2003 Lexus LS430

TAKATA RECALL

I WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. THE FRONT OF MY CAR MY MADE FULL CONTACT WITH THE REAR OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS TRAVELING AT LEAST 25 MPH IF NOT MORE BEFORE IMPACT. THE IMPACT RESULTED IN $10,000 IN DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE LEXUS AND IT WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. THE LEXUS WAS DAMAGED FROM HEADLIGHT TO HEADLIGHT AND THE AIRBAG(S) DID NOT DEPLOY. THE HOOD ALSO SUSTAINED DAMAGE AS WELL AS THE RADIATOR, YET THE AIRBAG(S) DID NOT DEPLOY.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I AM IN RECEIPT OF A RECALL NOTICE FROM LEXUS DIVISION TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY IN WHICH THERE WERE NUMEROUS LARGE BLOCK RED LETTERED WARNINGS INFORMING ME OF THIS DANGER AND THE URGENCY OF MY RESPONSE. HOWEVER, WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER TO SCHEDULE THE REPAIR, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEALER WAS ONLY ALLOWED BY LEXUS DIVISION TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY TO SCHEDULE ONE SUCH RECALL REPAIR PER WEEK AND THAT MY DEALER WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO PUT ME ON THE WAITING LIST. A LIST WHOSE LENGTH THE DEALERSHIPS CALLER COULD NOT ASCERTAIN BUT GUESSED IT WOULD BE FIVE TO SIX WEEKS. IF OVER THE NEXT FIVE WEEKS, THERE WERE TO BE A SERIOUS INJURY OR EVEN A DEATH BECAUSE THIS WAS NOT TAKEN CARE OF, I PLACE THE LIABILITY FOR SUCH ON LEXUS DIVISION TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY. I AM GIVING YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAY OFF THIS LIABILITY LIST BY IMMEDIATELY INFORMING LEXUS DIVISION TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY THAT THEIR ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES TO REPAIR THIS URGENT RECALL DANGER IS WOEFULLY INADEQUATE.

TRUNK STRUTS FAILED TO HOLD THE TRUNK IN AN OPEN POSITION, CAUSING THE TRUNK TO FALL AND INJURE A PERSON. MULTIPLE TIMES. TRUNK WAS PROPERLY OPENED AND RAISED TO A FULL OPEN POSITION. *TR

THE PISTON-LIKE AIR STRUTS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO HOLD THE REAR TRUNK LID OPEN ON MY 2003 LEXUS LS 430 (BOUGHT NEW IN DECEMBER 2002) SLOWLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING STARTING AROUND 4 YEARS AGO. NOW THEY DO NOT WORK AT ALL. WHILE THIS IS AN INCONVENIENCE TO HAVE TO OPEN THE TRUNK MANUALLY, THE REAL DANGER IS THAT ARE NO PROVISIONS TO HOLD THE TRUNK LID IN THE OPEN POSITION. THUS, EVEN A LIGHT WIND OR VIBRATION CAUSED BY PASSING VEHICLES WILL CAUSE THE TRUNK TO TEETER OFF THE OPEN POSITION AND SLAM SHUT. THE DOWNWARD MOTION OF THE SHARP AND HEAVY EDGES OF THE TRUNK CAN (AND HAVE) CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY TO HEAD, FINGERS, AND OTHER BODY PARTS - NOT MENTION DAMAGING CARGO. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS LS430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE AT 5 MPH, THERE WAS SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. NO ONE WAS INJURED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND A REPORT WAS FILED (#2771757). THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THERE WAS AN ELECTRIC FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS CALLED WHO STATED UNLESS THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HAVE THE FAILURE, SHE COULD BRING IT IN, BUT IF THERE WAS NO MORE FAILURE SHE DID NOT HAVE TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

