Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
40–25K
725–50K
1350–75K
1175–100K
13100–150K
11150K+
59 reports with mileage · 66 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Air Bags. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Visibility/wiper. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports1 fire reports5 injury reports
What owners actually said
125 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2015
Structure
I RECENTLY READ ABOUT THE ISSUE WITH THE LEXUS IS MODEL BEING GIVEN A TECHNICAL ADVISORY FOR THE BREAKDOWN OF THE DASHBOARD AND I WAS WONDERING WHY THIS PROBLEM IS ONLY ADDRESSED ON THE IS MODEL AND NOT THE ES AS WELL. I AM AN ES 2007 OWNER WHO IS AND HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM FOR MANY MONTHS NOW. I WAS TOLD BY LE…
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I RECENTLY READ ABOUT THE ISSUE WITH THE LEXUS IS MODEL BEING GIVEN A TECHNICAL ADVISORY FOR THE BREAKDOWN OF THE DASHBOARD AND I WAS WONDERING WHY THIS PROBLEM IS ONLY ADDRESSED ON THE IS MODEL AND NOT THE ES AS WELL. I AM AN ES 2007 OWNER WHO IS AND HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM FOR MANY MONTHS NOW. I WAS TOLD BY LEXUS THAT TO REPLACE IT WOULD COST $3000 AND I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT PANELS ON THE STEERING WHEEL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WHERE THE RUBBER HAS BROKEN DOWN AND DISINTEGRATED. I AM ANGRY BECAUSE THIS IS A LEXUS FOR GOD'S SAKE. I RECENTLY ASKED MY INSURANCE COMPANY IF I COULD CLAIM THIS DAMAGE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD HEARD OF THE SAME PROBLEM IN 2007 TOYOTA'S AND IS'S AND THAT TOYOTA ISSUED A RECALL. MY THING IS IF TOYOTA ISSUED A RECALL, THEN SO SHOULD LEXUS. ARE WE SUPPOSED TO BELIEVE THAT THEY USED DIFFERENT PRODUCTS WHEN THEY HAVE THE SAME LOOK AS THE ONES IN THE TOYOTA LINE OF CARS FOR THAT YEAR? I AM UPSET THAT MY LUXURY CARE IS A LUXURY ROAD HAZARD AND NOBODY HAS ADDRESSED IT IN THE ES350. STARTING AROUND 2013, THE RUBBER ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND DASH BOARD STARTED TO DISINTEGRATE. FIRST BECOMING STICKY, THEN SHEDDING SMALL BITS OF PLASTIC AND FINALLY BECOMING SLICK AND SHINY. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE I HAD MY VEHICLE AFTERMARKET TINTED ALL AROUND AND USE SUN SHADES RELIGIOUSLY. I HAVE ALREADY PAID OUT OF POCKET OVER $900 JUST TO HAVE THE STEERING WHEEL PARTS REPLACED WITH NEW RUBBER AND I THINK THAT IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT I HAVE A LEXUS WHOSE GLARE FROM THE SHINY DASH HAS BEEN CAUSING ME PROBLEMS WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT TO THE POINT WHERE I AVOID DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10672615
69,900 miles · Dec 16, 2014
Power Train
THIS VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH RANDOM HARD DOWN SHIFTING WHEN IT IS ALMOST STOPPED. THE HARD DOWN SHIFT WILL HAPPEN AND THEN VEHICLE WILL LUNGE FORWARD. I DID SLIGHT RUN INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT. THIS COULD BE POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS IF THE LUNGE WOULD HIT A PEDESTRIAN OR CAUSE TH…
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THIS VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH RANDOM HARD DOWN SHIFTING WHEN IT IS ALMOST STOPPED. THE HARD DOWN SHIFT WILL HAPPEN AND THEN VEHICLE WILL LUNGE FORWARD. I DID SLIGHT RUN INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT. THIS COULD BE POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS IF THE LUNGE WOULD HIT A PEDESTRIAN OR CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ENTER HEAVY TRAFFIC. I HAVE REPORTED THIS MANY TIMES TO THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP, WHO IS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE RANDOM NATURE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10664523
