NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
48 reportsClear category filter50,835 miles · Mar 9, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
PLACE OF ACCIDENT - ST. JOSEPH CHURCH PARKING LOTMACON, GA 31201. I WAS TURNING TO GET INTO THE AVAILABLE PARKING SPACE AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT NO REASON AT ALL. THE CAR FLEW AND HIT THE ELECTRIC POST IN FRONT OF ME. THIS ALL HAPPENED IN A SPLIT OF A SECOND. LUCKILY, THE CAR SIDE SWEPT THE ELECTRIC POST OTHERWIS…
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PLACE OF ACCIDENT - ST. JOSEPH CHURCH PARKING LOTMACON, GA 31201. I WAS TURNING TO GET INTO THE AVAILABLE PARKING SPACE AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT NO REASON AT ALL. THE CAR FLEW AND HIT THE ELECTRIC POST IN FRONT OF ME. THIS ALL HAPPENED IN A SPLIT OF A SECOND. LUCKILY, THE CAR SIDE SWEPT THE ELECTRIC POST OTHERWISE, I WOULD HAVE CRASHED INTO CAR(S) AND THE BUILDING IN FRONT OF ME. THERE WAS MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10318184
38,000 miles · Mar 9, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
TL* CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. WHILE COASTING TOWARD AN INTERSECTION AT SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AT A RAPID RATE OF SPEED. SHE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO VEER TOWARD A NEARBY WOODED AREA. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO APPROXIMAT…
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TL* CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. WHILE COASTING TOWARD AN INTERSECTION AT SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AT A RAPID RATE OF SPEED. SHE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO VEER TOWARD A NEARBY WOODED AREA. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO APPROXIMATELY 3 TREES BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. AS A RESULT, SHE SUFFERED UNKNOWN INJURIES. THE VEHICLE HAD SINCE BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 39,000.
NHTSA ODI #10318106
80,000 miles · Mar 3, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE IN SMALL PARKING LOT, CAR ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. WOULD NOT STOP WHEN STEPPED ON BRAKE AND CRASHED INTO TWO OTHER CARS. REPORTED TO DMV IN CA, WHERE CAR REGISTERED, ALTHOUGH ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN NEVADA. CAR SEVERELY DAMAGED AND REPAIRED BY INSURANCE CO. LEXUS DEALER CHECKED CAR AFTER REPAIR A…
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BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE IN SMALL PARKING LOT, CAR ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. WOULD NOT STOP WHEN STEPPED ON BRAKE AND CRASHED INTO TWO OTHER CARS. REPORTED TO DMV IN CA, WHERE CAR REGISTERED, ALTHOUGH ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN NEVADA. CAR SEVERELY DAMAGED AND REPAIRED BY INSURANCE CO. LEXUS DEALER CHECKED CAR AFTER REPAIR AND BLAMED FLOOR MATS BUT WE DISAGREE. IF ANYONE HAD BEEN BEHIND CAR THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR INJURED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10316327
35,000 miles · Mar 3, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABOVE 80 MPH WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO CRASH INTO 6 VEHICLES. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. THE POLICE CONFIRMED THAT THE D…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABOVE 80 MPH WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO CRASH INTO 6 VEHICLES. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. THE POLICE CONFIRMED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING AT 86 MPH DUE TO THE UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE THAT THE VEHICLE HAD INCREASED AT THAT SPEED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 41,000.
NHTSA ODI #10316054
Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control
ODI 10126111 FILED 6-21-2005 SUDDEN ACCELERATION 2003 LEXUS ES300. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10313848
78,000 miles · Feb 24, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300 PURCHASED APRIL 2004. SHE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN EXPERIENCING FAILURES WHEN THE VEHICLE SURGED AND VIOLENTLY LUNGED FORWARD WHILE IT WAS IDLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS A "SMART CAR" AND WAS AWARE WHEN THERE WAS A DRIVER, OTHER THAN HERSELF BEHIND THE WHEEL, WHICH WOULD "CONFUSE" TH…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300 PURCHASED APRIL 2004. SHE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN EXPERIENCING FAILURES WHEN THE VEHICLE SURGED AND VIOLENTLY LUNGED FORWARD WHILE IT WAS IDLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS A "SMART CAR" AND WAS AWARE WHEN THERE WAS A DRIVER, OTHER THAN HERSELF BEHIND THE WHEEL, WHICH WOULD "CONFUSE" THE VEHICLE. NO DIAGNOSTIC TEST WERE PERFORMED. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER A SECOND TIME. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER BECAME FAMILIAR WITH THE FAILURE; THEY STATED THAT SHE NEEDED TO WAIT A YEAR UNTIL THE "NEW PROGRAMMING" WAS AVAILABLE. ONE YEAR LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE SOFTWARE REPROGRAMMING AND THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LUNGE VIOLENTLY WHILE SITTING IDLE, DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF UNDER 35 MPH OR WHILE COASTING. WHEN THE VEHICLE LUNGED IT FELT AS IF SHE WAS BEING STRUCK FROM THE REAR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 78,000.
