TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS ES 330. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING JERKS, CLICKS, AND FEELS AS IF IT COULD DETACH FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. IN ADDITION, TRANSMISSION FLUID IS LEAKING AND THE COMPUTER REFLASH CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDS TO BE REPROGRAMMED FOR FRE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS ES 330. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING JERKS, CLICKS, AND FEELS AS IF IT COULD DETACH FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. IN ADDITION, TRANSMISSION FLUID IS LEAKING AND THE COMPUTER REFLASH CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDS TO BE REPROGRAMMED FOR FREE SO THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT FAIL. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THEY WILL NOT REPAIR IT BECAUSE IT EXCEEDS THE 50,000 MILE WARRANTY. THE MECHANIC WILL ONLY PROVIDE A TEMPORARY REMEDY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 94,000.
NHTSA ODI #10255049
55,500 miles · Aug 3, 2008
Power Train
DUE TO A LEXUS ADMITTED TRANSMISSION DEFECT, AT TIMES YOU PRESS THE GAS AND THE CAR SIMPLY DOESN'T GO. IT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET CRUNCHED WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. THERE'S NO DOUBT THIS WILL EVENTUALLY COST SOMEONE THEIR LIFE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10236768
Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2008
Power Train
THERE'S A "LAG" IN THE SHIFTING OF GEARS DUE TO SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2004 LEXUS ES330. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW FROM A MAJOR LEXUS DEALERSHIP AT ROSEVILLE AUTO MALL, ROSEVILLE, CA. ALTHOUGH I NOTICED FROM THE START, A "SLIPPAGE" OR "LAG" DURING THE AUTOMATIC SHIFTING OF GEARS, AND BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATT…
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THERE'S A "LAG" IN THE SHIFTING OF GEARS DUE TO SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2004 LEXUS ES330. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW FROM A MAJOR LEXUS DEALERSHIP AT ROSEVILLE AUTO MALL, ROSEVILLE, CA. ALTHOUGH I NOTICED FROM THE START, A "SLIPPAGE" OR "LAG" DURING THE AUTOMATIC SHIFTING OF GEARS, AND BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP, THEY BRUSHED IT OFF AS "NORMAL". MY LEXUS NOW HAS 23,000 MILES ON ITS ODOMETER AND THIS "LAG" IS DRIVING ME NUTS! DRIVING IN EUROPE REQUIRES RAPID RESPONSES AND ADVANCED SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING ON THE AUTOBAUNS. THIS "GEAR SHIFT HESITATION" IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND OFTEN FINDS ME IN A SEMI-DANGEROUS SITUATION. MY DRIVING SKILL AND HABITS HAVE ACCOMMODATED THIS TRANSMISSION IDIOSYNCRASY BUT WHENEVER ANOTHER DRIVER DRIVES MY CAR THEY IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM AND I HAVE SO OFTEN BEEN ADVISED TO PLACE A COMPLAINT WITH THE LEXUS MANUFACTURER, I HAVE YET TO DO SO BECAUSE I SUSPECT IT WILL FALL ON DEAF EARS. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE? MY LEXUS HAS FEW MILES ON IT AND IS STILL WELL WITHIN IT'S WARRANTY. I HAVE RECENTLY READ THAT THE 2004 LEXUS ES330 IS WROUGHT WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. HAS LEXUS SERVED A RECALL ON MY MODEL? PLEASE ADVISE. I WILL APPRECIATE WHATEVER ASSISTANCE AND GUIDANCE YOU MAY SUGGEST. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I AM A US CITIZEN, AND RETIRED FEDERAL SERVICE WORKER. MY WIFE CURRENTLY WORKS FOR US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS HERE IN WIESBADEN, GERMANY. WIESBADEN RECENTLY OPENED A NEW AND LARGE LEXUS DEALERSHIP. DO YOU THINK THIS DEALERSHIP MIGHT KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IF I DISCUSS THE TRANSMISSION WITH THEM? DO YOU KNOW OF ANY "FIX" LEXUS IS PROVIDING FOR THIS PROBLEM? THANK YOU AGAIN. MY PHONE NUMBER IS TO LENGTHY TO FIT INTO THE SPACE PROVIDED BY THIS WEBSITE. APPRECIATIVELY, LEROY CLEMANS HALB . DR AND AS FINHESITATION" I NRLAG IN THE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10223768
Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2007
Power Train
TRANSMISSION ISSUES AND HESITATION IN ACCELERATION. HAVE BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES SINCE OCT 2006. DEALER "REPROGRAMS" THE TRANSMISSION BUT IT DOES NOTHING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10203203
100 miles · Sep 8, 2007
Power Train
