1998 Lexus GS300

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS GS300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF, BUT IT WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN EVEN AFTER THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE THEN CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY HAVE NOT DETERMINED WHAT WILL BE DONE ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 37,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY AND BELT ON APRIL 16, 2006, THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY THINK IT WAS THE CONSUMER'S STARTER. UPDATED 09/28/07 *TR

WE OWN A 1998 LEXUS, MODEL GS 300. THIS SATURDAY MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE LEXUS AND THE ENTIRE WHEEL ASSEMBLY CAME OFF THE VEHICLE DUE THE FAILURE OF THE LOWER BALL JOINT. IN REVIEWING RECALL INFORMATION FOR LEXUS\TOYOTA, IT IS VERY APPARENT THERE IS AN ONGOING ISSUE OF QUALITY CONTROL RELATED TO THEIR LOWER BALL JOINTS. FOR OUR SPECIFIC MODEL, THERE WAS A RECALL IN 93, 94, 95, 96 AND 97 SPECIFIC TO THIS PART. GIVEN WE HAVE A 98 AND A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED (YET), THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO PROVIDE US WITH ANY ACCOMMODATION TOWARDS FIXING THE FAILED PART, OR THE RESULTING BODY DAMAGE RELATED TO THE VEHICLE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD ON ONLY THREE WHEEL. FORTUNATELY, WE WERE NOT TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT A SIDE STREET WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. BUT MOREOVER, REGARDLESS OF OUR FINANCIAL LOSS, IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN. *JB

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED STATING THAT SHE HAD A CRASH ON 07/09/06 IN HER 1998 LEXUS GS300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE LOST CONTROL OF HE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 55 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO MOVE INTO THE RIGHT LANE THE VEHICLE STARTING GOING BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE ROAD AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS ON A CLEAR NIGHT AND, THAT WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WAS MORE DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE ALSO SEEMED TO ACCELERATE. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT MADE THAT STATES SHE LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY ARISTOCRAT TOWING TO ARISTOCRAT AUTO SHOP. THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY AND THE PASSENGER DIDN'T HAVE ON A SEAT BELT. THE CONTACT DID HAVE SEAT BELT ON BUT, DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. THERE WAS A RECALL WITH CAMPAIGN # 98V080000, AND SHE CONTACTED LEXUS THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THIS RECALL.

AFTER STOPPING AT AN INTERSECTION, THE CAR WOULD TRAVEL FORWARD VERY SLOWLY WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NORMALLY. IT WOULD SUDDENLY "CATCH" AND LURCH FORWARD IF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. CAR WOULD THEN HANDLE NORMALLY FOR A FEW MOMENTS BUT UPON STOPPING WOULD REPEAT THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES IN AN EFFORT TO "REBOOT" THE CAR'S ELECTRONIC ACCELERATION SYSTEM BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL LEXUS DEALER. AFTER SITTING ON THE LOT FOR 1 DAY, VEHICLE STARTED AND OPERATED NORMALLY IN THE DEALER'S SERVICE LOT. DEALER HAS REPORTED THAT THE PROBLEM CALLS FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE VEHICLE'S THROTTLE BODY AND GASKET. *AK