NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
116 reports37,547 miles · Feb 1, 2010
Fuel System, GasolineCrash
ON JUNE 12 MY WIFE WAS ENTERING A PARKING SPOT WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THE 2003 LEXUS ES 300 SUDDENLY WITH A ROAR SURGED FORWARD JUMPED A PARKING BUMPER AND A HIGH SIDEWALK CURB WENT FORWARD ABOUT 6 FEET AND HIT A CONCRETE AND STEEL GIRDER STAIR CASE. THE CRASH DID OVER 5000.00 DOLLARS DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND OVER 50…
Read full complaint
ON JUNE 12 MY WIFE WAS ENTERING A PARKING SPOT WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THE 2003 LEXUS ES 300 SUDDENLY WITH A ROAR SURGED FORWARD JUMPED A PARKING BUMPER AND A HIGH SIDEWALK CURB WENT FORWARD ABOUT 6 FEET AND HIT A CONCRETE AND STEEL GIRDER STAIR CASE. THE CRASH DID OVER 5000.00 DOLLARS DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND OVER 5000.00 DOLLARS TOTHE STAIRS.MY WIFE WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT AND HAD A SORE COLLAR BONE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10303741
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…
Read full complaint
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
85,402 miles · Oct 20, 2008
Latches/locks/linkages
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FROM OUTSIDE OR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE LOCK ON THE DOOR FROZE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE …
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FROM OUTSIDE OR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE LOCK ON THE DOOR FROZE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER ANY RECALL AND THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,602 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,402.
NHTSA ODI #10246135
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
Mileage unknown · May 19, 2008
EquipmentService Brakes, HydraulicCrash
2003 LEXUS ES 300 WITH BRAKE FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED A FEW WEEKS AFTER HAVING THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES REPLACED. DEALER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TESTED AND NO DEFECT WAS FOUND. *KB WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE CARPORT, WHICH REQUIRED THE CONSUMER TO HAVE HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE W…
Read full complaint
2003 LEXUS ES 300 WITH BRAKE FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED A FEW WEEKS AFTER HAVING THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES REPLACED. DEALER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TESTED AND NO DEFECT WAS FOUND. *KB WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE CARPORT, WHICH REQUIRED THE CONSUMER TO HAVE HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE WHILE IN REVERSE BEGAN MOVING BACKWARD SLOWLY AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, BUT DID HIT A TREE, WHICH CAUSE A SLIGHT DENT TO THE TRUNK DOOR. THE EXPLANATION GIVEN TO THE CONSUMER WAS THAT THE FLOOR MAT MAY HAVE SLID UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL AND OVER THE GAS PEDAL. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10228449
44,785 miles · Mar 5, 2008
Vehicle Speed Control
PULLING INTO PARKING SPOT ON LEFT ,ABOUT STOPPED AND THE CAR ACCELERATER VERY FAST FOR ABOUT 30 FEET. BEENING THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED, I WAS AWARE OF WHERE MY FOOT WAS, ON THE BRAKE. LAST OCT. PULLING INTO PARKING SPOT TO LEFT THE SAME THING HAPPENED. JUST FELT LIKE A NUT. THIS TIME I AM SURE IT WAS THE CAR. *TR THE …
Read full complaint
PULLING INTO PARKING SPOT ON LEFT ,ABOUT STOPPED AND THE CAR ACCELERATER VERY FAST FOR ABOUT 30 FEET. BEENING THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED, I WAS AWARE OF WHERE MY FOOT WAS, ON THE BRAKE. LAST OCT. PULLING INTO PARKING SPOT TO LEFT THE SAME THING HAPPENED. JUST FELT LIKE A NUT. THIS TIME I AM SURE IT WAS THE CAR. *TR THE CONTACT WANTED TO ADD THAT THE DRIVERS FLOOR MAT WAS IN THE TRUNK.
NHTSA ODI #10220108
Mileage unknown · Feb 29, 2008
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
WHEN MAKING AS LOW TURN, AT UNDER 5 MILES PER HOUR IF THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT LAG BEFORE THE CAR REACTS AND MOVES. DEALER CLAIMS THAT IS THE WAY IT IS AN CAN'T FIX IT. ALSO HAPPENED WITH A 2007 LEXUS ES 350 AS A DEALER LOANER AND THIS TIME RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH $3,700 DAMAGE TO LEXUS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10219665
46,000 miles · Feb 6, 2008
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
THE 2003 LEXUS ES300 SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COME OUT OF A DRIVEWAY, GO COMPLETELY ACROSS THE STREET, UP ONTO THE SIDEWALK, AND HIT POLES/FENCE, CAUSING SEVERE INJURIES. THE GAS PEDAL WAS NOT PRESSED DOWN HARD AT THE TIME, AND THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION FOR THE RAPID ACCELERATION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10217130
78,800 miles · Feb 6, 2008
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
I WAS IN THE DRIVE THROUGH AT THE DUNKIN DONUTS IN GERMANTOWN, MD GIVING MY ORDER IN THE SPEAKER. I REMEMBER HEARING A ROARING SOUND LIKE A TRAIN AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR SHOT FORWARD AND HIT THE BACK OF THE CAR AT THE SERVICE WINDOW. IT WAS QUITE STRANGE. I AM CONVINCED I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. T…
Read full complaint
I WAS IN THE DRIVE THROUGH AT THE DUNKIN DONUTS IN GERMANTOWN, MD GIVING MY ORDER IN THE SPEAKER. I REMEMBER HEARING A ROARING SOUND LIKE A TRAIN AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR SHOT FORWARD AND HIT THE BACK OF THE CAR AT THE SERVICE WINDOW. IT WAS QUITE STRANGE. I AM CONVINCED I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE EMS AND POLICE SAID I MUST HAVE HIT THE ACCELERATOR BY MISTAKE. I AM NOT CONVINCED IN MY OWN MIND THAT THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10217071
55,068 miles · Jan 8, 2008
Visibility
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH WITH THE REAR DEFROSTER ACTIVATED, THE GLASS SHATTERED AND FELL ON THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT INSIDE SHELF BELOW THE WINDOW.. THE PASSENGER WAS UNHARMED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT COST WOULD BE $608. THE DEALER STATED TH…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH WITH THE REAR DEFROSTER ACTIVATED, THE GLASS SHATTERED AND FELL ON THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT INSIDE SHELF BELOW THE WINDOW.. THE PASSENGER WAS UNHARMED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT COST WOULD BE $608. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A SMALL PIN HOLE THAT CAUSED THE GLASS TO SHATTER. THE MANUFACTURER WILL PAY $200 OF THE $608. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 55,068. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF
NHTSA ODI #10214220
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.
Illustration