NHTSA ODI #10313631
44,916 miles · Feb 23, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE DRIVER WAS SHIFTING INTO REVERSE GEAR, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HE LOST CONTROL OF IT. THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND A TREE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS ACCELERATION FAILURES. SHE TOOK …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE DRIVER WAS SHIFTING INTO REVERSE GEAR, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HE LOST CONTROL OF IT. THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND A TREE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS ACCELERATION FAILURES. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER TOLD HER THAT THEY COULD SEE NOTHING MECHANICALLY WRONG. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD HER THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST HER BECAUSE THEY HAD NO RELATED REPORTS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,094. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,916. UPDATED 04/19/10. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10312964
77,000 miles · Feb 16, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
ON JANUARY 13, 2010 WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR LEXUS ES 300, THE CAR ACCELERATED AS SHE WAS ENTERING A PARKING SPACE, CAUSING THE CAR TO COLLIDE WITH A POLE IN THE PARKING LOT. THE DEALER WHERE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE (LEXUS OF LOUISVILLE) WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT CLAIMED THE CAR WAS NOT ONE OF THE MODELS RECA…
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ON JANUARY 13, 2010 WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR LEXUS ES 300, THE CAR ACCELERATED AS SHE WAS ENTERING A PARKING SPACE, CAUSING THE CAR TO COLLIDE WITH A POLE IN THE PARKING LOT. THE DEALER WHERE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE (LEXUS OF LOUISVILLE) WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT CLAIMED THE CAR WAS NOT ONE OF THE MODELS RECALLED. WE REPAIRED DAMAGE TO THE BODY AT A COST OF $2500, BUT ARE NOW CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10310738
105,000 miles · Nov 5, 2009
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrash
MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY 2003 LEXUS IN TOWN. WE HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PREVIOUS SIMILAR INCIDENTS, AND HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING SINCE. SHE HAD STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, BUT WAS TOO FAR BACK, SO SHE WANTED TO PULL UP A LITTLE. SHE TOOK HER FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, AND THE CAR MOVED FORWARD. SHE REPEATEDLY PUSHE…
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MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY 2003 LEXUS IN TOWN. WE HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PREVIOUS SIMILAR INCIDENTS, AND HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING SINCE. SHE HAD STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, BUT WAS TOO FAR BACK, SO SHE WANTED TO PULL UP A LITTLE. SHE TOOK HER FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, AND THE CAR MOVED FORWARD. SHE REPEATEDLY PUSHED THE BRAKE, BUT THEY DID NOT WORK. THE CAR STOPPED WHEN SHE HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER. I HAD THE CAR CHECKED AFTER THE ACCIDENT, BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING OBVIOUS. HOWEVER, SHE, AND THE OTHER PASSENGERS, HAVE VERIFIED THAT SHE REPEATEDLY PUSHED THE BRAKE TO NO AVAIL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10291080
Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2008
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
2003 LEXUS ES300 WITH UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN JOLTED FORWARD. SHE STATES NO MATTER HOW HARD THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED IT KEPT ACCELERATING UNTIL IT HIT A BRICK COLUMN. *KB *JB
NHTSA ODI #10232871
NHTSA investigations
4DP09001 · Unwanted And Unintended Acceleration
Opened Apr 8, 2009 · Closed Oct 29, 2009
