2002 Lexus Es

TAKATA RECALL, MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT @35MPH IN WHICH HER AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I AM CONCERNED THAT SINCE THE SENSORS WERE KNOCKED OFF DURING THE IMPACT, WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO PREVENT THE AIRBOYS FROM DEPLOYING? SHE WAS TRAVELING AT 35 MPH INTO AN INTERSECTION WHEN SHE RAN A RED LIGHT AND T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY THE VEHICLE SHE HIT WAS A JEEP WRANGLER WITH A STEEL SIDE BUMPER ON ALL SIDES. SO THERE WAY MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THE JEEP.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS ES 300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED HEAD ON INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK, NECK, FACE, AND SHOULDER INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

I ACCELERATED FROM A STOP LIGHT AFTER IT TURNED GREEN. ABOUT 25 FEET THRU THE LIGHT I HEARD THE CAR BEHIND ME BLOWING THEIR HORN CONSTANTLY. I LOOKED IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING IN. THEN I THOUGHT I NOTICE LIGHT SMOKE COMING FROM MY TAILPIPE. I APPLIED MY RIGHT TURN BLINKER AND PULLED TO THE CURVE. AS SOON AS I PARKED, I COULD SEE ORANGE COLORED FIRE AROUND THE FRONT OF MY CAR AND ALONG THE SIDE OF MY DRIVER/PASSENGER DOORS. I FELT THAT ME AND MY PASSENGER WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO EXIT THE CAR WITHOUT BE BURNT, BUT I KNEW WE NEEDED TO GET OUT IMMEDIATELY. I TRIED TO CALMLY GET MY PASSENGER TO EXIT WHICH WE DID MAINLY BECAUSE SHE HADN'T SEEN THE FLAMES. WE WERE ABLE TO EXIT AND I IMMEDIATELY CALL 911 AND PROCEEDED TO CLEARING PEOPLE FROM NEAR MY CAR. THE FIRE DEPT AND POLICE ARRIVED ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES LATER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE CAR THEN LEFT. A POLICE OFFICER STAYED UNTIL THE TOW CO ARRIVED. THE CAR WAS TOWED AWAY AND I WAS GIVEN A RIDE TO MY RESIDENCE. *TR

I OWN A 2002 LEXUS ES300 AND AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I HAVE ENJOYED THE EXPERIENCE OF DRIVING THE CAR TO AROUND 175K MILES IN NEARLY 12 YEARS. SO FAR, I DID NOT HAVE ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR UNTIL RECENTLY. LAST FRIDAY, AUG 8, 2014, MY WIFE DROVE THE CAR TO A FRIEND'S PLACE AND WAS PARKED IN A PARALLEL PARKING AREA. THERE WERE 3 CARS IN THAT PARKING AREA INCLUDING MY CAR IN 5 CAR PARKING AREA. THE TWO PARKING SPOTS BEHIND MY CAR WERE VACANT. MY WIFE WAS TRYING TO BACK UP TO A SPOT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ANOTHER CAR WHICH WAS PARKED THERE. WHILE TRYING TO BACKUP, THERE WAS A SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF THE ENGINE AND HIT THE CAR RIGHT BEHIND AND THAT CAR WENT AND HIT ANOTHER CAR THAT WAS BEHIND THAT CAR. THE IMPACT WAS SO MUCH THAT THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND ANOTHER CAR THAT WAS RIGHT BEHIND AND MINOR DAMAGE TO THE THIRD CAR. NOT ONLY THE DAMAGE TO ONE CAR RIGHT BEHIND BUT DISPLACED ITS POSITION AND DIRECTION THAT IT WAS PARKED. THE THIRD CAR WAS PUSHED OVER TO THE CURB AND WAS ABOUT TO HIT THE PEDESTRIANS THAT WERE NEARBY. THERE WERE EYE WITNESSES AND POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE ACCIDENT SCENE AND REPORTED THE INCIDENT. AFTER THE INCIDENT OCCURRED, I WAS LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY ISSUES WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF THE CARS AND ANY SAFETY RECALLS. I DID NOTICE THAT THERE WERE QUITE A FEW COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND SAFETY ISSUES ON 2002 LEXUS ES300. I AM KIND OF DISAPPOINTED IN THE WAY THE CAR MALFUNCTIONED AND I WANT TO KNOW WHAT NHTSA IS DOING ABOUT IT AND HOW IT CAN HELP VICTIMS LIKE ME. THANKS AND APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSE. *TR

