1994 Lexus GS300

Defect. THE SPHERICAL PORTIONS OF CERTAIN LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD FINISHED SURFACES THAT WERE NOT SMOOTH CAUSING FRICTION WITH THE SURFACE OF THE BALL JOINT CAP.

Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN LEAD TO SEPARATION OF THE BALLJOINT INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER BALL JOINTS ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.

VEHICLE STARTED LEANING CLOSURE TO THE DRIVER FRONT SIDE. THOUGHT IT WAS THE BRAKES HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED AND IT WAS THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, THE BALL JOINTS, THE STEEL WHEEL WAS DAMAGED BECAUSE OF THE LOWER CONTROL AMONG OTHER THINGS THAT AFFECT THE SUSPENSION OF A VEHICLE. OVER THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER DRIVEABLE. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 LEXUS GS300. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED AND ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. ALSO, WHILE PARKED, THERE WAS A SUDDEN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 278,000.

SUDDEN ACCELERATION. I WAS DRIVING IT ON US-101 WESTBOUND BEFORE KANAN ROAD EXIT (~4 MILES BEFORE DESTINATION EXIT), SLOWED DOWN AND CHANGED ONE LANE TO MOST RIGHT LANE. THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. I APPLIED THE BRAKES IMMEDIATELY. THE CAR TURNED TO THE LEFT, MADE A SPIN COUNTERCLOCKWISE AND TRAVELED FROM MOST OF THE RIGHT LANE TO MOST OF THE LEFT LANE. FINALLY, I GOT IT STOPPED IN THE LEFT LANE, AFTER ITS REAR HIT THE FREEWAY CENTER DIVIDER. IT WAS IN THE OPPOSITE TRAFFIC DIRECTION. FORTUNATELY, NO OTHER VEHICLE WAS HIT. THE CAR HAS SEVERE DAMAGE IN THE REAR BUMPER, TRUNK, 2 REAR SIDE BODY, RIGHT FRONT WHEEL/TIRE AND SOME DAMAGE ON THE RIGHT SIDE BODY. IT'S NON-DRIVABLE, THOUGH ENGINE CAN STILL BE STARTED. ON 02/06/11, I WENT BACK, PASSING BY THE SCENE. THE TRACE OF BLACK TIRE RUBBER (DUE TO BRAKING) IS CLEARLY SEEN FROM MOST RIGHT LANE TO MOST LEFT LANE. UPDATED 03/10/11 *BF UPDATED PORTABLE 02/24/11 UPDATED PORTABLE 05/26/11

LOWER LEFT FRONT BALL JOINT FAILED, AND WHEEL FELL ON ITS SIDE, DROPPING THE FRONT END OF THE CAR TO THE PAVEMENT.

CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE, DASHBOARD BECAME ILLUMINATED, AND VEHICLE LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER. CONSUMER WAS TRAPPED INSIDE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE CAR SLOWED DOWN AND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE WHEELS. DEALER HAS SEEN TWICE, AND CAN'T FIND PROBLEM. *AK