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED DP09-001 ON APRIL 8, 2009, TO EVALUATE A DEFECT PETITION REQUESTING ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION OF POTENTIAL THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM DEFECTS UNRELATED TO FLOOR MAT INTERFERENCE WITH ACCELERATOR PEDALS IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 LEXUS ES 350 VEHICLES.THE PETITIONER REFERENCED AN EARLIER ODI INVESTIGATION CONCERNING FLOOR MAT INTERFERENCE WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL RETURN (PE07-016/EA07-010), WHICH HE STATED WAS TOO NARROW IN SCOPE AS IT DID NOT INCLUDE ALL INCIDENTS OF UNWANTED ACCELERATION AND CONSIDER ALL POTENTIAL CAUSES OF VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL CONCERNS.THE PETITION ALSO REQUESTED AN INVESTIGATION OF MY 2002-2003 LEXUS ES300 FOR THOSE 'LONGER DURATION INCIDENTS INVOLVING UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION WHERE BRAKE PEDAL APPLICATION ALLEGEDLY HAD NO EFFECT' THAT WERE DETERMINED NOT TO BE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF INVESTIGATION PE04-021. AS BACKGROUND, THE PETITIONER OWNS A MY 2007 LEXUS ES350 THAT ALLEGEDLY EXPERIENCED AN UNWANTED AND UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION EVENT (ODI COMPLAINT NUMBER 10261660).TOYOTA CONCLUDED THAT THE INCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY AN UNSECURED FLOOR MAT. TO ASSESS THE PETITIONER'S REQUEST, ODI INTERVIEWED THE PETITIONER, INSPECTED HIS VEHICLE, REVIEWED INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY TOYOTA, REVIEWED OWNER COMPLAINTS ALLEGING INCIDENTS OF UNWANTED ACCELERATION IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND MATERIAL RELATED TO THE INVESTIGATIONS CITED BY THE PETITIONER.ODI IDENTIFIED 64 COMPLAINTS ALLEGING INCIDENTS OF UNWANTED ACCELERATION IN MY 2007 LEXUS VEHICLES, RESULTING IN 8 CRASHES AND 15 INJURIES.ODI'S ANALYSIS OF THESE COMPLAINTS DETERMINED THAT 50 (78%) INVOLVED INCIDENTS OF FLOOR MAT INTERFERENCE, INCLUDING 7 (88%) OF THE CRASHES AND ALL 15 INJURIES.THEREFORE, ODI'S ANALYSIS FOUND THAT THE ONLY DEFECT TREND RELATED TO VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES INVOLVED THE POTENTIAL FOR ACCELERATOR PEDALS TO BECOME TRAPPED NEAR THE FLOOR BY OUT-OF-POSITION OR INAPPROPRIATE FLOOR MAT INSTALLATIONS. ON OCTOBER 5, 2009, TOYOTA INITIATED A SAFETY RECALL (RECALL 09V-388) TO ADDRESS CONCERNS WITH POTENTIAL ACCELERATOR PEDAL ENTRAPMENT BY FLOOR MATS IN APPROXIMATELY 3.8 MILLION VEHICLES, INCLUDING THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.EXCEPT INSOFAR AS THE PETITIONER'S CONTENTIONS RELATE TO THAT RECALL, THE FACTUAL BASES OF THE PETITIONER'S CONTENTIONS THAT ANY FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS NECESSARY ARE UNSUPPORTED. IN OUR VIEW, ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION IS UNLIKELY TO RESULT IN A FINDING THAT A DEFECT RELATED TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXISTS OR A NHTSA ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT, AS ALLEGED BY THE PETITIONER, AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE REQUESTED INVESTIGATION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.THIS ACTION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY FUTURE CIRCUMSTANCES.PLEASE SEE THEFEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE FOR FURTHER DETAILS.
DP05002 · Vehicle Speed Control
Opened Aug 5, 2005 · Closed Jan 5, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control
