED UP ON THE ACCELERATOR. CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNCONTROLLABLY ON ITS OWN. I THEN STEPPED HARD ON THE BRAKE BUT THE CAR DIDN'T SLOW DOWN. SAW THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WAS ON BY ITSELF, TURNED IT OFF BUT THE CAR WAS STILL ACCELERATING. MEANWHILE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 105 MPH .MIRACULOUSLY 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. IT WAS A 3.5 MILES JOURNEY AT OVER 100 MPH WITH MANY CLOSE CALLS OF SERIOUS ACCIDENTS .VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LEXUS DEALERSHIP. DEALER LATER INFORMED US THAT THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION WAS CAUSED BY THE ALL WEATHER FLOOR MAT AND THEIR EXPLANATION ON WHY THE BRAKE DID NOT WORK WAS WHEN THE GAS THROTTLE WAS OPEN, THE HORSEPOWER OF THE CAR WAS SO GREAT THAT THE BRAKE WASN'T ABLE TO STOP IT. WE WERE NOT CONVINCED AND DEMAND TO HAVE LEXUS CORPORATION SEND A MASTER TECHNICIAN OR HAVE AN INDEPENDENT AND QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN FOR A FULL AND COMPLETE DIAGNOSIS. REQUEST WAS REFUSED BY THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT MANAGER. BASED ON THEIR COMPUTER DIAGNOSIS, THERE WAS NO ERROR CODE CAME UP AND THEREFORE WE HAVE TO TRUST THEM THAT THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN RESOLV

REPORTED: 27-MAY-2008 (INCIDENCE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND 25 MAY 2008) PROBLEM: RUNAWAY ACCELERATION: EVIDENCE OF MALFUNCTIONING CRUISE CONTROL CAR WAS NEARING END OF 200 MILE TRIP. CRUISE CONTROL HAD BEEN ENGAGED ON AND OFF FOR LAST HOUR. DRIVER STOPPED AT ENTRANCE ONTO OLD-DESIGNED FAST-MOVING HIGHWAY RTE4) WITH OLD-FASHIONED SHORT ACCESS AND NO BREAKDOWN LANES. CRUISE CONTROL GREEN LIGHT ON, BUT SYSTEM SUPPOSEDLY DISENGAGED. CAR BEGAN TO EXHIBIT STRONG ENGINE NOISE AND RUNAWAY ACCELERATION. DRIVER SHUT OFF CRUISE CONTROL, PASSENGER OBSERVED THE LIGHT GO OFF AND THEN BACK ON SEVERAL TIMES. DRIVER FIRMLY STEPPED ON BRAKES. THE BRAKES SMOKED AND SMELLED OF BURNING. WHEN CAR SLOWED DOWN, DRIVER PULLED TO SMALL INDENTATION AT SIDE AND PRESSED IGNITION BUTTON FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. CAR STOPPED WITH JOLT. DRIVER STARTED CAR IN PARK. ENGINE MADE SAME LOUD BLOW-OUT SOUND. RE-SHUT DOWN CAR. DRIVER RESTARTED CAR TO MOVE TO EXIT ABOUT 50 YDS AHEAD. CAR BEGAN RUN-AWAY ACCELERATION AGAIN, DRIVER REPEATED STEPS PUSHING HARD ON BRAKES (SMELL AND SMOKE) AND SHUTTING CAR OFF BY PRESSING IGNITION BUTTON. OFF-DUTY POLICE (CHIEF OF FORCE) SMELLED BRAKES AND SAID LOUD ENGINE NOISE MADE CAR A HAZARD; TOW DRIVER WOULD ALSO TESTIFY TO LOUD ENGINE NOISE WHEN CAR TURNED ON AGAIN TO BE PLACED ON HIS TRUCK. BECAUSE SPILL OF ICE-COFFEE DURING INCIDENT, MATS WERE INSPECTED BY BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER BEFORE CAR WAS TOWED. BOTH NOTED THAT MATS WERE INTACT AND IN THEIR PROPER PLACE. DRIVER NOTED CLIPS WERE IN

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. *TR

THIS COMPLAINT IS NOT ABOUT A SPECIFIC 'INCIDENT'. THE COMPLAINT IS THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS SOMETIMES ON AND SOMETIMES OFF WHEN MY WIFE RIDES IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. AS SHE IS ABOUT 110 POUNDS, WE THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE ON ALL THE TIME FOR HER. *TR