THE 2004 LEXUS MODEL ES 330 HAS A SAFETY DEFECT IN THE ITS TRANSMISSION THAT THE COMPANY REFUSES TO FIX. WHEN THE DRIVER TAKES HIS FOOT OFF THE GAS AND SLOWS DOWN, THEN STEPS BACK ON THE GAS, THERE IS A HESITATION AND AT TIMES A JERKING IN THE TRANSMISSION. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO LEXUS HAVE ONLY BROUGHT THE RESPONSE THAT THI…
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THE 2004 LEXUS MODEL ES 330 HAS A SAFETY DEFECT IN THE ITS TRANSMISSION THAT THE COMPANY REFUSES TO FIX. WHEN THE DRIVER TAKES HIS FOOT OFF THE GAS AND SLOWS DOWN, THEN STEPS BACK ON THE GAS, THERE IS A HESITATION AND AT TIMES A JERKING IN THE TRANSMISSION. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO LEXUS HAVE ONLY BROUGHT THE RESPONSE THAT THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT, BUT LEXUS WILL NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. AFTER SPENDING 35,000 DOLLARS FOR A CAR, THIS IS NOT THE RESPONSE ONE EXPECTS TO HEAR! AS ONE'S LEVEL OF FRUSTRATION WITH THE PROBLEM INCREASES, THE TEMPTATION IS TO SLAM YOUR FOOT ON THE GAS TO TRY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, WHICH COULD OBVIOUSLY LEAD TO MORE SERIOUS ISSUES. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE LOCAL LEXUS DEALERSHIP STATES HE HAS HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ISSUE, BUT LEXUS REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. THE DATE REFERENCED BELOW IS ONLY ONE OF CONTINUOUS DATES THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED; AGAIN LEXUS HAS BEEN NON RESPONSIVE AND BLATANTLY CALLOUS TO REQUESTS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10202253
54,000 miles · Sep 5, 2007
Power Train
TRANSMISSION SHIFTING LURCH BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MPH STILL RE-OCCURRING AFTER TWO SOFTWARE PROGRAM UPDATES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10201993
2,500 miles · Sep 9, 2006
Power Train
OUR 2004 LEXUS E330 HAS EXHIBITED MANY LIFE THREATENING PROBLEMS INVOLVING ITS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PERFORMANCE. OF GREATEST CONCERNS ARE LIFE THREATENING INSTANCES OVER THE TWO YEARS. HESITATIONS OCCUR WHEN PRESSING THE GAS DURING CRITICAL ENTRY ATTEMPTS ONTO INTERSTATE HWYS, ETC. WHERE WE HAVE EXPERIENCED NEAR DEADLY …
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OUR 2004 LEXUS E330 HAS EXHIBITED MANY LIFE THREATENING PROBLEMS INVOLVING ITS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PERFORMANCE. OF GREATEST CONCERNS ARE LIFE THREATENING INSTANCES OVER THE TWO YEARS. HESITATIONS OCCUR WHEN PRESSING THE GAS DURING CRITICAL ENTRY ATTEMPTS ONTO INTERSTATE HWYS, ETC. WHERE WE HAVE EXPERIENCED NEAR DEADLY TRANSMISSION HESITATIONS OF NEEDED POWER GETTING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. MY WIFE WAS ALMOST KILLED BY AN 18 WHEELER WHEN SHE OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE HAD ADEQUATE TIME TO SAFELY MERGE HAD THE TRANSMISSION NOT HESITATED. SHE WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE SURVIVED. JUST ONE OF MANY CLOSE CALLS. ANOTHER ES 330 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS THE UNTENABLE, UNTIMELY, ROUGH DOWN AND UP SHIFTING BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND GEARS THAT LEXUS HAS ADVISED HAS BEEN CORRECTED IN THE 2007 MODELS WHICH OF COURSE WILL NOT HELP WITH THIS VEHICLE I AM STUCK WITH. SUCH ADMITTANCE SUPPORT MY ARGUMENT THAT THEY ARE QUITE AWARE OF THIS VERY UN- LEXUS TYPE PERFORMANCE IN THE 2004. WHAT A SHAME THAT LEXUS WOULD LET THE GREAT LEXUS NAME BE SO DEGRADED BY THEIR FAILURE TO SUPPORT THEIR FAITHFUL CUSTOMERS IN SUCH JUSTIFIED COMPLAINTS; THIS IS OUR THIRD LEXUS! *JB
NHTSA ODI #10167745
35 miles · Nov 28, 2005
Power Train
VERY BAD HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING. TOOK DELIVERY 4/27/04 AND FOUND THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY. COMPLAINED AT 1000 MILE CHECKUP. TOLD TO GIVE IT TIME. COMPLAINED AGAIN AT 5000 CHECKUP. THEY SAID THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND IT WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. PROBLEM CONTINUED. COMPLAINED AT 15000 CHECKUP (9/28/05). PERFORMED AT THIS CHEC…
