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
99,992 miles · Oct 16, 2019
Vehicle Speed Control
I WAS IN MY CAR, MOTOR RUNNING, FACING TRAFFIC ,STOPPED AT EDGE OF DRIVEWAY, WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, WAITING FOR TRAFFIC TO CLEAR. SUDDENLY CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE. I REFLEXIBLY PRESSED ON BRAKE WITH MAXIMUM FORCE. CAR CONTINUED VERY SLOWLY. I PULLED OUT OF GEAR TO NEUTRAL WHICH STOPPED CAR. CAR TRAVELED NO MORE THEN 1 CAR LENGTH…
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I WAS IN MY CAR, MOTOR RUNNING, FACING TRAFFIC ,STOPPED AT EDGE OF DRIVEWAY, WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, WAITING FOR TRAFFIC TO CLEAR. SUDDENLY CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE. I REFLEXIBLY PRESSED ON BRAKE WITH MAXIMUM FORCE. CAR CONTINUED VERY SLOWLY. I PULLED OUT OF GEAR TO NEUTRAL WHICH STOPPED CAR. CAR TRAVELED NO MORE THEN 1 CAR LENGTH TO STOP NEXT TO CURB. AFTER A PAUSE, I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE TO STOPS OVER 4 HOURS, I THEN DROVE HOME. THE NEXT MORNING I CALLED AND LEFT MESSAGE WITH NHTSA AND THE CAR MANUFACTURER. THE LATTER HAS HAD A DEALER INSPECT AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. I REQUESTED ANOTHER DEALER OPINION. MANUFACTURER OFFERS $500 FOR ANOTHER INSPECTION BUT DENYS ANY SUPPORT FOR COST OF SOLUTION. CAN NHTSA REVIEW THIS SITUATION FOR MANUFACTURER'S NEED TO RECALL? THIS SAME CAR AND MODEL HAD ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS IN 2007 RESUILTING IN SEVERAL FATALITIES.
NHTSA ODI #11269047
150,000 miles · Oct 9, 2019
Air BagsService Brakes
I HAVE HAD MY LEXUS SINCE 2007 I HAVE MANY TIMES RECIEVED LETTERS FOR MY RECALL ON THE AIR BAGS RECALL ID RTPW-48Q I CALLED AND SPOKE WITH LEXUS WHO THEN SET UP AN ACCOUNT WITH ME AND THEN FOUND ME A LOCATION TO HAVE THE RECALL FIXED THIS WAS AROUND OCTOBER OF 2018 SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD SOME TROUBLING FINDINGS THAT I BELIEVE MY…
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I HAVE HAD MY LEXUS SINCE 2007 I HAVE MANY TIMES RECIEVED LETTERS FOR MY RECALL ON THE AIR BAGS RECALL ID RTPW-48Q I CALLED AND SPOKE WITH LEXUS WHO THEN SET UP AN ACCOUNT WITH ME AND THEN FOUND ME A LOCATION TO HAVE THE RECALL FIXED THIS WAS AROUND OCTOBER OF 2018 SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD SOME TROUBLING FINDINGS THAT I BELIEVE MY HUSBAND AT THE TIME HAS POSSIBLY DONE THINGS TO MY CAR THAT COULD POTENTIALLY HARM OR KILL NOT ONLY ME BUT MY 6 YEAR OLD I DO NO MY DASH HAS BEEN REMOVED AND REPLACED AND SINCE IV SEEN MY HUSBAND IN HIS MECHANIC SHOP PULL DASHES OFF I NO HE IS EXPERIENCED I WAS ALSO UNEXPECTEDLY HIS ON MY DRIVER'S SIDE ABOUT 9 MONTHS AGO AND THE CAR SPED OFF AND I WAS TOLD TO NOT CALL THE POLICE BUT A STATE RD WORKER WITNESSED IT WHAT I NEED IS FOR SOMEONE TO HELP ME I KNOW THESE THINGS ARE NOT MANUFACTURED PROBLEMS BESIDES THE AIRBAG PLEASE CAN YOU HELP ME IF RECENTLY FOUND THAT MY BRAKES SEEM TO BE NOT STOPPING AS WELL AND IT SOUND LIKE THERE BAD HOWEVER MY BRAKES WERE DONE ABOUT A YEAR AGO BY MY HUSBAND AND THIS HAPPENED OVER NIGHT PLEASE I NEED A HONEST PERSON TO LOOK AT MY LEXUS AND SEE IF ALTERATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE AND VERIFY MY RECALL MY RECALL ON LEXUS WEBSITE SAYS MY VIN IS NOT CORRECT FOR THE RECALL
NHTSA ODI #11267211
Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2019
StructureVisibility/wiper
I HAVE LEXUS ES350. ITS EXPENSIVE LUXURY CAR. BUT ITS DASHBOARD IS MELTING ON THE TOP NOW. VERY UNCOMMON BEHAVIOR OF THIS KIND OF CAR. THIS WOULDN'T HAPPENED EVEN IF IN CHEAP CAR. I WENT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY CONFIRM THAT IT IS MELTING. IT'S A DASHBOARD, ONE OF THE MAIN PART OF THE CAR. ISSUE IS IN THE SUN, MELTED PART IS REFLE…
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I HAVE LEXUS ES350. ITS EXPENSIVE LUXURY CAR. BUT ITS DASHBOARD IS MELTING ON THE TOP NOW. VERY UNCOMMON BEHAVIOR OF THIS KIND OF CAR. THIS WOULDN'T HAPPENED EVEN IF IN CHEAP CAR. I WENT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY CONFIRM THAT IT IS MELTING. IT'S A DASHBOARD, ONE OF THE MAIN PART OF THE CAR. ISSUE IS IN THE SUN, MELTED PART IS REFLECTING ON THE WINDSHIELD AND ITS VERY BRIGHT. IT BECOMES SAFETY ISSUE TO DRIVE THIS CAR IN THE SUN. IT GIVES HEADACHE AND NOT PROPER VISIBILITY TO DRIVE. DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO FIX THIS ISSUE AS THIS CAR IS MORE THAN 10 YEARS OLD. THIS KIND OF ISSUE SHOULD NOT HAPPENED IN THE CAR LIKE LEXUS. PLEASE SEE ATTACHED PICTURES, IT GIVES SOME IDEA LIKE HOW IT LOOKS LIKE IN WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING. PICTURE DO NOT COVER ALL REFLECTIONS THOUGH.
