2011 Lexus Es

The contact owns a 2011 Lexus ES 350. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed fluid leaking from the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 137,912.

AT APPROXIMATELY 6:30PM, WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN INTO A FRIENDS DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN, AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO THE RIGHT AS IF LOCKED IN TO THE RIGHT HAND POSITION, HIT A TREE AND FINALLY CAME TO A STOP BY HITTING HIGH CONCRETE STEPS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND LATER TO THE BODY SHOP AS THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. DURING THE INTERIM, THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY TOYOTA. POST INVESTIGATION, THE LETTER RECENTLY RECEIVED FROM TOYOTA STATES "DURING THE LIMITED TEST DRIVE ACCELERATING AND BRAKING TESTS WERE CONDUCTED AND THE VEHICLE PERFORMED WITH NO ABNORMALITIES FOUND". THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE PER THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MECHANIC AT THE BODY SHOP, DUE TO THE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE AND FLUID LEAKAGE. THIS LETTER FROM TOYOTA'S INVESTIGATION IS INCONGRUENT WITH THE FACTS AS I KNOW THEM. AS OF THIS DATE, JUNE 3, 2012, THE VEHICLE IS STILL BEING WORKED ON. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A OWNS A 2011 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND FORGOT TO SHUT THE IGNITION OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A PUSH TO START AND STOP FEATURE. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN UNTIL A CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR SOUNDED. THE DRIVER SUFFERED CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING AND AS A RESULT, WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL TO TREAT THE CONDITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

CAPABILITY OF LEXUS ES 350 YEAR 2007: IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ONE TO BE LOCKED OUT OF ONE'S CAR WITH THE SMART KEY IN THE CABIN OR IN THE TRUNK. IF THE SMART KEY WERE IN THE CABIN, ONE COULD NOT LOCK THE DOORS AND WOULD BE ALERTED WITH LOUD CONTINUOUS SIGNAL. IF THE SMART KEY WERE IN THE TRUNK, ONE COULD NOT LOCK THE TRUNK AND WOULD ALERTED WITH A LOUD CONTINUOUS SIGNAL. THIS CAPABILITY DOES NOT EXIST WITH THE LEXUS ES 350 YEAR 2011: IF ONE LOCKS ALL THE DOORS TO THE CABIN AND THEN ACCIDENTALLY PLACES THE SMART KEY INTO THE TRUNK. THE TRUCK CAN THEN BE LOCKED LEAVING THE DRIVER IN THE COLD WITH NO WAY TO GET BACK INTO CAR. THIS A SAFETY HAZARD. WE WERE NOT ALERTED ABOUT THIS SAFETY HAZARD WHEN WE TRADED IN OUR 2007 LEXUS ES 350 FOR THE 2011 LEXUS ES 350. LEXUS RESPONSE: ONCE WE WERE ABLE TO GET TO A PHONE, LEXUS INDICATED THAT WE MUST HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A LEXUS DEALING!!! RECOMMEND THAT LEXUS FIX THIS SAFETY DEFECT ON LEXUS ES 350 YEAR 2011. *TR