76,200 miles · Dec 7, 2014
StructureVisibility/wiper
I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED USED 2007 LEXUS ES 350 IN 2010 WITH APPROXIMATELY 26,000 MILES. IN 2014, I LEFT THE LEXUS IN MY FLORIDA PARKING LOT FOR THE SUMMER (MAY-OCTOBER). WHEN I RETURNED FROM NEW YORK, THE ENTIRE LEXUS DASHBOARD HAD MELTED! DUE TO THE MELTING, THERE IS A SHINY GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD WHICH MAKES IT HARD TO SE…
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I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED USED 2007 LEXUS ES 350 IN 2010 WITH APPROXIMATELY 26,000 MILES. IN 2014, I LEFT THE LEXUS IN MY FLORIDA PARKING LOT FOR THE SUMMER (MAY-OCTOBER). WHEN I RETURNED FROM NEW YORK, THE ENTIRE LEXUS DASHBOARD HAD MELTED! DUE TO THE MELTING, THERE IS A SHINY GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD WHICH MAKES IT HARD TO SEE. I BELIEVE THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. I PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR THIS CAR, AND THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT. LEXUS SHOULD RECALL THESE CARS AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10662627
Mileage unknown · Nov 11, 2014
Structure
THE DASH BOARD ON MY CAR IS MELTING THE GLARE IS VERY BAD MAKES DRIVING ON A SUNNY DAY VERY DANGEROUS CAR IS NOT SAFE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10654274
Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2014
Unknown Or Other
DASHBOARD IS MELTING, VERY SEVERE. NOT ONLY A VISIBILITY ISSUE WITH THE GLARE BUT IT IS NOW DRIPPING INTO THE START ENGINE BUTTON WHICH COULD LEAD TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND BECOME EVEN MORE OF A SAFETY ISSUE. LEXUS DEALER SAID HE WOULD SUBMIT PICTURES AND GET BACK WITH ME. IT HAS BEEN ABOUT 10 DAYS AND NO WORD YET. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10652811
138,000 miles · Oct 28, 2014
Structure
DASHBOARD STICKY AND SHINY CAN BARELY SEE WHEN IT'S SUNNY OUTSIDE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10650805
Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 2014
Structure
I HAVE A COMPLAINT ABOUT MY ES 350 LEXUS 207. THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PROBLEM. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY ISSUES. THIS IS MY SECOND LEXUS AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE FIRST ONE; (DASHBOARD) ES 300 LEXUS (2003). I HOPE THERE WILL BE AN INVESTIGATION ABOUT THIS MATTER. THANK YOU *TR
NHTSA ODI #10638586
45,000 miles · Sep 20, 2014
Structure
DASH PANEL MELTING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10637734
46,000 miles · Sep 1, 2014
Structure
I'M RESPONDING TO THE SEGMENT I SAW ON THE NEWS REGARDING THE MELTING DASHBOARDS. I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP BACK IN 2010. THEY WERE NOT VERY FRIENDLY AS A MATTER OF FACT THEY TRIED TO MAKE ME FEEL STUPID BY TELLING ME THAT WHO EVER IS WASHING AND CLEARING MY VEHICLE MAYBE USING A CHEAP PRODUCT ON THE VINYL. AND WH…