I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR (LEXUS ES 300 2002 SEDAN) FOR MY DAUGHTER LESS THAN A WEEK AGO ON 4/11/2014 FROM A PRIVATE OWNER, WITH 267,000 MILES AND IT RAN WELL FOR A TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE, SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN WELL CARED FOR MECHANICALLY, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR IS IN GREAT SHAPE AND WAS CHECKED OUT MY FRIEND A LONGTIME MECHANIC. MY DAUGHTER HAD JUST LEFT THE DMV WHICH WAS CLOSED TODAY 4/18/2014 AND STREET DRIVING BACK HOME. THE CAR MADE A LOUD POPPING SOUND, SMOKE STARTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND SOON FLAMES AND SHE HAD TO PULL OVER AND DITCH THE CAR. SOON IT BLAZED AND THE WHOLE FRONT END, ENGINE, WINDSHIELD THE FRONT TIRES ALL BURNED. FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS SHOWED UP, EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND DID TRAFFIC CONTROL. THE FIRE DAMAGE WAS CONTROL TO THE FRONT AND ENGINE, THE FIREWALL DID IT'S JOB. ALL THE INTERIORS, DASH AND CONSOLE ARE ALL IN TACT AND IN GOOD CONDITION NO SMOKE DAMAGE. VIN:[XXX] LEXUS ES 2002 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

MY WIFE, WHO DRIVES THE LEXUS ALL THE TIME, WAS PREPARING TO DRIVE THE CAR FROM THE GARAGE TO DRIVE DOWNTOWN. SHE HAD HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL (AS IS NECESSARY TO MOVE THE TRANSMISSION TO REVERSE). THE MOMENT IT WAS ENGAGED THE CAR LEAPED BACKWARD, LEAVING TIRE MARKS ON THE CEMENT OF THE GARAGE AND ALSO THE DRIVEWAY ITSELF. HER EFFORTS TO STOP THE CAR BY STOMPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD NO EFFECT. SHE GRAZED THE HOUSE, MOVED THROUGH A FLOWER BED, LEAVING A TIRE MARK THE WHOLE DISTANCE, STRUCK THE CORNER OF THE HOUSE AND CONTINUED UP A SMALL INCLINE IN THE NEIGHBOR'S YARD, LUCKILY MISSING A LARGE TREE THERE AND CAME TO A STOP. THE CORNER OF THE HOUSE REMOVED WAS ABOUT 3-4 FEET ON EACH SIDE OF THE CORNER JUNCTURE ITSELF. THERE WERE TWO WITNESSES ACROSS THE STREET IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE, BOTH OF WHOM IMMEDIATELY CAME TO HER AID AND VOICED THE OPINION THAT THE CAR WAS TRULY MOVING AT A HIGH SPEED. MY WIFE HAD NO INJURIES OTHER THAN BEING VERY SHOOK-UP AND THANKFUL THAT NEITHER SHE OR OTHERS WERE INJURED. OF COURSE, THE CAR IS A MESS: BRICKS FROM THE HOUSE IMPACT FELL ON THE HOOD, TOP, AND TRUNK LID. A THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR IS SCRAPED, ONE REAR WINDOW IS BROKEN, THE LARGE REAR WINDOW IS GONE, THE TRUNK LID IS IN BAD SHAPE AS IS THE REAR BUMPER. THE TOP HAS SEVERAL DENTS AND WINDOW TRIM ALSO. MY PRIMARY CONCERN IS WHETHER OR NOT THE CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE AFTER THE EXTERNAL REPAIRS ARE MADE. I BELIEVE ONLY LEXUS CAN TELL ME, IF THEY WILL. *TR

I WAS BACKING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT MY TOWN'S TRANSFER STATION. AS I CAME TO A STOP, I BEGAN TO SHIFT INTO PARK WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF MY CONTROL. THE VEHICLE SMASHED INTO A THREE FOOT CONCRETE WALL COMING TO A STOP. THE CAR SUFFERED EXTENSIVE BACK END DAMAGE. I WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL FOR XRAYS OF MY NECK AND SPINE. THANKFULLY I AM NOT INJURED. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER MY CONTROL. IT WAS AS IF IT HAD A MIND OF IT'S OWN. I AM A CLEAR HEADED, FORTY EIGHT YEAR OLD FEMALE. I HAVE A PERFECT DRIVING RECORD. THIS WAS THE RESULT OF SOMETHING OUT OF MY CONTROL. I BELIEVE THIS 2002 LEXUS ES 300 IS A DANGEROUS CAR. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR TWO YEARS. IT WAS PURCHASED AS A SECOND CAR FOR MY HUSBAND. THE CAR DOES NOT HAVE FLOOR MATS NOR DID I CONFUSE THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE. *TR

