Illustration2007 LEXUS ES350 DASHBOARD MELTING PRODUCES CHEMICAL FUMES AND SHINY STICKY DASBOARD REFLECTING SUNLIGHT AND NIGHT HEADLIGHTS BLINDING DRIVER VISIBILITY. FUMES CAUSING HEALTH ISSUE IN ALL CAR PASSENGER BREATHING. ISSUES.
2007 Lexus Es
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Es years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
40–25K
725–50K
1350–75K
1175–100K
13100–150K
11150K+
59 reports with mileage · 66 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility/wiper. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports1 fire reports5 injury reports
Unknown Or Other complaints
31 reportsTHE DASH IS MELTING AND IS SUPER STICKY AND SHINY
THE DASHBOARD IS COMPLETELY CRACKED. IT LOOKS LIKE A BROKEN GLASS PANE.
I AM HAVING ISSUES WITH VISIBILITY SINCE I HAVE A STICKY, CRACKED DASHBOARD, AND IT'S PEELING OFF BIT BY BIT. I HAVE CALLED LEXUS CORPORATE MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET OR BUY A COVER WHICH QUITE FRANKLY IT LOOKS UGLY ON A LUXURY SEDAN. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR I THOUGHT …
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I AM HAVING ISSUES WITH VISIBILITY SINCE I HAVE A STICKY, CRACKED DASHBOARD, AND IT'S PEELING OFF BIT BY BIT. I HAVE CALLED LEXUS CORPORATE MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET OR BUY A COVER WHICH QUITE FRANKLY IT LOOKS UGLY ON A LUXURY SEDAN. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR I THOUGHT IT WAS A COSMETIC ISSUE, BUT IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE ESPECIALLY ON HOT WEATHER LIKE THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA. IT IS REALLY CONCERNING AS I ALMOST HIT A PEDESTRIAN WHEN THE SUN WAS GLARING OVER MY FRONT WINDSHIELD. I AM ACTUALLY TERRIFIED OF LEAVING MY HOME ON SUNNY DAYS AS I MIGHT GET IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE GLARE. FEW YEARS AGO, LEXUS OFFERED TO REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY, BUT IT WASN'T A RECALL AND THE OWNER DIDN'T HAVE IT FIXED. BACK THEN THE CAR HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM THE DEALER (ESKRIDGE LEXUS OKC). THE GRACE PERIOD FOR THE REPLACEMENT IS OVER.THE CAR HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND GOOD SERVICE RECORD. I HAVE NO PROOF OF WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY NEXT, BUT I FEAR THAT SINCE THE DASHBOARD IS STICKY AND CRACKED AND PEELING OFF, THE AIRBAGS MIGHT NOT PROPERLY DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT.
PURCHASED 2007 LEXUS ES350 AND DASH IS MELTING WITH HEAT AND HUMIDITY. LEXUS DEALERSHIP REFERRED ME TO CORPORATE AND THEY SAID THE WARRANTY EXPIRED MAY 31, 2017 HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO RECALL LETTER RECEIVED. LEXUS IS AWARE OF ISSUE BUT REFUSES TO REPLACE DASH OR REPAIR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO GLARE FROM DASH MELTING AND ST…
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PURCHASED 2007 LEXUS ES350 AND DASH IS MELTING WITH HEAT AND HUMIDITY. LEXUS DEALERSHIP REFERRED ME TO CORPORATE AND THEY SAID THE WARRANTY EXPIRED MAY 31, 2017 HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO RECALL LETTER RECEIVED. LEXUS IS AWARE OF ISSUE BUT REFUSES TO REPLACE DASH OR REPAIR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO GLARE FROM DASH MELTING AND STICKY BECAUSE OF SHINE. ADDITIONALLY, IN THE FUTURE, THE DASH CANNOT BE REMOVED BECAUSE IT WILL CRUMBLE TO PERFORM ANY REPAIRS NECESSITATING REMOVAL OF DASH AND NO SHOPS WANT THAT RESPONSIBILITY. LEXUS REPLACED A COMPLETE DASH FOR A CRACK ON MY 2004 LEXUS WITHOUT IT BEING A SAFETY ISSUE BUT WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE GLARE COMING FROM THE DASH MELTING! THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 70,000 MILES AND IS ALWAYS GARAGED! THERE HAVE BEEN LAWSUITS FILED OVER THIS ISSUE!