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VERY BAD HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING. TOOK DELIVERY 4/27/04 AND FOUND THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY. COMPLAINED AT 1000 MILE CHECKUP. TOLD TO GIVE IT TIME. COMPLAINED AGAIN AT 5000 CHECKUP. THEY SAID THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND IT WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. PROBLEM CONTINUED. COMPLAINED AT 15000 CHECKUP (9/28/05). PERFORMED AT THIS CHECKUP PER INVOICE: EG5017 26 99 .9 PERFORM TSB TC004-03. RECALIBRATE ECM ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM IS BETTER BUT STILL EXISTS. HAVE NOTICED VIA INTERNET RESEARCH THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THE LEXUS ES. SPOKE TODAY (11/28/05) WITH A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT MY DEALERSHIP AND HE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM THEY ARE DEALING WITH AND THERE APPEARS TO BE NO ONE GOOD FIX FOR IT. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10143782
12,000 miles · Nov 17, 2005
Power Train
WE HAVE A 2004 LEXUS ES330 WITH 22,000 MILES. WE HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HESITATION, HARD SHIFTS AND MISSED GEARS FOR THE LAST 10,000 MILES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPUTER MODULE AT 16,000 MILES AND THE CAR IS A LITTLE BETTER BUT NOT MUCH. I TOOK IT BACK IN FOR THE PROBLEM AT 21,000 MILES AND THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THA…
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WE HAVE A 2004 LEXUS ES330 WITH 22,000 MILES. WE HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HESITATION, HARD SHIFTS AND MISSED GEARS FOR THE LAST 10,000 MILES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPUTER MODULE AT 16,000 MILES AND THE CAR IS A LITTLE BETTER BUT NOT MUCH. I TOOK IT BACK IN FOR THE PROBLEM AT 21,000 MILES AND THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR, BUT THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT LEXUS TOLD THEM THAT THEY WERE HAVING TROUBLE WITH A NUMBER OF THE ES CARS AFTER THE MODULE WAS CHANGED BUT THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO TELL THE DEALER TO FIX IT. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH LEXUS AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVE AGAIN ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SHIFTING IN THE ES. ALTHOUGH BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER HAVE BOTH ADMITTED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET THEM TO EVEN ATTEMPT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR OVER 1/3 OF THE TIME THAT WE HAVE HAD THE CAR AND NOW I HAVE TO WAIT 2 MORE WEEKS FOR A LEXUS REP TO COME INTO TOWN TO "TALK TO ME". THE LEXUS PEOPLE TOLD ME THEY WERE GOING TO LOOK INTO MY COMPLAINTS AND CALL ME BACK IN A COUPLE OF DAYS AND 10 DAYS LATER I STILL HAD NOT HEARD FROM THEM. NOT ONLY DO I FIND THE PROBLEM VERY ANNOYING I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE HESITATION PROBLEM COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT, AND I AM QUITE SURE THAT THE ERRATIC SHIFTING WILL LEAD TO PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10142992
Mileage unknown · Sep 16, 2005
Power Train
2004 ES 330 EXHIBITING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS EVEN AFTER "DEALER FIX". THERE IS SEVER GEAR HUNTING AT EVERY SPEED SOMETIMES RESULTS IN A LAG OF ACCELERATION OR ACCELERATION LURCHES THAT RESULT IN CLOSE CALL ACCIDENTS. NOTE THAT THIS PROBLEM DID NOT START OCCURRING UNTIL AFTER 2,000 MILES OF DRIVING AFTER THE CAR WAS PURCHASED A…
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2004 ES 330 EXHIBITING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS EVEN AFTER "DEALER FIX". THERE IS SEVER GEAR HUNTING AT EVERY SPEED SOMETIMES RESULTS IN A LAG OF ACCELERATION OR ACCELERATION LURCHES THAT RESULT IN CLOSE CALL ACCIDENTS. NOTE THAT THIS PROBLEM DID NOT START OCCURRING UNTIL AFTER 2,000 MILES OF DRIVING AFTER THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AS BRAND NEW. *NM
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A FRONT PASSENGER POWER SEAT, WHEN INSTALLING CERTAIN REAR-FACING INFANT CHILD SEAT BASES ONTO THE SEAT WITH AN EXCESSIVELY HIGH SEATBELT TENSION, IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO UNSEAT A COMPONENT CALLED THE BUCKLE STATUS SWITCH FROM THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE SWITCH BECOMES UNSEATED, THE FRONT PASSENGER OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM MAY MISTAKE THE REAR-FACING CHILD RESTRAINT FOR AN UNBELTED ADULT OCCUPANT, AND MAY NOT SUPPRESS THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT BUCKLE STATUS SWITCH. THIS SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN (SSC 40M) BEGAN ON DECEMBER 20, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 OR LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987..
