1998 Lexus ES300

I EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN MY 1998 LEXUS ES WHILE BACKING INTO MY GARAGE. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, BUT THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF IN REVERSE AND CRASHED INTO THE BACK OF THE GARAGE, DAMAGING BOTH THE CAR AND THE GARAGE. I WAS NOT INJURED, BUT WAS CERTAINLY FRIGHTENED BY THE INCIDENT. I AM CERTAIN IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH FLOOR MATS. I AM ALSO CERTAIN THAT I DID NOT PLACE MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR ACCIDENTALLY, BECAUSE THIS HAPPENED FROM A COMPLETE STOP WHILE PRESSING ON THE BRAKE WITH THE CAR IN GEAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 1998 LEXUS ES300. WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A POLE CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND THE PASSENGER. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BREAKING HER HAND IN TWO PLACES. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE AND WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT IS AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CALLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54753 UPDATED 03/24/10 *BF UPDATED 05/05/10.*JB WHEN THE CONSUMER APPROACHED AN INTERSECTION WAITING TO TURN LEFT WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. THE CONSUMER CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POLE. HER RIGHT HAND WAS BROKEN IN THREE PLACES AND THE FRONT PASSENGER WAS ALSO HURT. THE CONSUMER RAISED THE QUESTION OF TOYOTA'S SOFTWARE DESIGN OF THE CONTROLS. UPDATED 06/01/10.

THE ACCIDENT WAS DUE TO UNINTENDED-ACCELERATION AS THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD FIGHTING THE BRAKE. IT SEEMED AS THOUGH THE ACCELERATOR HAD A LIFE OF ITS OWN OVERRIDING THE BRAKING ACTIONS I TRIED TO IMPLEMENT. I WAS PROCEEDING SLOWLY UP THE LONG NARROW DRIVEWAY. I MADE A RIGHT TURN INTO A PARKING PLACE THAT WAS PERPENDICULAR TO THE WALK-WAY. I SLOWLY TAPPED THE GAS ON MY LEXUS ES 300 AND THEN THE BRAKES. AS I MOVED MY FOOT OVER TO THE HIGHER LEVEL BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN--THE IGNITION/ACCELERATOR SYSTEM TOOK OVER THE CAR. I PRESSED THE BRAKE AS FIRMLY AS I COULD BUT IT DID NOT OVERRIDE THE ACCELERATION. THE BRAKES HAD ROUTINE MAINTENANCE SIX WEEKS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND I WAS TOLD THEY WERE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER.THE CAR JUMPED THE SIDEWALK AND CRASHED INTO A BLOCK WALL. IT WAS A MECHANICAL FAILURE IN THE ACCELERATOR WHICH CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS HIGH AND THERE WAS NO MISTAKING ONE PEDAL FOR ANOTHER. *TR