NHTSA ODI #11258307
234,475 miles · Sep 3, 2019
EngineFire
MY OIL LINE IS LEAKING, I DID RESEARCH AND FOUND A RECALL ON THIS PART. CAN I GET THIS REPAIRED...
NHTSA ODI #11253056
150,000 miles · Aug 29, 2019
Visibility/wiper
MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING. THERE WAS A CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM THAT EXPIRED IN 2017. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION ABOUT TAKING MY CAR IN FOR A DASHBOARD REPLACEMENT. WHEN IT'S HOT OUTSIDE THE GLARE IS SO INTENSE THAT I AM NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE I AM AFRAID OF HAVING AN ACCIDENT. I AM NOT ABLE TO CLEAN THE DASHBOARD…
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MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING. THERE WAS A CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM THAT EXPIRED IN 2017. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION ABOUT TAKING MY CAR IN FOR A DASHBOARD REPLACEMENT. WHEN IT'S HOT OUTSIDE THE GLARE IS SO INTENSE THAT I AM NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE I AM AFRAID OF HAVING AN ACCIDENT. I AM NOT ABLE TO CLEAN THE DASHBOARD. IT HAS SO MUCH DEBRIS ON IT THAT CAN'T BE REMOVED.
NHTSA ODI #11252184
110,000 miles · Aug 1, 2019
Unknown Or Other
THE DASH IN MY VEHICLE IS BECOMING EXCESSIVELY SHINED AND STICKY DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS MELTING BECAUSE OF POOR MANUFACTURING, NOT AGE OR NEGLECT. WHEN IT IS SUNNY OUTSIDE THE REFLECTION OFF THE DASH IS ALMOST BLINDING FOR MAKES IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. LEXUS HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO PAY FOR IT BECAUSE THEY'RE …
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THE DASH IN MY VEHICLE IS BECOMING EXCESSIVELY SHINED AND STICKY DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS MELTING BECAUSE OF POOR MANUFACTURING, NOT AGE OR NEGLECT. WHEN IT IS SUNNY OUTSIDE THE REFLECTION OFF THE DASH IS ALMOST BLINDING FOR MAKES IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. LEXUS HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO PAY FOR IT BECAUSE THEY'RE WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THE DASH IS OVER.
NHTSA ODI #11241147
Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2019
StructureUnknown Or Other
MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND IS STICKING TO TOUCH AND DEPRESSES WHEN TOUCHED AND NOT SAFE. I CALLED LEXUS AND I WAS TOLD IT'S BEYOND THE RECALL WINDOW AND I HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET AND I CANNOT AFFORD IT. APPARENTLY THERE WAS A RECALL BACK IN 2016 BUT I BOUGHT MY CAR 12/2017 SO I MISSED THE WINDOW
NHTSA ODI #11240751
Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2018
Air BagsUnknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper
MELTING DASHBOARD EMITTING OUT POISONOUS SMELL, CAUSE MY THROATS UNCOMFORTABLE AND COUGHING. MY KID COMPLAINS ABOUT THERE IS ALWAYS SMELL IN MY CAR AND FELT DIZZY AND HEADACHE WHENEVER SITTING IN. NEED TO EVALUATE THE CHEMICAL RELEASED AND ITS IMPACT TO HEALTH.
NHTSA ODI #11124462
Mileage unknown · May 4, 2018
Air Bags
TAKATA INFLATORS RECALL
NHTSA ODI #11091947
Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 2018
Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Wheels
TAKATA RECALL
NHTSA ODI #11071743
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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