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I'M RESPONDING TO THE SEGMENT I SAW ON THE NEWS REGARDING THE MELTING DASHBOARDS. I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP BACK IN 2010. THEY WERE NOT VERY FRIENDLY AS A MATTER OF FACT THEY TRIED TO MAKE ME FEEL STUPID BY TELLING ME THAT WHO EVER IS WASHING AND CLEARING MY VEHICLE MAYBE USING A CHEAP PRODUCT ON THE VINYL. AND WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THE AREAS THAT WERE NOT MELTING. I WAS TOLD THAT, THOSE AREAS ARE PROBABLY NOT BEING CLEANED. I WAS THEN ASKED IF I'M PRESENT WHEN MY CAR IS BEING CLEANED AND WHAT PRODUCTS ARE BEING USED. I CONTACTED LEXUS AGAIN THIS YEAR AFTER LEARNING THAT SOMEONE WROTE A STORY ABOUT MELTING DASHBOARDS AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND IT SOUNDS LIKE WEAR AND TEAR. WITH THE DASHBOARD MELTING LIKE IT IS,LEAVES A BLINDING GLARE WHICH IN MY OPINION IS VERY DANGEROUS. MY HUSBAND AND I LITERALLY HAVE TO SIT FORWARD AND LOOK UNDERNEATH A LITTLE SPACING LEFT BETWEEN THE DASHBOARD AND THE WINDOW SHIELD. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT THE REAR TRUNK BUTTON HAS ALSO MELTED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10629822
60,000 miles · Aug 27, 2014
Structure
THE DASHBOARD ON MY VEHICLE IS MELTING. THIS IS CAUSING AN UNSAFE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD DUE TO THE MELTING, SHINY DASHBOARD REFLECTING ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. THE DASHBOARD IS VERY STICKY TO THE TOUCH, YOU CAN'T WIPE THE DASHBOARD DUE TO THE STICKINESS CAUSING A RAG OR CLOTH TO S…
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THE DASHBOARD ON MY VEHICLE IS MELTING. THIS IS CAUSING AN UNSAFE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD DUE TO THE MELTING, SHINY DASHBOARD REFLECTING ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. THE DASHBOARD IS VERY STICKY TO THE TOUCH, YOU CAN'T WIPE THE DASHBOARD DUE TO THE STICKINESS CAUSING A RAG OR CLOTH TO STICK TO THE DASH. THERE IS CURRENTLY NO HELP AVAILABLE FROM LEXUS IN REGARDS TO THIS PROBLEM. THIS S A VEHICLE DEFECT, I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE DO THIS. THE ONLY FIX IS TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10628957
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR MAT WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH THE THROTTLE PEDAL IF PROPERLY SECURED USING THE RETAINING HOOKS PROVIDED BY TOYOTA.HOWEVER, IF THE ALL WEATHER MAT IS UNSECURED AND MOVES FORWARD FROM ITS INTENDED POSITION IT CAN ENTRAP THE THROTTLE PEDAL AT THE FULLY OPEN POSITION AFTER IT HAS BEEN DEPRESSED.THIS CAN HAPPEN REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT ANOTHER MAT (CARPET) IS UNDERNEATH.WHEN THIS OCCURS, SOME OPERATORS REACT BY APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL MULTIPLE TIMES, DEPLETING THE BRAKING SYSTEM'S (VACUUM BASED) POWER ASSIST.STOPPING THE VEHICLE WITH UNASSISTED BRAKING WHILE THE THROTTLE IS FULLY OPEN REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT PEDAL FORCE, WHICH SOME OPERATORS DID NOT, OR WERE UNABLE TO, APPLY FOR THE REQUIRED DURATION.CONTINUED DRIVING IN THIS CONDITION RESULTS IN OVERHEATED BRAKES, WHICH FURTHER DIMINISHES THE BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS.SOME OPERATORS ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF BY DEPRESSING THE ENGINE CONTROL BUTTON, HOWEVER THEY WERE UNAWARE THE BUTTON HAD TO BE DEPRESSED FOR THREE SECONDS TO STOP THE ENGINE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION; THIS FUNCTIONALITY WAS NOT EXPLAINED ADEQUATELY IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL.IN ODI INTERVIEWS, OWNER'S REPORTED THEY WERE UNAWARE THE ALL WEATHER MAT HAD THE POTENTIAL TO INTERFERE WITH THE THROTTLE PEDAL, ADVISING THAT THIS WAS NEVER PROPERLY EXPLAINED GIVEN THE SIGNIFICANT HAZARD IT REPRESENTED.OWNERS REPORTED SEVERAL EXPLANATIONS FOR WHY THE MAT WAS UNSECURED, INCLUDING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED IN THIS CONDITION (MOST COMMON REASON), OR THAT THEY HAD (UNWITTINGLY) INSTALLED THE MAT THEMSELVES, OR THAT ANOTHER PARTY, SUCH AS A CAR WASH ATTENDANT, HAD DISTURBED THE MAT