2004 Lexus Is 300

TL*THE CONTACT LEASED A 2004 LEXUS IS300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED, DROVE OVER A CURB, AND CRASHED INTO THE STEPS ON A RAILING OF A BUILDING. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED, BUT SHE DID NOT RECEIVE A COPY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE INSURANCE COMPANIES EXPENSE. THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,527. UPDATED 06/03/10.*JB

ON THE MORNING OF DECEMBER 22, 2009, AT APPROXIMATELY 6:30 AM, ON THE NORTHBOUND ON RAMP TO I-25 AT CASTLE PINES NORTH, CASTLE ROCK, CO MY 2004 LEXUS IS 300 ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. STOMPING THE BRAKES HARD DID NOT STOP THE ACCELERATION. THE ONLY THING GOING THROUGH MY MIND AT THE TIME BESIDES STOPPING THE CAR, WAS THE FAMILY OF FOUR IN CALIFORNIA THAT DIED IN A RENTED LEXUS THAT ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. I WAS ABOUT AT THE END OF THE ON RAMP, AND I KNEW I COULD NOT MERGE ONTO I-25, WHEN STANDING ON THE BRAKES STOPPED THE ACCELERATION, AND I WAS THEN ABLE TO GET THE CAR STOPPED. AFTER CALMING DOWN, I DROVE MY CAR INTO WORK ( ABOUT 20 MILES) AND CALLED KUNI LEXUS OF LITTLETON, CO. KUNI LEXUS INFORMED ME AT THAT TIME I NEEDED TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT TO TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS BEFORE KUNI LEXUS COULD DO ANYTHING, SO I CALLED TOYOTA AND REPORTED THE INCIDENT, THEN CALLED KUNI LEXUS BACK, TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED AND ARRANGED TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. KUNI LEXUS HAD MY CAR FOR A WEEK, AND DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEY DID NOTE THAT MY FLOOR MATS WERE NOT HOOKED INTO PLACE. THE FLOOR MATS WERE THE FIRST THING I CHECKED, AS I HAD HEARD THE FLOOR MAT THEORY. THE MATS WERE IN PLACE WHEN I CHECKED THEM, BEFORE I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *TR

CAR FAILED TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT UNDER NORMAL BRAKING BECAUSE ENGINE FAILED TO DECELERATE WHEN PRESSURE WAS REMOVED FROM THE PEDAL. MAXIMUM FORCE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE BRAKE ANTI LOCK FEATURE WAS ACTIVATED AND A COLLISION WITH THE STOPPED CAR AHEAD WAS BARELY AVERTED. WHEN STOPPED, THE ENGINE REVERTED TO NORMAL IDLE. THE PROBLEM DID NOT RECUR. EXAMINATION BY A MECHANIC AT THE DEALERS SHOP FAILED TO IDENTIFY A COMPUTER FAULT OR OTHER CAUSE. THE CAR WAS RETURNED WITHOUT REPAIR. I AM NOT SATISFIED THAT A STUCK THROTTLE IS NOT A REPAIRABLE OR ABNORMAL CONDITION. IT SEEMS TO ME BE HIGHLY DANGEROUS AND MERITS MORE THAN A "WELL, ITS WORKING NOW SO COME BACK WHEN IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN." SORT OF RESPONSE. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS WERE MADE OF CHROME PLATES THAT CAUSED THE DRIVER TO SLIP OFF THE PEDALS DURING NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE NATURE OF THE FAILURE WAS PERMANENT. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE CHROME PLATED PEDALS. UPDATED 11/30/2006 - THE ONLY SHOES THE CONSUMER COULD WEAR TO ALLEVIATE THE SLIPPAGE WAS ATHLETIC SHOES, LIKE SNEAKERS, WHICH HAVE A RUBBER SOLE. *NM