NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
116 reports65,000 miles · Dec 31, 2007
Air BagsCrashInjury
OWNER OF THE CAR WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON INTERSTATE, CROSSING A BRIDGE, TAPPED BRAKES WHEN APPROACHING SLUSH AND SNOW, LEXUS ES300 WENT INTO A SPIN, SPUN AROUND ONCE, SPUN ONTO THE SHOULDER AND ROLLING DOWN AN EMBANKMENT, ROLLING OVER TWICE AND LANDING UPSIDE DOWN IN DRAINAGE DITCH. DRIVER WAS SUSPENDED UPSIDE DOW…
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OWNER OF THE CAR WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON INTERSTATE, CROSSING A BRIDGE, TAPPED BRAKES WHEN APPROACHING SLUSH AND SNOW, LEXUS ES300 WENT INTO A SPIN, SPUN AROUND ONCE, SPUN ONTO THE SHOULDER AND ROLLING DOWN AN EMBANKMENT, ROLLING OVER TWICE AND LANDING UPSIDE DOWN IN DRAINAGE DITCH. DRIVER WAS SUSPENDED UPSIDE DOWN, HANGING IN SEAT BELT THAT HAD DEPLOYED THE FULL LENGTH OF THE BELT. SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD DRIVER IN THE SEAT, WINDSHIELD, BACK GLASS AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED. NO FRONT OR SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED DURING CRASH OR ROLL OVER. DRIVER SUSTAINED CONCUSSION, NECK AND SHOULDER INJURIES. CAR WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY INSURANCE CARRIER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10213300
12,390 miles · Jun 27, 2006
Power TrainCrashInjury
THE LEXUS ES300 HAS HAD A SERIOUS HESITATION PROBLEM SINCE DELIVERY IN MARCH 2003. I HAVE HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. ON MAY 8TH,2006, MY WIFE WAS TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT AN INTERSECTION AND UPON ACCELERATING THROUGH THE TURN THE CAR HESITATED/LAGGED AND WAS STR…
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THE LEXUS ES300 HAS HAD A SERIOUS HESITATION PROBLEM SINCE DELIVERY IN MARCH 2003. I HAVE HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. ON MAY 8TH,2006, MY WIFE WAS TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT AN INTERSECTION AND UPON ACCELERATING THROUGH THE TURN THE CAR HESITATED/LAGGED AND WAS STRUCK BY AN ONCOMING AUTO. AFTER CONTACTING LEXUS DIRECT, THEY CAME OUT TO TEST DRIVE THE AUTO. I WAS CONTACTED SEVERAL DAYS LATER AND WAS TOLD THAT MY LEXUS HAS NO PROBLEM. SINCE THIS PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, I TOOK THE CAR BACK IN FOR SERVICE ON MAY 26TH, 2006 AND AGAIN WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR HAD ALREADY RECEIVED A TRANSMISSION COMPUTER UPDATE AND THEIR FINAL WORDS WERE "VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED AT THIS TIME". THIS CAR STILL HAS THE PROBLEM. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10160845
31,000 miles · Sep 26, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control
WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH IN THE FAST LANE ON THE FREEWAY, MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO GET MY CAR TO THE RIGHT AND GET OFF THE FREEWAY TO A GAS STATION. AS I WAS SLOWING TO A STOP, THE CAR WAS SHUDDERING BEFORE IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I CHECKED THE OWNERS MANUAL AND IT SA…
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WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH IN THE FAST LANE ON THE FREEWAY, MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO GET MY CAR TO THE RIGHT AND GET OFF THE FREEWAY TO A GAS STATION. AS I WAS SLOWING TO A STOP, THE CAR WAS SHUDDERING BEFORE IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I CHECKED THE OWNERS MANUAL AND IT SAID IT WAS PROBABLY THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL. I FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE MANUAL AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR AT LOWER SPEED TO GET HOME AND THEN GET IT TO THE DEALER THE NEXT MORNING.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10137593
Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control
SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR, I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT A HESITATION AND STUTTERING WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER A SLOW-DOWN OR A STOP. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG SEVERAL TIMES AND MORE RECENTLY HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE COMPUTER-CONTROLLED ACCELERATOR AND CANNOT BE FIXED. I HAVE SEVERAL TIMES HAD A CLOSE CAL…
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SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR, I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT A HESITATION AND STUTTERING WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER A SLOW-DOWN OR A STOP. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG SEVERAL TIMES AND MORE RECENTLY HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE COMPUTER-CONTROLLED ACCELERATOR AND CANNOT BE FIXED. I HAVE SEVERAL TIMES HAD A CLOSE CALL ON THE FREEWAY WHEN I NEEDED TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY AND THE CAR HESITATED BEFORE ACCELERATING. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT, BUT HAVE BEEN VERY FRIGHTENED BY THE DELAY IN PERFORMANCE. I HAVE HAD 2 PREVIOUS LEXUS ES 300'S THAT DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10131865
Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 2005
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT AT NIGHT THERE WAS A TIME DELAY IN THE HEADLIGHTS WHEN BEING SHUT OFF. IF THE TRUNK WAS PROPPED OPEN ONLY 1/8 OF AN INCH THE LIGHTS STAYED ON UNTIL THE BATTERY IWASDEAD. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY UNHOOKED THE TIME DELAY. THE BATTERY DIED TWICE BECAUSE OF THIS ONLY IN THE NIGHTTIME.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10127072
Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control
AS I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, MY 2003 LEXUS ES SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND WENT OVER THE CURB AND A SMALL GRASS EMBANKMENT. I IMMEDIATELY APPLIED BRAKES AND IT DID START SLOWING DOWN. I FINALLY GOT THE CAR STOPPED. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS IN THAT PARKING LOT. DON'T KNOW WHAT DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE TO THE CAR. THIS IS FRI…
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AS I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, MY 2003 LEXUS ES SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND WENT OVER THE CURB AND A SMALL GRASS EMBANKMENT. I IMMEDIATELY APPLIED BRAKES AND IT DID START SLOWING DOWN. I FINALLY GOT THE CAR STOPPED. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS IN THAT PARKING LOT. DON'T KNOW WHAT DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE TO THE CAR. THIS IS FRIGHTENING BECAUSE THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR.