I BOUGHT A LEXUS ES 350 2007 ON OCTOBER 11TH 2019 A FEW DAYS LATER I NOTICED IT WAS A BIG GLARE IN THE WINDOW FROM THE DASHBOARD I THOUGHT IT WAS ALL YOU ON THERE I TRIED TO WIPE AND THERE WAS A STICKY RESIDUE I WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NO BIG DEAL NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT BUT IT GIVES ME A BURNING…
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I BOUGHT A LEXUS ES 350 2007 ON OCTOBER 11TH 2019 A FEW DAYS LATER I NOTICED IT WAS A BIG GLARE IN THE WINDOW FROM THE DASHBOARD I THOUGHT IT WAS ALL YOU ON THERE I TRIED TO WIPE AND THERE WAS A STICKY RESIDUE I WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NO BIG DEAL NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT BUT IT GIVES ME A BURNING EYE FEELING ANTI-GLARE IS BLINDING EYEWEAR GLASSES AND I THINK IT'S A DANGER DATA DASHBOARD IS SEEPING SOME TYPE OF STICKY SUBSTANCE THAT COULD BE TOXIC
THE DASH IN MY VEHICLE IS BECOMING EXCESSIVELY SHINED AND STICKY DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS MELTING BECAUSE OF POOR MANUFACTURING, NOT AGE OR NEGLECT. WHEN IT IS SUNNY OUTSIDE THE REFLECTION OFF THE DASH IS ALMOST BLINDING FOR MAKES IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. LEXUS HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO PAY FOR IT BECAUSE THEY'RE …
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THE DASH IN MY VEHICLE IS BECOMING EXCESSIVELY SHINED AND STICKY DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS MELTING BECAUSE OF POOR MANUFACTURING, NOT AGE OR NEGLECT. WHEN IT IS SUNNY OUTSIDE THE REFLECTION OFF THE DASH IS ALMOST BLINDING FOR MAKES IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. LEXUS HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO PAY FOR IT BECAUSE THEY'RE WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THE DASH IS OVER.
MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND IS STICKING TO TOUCH AND DEPRESSES WHEN TOUCHED AND NOT SAFE. I CALLED LEXUS AND I WAS TOLD IT'S BEYOND THE RECALL WINDOW AND I HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET AND I CANNOT AFFORD IT. APPARENTLY THERE WAS A RECALL BACK IN 2016 BUT I BOUGHT MY CAR 12/2017 SO I MISSED THE WINDOW
MELTING DASHBOARD EMITTING OUT POISONOUS SMELL, CAUSE MY THROATS UNCOMFORTABLE AND COUGHING. MY KID COMPLAINS ABOUT THERE IS ALWAYS SMELL IN MY CAR AND FELT DIZZY AND HEADACHE WHENEVER SITTING IN. NEED TO EVALUATE THE CHEMICAL RELEASED AND ITS IMPACT TO HEALTH.
THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING CRACKING AND COMING APART, WE NOTICED THE PROBLEM IN JULY, AUGUST 2017, DID NOT KNOW IT WAS KNOWN PROBLEM TO LEXUS. IN DECEMBER 2017 I GOGGLED HOW TO REPAIR MELTING DASH AND FOUND OUT THIS WAS A PROBLEM THAT LEXUS WAS AWARE OF, WE BOUGHT THE LEXUS ES350 NEW IN 2007 AND ARE ORIGINAL OWNERS, LEXUS NOTIFIED…
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THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING CRACKING AND COMING APART, WE NOTICED THE PROBLEM IN JULY, AUGUST 2017, DID NOT KNOW IT WAS KNOWN PROBLEM TO LEXUS. IN DECEMBER 2017 I GOGGLED HOW TO REPAIR MELTING DASH AND FOUND OUT THIS WAS A PROBLEM THAT LEXUS WAS AWARE OF, WE BOUGHT THE LEXUS ES350 NEW IN 2007 AND ARE ORIGINAL OWNERS, LEXUS NOTIFIED US ABOUT THE AIR BAG RECALL BUT NEVER NOTIFIED US ABOUT THE MELTING DASH PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED THE AIR BAGS IN 2017 WHEN THE DASH WAS MELTING AND DID NOT SAY ANYTHING. NOW WHEN I CALLED THEM THEY SAID SORRY, THE WARRANTY PERIOD ENDED MAY 31 2017. THEY NEED TO REPLACE OWNER DASH BOARD NOW