IN A LETTER DATED JULY 8, 2005, AND AFTER EXPERIENCING TWO INCIDENTS (AND ONE CRASH) WHERE HE ALLEGES HIS MODEL YEAR (MY) 2002 CAMRY ACCELERATED WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT, MR. JORDAN ZIPRIN PETITIONED THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION?S (NHTSA) OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) TO COMMENCE A PROCEEDING TO DETERMINE THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT WITHIN THE ETC SYSTEM IN MY 2002 TO 2005 TOYOTA AND LEXUS VEHICLES, OR TO REOPEN A PRIOR INVESTIGATION PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE) 04-021.IN A LETTER DATED AUGUST 18, 2005, MR. ZIPRIN AMENDED HIS PETITION TO INCLUDE ALLEGATIONS OF INTERRELATED BRAKE AND ACCELERATION PROBLEMS THAT ALLEGEDLY RESULT IN INAPPROPRIATE AND UNCONTROLLABLE VEHICLE ACCELERATIONS.THE 1172 VEHICLE OWNER QUESTIONNAIRE REPORTS CITED BY THE PETITIONER INVOLVE 4 LEXUS AND 15 TOYOTA MODELS DEFINING A POPULATION OF 7 MILLION VEHICLES.THE REPORTS TYPICALLY ALLEGED A DEFECT IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM, THE THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM, OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH SYSTEMS.IN ITS REVIEW OF THE REPORTS, ODI A) FAILED TO FIND EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE EXISTENCE OF A BRAKE RELATED DEFECT IN THE CITED MODELS, AND B) DETERMINED THAT MANY CITED PRODUCTS WERE NOT EQUIPPED WITH ETC.ACCORDINGLY, ODI RESTRICTED ITS ANALYSIS TO THE 432 PETITIONER REPORTS INVOLVING MY 2002 TO 2005 CAMRY, SOLARA, AND ES MODELS (ALL EQUIPPED WITH ETC) THAT ALLEGED AN ABNORMAL THROTTLE CONTROL EVENT (SEE THE JANUARY 3, 2006 FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE FOR FURTHER DETAILS).ABOUT 40% OF THE 432 REPORTS INVOLVE A DRIVEABILITY CONCERN WHERE THE OPERATOR INTENTIONALLY APPLIES THE THROTTLE PEDAL, IN EXPECTATION THAT THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE, AND THEN EXPERIENCES A DELAY OR HESITATION IN VEHICLE RESPONSE.THESE REPORTS INVOLVE VEHICLE RESPONSE TO INTENTIONAL DRIVER COMMANDS WHICH ODI CONSIDERS UNRELATED TO THE ALLEGATIONS RAISED BY THE PETITIONER.THEREFORE, THE REPORTS DO NOT PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED.ABOUT 20% OF THE REPORTS INVOLVE INCIDENTS WHERE OPERATORS ALLEGE VEHICLE ACCELERATION WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT AND AN INABILITY OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHEN APPLIED.NEITHER THE REPORTS, NOR THE INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED BY ODI, IDENTIFIED ANY VEHICLE-BASED CAUSE TO EXPLAIN THE INCIDENTS OR DISCLOSED EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THAT A FAILURE OF THE BRAKE OR THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM HAD OCCURRED.BECAUSE THESE REPORTS DO NOT INDICATE A DISTINCT SAFETY DEFECT FOR INVESTIGATION, THE REPORTS DO NOT PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED BY THE PETITIONERTHE REMAINING REPORTS (~ 40%, SIMILAR TO THE PETITIONER?S AND THOSE OF PE04-021) TYPICALLY DESCRIBE INCIDENTS WHERE A VEHICLE IS BEING MANEUVERED AT SLOW SPEED IN A CLOSE QUARTER SITUATION AT WHICH POINT THE OPERATOR ALLEGES THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT AND CRASHES.IN THE AFTERMATH, OPERATORS ARE UNSURE OF WHETHER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED OR NOT, SOMETIMES STATING THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT TIME TO USE THE BRAKE; A CRASH OCCURRED AND THE OPERATOR BELIEVES AN UNCOMMANDED ACCELERATION CAUSED IT.IN SPITE OF THE EFFORT EXPENDED DURING PE04-021 AND DURING THIS ANALYSIS, ODI HAS NOT IDENTIFIED ANY VEHICLE-BASED CAUSE TO EXPLAIN THE REPORTS, OR UNCOVERED ANY EVIDENCE TO INDICATE THAT A THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE OCCURRED.THEREFORE, THE REPORTS HAVE AMBIGUOUS SIGNIFICANCE AND DO NOT CONSTITUTE A BASIS ON WHICH ANY FURTHER INVESTIGATIVE ACTION IS WARRANTED.BASED ON THE ANALYSIS CONDUCTED, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THE NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.CONSEQUENTLY, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES T
PE04021 · Throttle Control System
Opened Mar 3, 2004 · Closed Jul 22, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control
