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 · May 13, 2021
Engine
THE FRONT TIMING COVER SEAL ON MY CAR WAS RESEALED AT 105,124 MILES @ A COST OF $2,804.52 PLUS TAX ON NOVEMBER 2014. THE CAR WAS 8 YEARS OLD. I AM NOW BEING TOLD THAT THE TIMING COVER NEEDS TO BE RESEALED/REPLACED AGAIN. THE CAR HAD 160,830 MILES WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE ON 5/3/2021. BY THE WAY, THE SERVICE ADVISER WROTE T…
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THE FRONT TIMING COVER SEAL ON MY CAR WAS RESEALED AT 105,124 MILES @ A COST OF $2,804.52 PLUS TAX ON NOVEMBER 2014. THE CAR WAS 8 YEARS OLD. I AM NOW BEING TOLD THAT THE TIMING COVER NEEDS TO BE RESEALED/REPLACED AGAIN. THE CAR HAD 160,830 MILES WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE ON 5/3/2021. BY THE WAY, THE SERVICE ADVISER WROTE THE WRONG MILEAGE. HE MISTAKENLY WROTE 168,036 MILES AS THE ODOMETER READING. WHEN I ASKED WHAT IS CAUSING THIS ISSUE HE HAD NO ANSWER. I CONTACTED LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE TO INQUIRE INTO WHAT CAUSES THE SEAL TO NEED REPLACEMENT EVERY 7 OR SO YEARS. CASE # 210506001409 WAS ASSIGNED. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE CALLED TODAY AND INFORMED ME THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER AT CROWN LEXUS IN ONTARIO INFORMED HER THE SEALER SHRINKS OVERTIME. HOWEVER, SHE COULD NOT PROVIDE A REASON FOR THE SHRINKAGE. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT CAUSES THIS SO I CAN DECIDE WHETHER TO CONTINUE PUTTING MONEY INTO THIS CAR. THIS DOES SEEM RIGHT TO ME. I THINK IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I SIMPLY NEED TO KNOW WHY THEY CONTINUE TO USE SEALERS THAT THEY KNOW WILL SHRINK. THE NEW COST TO REPAIR THIS CAR IS APPROXIMATELY $3500. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON DID NOT KNOW THE NAME OF THE SEALER THAT WAS BEING USED. SHE COULD ONLY REFER ME TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER AND I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE TALKING TO HIM ABOUT THIS BECAUSE HE GAVE HER NO REAL EXPLANATION OTHER THAN IT SHRINKS. OTHER CUSTOMERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR CARS. IF I HAVE CONTACTED THE WRONG OFFICE PLEASE DIRECT TO ME TO SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP. BY THE WAY, I ASKED FOR A WRITTEN RESPONSE AND WAS TOLD SHE COULD NOT PROVIDE ONE.
NHTSA ODI #11416479
28 miles · Mar 7, 2021
Vehicle Speed Control
WHEN YOU DRIVE IT SPEEDS UP VERY FAST THEN IT GOES BACK DOWN THEN IT STARTLES WHEN YOU TRY TO PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE GAS THEN ONCE YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS IT GOES BACK TO NORMAL SPEED IT'S LIKE IT GETS STUCK BUT THEN ONCE YOU RELEASE IT GOES AND SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T GO ABOVE THE SPEED
NHTSA ODI #11399663
83,000 miles · Feb 12, 2021
Unknown Or Other
I OWN A 2007 LEXUS ES 350. I OWN THE CAR SINCE 2010. THE DASHBOARD OF THE CAR IS MELTED AND CRACKED. I CONTACTED A LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TO TOLD TO CONTACT THE HEADQUARTER. I CALLED THE HEADQUARTER (800) 255-3987 AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY CAN NOT HELP ME. HEADQUARTER SAYS IT IS KNOWN ISSUE BUT THE WARRANTY ENDED IN MAY 2017. THEY…
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I OWN A 2007 LEXUS ES 350. I OWN THE CAR SINCE 2010. THE DASHBOARD OF THE CAR IS MELTED AND CRACKED. I CONTACTED A LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TO TOLD TO CONTACT THE HEADQUARTER. I CALLED THE HEADQUARTER (800) 255-3987 AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY CAN NOT HELP ME. HEADQUARTER SAYS IT IS KNOWN ISSUE BUT THE WARRANTY ENDED IN MAY 2017. THEY SAYS A LETTER REGARDING THE ISSUE WAS SENT OUT. I NEVER RECEIVED THAT LETTER. THEY NOW HAVE ANOTHER WARRANTY COVERAGE BUT IT COVERS FROM YEAR 2018 AND THE WARRANTY EXPIRES THIS MARCH 2021. I CALLED THE LEXUS HEADQUARTER BUT THEY CAN NOT HELP ME BECAUSE OF THE MODEL YEAR. THERE IS A BIG GLARE FROM THE MELTED DASH AND IT APPEARS TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THE DASH IS CRACKED. WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO CHECK WITH THE COMPANY IF THIS COULD BE REPLACED. I HAVE SUBMITTED A CLAIM TO THE OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL ON 2/10/21 FILE#11044300.OCP AND I WAS NOTIFIED TO CONTACT YOUR OFFICE. THANK YOU
NHTSA ODI #11395891
Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 2020
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper
LEXUS ISSUED A TECH BULLETIN IN 2011 STATING THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE DASHBOARDS MELTING AND THE GLARE FROM THE SUN WAS BLINDING DRIVERS. TOLD DEALERS TO REPLACE THEM WHEN ASKED. EXTENDED THE CAMPAIGN THRU 5/2017, BUT DID NOT INFORM CUSTOMERS. CAMPAIGN EXPIRED WITH A LOT OF DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS DASHBOARDS STI…
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LEXUS ISSUED A TECH BULLETIN IN 2011 STATING THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE DASHBOARDS MELTING AND THE GLARE FROM THE SUN WAS BLINDING DRIVERS. TOLD DEALERS TO REPLACE THEM WHEN ASKED. EXTENDED THE CAMPAIGN THRU 5/2017, BUT DID NOT INFORM CUSTOMERS. CAMPAIGN EXPIRED WITH A LOT OF DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS DASHBOARDS STILL OUT THERE. THE SMELL IS ALSO MAKING PEOPLE SICK. LEXUS WILL NOT REPLACE MY DASHBOARD.
