2007 Lexus GS450H

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS GS450 HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN SHE BEGAN TO FEEL AN ABNORMAL TINGLING SENSATION IN HER FEET, FACE AND UPPER TORSO. THE CONTACT BEGAN TO GROW NAUSEOUS WHILE IN THE VEHICLE. SHE RESEARCHED WHAT POTENTIALLY COULD HAVE CAUSED THE INFLUX OF NAUSEA AND FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE MAY EMIT ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION DUE TO THE HYBRID SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN FOR EXAMINATION FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,610.

2007 LEXUS GS450H WITH HYBRID ELECTRONICS LOCATED NEXT TO THE TRANSMISSION. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO HAVE FURTHER STUDY DONE ON BECAUSE OF THE HYBRID ELECTRONICS BEING NEXT TO THE TRANSMISSION. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED A VARIETY OF NEUROLOGICAL SYMPTOMS THAT PROHIBIT HIM FROM DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR NO MORE THAN 20 MINUTES OR SO AT A TIME AND FURTHER STATING THAT POSSIBLY SOMETHING IN THE DESIGN MIGHT BE THE CAUSE OF THE TINGLING/NUMBNESS HE EXPERIENCED. THE CONSUMER USED A DIGITAL GAUSS METER, WHICH INDICATE HIGH LEVELS OF ELECTRO-MAGNETIC FIELD RADIATION IN PROXIMITY TO THE DRIVER, EMANATING FROM THE MOTOR AND/OR GENERATOR. *TR

SINCE PURCHASE (2/1/07), I HAVE HAD NEUROLOGICAL SYMPTOMS WHILE DRIVING THE LEXUS GS450H. THESE INCLUDE, AT DIFFERENT TIMES, TINGLING IN THE HANDS AND FEET, NUMBNESS IN THE FACE, STINGING SENSATION IN THE EYES AND DULL HEADACHES. THESE SYMPTOMS OCCUR ONLY WHEN DRIVING THE LEXUS GS450H, AND AT NO OTHER TIME IN NO OTHER CAR. THE DEALER AND I WORKED MONTHS TO RULE OUT A NUMBER OF POSSIBLE CAUSES WITHOUT SUCCESS. FINALITY, WITHOUT ANOTHER WORKING THEORY ABOUT WHAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE, I BEGAN TO INVESTIGATE ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD RADIATION (EMF) COMING FROM SOME PART OF THE HYBRID SYSTEM AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE. AS THE ONLY REAR WHEEL DRIVE HYBRID, THE MOTOR AND GENERATOR ARE CLOSER TO THE DRIVER THAN ANY HYBRID IN PRODUCTION---IN FACT, RIGHT NEXT TO THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER IN THE TRANSMISSION HOUSING AREA. CORRELATE THIS WITH POWER OF GS450H'S HYBRID MOTOR AND GENERATOR AND EMF HAS TO BE A CONSIDERED AS A CAUSE. LEXUS MADE NO SERIOUS EFFORT TO TEST THIS CAR FOR EMF. (FOR EXAMPLE, THEIR TECH ASKED TO USE MY HANDHELD GAUSS METER TO TAKE MEASUREMENTS). SUBSEQUENTLY, I HAN ENGINEERING FIRM SPECIALIZING IN EMF MEASUREMENT AND SHIELDING CONDUCTED A 30-MINUTE STUDY OF EMF EMISSIONS IN THE FRONT SEAT AREA. THEIR INSTRUMENTS MEASURED A SUSTAINED EXPOSURE OF 100MG IN THE AREA OF THE DRIVER?S AND FRONT PASSENGER?S LEGS. THESE FINDINGS SHOULD CONFIRM, AT THE VERY LEAST, THE NEED FOR FURTHER STUDY OF THIS VEHICLE FOR POTENTIAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES. ALTHOUGH THERE IS NOT YET SCIENTIFIC CONSENSUS ABOUT EMF RADIATION AS A HEALTH HAZARD, THE EPA HAS ADVOCATED FOR "PRUDENT AVOIDANCE" OF EMF RADIATION EXPOSURE. WITH SUSTAINED EXPOSURE OF UP TO 100MG+ IN THE DRIVER?S AREA, HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE IN THE GS450H? I HAVE NO PLANS TO BRING LEGAL ACTION OF ANY KIND AGAINST LEXUS, HOWEVER, I CANNOT AND WILL NOT SELL THIS CAR BEFORE I HAVE DONE ALL THAT I CAN TO ENSURE THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT A DANGER TO OTHERS. *JB