2001 Lexus RX300

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. SHE ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF; HOWEVER, AFTER ENGAGING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND ACCELERATED UP TO 100 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO EXIT AT AN OFF RAMP, DOWN SHIFT INTO PARK IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS STUCK AND FRAYED; HOWEVER, HE ALSO STATED THAT THE CABLE EXHIBITED NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 67 MPH THE VEHICLE'S VARIABLE SKID CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BEEPER ACTIVATED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND BEGAN TO SWERVE BEFORE AUTOMATICALLY SHUTTING OFF. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED THREE TIMES WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE VARIABLE SKID CONTROL BEEPER DEACTIVATED AND THE LIGHT DIMMED. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR WITH DRY ROAD CONDITIONS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 103,675.*AK

CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING VEHICLE ON AUGUST 3, 2004 AT 25 MPH UPHILL WHEN SUDDENLY THE ACCELERATOR STUCK. VEHICLE RED LINED UP THE HILL, AND WHEN IT REACHED THE TOP OF THE HILL, THE MOTOR WAS STILL RACING. CONSUMER'S SON MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND CUT THE VEHICLE OFF. IT WAS WITNESSED BY POLICE OFFICER,WHO WAS AT THE TOP OF THE HILL. THEN POLICE OFFICER ASKED CONSUMER'S SON TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, AND THE MOTOR IMMEDIATELY BEGUN TO RACE, RED LINING AGAIN. HE WAS THEN ASKED TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF, ALLOWING IT TO COOL DOWN. THEN, THE TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED BY THE POLICE OFFICER. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED ON THE SCENE CONSUMER'S SON WAS AGAIN ASKED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE REPEATED THE SAME THING, IT RED LINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, AND TOWED TO A LEXUS DEALER. *AK

THROTTLE STUCK WIDE OPEN FOLLOWING ROUTINE ACCELERATION GOING UP HILL. ENGINE CONTINUED AT HIGH REVS. CONTROL AND BRAKING WERE DIFFICULT AS ENGINE RACED UNCONTROLLABLY. VEHICLE STOPPED BY EXITING INTO PARKING LOT AND BEING PUT IN PARK.*AK AFTER 1 HOUR WHEN VEHICLE RESTARTED ENGINE IMMEDIATELY RED LINED. IT DID THE SAME THE FOLLOWING DAY AND AT DEALER AFTER BEING TOWED IN. DIAGNOSIS FROM DEALER- THROTTLE CONTROL BODY STUCK. FORTUNATELY DRIVER DEALT WITH POTENTIALLY FATAL SITUATION WITHOUT INJURY OR DAMAGE. MANUFACTURER UNWILLING TO DISCLOSE SIMILAR EPISODES.

2001 LEXUS RX300, 30DEGREE OUTSIDE TEMP, VEHICLE WARMED UP UNTIL HEATED SEATS WORKED, DROVE VEHICLE ABOUT 80 YARDS FORWARD, VEHICLE PUT INTO REVERSE, SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURED AT FULL THROTTLE, BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION, UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE POSITION WITH VEHICLE IN MOTION, RPM NEEDLE AT REDLINE 8000RPM, VEHICLE FINALLY BROUGHT TO SCREECHING AND SHAKING STOP WHEN SHIFTED INTO PARK. ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF, WHEN STARTED AGAIN, RMP NEEDLE JUMPED UP TO REDLINE AGAIN AND STAYED THERE. THIS REPEATED ABOUT 5 TIMES. ACCELERATION WAS STUCK AT FULL THROTTLE. NO COLLISION. VEHICLE MALFUNCTION REPORTED TO DEALERSHIP, VEHICLE TOWED FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS. NOTICED TICKING SOUND COMING FROM DRIVERS SIDE.