NHTSA ODI #10126111
25,000 miles · May 20, 2005
Unknown Or Other
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES FROM MY HOME. UPON ENTERING THE PARKING LOT, I HAD TO YEILD TO A SCHOOL BUS AND STOP. AFTER THE STOP I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH TO PARK THE CAR. I TURNED FOUR TIMES TO GET TO THE PARKING SPACE WITH FOOT ON THE BREAK OR JUST COASTING. AS I TURNED INTO THE …
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I WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES FROM MY HOME. UPON ENTERING THE PARKING LOT, I HAD TO YEILD TO A SCHOOL BUS AND STOP. AFTER THE STOP I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH TO PARK THE CAR. I TURNED FOUR TIMES TO GET TO THE PARKING SPACE WITH FOOT ON THE BREAK OR JUST COASTING. AS I TURNED INTO THE PARKING SPACE WITH THE BRAKES PRESSED. THE CAR ACCERALATED AND WENT OVER THE CURB AND PROCEEDED ON THE GRASS. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE INCIDENT. I TRIED TO STOP THE CAR BY PUSHING THE BRAKES DOWN HARDER. SINCE THE BRAKEKS WERE NOT RESPOND, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND STOMPED/PUMPED THE BRAKES WITH NO AVAIL. THE BRAKES WERE NOT RESPONDING. THE CAR WAS ON THE GRASS AND LUCKILY SINCE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS IN A LEFT HAND TURN POSTION I AVOIDED HITTING STUDENTS AND A HUGE TREE. USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FINALLY STOPPED THE CAR. 3. I CALLED 180025LEXUS AND HAD THEM PICK THE CAR UP AND TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP (STERLING MC CALL LEXUS) THE SERVICER ADVISOR (LOPEZ) CALLED SAYING THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VECHILE AND IT WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP. WHEN THE CAR WAS PICKED UP MY HUSBAND MADE A NOTATION ON THE SERVIE SHEET SAYING HE DID NOT AGREE. HE ALSO WENT TO TALK TO THE SALES MANAGER (COOK) TO LET HIM KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND HOW UNHAPPY WE WERE. HE ALSO LET HIM KNOW THAT WE HAD RESEARCHED LEXUS ON THE NHTSA SITE AND FOUND THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND MANY ORTHER REPORTS HAVE BEEN FILED CONCERNING BRAKES NOT WORKING AND WITH HIGH ACCERATION. HE SAID TO REPORT IT TO 180025LEXUS AND HE WOUDL GET ON TO IT ONCE IT WAS REPORTED. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUE AND SINCE LEXUS WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILTY THE CAR MUST BE REPLACED.
NHTSA ODI #10121756
18,500 miles · May 13, 2005
Fuel System, GasolineCrashInjury
SUDDEN ACCELERATION- DELIVERING FOOD FOR SOMEONES FUNERAL.
NHTSA ODI #10120887
Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 2005
Power Train
WHILE SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION HAD A TEN MINUTE DELAY BEFORE RESPONDING, AND THE TRANSMISSION JERKED UNCONTROLLABLY. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10115716
1 miles · Mar 6, 2005
Power Train
FROM THE DAY I GOT THE CAR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN IN TROUBLE. THE PROBLEM IS THE SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND. UNDER LIGHT THROTTLE THERE IS FREE WHEELING AND ENGINE RUN-UP AND IT BUMPS INTO SECOND. I KNOW IT WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL. LEXUS HAS PLAYED WITH THE COMPUTER CONTROL BUT CAN'T CORRECT THIS. THEY TELL ME THIS NORMAL, …
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FROM THE DAY I GOT THE CAR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN IN TROUBLE. THE PROBLEM IS THE SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND. UNDER LIGHT THROTTLE THERE IS FREE WHEELING AND ENGINE RUN-UP AND IT BUMPS INTO SECOND. I KNOW IT WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL. LEXUS HAS PLAYED WITH THE COMPUTER CONTROL BUT CAN'T CORRECT THIS. THEY TELL ME THIS NORMAL, BUT I KNOW IT IS NOT NORMAL FOR ANY NON- LEXUS TRANSMISSION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10112598
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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