WITHOUT THE OWNER'S KNOWLEDGE.ONE CONSUMER REPORTED THAT THEIR VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED WITHOUT THE RETAINING DEVICES INSTALLED.IN A SEPTEMBER 26, 2007 LETTER TO NHTSA, TOYOTA INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO REPLACE THE ALL WEATHER MAT WITH A REDESIGNED MAT.ACCORDING TO TOYOTA, THE NEW MAT DESIGN WILL REDUCE THE POTENTIAL FOR MAT INTERFERENCE WITH THE THROTTLE PEDAL.THE POPULATION NOTED ABOVE REPRESENTS THE NUMBER OF SUBJECT MATSTHAT HAVE BEEN SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES.SINCE TOYOTA CANNOT IDENTIFY WHICH VEHICLES MAY HAVE THE SUBJECT MATS, THEY WILL SEND A LETTER TO ALL REGISTERED OWNERS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES (ESTIMATED 750K) ADVISING THEM OF THE CONCERN AND REMEDY.A COPY OF THAT LETTER WILL BE POSTED TO NHTSA'S WEB SITE UNDER RECALL 07E-082; IT CONTAINS A DESCRIPTION OF THE CONDITION AND THE ACTIONS AN OPERATOR SHOULD TAKE IN THE EVENT THROTTLE ENTRAPMENT OCCURS WHILE DRIVING.THE FATALITY INCIDENT NOTED ABOVE OCCURRED IN JULY 2007 AND WAS INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA'S SPECIAL CRASH INVESTIGATIONS OFFICE.IT HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED ON A VEHICLE OWNER QUESTIONNAIRE.THE OPERATOR REPORTEDLY TRAVELLED AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 100 MPH FOR AN ESTIMATED EIGHT MILES ON AN INTERSTATE IN CALIFORNIA BEFORE IT STRUCK TWO OTHER VEHICLES.ONE OF THE STRUCK VEHICLES AND THE SUBJECT VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE.THE OCCUPANT OF THE STRUCK VEHICLE DID NOT EVACULATE AND DIED AT THE SCENE.THE SUBJECT VEHICLE DRIVER SUFFERED A BROKEN BONE.THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL IS INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT ALSO.ODI DID NOT ISSUE AN INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER DURING THIS INVESTIGATION.THE TOYOTA REPORTS NOTED ABOVE WERE REPORTED DURING PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE07-016 AND ARE CURRENT THROUGH APRIL 2007 FOR MY 2007 LEXUS ES350 ONLY.ODI DOES NOT HAVE FIELD EXPERIENCE DATA FROM TOYOTA FOR CAMRY VEHICLES.THROTTLE ENTRAPMENT DUE TO IMPROPERLY INSTALLED FLOOR MATS COULD BE A CONCERN IN ALL VEHICLES.THEREFORE, DRIVERS SHOULD ALWAYS ENSURE THEIR FLOOR MATS ARE PROPERLY AND SAFELY INSTALLED.THIS INCL
Additional source detail variants (2)
Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal
THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR MAT WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH THE THROTTLE PEDAL IF PROPERLY SECURED USING THE RETAINING HOOKS PROVIDED BY TOYOTA.HOWEVER, IF THE ALL WEATHER MAT IS UNSECURED AND MOVES FORWARD FROM ITS INTENDED POSITION IT CAN ENTRAP THE THROTTLE PEDAL AT THE FULLY OPEN POSITION AFTER IT HAS BEEN DEPRESSED.THIS CAN HAPPEN REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT ANOTHER MAT (CARPET) IS UNDERNEATH.WHEN THIS OCCURS, SOME OPERATORS REACT BY APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL MULTIPLE TIMES, DEPLETING THE BRAKING SYSTEM'S (VACUUM BASED) POWER ASSIST.STOPPING THE VEHICLE WITH UNASSISTED BRAKING WHILE THE THROTTLE IS FULLY OPEN REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT PEDAL FORCE, WHICH SOME OPERATORS DID NOT, OR WERE UNABLE TO, APPLY FOR THE REQUIRED DURATION.CONTINUED DRIVING IN THIS CONDITION RESULTS IN OVERHEATED BRAKES, WHICH FURTHER DIMINISHES THE BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS.SOME OPERATORS ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF BY DEPRESSING THE ENGINE CONTROL BUTTON, HOWEVER THEY WERE UNAWARE THE BUTTON HAD TO BE DEPRESSED FOR THREE SECONDS TO STOP THE