HYDRAULIC TRUNK SUPPORTS FAILED, WITH HEAVY TRUNK FALLING ON HEAD OF PERSON WORKING IN TRUNK. MAY HAVE CAUSED A CONCUSSION, AT LEAST A GROOVE IN TOP OF HEAD. PERSON STUNNED FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. IF THE TRUNK HAD HIT PERSON IN THE BACK WHILE LEANING OVER INTO THE TRUNK, IT MAY HAVE BROKEN A VERTEBRAE. IF IT HAD HIT FINGERS IN LOWER PART OF TRUNK, IT MAY HAVE CHOPPED THEM OFF, PARTICULARLY A CHILD'S. THESE HYDRAULIC SUPPORTS WORE OUT AT AROUND 60-70 THOUSAND MILES. NOT REALIZING THE DANGER, I NEGLECTED CONTACTING LEXUS ABOUT REPLACING THEM. HOWEVER, THIS DANGER SHOULD NOT BE OVERLOOKED OR UNATTENDED TO BY OTHER OWNERS OF LEXUS CARS. WHEN LEXUS WAS CONTACTED AT THIS LATE DATE, THEY OFFERED MINIMAL ASSISTANCE WITH THE PROBLEM, PLUS A BIT OF A RUNAROUND. I SUGGEST CONTACTING AN IMPORTED PARTS DEALER FOR THE EASILY INSTALLABLE PARTS AT A SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED PRICE.

RE: 2003 LEXUS LS 430 THE PISTON SUPPORTS THAT HOLD THE ENGINE HOOD IN PLACE, IN ORDER TO CHECK THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, HAVE DETERIORATED OVER TIME SO THAT THE ENGINE HOOD CAN SUDDENLY SLAM DOWN, SERIOUSLY INJURING ANYONE WHO IS CHECKING THE ENGINE OIL, COOLANT, ETC. I ALMOST WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED WHILE CHECKING THE OIL. IN ADDITION, IT IS THE SAME TYPE OF PISTON SUPPORTS THAT HOLD THE TRUNK OPEN. THESE TOO, ARE ALSO DEFECTIVE. MONTHS AGO I ALMOST LOST A FINGER WHEN THE TRUNK LID SUDDENLY CLOSED. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT MUST BE INVESTIGATED. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) I WAS DRIVING EAST ON HIGHWAY 156 ON 2/26 APPROACHING A TRAFFIC SIGNAL THAT WAS RED WHERE I INTENDED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND WAS TRAVELING 10 TO 15 MPH WHEN THE CAR SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED AT VERY HIGH SPEED. I SHIFTED INTO PARK AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION WHILE BRAKING AS HARD AS I COULD. THE CAR CONTINUED APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE WHEN EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN. I COULDN'T EVEN ACTIVATE THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS. [XXX] *TR

2003 LEXUS LS430 SEIZED ON HIGHWAY WHILE IN MOTION!!! THE CAR HAS A LENGTHY REQUIRED MAINTENANCE UP-KEEP HISTORY WITH ONE LEXUS DEALERSHIP ONLY. I HAVE ALL THE PRINT OUTS SINCE OCT 2002 - 10,329.06 IN MINOR UPKEEP...AND OR OIL CHANGE, ETC REG. MAINTENANCE. I THINK THAT WE WERE CHARGED FOR A COUPLE OF RECALLED ITEMS LIKE A EXT. LIGHT BUT WE WEREN'T TOLD ANYWAY THE CAR HAS TO DATE..3/2/2010 NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. THE CAR HAS OIL/WATER AND WAS NOT DAMAGED. IT RAN FINE !!!!!!! NO OVER HEAT LIGHT, NO ACCELERATING...NOTHING LIKE THAT IT IS SUCH A SHAME. I AM UP BEAT AND WAS JUST LOOKING FOR PROBABLY SOMETHING SIMPLE LIKE A TPS OR FUSE... BUT HAS BEEN SAID BY LEXUS THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG. I WAS SHOCKED THOUGH BECAUSE LEXUS DOES KNOW IT WILL BE 14 THOUSAND DOLLARS THOUGH TO REPAIR. (A NEW ENGINE) I HAVE PLEADED WITH THE CORPORATE OFFICE AND THEY SAID THAT SINCE THE CAR HAS 130.000 MILES IT IS NOT THEIR RESP. TO HELP ME WITH A SOLUTION. MY FAMILY HAS PURCHASED 4 VEHICLES FROM LEXUS. WE HAVE NOT HAD PROBLEMS. WHY NOW ARE THEY TURNING THEIR BACKS??? PLEASE HELP ME I AM RENTING A VEHICLE AT A RATE OF $30 A DAY FROM ENTERPRISE AND A SINGLE MOTHER OF TWO TEENAGERS. TUITION IS DUE AND THIS HAS LEFT ME STRUGGLING WITH WHAT TO DO?? THE CAR IS PAID FOR I AM ASKING FOR SOME ASSISTANCE AND ALSO TO PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE POSSIBILITY THAT THIS MODEL ALSO INHERITED THE PROBLEMS OF THE 2002 ENGINES SEIZING ISSUE BUT AT ANY RATE I AM OPEN TO ANY AND ALL ASSISTANCE AND ADVICE. *T