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 [SEE ALSO 10228954

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS ES350. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE BRAKES TO HELP STOP THE VEHICLE LONG ENOUGH SO THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A WEEK BEFORE THE FAILURE THE CRUISE CONTROL MADE A SOUND AS IF THE ENGINE ACCELERATED TOO HARD WHEN ACTIVATED. AS OF MAY 27, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 13,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 06/25/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONING MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. UPDATED06/25/08 SEE ALSO 10230929 & 10229189*DSY

I WAS DRIVING MY 2007 LEXUS ES350 NORTH ON ROUTE 34 IN COLTS NECK, NEW JERSEY. SUDDENLY CAR SPEED INCREASED FROM APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH TO IN EXCESS OF 70MPH. I APPLIED BRAKES AND EMERGENCY BRAKES WHICH DID NOTHING. I SPENT THE NEXT THREE MILES AVOIDING CARS IN MY LANE AND ONCOMING LANES. DURING THIS TIME I ATTEMPTED TO PUT CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN IT OFF. NOTHING HAPPENED. I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO PUT CAR IN REVERSE WHICH SLOWED IT DOWN BUT THEN IT STARTED GOING BACKWARDS. I FINALLY GOT INTO NEUTRAL AND WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF. CAR IS PRESENTLY AT LEXUS DEALER. THEY KEPT ASKING ME ABOUT FLOOR MATS AND THAT THEY WOULD INSPECT THEIR PLACEMENT. I KEEP MATS AT LEAST SIX TO 12 INCHES FROM PEDALS. THERE HAVE 40 SUCH INCIDENTS WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL SINCE IT CAME OUT. LEXUS KEEPS TALKING ABOUT FLOOR MATS, BUT SOME OF THE CARS DID NOT EVEN HAVE FLOOR MATS. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE BEFORE A LOT OF PEOPLE DIE. I WAS VERY LUCKY TO NOT KILL MYSELF AND A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE. *TR

ES 350 2007 LEXUS, PASSING VEHICLE DOING APPROX. 40 MPH IN 55 MPH ZONE, ACCELERATOR STUCK, GAS PEDAL WAS GOING TO FLOOR ON ITS OWN, LOOKED AT SPEEDOMETER WAS AT 85 AND CLIMBING. APPLIED BRAKES AS HARD AS COULD, PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD, PUT IN PARK AND TURNED CAR OFF. CONTINUED ON AFTER GETTING MYSELF SETTLED DOWN. CAR IS NOW IN SHOP AND THEY ARE TALKING FLOOR MATS, DID NOT HAVE THE ALL WEATHER FLOOR MATS IN, CHECKED GAS PEDAL AND SAW NO COMPROMISE FROM FLOOR MAT IN CAR THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 3000 MILES. THANKFULLY THERE WERE NO INJURIES, IT WAS 6 AM AND TRAFFIC WAS MINIMAL. *TR

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

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. *TR

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

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. *TR

LEXUS ES 350 HAS SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. *TR

HID HEADLIGHTS ON 2008 ES350 ARE AIMED TO LOW FOR SAFE DRIVING. I ALMOST STRUCK A FAMILY OF 4 ON SEABROOK ISLAND AS THEY WALKED CLOSE TO THE SHOULDER. THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS AS THE LIGHTS ARE COMPUTER CONTROLLED BUT "THEY ARE WORKING ON IT" THIS IS AN UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT MUST BE CORRECTED PROPERLY. *TR

2007 LEXUS ES350 MAKING LOUD NOISE WHEN GOING FROM PARK TO DRIVE. CONSUMER STATES THAT IT MAKES A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE. DEALER STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE ES350. *KB

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. *TR

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 *TR

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 DAMAGE. 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. *TR UPDATED 11/13/09

I'M HAVING VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH MY LEXUS ES350 AS FOLLOWS: THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND I FEEL THE CAR ACCELERATES BY ITSELF WHILE I'M DRIVING. THE PARKING ASSISTANT SYSTEM ALERTS ME WHEN ANY OBSTACLES ARE NEAR MY CAR. THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATION IS OFF WHEN AN ADULT SITS THERE. *TR