ENGINE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION; THIS FUNCTIONALITY WAS NOT EXPLAINED ADEQUATELY IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL.IN ODI INTERVIEWS, OWNER'S REPORTED THEY WERE UNAWARE THE ALL WEATHER MAT HAD THE POTENTIAL TO INTERFERE WITH THE THROTTLE PEDAL, ADVISING THAT THIS WAS NEVER PROPERLY EXPLAINED GIVEN THE SIGNIFICANT HAZARD IT REPRESENTED.OWNERS REPORTED SEVERAL EXPLANATIONS FOR WHY THE MAT WAS UNSECURED, INCLUDING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED IN THIS CONDITION (MOST COMMON REASON), OR THAT THEY HAD (UNWITTINGLY) INSTALLED THE MAT THEMSELVES, OR THAT ANOTHER PARTY, SUCH AS A CAR WASH ATTENDANT, HAD DISTURBED THE MAT WITHOUT THE OWNER'S KNOWLEDGE.ONE CONSUMER REPORTED THAT THEIR VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED WITHOUT THE RETAINING DEVICES INSTALLED.IN A SEPTEMBER 26, 2007 LETTER TO NHTSA, TOYOTA INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO REPLACE THE ALL WEATHER MAT WITH A REDESIGNED MAT.ACCORDING TO TOYOTA, THE NEW MAT DESIGN WILL REDUCE THE POTENTIAL FOR MAT INTERFERENCE WITH THE THROTTLE PEDAL.THE POPULATION NOTED ABOVE REPRESENTS THE NUMBER OF SUBJECT MATSTHAT HAVE BEEN SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES.SINCE TOYOTA CANNOT IDENTIFY WHICH VEHICLES MAY HAVE THE SUBJECT MATS, THEY WILL SEND A LETTER TO ALL REGISTERED OWNERS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES (ESTIMATED 750K) ADVISING THEM OF THE CONCERN AND REMEDY.A COPY OF THAT LETTER WILL BE POSTED TO NHTSA'S WEB SITE UNDER RECALL 07E-082; IT CONTAINS A DESCRIPTION OF THE CONDITION AND THE ACTIONS AN OPERATOR SHOULD TAKE IN THE EVENT THROTTLE ENTRAPMENT OCCURS WHILE DRIVING.THE FATALITY INCIDENT NOTED ABOVE OCCURRED IN JULY 2007 AND WAS INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA'S SPECIAL CRASH INVESTIGATIONS OFFICE.IT HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED ON A VEHICLE OWNER QUESTIONNAIRE.THE OPERATOR REPORTEDLY TRAVELLED AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 100 MPH FOR AN ESTIMATED EIGHT MILES ON AN INTERSTATE IN CALIFORNIA BEFORE IT STRUCK TWO OTHER VEHICLES.ONE OF THE STRUCK VEHICLES AND THE SUBJECT VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE.THE OCCUPANT OF THE STRUCK VEHICLE DID NOT EVACULATE AND DIED AT THE SCENE.THE SUBJECT VEHICLE DRIVER SUFFERED A BROKEN BONE.THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL IS INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT ALSO.ODI DID NOT ISSUE AN INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER DURING THIS INVESTIGATION.THE TOYOTA REPORTS NOTED ABOVE WERE REPORTED DURING PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE07-016 AND ARE CURRENT THROUGH APRIL 2007 FOR MY 2007 LEXUS ES350 ONLY.ODI DOES NOT HAVE FIELD EXPERIENCE DATA FROM TOYOTA FOR CAMRY VEHICLES.THROTTLE ENTRAPMENT DUE TO IMPROPERLY INSTALLED FLOOR MATS COULD BE A CONCERN IN ALL VEHICLES.THEREFORE, DRIVERS SHOULD ALWAYS ENSURE THEIR FLOOR MATS ARE PROPERLY AND SAFELY INSTALLED.THIS INCL
Vehicle Speed Control
THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR MAT WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH THE THROTTLE PEDAL IF PROPERLY SECURED USING THE RETAINING HOOKS PROVIDED BY TOYOTA.HOWEVER, IF THE ALL WEATHER MAT IS UNSECURED AND MOVES FORWARD FROM ITS INTENDED POSITION IT CAN ENTRAP THE THROTTLE PEDAL AT THE FULLY OPEN POSITION AFTER IT HAS BEEN DEPRESSED.THIS CAN HAPPEN REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT ANOTHER MAT (CARPET) IS UNDERNEATH.WHEN THIS OCCURS, SOME OPERATORS REACT BY APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL MULTIPLE TIMES, DEPLETING THE BRAKING SYSTEM'S (VACUUM