NHTSA ODI #11373051
155,000 miles · Oct 15, 2020
Unknown Or Other
MY DASHBOARD IS SO SHINNY I HAVE TO GET OFF THE INTERSTATE IF THE SUN IS FACING ME. MY LOCAL ATLANTA DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME ABOUT MY PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAD RECALL ......BUT DID NOT INFORM ME ABOUT THE DASH RECALL. I FELT BETRAYED AND CALLED LEXUS CORPORATE WITH NO RESULTS. WHY IS NOT A SYSTEM ON PLACER TO NOTIFY OWNERS WHEN A RE…
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MY DASHBOARD IS SO SHINNY I HAVE TO GET OFF THE INTERSTATE IF THE SUN IS FACING ME. MY LOCAL ATLANTA DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME ABOUT MY PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAD RECALL ......BUT DID NOT INFORM ME ABOUT THE DASH RECALL. I FELT BETRAYED AND CALLED LEXUS CORPORATE WITH NO RESULTS. WHY IS NOT A SYSTEM ON PLACER TO NOTIFY OWNERS WHEN A RECALL IS ISSUED BY CORPORATE INSTEAD OF THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP? MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP IS HENNESSY LEXUS OF ATLANTA.
NHTSA ODI #11364466
75,000 miles · Oct 13, 2020
Structure
IT ISN'T BAD ENOUGH THAT TOYOTA CORP SOLD ME A DASHBOARD ON MY 2007 LEXUS ES350 THAT MELTS IN THE SUNLIGHT, BUT AS IT MELTS IT LEAVES A DANGEROUS SHINY RESIDUE THAT IMPAIRS MY ABILITY TO DRIVE SAFELY, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.
NHTSA ODI #11364198
Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2020
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper
MY CAR HAS A MELTING DASH THAT LEAVES A STICKY RESIDUE ON MY WINDSHIELD AFFECTING MY ABILITY TO SEE THE ROAD. IT ALSO CAUSES A GLARE WHEN DRIVING IN THE EARLY MORNING OR AT NIGHT WITH STREET LIGHTS.
NHTSA ODI #11361358
Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2020
Exterior Lighting
THE ISSUE THAT I AM HAVING WITH MY 2007 LEXUS ES 350 IS WHILE IM IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY OR STREET BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS WILL SHUT OFF. I HAVE TO MANUALLY TURN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF THEN ON AGAIN AND THATS WHEN THEY WILL COME BACK ON, IT HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WILL TURN OFF AND THE RI…
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THE ISSUE THAT I AM HAVING WITH MY 2007 LEXUS ES 350 IS WHILE IM IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY OR STREET BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS WILL SHUT OFF. I HAVE TO MANUALLY TURN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF THEN ON AGAIN AND THATS WHEN THEY WILL COME BACK ON, IT HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WILL TURN OFF AND THE RIGHT STAYS ON AND VICE VERSA FOR THE RIGHT OR BOTH. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID I NEEDED THE HEADLAMP REPLACED BUT ONCE I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE WITH THE MAKE AND MODEL OF MY VEHICLE I REALIZED THERE ARE NUMEROUS OF INDIVIDUALS HAVING THE SAME DANGEROUS ISSUE WITH HAVING THE HEADLAMPS REPLACE THE ISSUE STILL REMAINS THE HEADLAMPS SHUT OFF COMPLETELY INHIBITING THE VIEW OF THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE BECAUSE OF THIS. IVE REPLACED HEADLIGHTS SEVERAL TIMES AND IT STILL HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE TIME I DRIVE!!!
NHTSA ODI #11355168
Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2020
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper
TWO YEARS AGO I NOTICED MY DASHBOARD GETTING STICKY , AND NOW IT'S GETTING WORSE AND WORSE,BECAUSE WHEN THE SUN OR SHINE I CAN SEE WITH THE GLER..
NHTSA ODI #11354023
75,000 miles · Aug 19, 2020
StructureUnknown Or OtherInjury
2007 LEXUS ES350 DASHBOARD MELTING PRODUCES CHEMICAL FUMES AND SHINY STICKY DASBOARD REFLECTING SUNLIGHT AND NIGHT HEADLIGHTS BLINDING DRIVER VISIBILITY. FUMES CAUSING HEALTH ISSUE IN ALL CAR PASSENGER BREATHING. ISSUES.
NHTSA ODI #11350206
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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