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. *TR

2007 LEXUS ES350 WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ALL WEATHER FLOOR MATS WERE THE CAUSE OF THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. HE ALSO STATES THAT HE RECEIVED A RECALL AFTER HE WAS IN THE ACCIDENT. *NJ RECALL# 07E082000 THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION TWICE. BOTH TIMES HIS FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHICH RESULTED IN SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND ALSO DAMAGE TO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED AS HE WAS ABOUT TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, IT SUDDENLY JUMPED SIX INCHES. UPDATED 03/16/11*JB THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 05/19/11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS ES350. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER THE CURB AND INTO THE FRONT OF A GYM. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3/4 INTO THE ENTRANCEWAY. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARRIVED ON THE SCENE AND FILED A REPORT. THE FRONT END, HOOD, AND UNDERCARRIAGE WERE DAMAGED. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS THE FLOOR MAT. SHE HAS NOT SPOKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,900 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,800.

SOON AFTER I PURCHASED MY ES350 IN AUG 2007 I STARTED HEARING A BRRRRR SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHICH IS ONLY HEARD IN A COLD START AND LASTS FOR LESS THAN 10 MIN. I LEFT THE CAR OVERNIGHT AT TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPTS SO THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE SOUND ALSO FROM A COLD START. TWICE I WAS TOLD THAT THE MECHANICS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE SOUND WHICH IS DIFFICULT FOR ME TO BELIEVE AS IT IS THERE EVERYTIME I START THE CAR. (MY HUSBAND THOUGHT THAT THE SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE VALVES OR TAPPITS.) THE SOUND WAS NOT PRESENT ON THE ES350 LOANER CARS THAT WERE GIVEN TO ME NOR IS THE SOUND HEARD IN FRIENDS ES350 CARS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE MIGHT BE A PROBLEM LATER ON WITH THE VEHICLE AND THAT THIS IS A WARNING SIGN. *TR

I HAVE A 2007 LEXUS ES350 ULTRA LUXURY EDITION THAT WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT (A WOMAN RAN THROUGH A STOP SIGN AND BROADSIDED ME AT ABOUT 35MPH) THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON SEPTEMBER 30TH 2007, I CONTACTED LEXUS ON OCTOBER 1ST 2007 TO INFORM THEM THAT THE AIRBAGS IN THIS 2007 ES350 ULTRA LUXURY EDITION NEVER DEPLOYED AND THAT I DIDN'T BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFE VEHICLE BECAUSE I COULD NOT IMAGINE WHAT TYPE OF IMPACT THIS VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE SUBJECTED TO FOR THE AIRBAGS (SIDE AND SIDE CURTAIN) TO DEPLOY. I HAVE CALLED BACK INTO LEXUS MANY MANY TIMES, SENT EMAILS, AND CAN ONLY GET THE SAME STANDARD ANSWER, THAT IT COULD TAKE UP TO FOUR TO SIX WEEKS TO GET SOMEONE OUT TO LOOK AT THE CAR. I KEEP GETTING THAT STANDARD ANSWER BUT SO FAR I HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN AS MUCH AS A DATE FROM LEXUS ON WHEN THIS PERSON CAN COME TO INSPECT THE CAR. I HAVE TRIED TO ESCALATE THIS ITEM WITH LEXUS BUT NO-ONE THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO WOULD EVEN ALLOW ME TO SPEAK WITH A MANAGER OR SUPERVISOR AS PER THE LEXUS PEOPLE, THIS IS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF AWARENESS (I WOULD HATE TO SEE HOW THEY HANDLE SOMETHING THAT IS NOT IMPORTANT TO THEM). I FEEL THAT I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO HAVE MY ATTORNEY CONTACT THE MAJOR NEWS NEW S BROADCASTER AND THE HIGHWAY AND TRAFFIC CONTROL TO INFORM THEM THAT THIS MODEL IS NOT SAFE AND SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO BE SOLD TO THE PUBLIC SINCE THE AIRBAGS DON'T DEPLOY WHEN THE CAR HAS MAJOR IMPACT AND COULD CAUSE VERY SERIOUS INJURY. I WAS INJURED IN MY ES350 WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO HAV

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS HEADLIGHTS WERE BEAMING TOO LOW AND CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT BE OF ASSISTANCE OR CHANGE THE HEADLIGHTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20.

