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 · Dec 14, 2017
Unknown Or Other
THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING CRACKING AND COMING APART, WE NOTICED THE PROBLEM IN JULY, AUGUST 2017, DID NOT KNOW IT WAS KNOWN PROBLEM TO LEXUS. IN DECEMBER 2017 I GOGGLED HOW TO REPAIR MELTING DASH AND FOUND OUT THIS WAS A PROBLEM THAT LEXUS WAS AWARE OF, WE BOUGHT THE LEXUS ES350 NEW IN 2007 AND ARE ORIGINAL OWNERS, LEXUS NOTIFIED…
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THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING CRACKING AND COMING APART, WE NOTICED THE PROBLEM IN JULY, AUGUST 2017, DID NOT KNOW IT WAS KNOWN PROBLEM TO LEXUS. IN DECEMBER 2017 I GOGGLED HOW TO REPAIR MELTING DASH AND FOUND OUT THIS WAS A PROBLEM THAT LEXUS WAS AWARE OF, WE BOUGHT THE LEXUS ES350 NEW IN 2007 AND ARE ORIGINAL OWNERS, LEXUS NOTIFIED US ABOUT THE AIR BAG RECALL BUT NEVER NOTIFIED US ABOUT THE MELTING DASH PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED THE AIR BAGS IN 2017 WHEN THE DASH WAS MELTING AND DID NOT SAY ANYTHING. NOW WHEN I CALLED THEM THEY SAID SORRY, THE WARRANTY PERIOD ENDED MAY 31 2017. THEY NEED TO REPLACE OWNER DASH BOARD NOW
NHTSA ODI #11054707
95,000 miles · Nov 14, 2017
Exterior Lighting
BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT BY THEMSELVES WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES. THE DASH INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWS THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. MANUALLY TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND ON GETS THEM ON AGAIN. VERY FRIGHTENING AND UNSAFE TO ALL OF A SUDDEN HAVE NO HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE APPOINTMENT WITH LEXUS TO FIX, BUT SHOULD BE A RECALL…
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BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT BY THEMSELVES WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES. THE DASH INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWS THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. MANUALLY TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND ON GETS THEM ON AGAIN. VERY FRIGHTENING AND UNSAFE TO ALL OF A SUDDEN HAVE NO HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE APPOINTMENT WITH LEXUS TO FIX, BUT SHOULD BE A RECALL SAFETY ITEM.
NHTSA ODI #11046067
1 miles · Nov 1, 2017
Air Bags
MY CAR IS INCLUDED IN THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL. IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN A YEAR SINCE WE WERE NOTIFIED OF THIS PROBLEM. TO DATE IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AND THERE IS NO CLEAR DATE WHEN THEY WILL BE ABLE TO FIX IT. I'VE BEEN INSTRUCTED BY LEXUS THAT THE REMEDY FOR NOW IS THAT NOBODY CAN SIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT. THAT IS…
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MY CAR IS INCLUDED IN THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL. IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN A YEAR SINCE WE WERE NOTIFIED OF THIS PROBLEM. TO DATE IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AND THERE IS NO CLEAR DATE WHEN THEY WILL BE ABLE TO FIX IT. I'VE BEEN INSTRUCTED BY LEXUS THAT THE REMEDY FOR NOW IS THAT NOBODY CAN SIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT. THAT IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. I FEEL AS THOUGH THEY ARE DRAGGING THEIR FEET IN THE HOPES THAT AS TIME GOES BY, MORE OF THE OLDER CARS WILL BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD SO THEY WON'T NEED TO BE REPAIRED. WE NEED ACTION ON THIS, IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY AND CONVENIENCE ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #11042110
Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2017
Air Bags
TAKATA RECALL IN JANUARY 2017 I WAS ADVISED BY MY DEALER, STEVINSON LEXUS, THAT MY LEXUS WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS. DESPITE REPEATED FOLLOW UP ON MY PART, THE REPLACEMENT STILL HAS NOT BEEN SCHEDULED AND THE DEALER SAYS THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT PROVIDED THE NEEDED PARTS. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE P…
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TAKATA RECALL IN JANUARY 2017 I WAS ADVISED BY MY DEALER, STEVINSON LEXUS, THAT MY LEXUS WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS. DESPITE REPEATED FOLLOW UP ON MY PART, THE REPLACEMENT STILL HAS NOT BEEN SCHEDULED AND THE DEALER SAYS THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT PROVIDED THE NEEDED PARTS. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL DANGER.
NHTSA ODI #11039769
Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 2017
Air Bags
TAKATA RECALL - THIS RECALL WAS ISSUED ON MAY 4, 2017. REPAIR WAS SCHEDULED IN SEPTEMBER 2017. IN THE MEANTIME, IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT NO ONE SIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. AFTER WAITING SIX MONTHS !!!. THE REPAIR DATE WAS MISSED AND NO NEW DATE HAS BEEN PROMISED FOR REPAIR. STILL WAITING AND CANNOT USE THE FRONT PASSE…
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TAKATA RECALL - THIS RECALL WAS ISSUED ON MAY 4, 2017. REPAIR WAS SCHEDULED IN SEPTEMBER 2017. IN THE MEANTIME, IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT NO ONE SIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. AFTER WAITING SIX MONTHS !!!. THE REPAIR DATE WAS MISSED AND NO NEW DATE HAS BEEN PROMISED FOR REPAIR. STILL WAITING AND CANNOT USE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT !!