THE LEXUS MODELS WERE THE SUBJECT OF DEFECT PETITION (DP) 04-003.TWELVE ODI COMPLAINTS ARE DUPLICATIVE TO TOYOTA REPORTS, INCLUDING THE TWO MINOR CRASHES.THE V6 EQUIPPED SOLARA MODELS HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED BECAUSE THEY DO NOT CONTAIN THE SUBJECT THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM.TOYOTA INTRODUCED ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL (ETC) ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES BEGINNING IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2002.ODI OPENED THE INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE IF THE SYSTEM COULD BE THE CAUSE OF COMPLAINTS ALLEGING THE ENGINE SPEED INCREASED, OR FAILED TO DECREASE, (FOR A SHORT DURATION) WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED (THE ALLEGED DEFECT).DURING THE COURSE OF THE INVESTIGATION, ODI ANALYZED AGENCY DATA AND REVIEWED VEHICLE OWNER QUESTIONNAIRE (VOQ) REPORTS, CONDUCTED INTERVIEWS INVOLVING 113 VOQ AND 36 TOYOTA REPORTS, INSPECTED TWO COMPLAINANT VEHICLES, REVIEWED RELEVANT TOYOTA SERVICE AND NEW CAR FEATURE DOCUMENTATION, REVIEWED AND ANALYZED TOYOTA?S RESPONSES TO ODI?S INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER, CONDUCTED A LIMITED CONTROL PEDAL ASSESSMENT, AND ATTENDED A TOYOTA TECHNICAL PRESENTATION THAT INCLUDED THE ASSESSMENT OF TWO DEMONSTRATION VEHICLES.THROUGH INTERVIEWS, ODI IDENTIFIED 14 VOQ AND 6 TOYOTA REPORTS (20 UNIQUE VEHICLES) WHERE COMPLAINANTS REPORT MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT.IN SOME CASES THE CONDITION WAS EXPERIENCED BY DIFFERENT VEHICLE OPERATORS OR WAS WITNESSED BY OTHER OCCUPANTS.ODI WAS UNABLE TO MAKE A DETERMINATION AS TO THE CAUSE OF 9 TOYOTA AND AN ADDITIONAL 37 VOQ REPORTS (WHICH DESCRIBE 28 UNIQUE INCIDENTS) DUE TO INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION.THE REMAINING COMPLAINANTS INTERVIEWED (62 VOQ, 21 TOYOTA) DESCRIBED CONDITIONS NOT CAUSED BY A FAILURE OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM AND WERE THUS CONSIDERED UNRELATED TO THE INVESTIGATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS INTERVIEWED REPORTED A COMPONENT FAILURE (OR OTHER INDICATOR OF A SYSTEM FAILURE) AS THE POTENTIAL CAUSE OF INCIDENTS RELEVANT TO THIS INVESTIGATION.IN MANY CASES, THE COMPLAINT VEHICLES WERE SUBSEQUENTLY INSPECTED BY DEALERSHIP OR MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVES WHO ALSO FAILED TO IDENTIFY A FAULT WITHIN THE VEHICLE.TOYOTA IDENTIFIED 43 RELATED WARRANTY CLAIMS, 24 OF WHICH WERE FOR DIAGNOSTIC PURPOSES ONLY (NO REPAIRS PERFORMED).ODI FOUND NOTHING ABNORMAL IN THE CONTROL PEDAL CONFIGURATION OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.A DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE THE ATTACHED SUMMARY FOR FURTHER DETAIL.
DP04003 · Throttle Control System
Opened Feb 17, 2004 · Closed Mar 5, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control
THE POPULATION NUMBER NOTED ABOVE IS ESTIMATED.IN THE JANUARY 15TH, 2004 PETITION REQUEST LETTER TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA), THE PETITIONER IDENTIFIED 37 VOQ COMPLAINTS AS RELATED TO VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL ISSUES SIMILAR TO THOSE THE PETITIONER ALLEGEDLY EXPERIENCED IN THEIR OWN VEHICLE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS (AS DESCRIBED IN THE PETITION REQUEST LETTER).DURING IT'S CONSIDERATION OF THE REQUEST, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) REVIEWED THE 37 COMPLAINTS AND CONCLUDED THAT 34 OF THE COMPLAINTS DID NOT INVOLVE A THROTTLE CONTROL ISSUE AS DESCRIBED AND ALLEGED BY THE PETITIONER; THREE VOQS (ONE OF WHICH IS THE PETITIONER'S) DO ALLEGE A THROTTLE CONTROL ISSUE.HOWEVER, THE THROTTLE CONTROL ISSUES ALLEGED BY THE PETITIONER ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE ALLEGED IN THE SUPPORTING VOQS FOR PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE04-021 WHICH INVOLVES THE THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM ON MODEL YEAR 2002 AND 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY AND CAMRY SOLARA MODELS.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF AVAILABLE SERVICE INFORMATION, IT APPEARS THE THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM MANUFACTURED ON THE LEXUS ES300 MODELS IS THE SAME AS, OR SIMILAR TO, THE THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM USED ON THE TOYOTA CAMRY AND CAMRY SOLARA MODELS.ACCORDINGLY, THE ES300 MODELS WILL BE ADDED TO THE SCOPE OF PE04-021 AND THE PETITION IS GRANTED.
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