OUR LEXUS ES 350, LEASED IN JANUARY, 2007 HAS A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS PROBLEM. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS NOT ON CONSISTENTLY WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT IS OCCUPIED. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. AFTER THE LAST VISIT AND AFTER FINDING THE SYSTEM WAS WORKING AS DESIGNED IT WAS SUGGESTED I ADD EXERCISE WEIGHTS TO THE SEAT. *JB

I PURCHASED A 2007 ES350 LEXUS APRIL 20, 2007. THE TRANSMISSIONS BEGAN SURGING AND FLARING UP ON THE RPM'S WHEN ACCELERATING, THE GAS MILEAGE DROPPED TO 14 MILES A GALLON IN JULY 2007. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THE FIRST TIME THEY UPGRADED THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE AND REPLACED A CHIP. ON AUGUST 16, 2007 THE TRANSMISSION STARTED REVVING UP AND SHIFTING HARD AND A RATTLE DEVELOPED IN THE ROOF. THE DEALER PUT A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION IN THE CAR THAT TIME AND TOOK THE SUNROOF APART BECAUSE A PART WAS LOOSE. THE SAME DAY, THE CAR STARTED DOING THE SAME THING ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK AND I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH LEXUS USA AND THEY WOULD NOT OFFER ANYTHING OTHER THEN PUTTING A THIRD TRANSMISSION IN THE CAR. 9/18/07 BACK AT THE DEALER, IT IS RUNNING AND THE TEST DRIVE WITH THE MECHANIC THE CAR SHIFT SLOW AND IS NOT FLARING AS BAD AND THE GAS MILEAGE IS 14 MILES A GALLON AGAIN. THE ROOF IS RATTLING AGAIN AND I NEED TO HAVE THE SUNROOF WORKED ON AGAIN. THE CAR FAILED ON THE INTERSTATE THE 2 TIME AND I ALMOST GOT KILLED IN THE HIGH SPEED LINE SINCE THE CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 50 MILES A HOUR AT RUSH HOUR IN ATLANTA, GA. LEXUS IS AWARE OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILURES AND THE SAFETY ISSUE BUT REFUSE TO RECALL OR BUY BACK THIS CAR. THANKS MC *JB

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. *TR

PASSENGER AIRBAG NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND TURNS "OFF" WHEN MY WIFE SITS IN THE SEAT WHILE CAR IS IN OPERATION. MY WIFE WEIGHS UNDER 110 LBS. IT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX TO DATE. I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY WIFE. *JB

2007 LEXUS ES350-1-ADULT PASSENGER SAT IN THE FRONT SEAT AND I NOTICE THAT THE AIRBAG OFF INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ON. 2- I HAVE EXPERIENCED A DANGEROUS SUDDEN SURGE OF ACCELERATION WHEN BRAKING, EVEN WITH ALL WEATHER MAT PROPERLY SECURED. I BELIEVE THE SURGE MAY BE A SOFTWARE AND/OR SENSOR FLAW. 3- WHEN THE ENGINE IS FIRST STARTED (COLD-AFTER SITTING), THE MECHANICAL ENGINE NOISE IS VERY PRONOUNCED AS IF PROPER LUBRICATION IS NOT OCCURRING. *TR

UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION AND ERRATIC SHIFTING; FAILURE OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND RELATED SYSTEMS; PROPOSED REPLACEMENT UNDER WARRANTY OF THE TRANSMISSION; *TR

