IllustrationTAKATA RECALL LEXUS FILED DIR (DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT) ON MAY 23, 2016, NOTIFICATION RECEIVED IN MAIL JULY 2016, STILL NO REMEDY AVAILABLE. LEXUS HAS FAILED TO REMEDY THE DEFECT WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME.
2007 Lexus Es
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Es years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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 reportsTAKATA RECALL: THE TAKATA AIRBAG PROBLEM SHOULD BE REMOVED IMMEDIATELY. I DID NOT BUY A 1 SEATED FRONT SEAT CAR AND THIS IS WHAT I'M FORCED TO DRIVE NOW. WHEN IS MY AIRBAG GOING TO BE REPLACED?
10885689- STERLING MCCALL LEXUS REPRESENTATIVES SAY THAT IT IS A "COURTESY " AND "NOT MANDATED BY THE NHTSA" TO PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT "I MUST HAVE FULL INSURANCE COVERAGE TO LEASE A CAR". (I HAVE A 5 PASSENGER 2007 LEXUS ES, WHICH IS PAID IN FULL) IT IS NOT REQUIRED THAT I HAVE FULL INSURANCE CO…
Read full complaint
10885689- STERLING MCCALL LEXUS REPRESENTATIVES SAY THAT IT IS A "COURTESY " AND "NOT MANDATED BY THE NHTSA" TO PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT "I MUST HAVE FULL INSURANCE COVERAGE TO LEASE A CAR". (I HAVE A 5 PASSENGER 2007 LEXUS ES, WHICH IS PAID IN FULL) IT IS NOT REQUIRED THAT I HAVE FULL INSURANCE COVERAGE WITH THE STATE OF TX. THIS WILL COST MORE MONEY. LEXUS IS CONCERNED WITH THEIR OWN ECONOMICS AND NOT WITH CONSUMER SAFETY BY PRESENTING HARDSHIPS, MAKING IT DIFFICULT AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF CUSTOMERS IN PROVIDING REPLACEMENT VEHICLES FOR OWNERS WHO NEED THEIR VEHICLES TO PROVIDE A DECENT LIVING, WHO ARE ON A BUDGET, FINANCIALLY CHALLENGE.
THE BUTTON ON THE DECK LID TO OPEN HAD BECOME VERY STICKY AS IF MELTED ALSO THE STEERING WHEEL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS AS IF THE COATING ON BOTH HAS BECOME LIKE PUTTY.
OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AT LEAST 7 TIMES, I HAVE HAD MY CAR STAY RUNNING WHILE I AM AT A RESTAURANT OR WHEN I RETURN HOME. I PARK OUTSIDE AND AT LEAST 3 TIMES OVER THE LAST 6 YEARS NEIGHBORS HAVE CALLED AND SAID DID YOU KNOW THAT YOUR CAR ENGINE WAS RUNNING. ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO, IN EARLY AUGUST, I WAS AT A RESTAURANT …
Read full complaint
OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AT LEAST 7 TIMES, I HAVE HAD MY CAR STAY RUNNING WHILE I AM AT A RESTAURANT OR WHEN I RETURN HOME. I PARK OUTSIDE AND AT LEAST 3 TIMES OVER THE LAST 6 YEARS NEIGHBORS HAVE CALLED AND SAID DID YOU KNOW THAT YOUR CAR ENGINE WAS RUNNING. ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO, IN EARLY AUGUST, I WAS AT A RESTAURANT IN CLINTON, NEW YORK WHERE THE CAR WAS RUNNING ON THE STREET SEVERAL BLOCKS AWAY FOR THE WHOLE TIME WE WERE IN THE RESTAURANT. EACH TIME I THOUGHT I'D PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND PUSHED IN THE BUTTON TO SHUT OFF THE CAR. I AM SO GLAD THAT YOU ARE INVESTIGATING THIS. IF I HAD AN INTERIOR GARAGE WHERE I PARKED AT MY HOME, I COULD HAVE KILLED PEOPLE WITH THE BUILD UP OF THE CARBON MONOXIDE. I CAN'T SEE WHY TOYOTA CAN'T HAVE A BLINKING LIGHT WHEN THE CAR IS ON OR HAVE THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY CUT OFF AFTER A FEW MINUTES. ONE OTHER THING, IS THAT MY CAR, WHICH I LOVE, RUNS SO QUIETLY, THAT IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO HEAR THE ENGINE WHEN IT IS IDLING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVESTIGATING THIS SERIOUS ISSUE. *TR
WHILE SITTING AT STOP LIGHT HEARD GRINDING NOISE AND UPON TURNING AT TRAFFIC LIGHT STEAM LIKE SMOKE LEFT HOOD. AS I PULLED OVER IT LOOKED TO BE ENGINE COOLANT.
FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS, MY VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD HAS BEEN MELTING, CAUSING A STICKY, SHINY FILM ON THE DASHBOARD. THIS DEFECT IS A MAJOR HAZARD AS IT CREATES A REFLECTION FROM THE DASHBOARD, NOT ALLOWING ME TO PROPERLY HAVE A CLEAR VIEW WHILE OPERATING MY VEHICLE. THE DEFECT LIMITS ME FROM TAKING LONG TRIPS ON THE ROAD, AS I AM AFRA…
Read full complaint
FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS, MY VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD HAS BEEN MELTING, CAUSING A STICKY, SHINY FILM ON THE DASHBOARD. THIS DEFECT IS A MAJOR HAZARD AS IT CREATES A REFLECTION FROM THE DASHBOARD, NOT ALLOWING ME TO PROPERLY HAVE A CLEAR VIEW WHILE OPERATING MY VEHICLE. THE DEFECT LIMITS ME FROM TAKING LONG TRIPS ON THE ROAD, AS I AM AFRAID THAT I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SEE DUE TO THE REFLECTION IN MY EYES.
THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SUPPOSED TO TRACK WITH THE DIRECTION OF MY I FRONT TIRES. FOR THE PAST 2+ YEARS MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE SPORADICALLY BEEN TURNING OFF. SOMETIMES IT WILL BE ONE LIGHT, OTHER TIMES IT WILL BE BOTH. I AM FORCED TO TURN ON MY BRIGHTS. USUALLY, I CAN IMMEDIATELY SWITCH BACK TO MY LOW BEAM AND THEY WILL COME BACK ON.…
Read full complaint
THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SUPPOSED TO TRACK WITH THE DIRECTION OF MY I FRONT TIRES. FOR THE PAST 2+ YEARS MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE SPORADICALLY BEEN TURNING OFF. SOMETIMES IT WILL BE ONE LIGHT, OTHER TIMES IT WILL BE BOTH. I AM FORCED TO TURN ON MY BRIGHTS. USUALLY, I CAN IMMEDIATELY SWITCH BACK TO MY LOW BEAM AND THEY WILL COME BACK ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP SO THEY COULD CHANGE THE LIGHT BULBS. AFTER INSPECTING THE LIGHTS, THEY FOUND THE PLASTIC MOUNT WAS DISINTEGRATING. THE HEAT FROM THE HALOGEN LIGHTS WAS DETERIORATING THE PLASTIC. AS A RESULT, THE MOUNT WAS UNABLE TO TRACK. THEY DID NOT WANT TO ATTEMPT TO REPLACE THE BULBS BECAUSE THE WHOLE UNIT WAS TOO FRAGILE.
THE DASHBOARD AND DOOR PANELS ARE MELTING. TOP OF DASHBOARD IS SO SHINY IT CAUSES VISUAL DISTURBANCE. WAS ADVISED MONTHS AGO BY LEXUS THAT RECALL IS IMPENDING
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW CAME OFF TRACK WHILE DRIVING---WINDOW WAS NOT BEING OPENED OR CLOSED/THERE WAS A LOUD SOUND & WHEN I PULLED OVER WINDOW WAS OFF TRACK/TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER (NON LEXUS) WHERE I PURCHASED CAR & WAS TOLD A CLICK THAT IS ON WINDOW BROKE & ENTIRE WINDOW NEEDS REPLACING/I SEARCHED THE WEB & DISCOVERED OTHE…
Read full complaint
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW CAME OFF TRACK WHILE DRIVING---WINDOW WAS NOT BEING OPENED OR CLOSED/THERE WAS A LOUD SOUND & WHEN I PULLED OVER WINDOW WAS OFF TRACK/TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER (NON LEXUS) WHERE I PURCHASED CAR & WAS TOLD A CLICK THAT IS ON WINDOW BROKE & ENTIRE WINDOW NEEDS REPLACING/I SEARCHED THE WEB & DISCOVERED OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM
Official recalls
0No 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 ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA07010 · Unwanted Acceleration, Floor Mat
Opened Aug 8, 2007 · Closed Oct 11, 2007
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control; 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
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