BASED) POWER ASSIST.STOPPING THE VEHICLE WITH UNASSISTED BRAKING WHILE THE THROTTLE IS FULLY OPEN REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT PEDAL FORCE, WHICH SOME OPERATORS DID NOT, OR WERE UNABLE TO, APPLY FOR THE REQUIRED DURATION.CONTINUED DRIVING IN THIS CONDITION RESULTS IN OVERHEATED BRAKES, WHICH FURTHER DIMINISHES THE BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS.SOME OPERATORS ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF BY DEPRESSING THE ENGINE CONTROL BUTTON, HOWEVER THEY WERE UNAWARE THE BUTTON HAD TO BE DEPRESSED FOR THREE SECONDS TO STOP THE ENGINE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION; THIS FUNCTIONALITY WAS NOT EXPLAINED ADEQUATELY IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL.IN ODI INTERVIEWS, OWNER'S REPORTED THEY WERE UNAWARE THE ALL WEATHER MAT HAD THE POTENTIAL TO INTERFERE WITH THE THROTTLE PEDAL, ADVISING THAT THIS WAS NEVER PROPERLY EXPLAINED GIVEN THE SIGNIFICANT HAZARD IT REPRESENTED.OWNERS REPORTED SEVERAL EXPLANATIONS FOR WHY THE MAT WAS UNSECURED, INCLUDING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED IN THIS CONDITION (MOST COMMON REASON), OR THAT THEY HAD (UNWITTINGLY) INSTALLED THE MAT THEMSELVES, OR THAT ANOTHER PARTY, SUCH AS A CAR WASH ATTENDANT, HAD DISTURBED THE MAT WITHOUT THE OWNER'S KNOWLEDGE.ONE CONSUMER REPORTED THAT THEIR VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED WITHOUT THE RETAINING DEVICES INSTALLED.IN A SEPTEMBER 26, 2007 LETTER TO NHTSA, TOYOTA INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO REPLACE THE ALL WEATHER MAT WITH A REDESIGNED MAT.ACCORDING TO TOYOTA, THE NEW MAT DESIGN WILL REDUCE THE POTENTIAL FOR MAT INTERFERENCE WITH THE THROTTLE PEDAL.THE POPULATION NOTED ABOVE REPRESENTS THE NUMBER OF SUBJECT MATSTHAT HAVE BEEN SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES.SINCE TOYOTA CANNOT IDENTIFY WHICH VEHICLES MAY HAVE THE SUBJECT MATS, THEY WILL SEND A LETTER TO ALL REGISTERED OWNERS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES (ESTIMATED 750K) ADVISING THEM OF THE CONCERN AND REMEDY.A COPY OF THAT LETTER WILL BE POSTED TO NHTSA'S WEB SITE UNDER RECALL 07E-082; IT CONTAINS A DESCRIPTION OF THE CONDITION AND THE ACTIONS AN OPERATOR SHOULD TAKE IN THE EVENT THROTTLE ENTRAPMENT OCCURS WHILE DRIVING.THE FATALITY INCIDENT NOTED ABOVE OCCURRED IN JULY 2007 AND WAS INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA'S SPECIAL CRASH INVESTIGATIONS OFFICE.IT HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED ON A VEHICLE OWNER QUESTIONNAIRE.THE OPERATOR REPORTEDLY TRAVELLED AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 100 MPH FOR AN ESTIMATED EIGHT MILES ON AN INTERSTATE IN CALIFORNIA BEFORE IT STRUCK TWO OTHER VEHICLES.ONE OF THE STRUCK VEHICLES AND THE SUBJECT VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE.THE OCCUPANT OF THE STRUCK VEHICLE DID NOT EVACULATE AND DIED AT THE SCENE.THE SUBJECT VEHICLE DRIVER SUFFERED A BROKEN BONE.THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL IS INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT ALSO.ODI DID NOT ISSUE AN INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER DURING THIS INVESTIGATION.THE TOYOTA REPORTS NOTED ABOVE WERE REPORTED DURING PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE07-016 AND ARE CURRENT THROUGH APRIL 2007 FOR MY 2007 LEXUS ES350 ONLY.ODI DOES NOT HAVE FIELD EXPERIENCE DATA FROM TOYOTA FOR CAMRY VEHICLES.THROTTLE ENTRAPMENT DUE TO IMPROPERLY INSTALLED FLOOR MATS COULD BE A CONCERN IN ALL VEHICLES.THEREFORE, DRIVERS SHOULD ALWAYS ENSURE THEIR FLOOR MATS ARE PROPERLY AND SAFELY INSTALLED.THIS INCL
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