NHTSA ODI #11031866
Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 2017
Air Bags
TOYOTA/LEXUS REFUSING TO FIX THIS RECALL ON MY LEXUS VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #11031493
Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 2017
Unknown Or Other
TAKATA RECALL
NHTSA ODI #11025081
Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2017
Air Bags
"TAKATA RECALL" VISITED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP IN METAIRIE, LA TO HAVE RECALL TAKEN CARE OF. THEY SAID THEY WOULD CONTACT ME WHEN THEY WERE READY TO FIX PROBLEM. MY WIFE AND I ARE SENIOR CITIZENS AND ARE AFRAID TO SIT AS A PASSENGER OF OUR OWN CAR. WHY IS THIS TAKING SO LONG. OVER A YEAR SINCE WE RECEIVED NOTICE. CAN WE DEMAN…
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"TAKATA RECALL" VISITED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP IN METAIRIE, LA TO HAVE RECALL TAKEN CARE OF. THEY SAID THEY WOULD CONTACT ME WHEN THEY WERE READY TO FIX PROBLEM. MY WIFE AND I ARE SENIOR CITIZENS AND ARE AFRAID TO SIT AS A PASSENGER OF OUR OWN CAR. WHY IS THIS TAKING SO LONG. OVER A YEAR SINCE WE RECEIVED NOTICE. CAN WE DEMAND THE USE OF A SIMILAR LOANER CAR? PLEASE HAVE THIS COMPLAINT CHECKED. THANKS
NHTSA ODI #11016372
Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2017
Air Bags
MY AIRBAG RECALL CAME TO ME TODAY 7/18/2017 - I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS RECALL FROM FACEBOOK BACK IN SEPT. 2016 - I CALLED LEXUS WAS INFORMED TO DRIVE THE CAR OVER - I SIGNED A PAPER STATING I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO DRIVE MY CAR AND IT MUST SIT IN MY GARAGE FOR AS LONG AS THERE IS NO PART TO REPLACE IT WITH - THEY GAVE ME A LOANER CAR …
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MY AIRBAG RECALL CAME TO ME TODAY 7/18/2017 - I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS RECALL FROM FACEBOOK BACK IN SEPT. 2016 - I CALLED LEXUS WAS INFORMED TO DRIVE THE CAR OVER - I SIGNED A PAPER STATING I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO DRIVE MY CAR AND IT MUST SIT IN MY GARAGE FOR AS LONG AS THERE IS NO PART TO REPLACE IT WITH - THEY GAVE ME A LOANER CAR BUT AFTER 10 MONTHS LATER AND MY CAR DEAD - THE PART CAME IN - IT WAS LIKE PULLING TEETH TO GET THEM TO EVEN LOOK AT THE CAR AND DID NOT WANT TO EVEN PUT IN A NEW BATTERY - AFTER COMPLAINING AND WORKING WITH THE HOME OFFICE THEY DID A COMPLETE ONCE OVER AND A NEW BATTERY - MY CAR IS WORKING NOW - BUT - LEXUS SHOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS - LAWYERS ALL OVER THE PLACE WANT TO HELP YOU GET YOUR MONEY BACK - LEXUS DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO HEAR ABOUT ANY ISSUES YOU HAD - COMPLAINTS ETC..... YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD WANT TO ASSIST YOU WITH MORE ITEMS TO REPLACE ON YOUR CAR - 10 MONTHS OF WAITING?????? CRAZY !!!!!!
NHTSA ODI #11006194
62,000 miles · Jun 5, 2017
EngineCrash
AT THE TOP OF OUR DRIVEWAY JUST OUTSIDE THE GARAGE DOOR, MY WIFE PUT OUR 07' LEXUS ES350 IN GEAR AND SECONDS LATER THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE WILDLY. SHE WAS UNABLE TO SLOW THE CAR'S WILD ACCELERATION DOWN THE DRIVEWAY AND CAUGHT PART OF A RETAINING WALL ON THE PROPERTY WHICH FLIPPED THE VEHICLE ON IT'S SIDE. I WAS INSI…
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AT THE TOP OF OUR DRIVEWAY JUST OUTSIDE THE GARAGE DOOR, MY WIFE PUT OUR 07' LEXUS ES350 IN GEAR AND SECONDS LATER THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE WILDLY. SHE WAS UNABLE TO SLOW THE CAR'S WILD ACCELERATION DOWN THE DRIVEWAY AND CAUGHT PART OF A RETAINING WALL ON THE PROPERTY WHICH FLIPPED THE VEHICLE ON IT'S SIDE. I WAS INSIDE THE HOUSE AT THE TIME BUT HEARD THE CAR'S ENGINE REV JUST BEFORE THE CRASH. THE ACCIDENT APPEARS TO HAVE INITIATED BY SOME EXTREMELY DANGEROUS MECHANICAL FAILURE THAT ALLOWED THE ENGINE TO REV UNCONTROLLABLY . OUR INSURANCE COMPANY WILL SOON BE TOWING THE LEXUS TO THEIR FACILITY. I NOTIFIED A CLAIMS AGENT THAT THE ACCIDENT SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF NHTSA HOWEVER, THE AGENT WAS NOT AWARE OF HOW TO COORDINATE THE EFFORT SO I AM PROCEEDING FORWARD MYSELF ASAP. THE CAR IS OBVIOUSLY TOTALED AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT INSURANCE WILL DO WITH THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #10993266
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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