DRIVING ON A PRIMARY SURFACE STREET, I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. I WAS THE FIRST CAR IN THE LANE. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I ACCELERATED TO CHANGE LANES, THE CAR PICKED UP SPEED AND THE BRAKES COULD NOT STOP IT. THE CAR GROWLED AND JERKED FOR A COUPLE OF BLOCKS UNTIL I FORCED THE GEAR OUT OF "DRIVE". IT FINALLY STOPPED BEFORE THE NEXT INTERSECTION. I DID NOT LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND DID NOT HIT ANYONE. THE CAR WAS AT THE LEXUS REPAIRS DEPT. FOR 5 DAYS. I WAS TOLD THAT I COULD NOT KEEP THE TWO FLOOR MATS. THEY REMOVED THE FACTORY INSTALLED CARPETED MAT, PLACED IT IN THE TRUNK AND LEFT THE THIN, CLEAR, PROTECTIVE PLASTIC FLOOR MAT FROM LEXUS. I NEVER HAD ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MATS. I DO NOT KNOW IF THERE IS ANY DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION, ENGINE OR BRAKES. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT AND SINCE I HAVE OCCASIONALLY FOUND IT ACCELERATING BUT IT STOPS BY BRAKING. I HAVE NOT ATTEMPTED A HIGH ACCELERATING TEST. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE REPAIRS DEPT. I ASK IF THEY KNEW OF OTHER SIMILAR INSTANCES AND WAS TOLD "NO". I ONLY HAD 1,582 MILES AT THE TIME AND I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE WITH THE PROBLEM. ON AUGUST 16, 2007 THERE WAS AN ARTICLE IN THE NEWSPAPER REFERRING TO YOUR INVESTIGATION AND NOW REQUEST THAT MY INCIDENT BE INCLUDED. *TR THE CONSUMER PROVIDED PICTURES OF THE FLOOR MATS, ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND A REPAIR INVOICE. UPDATED 09/10/07 *TR

NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WERE MADE TO THE LEXUS DEALER REGARDING SUDDEN UNEXPECTED SURGES AND ACCELERATION PROBLEMS WITH THE 2007 LEXUS ES350, WHICH WERE IGNORED AS A SERVICE ISSUE UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION DEMONSTRATED ERRATIC AND UNCONTROLLED OPERATION DURING A TEST DRIVE WITH A CERTIFIED LEXUS MECHANIC. THE CAR WOULD SURGE AND SHIFT ERRATICALLY UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED AND THE CAR BECAME INOPERABLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS ES350. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, BUT THE SPEED ONLY DECREASED TO 20 MPH. SHE PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK WHILE IT WAS STILL IN MOTION, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SMOKE AND JERK INSTANTLY. THE FAILURE CAUSED HER TO RUN THREE RED LIGHTS AND DODGE OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. SHE CALLED LEXUS AND THEY STATED THAT THE FLOORMATS MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IMPROPERLY AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER BEING INSPECTED AND THE CONTACT IS AWAITING A FOLLOW-UP PHONE CALL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 1,100.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FROM ZERO TO 60 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE FAILURE MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE ALL WEATHER FLOORMATS THAT WERE INSTALLED ON TOP OF THE REGULAR MATS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

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. *JB

VISIBILITY AROUND THE CAR IS VERY DIFFICULT. FRONT POSTS ARE LARGE AND CLOSER TO THE DRIVER, BLOCKING MORE OF THE FIELD OF VIEW. THE HIGH BACKEND BLOCKS REAR VIEW AND THE LARGE POSTS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE REAR WINDOW ADD SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE BLIND SPOTS. BECAUSE OF THE VISIBILITY ISSUE, I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS CLOSE CALLS THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS HARM TO OTHERS AND DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I HAVE HAD TO SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGE MY DRIVING HABITS TO ACCOMMODATE WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE A DESIGN WEAKNESS IN THE CAR. THE CAR FEELS UNSAFE TO ME AND I WISH I HAD NEVER BOUGHT IT. IF I COULD AFFORD TO SELL IT I WOULD IN A NEW YORK SECOND. I AM A 17 YEAR TOYOTA CUSTOMER WHO HAS OWNED 5 OF THEIR PRODUCTS, ON THIS ONE THE DESIGN STINKS. I RANK IT "FAIR" ONLY BECAUSE IT HAS OTHER FEATURES AND PERFORMANCE THAT ARE QUITE GOOD, BUT THEY DON'T OFFSET THE VISIBILITY PROBLEMS. I LOVE TOYOTA/LEXUS, BUT I HATE THE ES350. *TR

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.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS ES350. SHE STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED OFF WHICH INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS OFF. WHEN PEOPLE WHO WERE BIGGER IN SIZE WERE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,000. UPDATED 02-01-08. *KB

LEXUS ES350 HAVE EXPERIENCED AIRBAG SENSOR MALFUNCTIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. *JB

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