MY 2002 ES 300 HAS HEADLIGHT SENSORS WHICH MAKE IT GO UP AND DOWN DEPENDING ON WHAT ANGLE THE CAR IS PARKED/MOVING AT. SO GOING DOWNHILL, IT SHOULD DIP DOWN TO AVOID ONCOMING TRAFFIC FROM GLARE AND GOING UPHILL, IT SHOULD MAKE THE LIGHT GO FARTHER. SOMEHOW THE SENSOR (OR SOMETHING ELSE) GOT FAULTY. LEXUS DEALERSHIP MADE ME DRIVE AT LEAST 5000 MILES (I USED TO LIVE IN FARGO, ND AND THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP WITH 225+ MILES ONE WAY) BEFORE THEY COULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE LIGHTS. I HAD TO MAKE A VIDEO AT NIGHT (AS THEY DENIED TEST DRIVING AT NIGHT) TO SHOW THEM MY SAFETY CONCERNS ABOUT THE HEADLIGHTS. THE DISTANCE I COULD SEE WAS VERY SMALL AND IT GOT DANGEROUS AT NIGHT TIME, UNLESS I TURNED MY HIGH BEAM ON. LEXUS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM, KEPT MY CAR FOR ONE MONTH, DROVE IT FOR APPROXIMATELY 3000 MILES. ENGINEERS FROM CHICAGO AND LA CAME (I WAS TOLD) AND THE ANSWER WAS: WE COULD NOT FIND WHAT EXACTLY IS CAUSING THIS, BUT THERE IS SOME MAGNETIC FIELD AROUND THE WIRE TO THE SENSOR WHICH DISRUPTS THE FUNCTIONING OF THE SENSOR. WE HAVE PUT THE SHIELDED WIRE AROUND THE WIRE AND IT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. I HAD NOT BEEN DRIVING THIS CAR MUCH SINCE THEN AT NIGHT TIME DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS, TILL I MOVED TO ALBUQUERQUE. THE TERRAIN HERE IS HILLY AND I DON'T SEE THE LIGHTS TO DIP DOWN OR GO FARTHER WHILE GOING DOWNHILL AND UPHILL RESPECTIVELY. WHILE MAKING TURNS AROUND CANYONS AND CLIFFS , GOING UPHILL, IT BECOMES DANGEROUS AS YOU CAN' SEE MORE THAN 30-40 FEET (OR LESS) ON A FREEWAY WHICH IS NOT A SAFE BRAKING DISTANCE AT 65-70 MILES/HR AND IF YOU TURN THE HIGH BEAM ON IT'S NOT SAFE FOR THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I URGE THAT NHTSA INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE AND I AM WILLING TO PROVIDE MY CAR FOR DRIVING UP TO 300-400 MILES. EVEN THOUGH I HAVE PUT AUG 22ND 2003 AS THE INCIDENT DATE, THAT IS MY PURCHASE DATE FROM MY UNCLE (THE ORIGINAL OWNER) AND IT HAPPENS . EVERYTIME I DRIVE. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME IN THIS MATTER. *TR

CARS PULLS TO THE LEFT WHEN ON FREEWAY. LEXUS DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT CAR HAS DETERMINED THAT BECAUSE I'M OVER WEIGHT IT PULLS TO THE LEFT. THEY DETERMINED THAT ALMOST 2 YEARS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. EVERY TIME I BROUGHT IT IN THEY SAID NOTHING IS WRONG. THE TOLD ME THE CASTER WAS OFF AND WAS GOING TO FIX IT THEN THEY SAID THE CASTER WAS FINE AND IT WAS ME BEING OVER WEIGHT I'M ABOUT 350LBS. MY CAR STILL PULLS TO THE LEFT AND THEY MISALIGNED MY CAR TELLING ME IT WAS GOING TO FIX IT. LEFT IS AT 1.8 RIGHT IS AT 1.5. *TR