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
DP05002 · Vehicle Speed Control
Opened Aug 5, 2005 · Closed Jan 5, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control
IN A LETTER DATED JULY 8, 2005, AND AFTER EXPERIENCING TWO INCIDENTS (AND ONE CRASH) WHERE HE ALLEGES HIS MODEL YEAR (MY) 2002 CAMRY ACCELERATED WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT, MR. JORDAN ZIPRIN PETITIONED THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION?S (NHTSA) OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) TO COMMENCE A PROCEEDING TO DETERMINE THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT WITHIN THE ETC SYSTEM IN MY 2002 TO 2005 TOYOTA AND LEXUS VEHICLES, OR TO REOPEN A PRIOR INVESTIGATION PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE) 04-021.IN A LETTER DATED AUGUST 18, 2005, MR. ZIPRIN AMENDED HIS PETITION TO INCLUDE ALLEGATIONS OF INTERRELATED BRAKE AND ACCELERATION PROBLEMS THAT ALLEGEDLY RESULT IN INAPPROPRIATE AND UNCONTROLLABLE VEHICLE ACCELERATIONS.THE 1172 VEHICLE OWNER QUESTIONNAIRE REPORTS CITED BY THE PETITIONER INVOLVE 4 LEXUS AND 15 TOYOTA MODELS DEFINING A POPULATION OF 7 MILLION VEHICLES.THE REPORTS TYPICALLY ALLEGED A DEFECT IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM, THE THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM, OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH SYSTEMS.IN ITS REVIEW OF THE REPORTS, ODI A) FAILED TO FIND EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE EXISTENCE OF A BRAKE RELATED DEFECT IN THE CITED MODELS, AND B) DETERMINED THAT MANY CITED PRODUCTS WERE NOT EQUIPPED WITH ETC.ACCORDINGLY, ODI RESTRICTED ITS ANALYSIS TO THE 432 PETITIONER REPORTS INVOLVING MY 2002 TO 2005 CAMRY, SOLARA, AND ES MODELS (ALL EQUIPPED WITH ETC) THAT ALLEGED AN ABNORMAL THROTTLE CONTROL EVENT (SEE THE JANUARY 3, 2006 FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE FOR FURTHER DETAILS).ABOUT 40% OF THE 432 REPORTS INVOLVE A DRIVEABILITY CONCERN WHERE THE OPERATOR INTENTIONALLY APPLIES THE THROTTLE PEDAL, IN EXPECTATION THAT THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE, AND THEN EXPERIENCES A DELAY OR HESITATION IN VEHICLE RESPONSE.THESE REPORTS INVOLVE VEHICLE RESPONSE TO INTENTIONAL DRIVER COMMANDS WHICH ODI CONSIDERS UNRELATED TO THE ALLEGATIONS RAISED BY THE PETITIONER.THEREFORE, THE REPORTS DO NOT PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED.ABOUT 20% OF THE REPORTS INVOLVE INCIDENTS WHERE OPERATORS ALLEGE VEHICLE ACCELERATION WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT AND AN INABILITY OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHEN APPLIED.NEITHER THE REPORTS, NOR THE INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED BY ODI, IDENTIFIED ANY VEHICLE-BASED CAUSE TO EXPLAIN THE INCIDENTS OR DISCLOSED EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THAT A FAILURE OF THE BRAKE OR THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM HAD OCCURRED.BECAUSE THESE REPORTS DO NOT INDICATE A DISTINCT SAFETY DEFECT FOR INVESTIGATION, THE REPORTS DO NOT PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED BY THE PETITIONERTHE REMAINING REPORTS (~ 40%, SIMILAR TO THE PETITIONER?S AND THOSE OF PE04-021) TYPICALLY DESCRIBE INCIDENTS WHERE A VEHICLE IS BEING MANEUVERED AT SLOW SPEED IN A CLOSE QUARTER SITUATION AT WHICH POINT THE OPERATOR ALLEGES THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT AND CRASHES.IN THE AFTERMATH, OPERATORS ARE UNSURE OF WHETHER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED OR NOT, SOMETIMES STATING THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT TIME TO USE THE BRAKE; A CRASH OCCURRED AND THE OPERATOR BELIEVES AN UNCOMMANDED ACCELERATION CAUSED IT.IN SPITE OF THE EFFORT EXPENDED DURING PE04-021 AND DURING THIS ANALYSIS, ODI HAS NOT IDENTIFIED ANY VEHICLE-BASED CAUSE TO EXPLAIN THE REPORTS, OR UNCOVERED ANY EVIDENCE TO INDICATE THAT A THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE OCCURRED.THEREFORE, THE REPORTS HAVE AMBIGUOUS SIGNIFICANCE AND DO NOT CONSTITUTE A BASIS ON WHICH ANY FURTHER INVESTIGATIVE ACTION IS WARRANTED.BASED ON THE ANALYSIS CONDUCTED, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THE NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.CONSEQUENTLY, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES T
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