TRUNK LID SUPPORT ON 2003 LEXUS LS430 DOES NOT SUPPORT THE TRUNK LID THEREBY ALLOWING THE LID TO FALL AND STRIKE THE PERSON ON THE HEAD WHILE PLACING OBJECTS IN THE TRUNK. DEALER DOES NOTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS LS430. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PROCEEDING VEHICLE. THE POLICE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE POLICE IN-BOUND AND THEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 45,000.

FAILURE OF REAR TRUNK STRUTS CAUSING TRUNK TO COME DOWN SHARPLY ON BACK OF MY HEAD CAUSING PAIN AND BRUISING. THE SAME HAPPENED TO MY WIFE ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS. APPROXIMATE DATES GIVEN BELOW AS FORM DOES NOT CONFORM TO SEVERAL DATES. *TR

TRUNK SUPPORT STRUTS NOT FUNCTIONING APPROPRIATELY, CAUSING TRUNK LID TO ABRUPTLY FALL AND INJURING ANYTHING IN THE PATH OF CLOSURE. WE NOTICED THE INCREASING LACK OF ABILITY TO HOLD THE LID OPEN, NEVER UNDERSTANDING THAT IT ACTUALLY WAS SUPPOSE TO ALSO LIFT THE LID (IT NEVER DID LIFT THE LID AND WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR FOUR YEARS/ 45,000 MILES) AND COULD HAVE BEEN POTENTIALLY REPLACED DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD (SEEMS LIKE EARLY LIFE FAILURE). WHEN ASKING THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE ADVISOR HE SAID, YES THESE DO SEEM TO WEAKEN OFTEN AND THEY COULD BE REPLACED FOR $500. THE CONSEQUENCE PRIOR TO THE DEALERSHIP VISIT WAS THE TRUNK LID FALLING AND HITTING MY BACK CAUSING BRUISING. SINCE MY SHOULDER HELPED TO ELIMINATE THE BLOW IT CERTAINLY COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE. POTENTIALLY SOMEONE WHO HAD THEIR HANDS AT THE BASE OF THE TRUNK COULD EITHER HAVE SEVERE DAMAGE OR POTENTIAL LOSS OF LIMB. FOR A HIGH-END VEHICLE, LET ALONE ANY VEHICLE, THIS EARLY LIFE FAILURE AND THE DANGER IT POSES TO ANYONE IN THE WAY OF THE FALLING TRUNK LID IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. LEXUS/TOYOTA CORPORATION SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND PROVIDE THE UPDATED TRUNK STRUT FOR THE SAFETY OF LS430 OWNERS, FRIENDS, FAMILIES, AND AUTO SERVICE PERSONNEL. *TR

TRUNK STRUT FAILED AFTER ONLY ABOUT 3 YEARS. MY DAD GAVE ME THE CAR AND HE WAS JUST WILLING TO LIVE WITH IT, AS HE IS VERY ILL THE CAR HAD PASSED THE 4-YEAR, 50,000 MILE POINT, BUT I WAS STRUCK BY THE FALLING TRUNK AND WISH IT REPAIRED. *TR

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. ALTHOUGH, THE VEHICLE STALLED THE ENGINE WAS EASILY RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED NO FURTHER STALLING PROBLEMS UNTIL THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED. AFTERWARDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS PREVIOUSLY STATED. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING AND DID NOT ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A DEALER.*AK

CENTER CAP ON WHEEL FELL OFF; DEALER AND MANUFACTURER REFUSE TO HONOR NEW CAR WARRANTY. *JB

SEVERE LOSS OF POWER (TRANSMISSION HESITATION) DURING FULL-THROTTLE DOWNSHIFT. THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHEN IMMEDIATE POWER IS NEEDED, SUCH AS ENTERING A HIGH-SPEED EXPRESSWAY. *JB

ORIGINAL DUNLOP TIRES ON2003, LEXUS LS, 430 WORE OUT AFTER17640 MILES. *AK

POOR RADIO RECEPTION ON MARK LEVINSON SOUND SYSTEM. *AK