1999 Lexus RX300

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE RPMS SUDDENLY INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO SPEEDS ABOVE 85 MPH. DURING THE INCIDENT, FLAMES WERE SEEN COMING FROM THE EXHAUST. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A NECK INJURY, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INDICATED THAT THE FLAMES CREATED A HOLE IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (O'BRIEN LEXUS IN BELLEVUE WA) WERE NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 179,825. *TT *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED SLIGHTLY TOPREPARE FOR A TURN WHEN THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REDUCE SPEED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED FORCEFULLY. THE VEHICLE THEN TRAVELED OVER THE CURB AND CRASHED INTO A CEMENT BARRIER. THE REAR PASSENGER SUFFERED MINOR INJURY TO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS RX300. WHENEVER THE CONTACT WOULD ATTEMPT TO STOP THE VEHICLE AT A LOW SPEED THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SURGE FORWARD BEFORE THE BRAKES WOULD ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING PROPERLY. THE CONTACT HAS NOTICED THE FAILURE SINCE THE DAY THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 91000.

3 EPISODES OF SEVERE ACCELERATION TERMINATED BY SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL. IN EACH CASE THE RPM CYCLED FROM 3,000 TO 8,000 AND THEN SPONTANEOUSLY RETURNED TO NORMAL AFTER ABOUT A MINUTE. IN NEUTRAL GEAR. I WAS UNABLE TO OVERCOME ACCELERATION BY BRAKING. THE GAS PETAL FELL TO FLOOR EACH TIME BUT WAS NOT STUCK AND RETURNED TO NORMAL AFTER THE EPISODE WAS OVER. THESE 3 EVENTS OCCURRED IN A SINGLE WEEK. I FELT THERE WAS SOME MALFUNCTION OF THE CRUISE CONTROL--WHICH I NEVER USE. I HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL DISCONNECTED AT A LOCAL GARAGE AND NEVER HAD ANOTHER PROBLEM. WHEN I TOLD THE LEXUS DEALER ABOUT THIS AT THE NEXT ROUTINE SERVICE VISIT, THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD ANYTHING LIKE THIS AND DID NOT SUGGEST FURTHER ACTION. I NEVER RECONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL. I REPORT THIS NOW BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT CONCERNS. THIS WAS CLEARLY ELECTRONIC IN SOME FASHION AND I BELIEVE INVOLVED THE CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM. *TR

I WAS SLOWLY BACKING UP THROUGH A NARROW EXIT, AND THEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, SLOWLY PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR JUST TOOK OFF LIKE A BULLET, I HIT THE WALL OF A HOUSE, I WAS ABOUT 10 OR 15 FEET FROM THE WALL, IT WAS SO UNEXPECTED, FAST AND SCARY THAT I FROZE, I WAS WITH THREE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE CAR, WE WERE LUCKY THAT NOBODY GOT HURT. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THIS IS THE ONLY TIME THIS HAPPENED. *TR