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA07010 · Unwanted Acceleration, Floor Mat
Opened Aug 8, 2007 · Closed Oct 11, 2007
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control; Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal
THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR MAT WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH THE THROTTLE PEDAL IF PROPERLY SECURED USING THE RETAINING HOOKS PROVIDED BY TOYOTA.HOWEVER, IF THE ALL WEATHER MAT IS UNSECURED AND MOVES FORWARD FROM ITS INTENDED POSITION IT CAN ENTRAP THE THROTTLE PEDAL AT THE FULLY OPEN POSITION AFTER IT HAS BEEN DEPRESSED.THIS CAN HAPPEN REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT ANOTHER MAT (CARPET) IS UNDERNEATH.WHEN THIS OCCURS, SOME OPERATORS REACT BY APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL MULTIPLE TIMES, DEPLETING THE BRAKING SYSTEM'S (VACUUM BASED) POWER ASSIST.STOPPING THE VEHICLE WITH UNASSISTED BRAKING WHILE THE THROTTLE IS FULLY OPEN REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT PEDAL FORCE, WHICH SOME OPERATORS DID NOT, OR WERE UNABLE TO, APPLY FOR THE REQUIRED DURATION.CONTINUED DRIVING IN THIS CONDITION RESULTS IN OVERHEATED BRAKES, WHICH FURTHER DIMINISHES THE BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS.SOME OPERATORS ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF BY DEPRESSING THE ENGINE CONTROL BUTTON, HOWEVER THEY WERE UNAWARE THE BUTTON HAD TO BE DEPRESSED FOR THREE SECONDS TO STOP THE ENGINE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION; THIS FUNCTIONALITY WAS NOT EXPLAINED ADEQUATELY IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL.IN ODI INTERVIEWS, OWNER'S REPORTED THEY WERE UNAWARE THE ALL WEATHER MAT HAD THE POTENTIAL TO INTERFERE WITH THE THROTTLE PEDAL, ADVISING THAT THIS WAS NEVER PROPERLY EXPLAINED GIVEN THE SIGNIFICANT HAZARD IT REPRESENTED.OWNERS REPORTED SEVERAL EXPLANATIONS FOR WHY THE MAT WAS UNSECURED, INCLUDING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED IN THIS CONDITION (MOST COMMON REASON), OR THAT THEY HAD (UNWITTINGLY) INSTALLED THE MAT THEMSELVES, OR THAT ANOTHER PARTY, SUCH AS A CAR WASH ATTENDANT, HAD DISTURBED THE MAT WITHOUT THE OWNER'S KNOWLEDGE.ONE CONSUMER REPORTED THAT THEIR VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED WITHOUT THE RETAINING DEVICES INSTALLED.IN A SEPTEMBER 26, 2007 LETTER TO NHTSA, TOYOTA INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO REPLACE THE ALL WEATHER MAT WITH A REDESIGNED MAT.ACCORDING TO TOYOTA, THE NEW MAT DESIGN WILL REDUCE THE POTENTIAL FOR MAT INTERFERENCE WITH THE THROTTLE PEDAL.THE POPULATION NOTED ABOVE REPRESENTS THE NUMBER OF SUBJECT MATSTHAT HAVE BEEN SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES.SINCE TOYOTA CANNOT IDENTIFY WHICH VEHICLES MAY HAVE THE SUBJECT MATS, THEY WILL SEND A LETTER TO ALL REGISTERED OWNERS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES (ESTIMATED 750K) ADVISING THEM OF THE CONCERN AND REMEDY.A COPY OF THAT LETTER WILL BE POSTED TO NHTSA'S WEB SITE UNDER RECALL 07E-082; IT CONTAINS A DESCRIPTION OF THE CONDITION AND THE ACTIONS AN OPERATOR SHOULD TAKE IN THE EVENT THROTTLE ENTRAPMENT OCCURS WHILE DRIVING.THE FATALITY INCIDENT NOTED ABOVE OCCURRED IN JULY 2007 AND WAS INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA'S SPECIAL CRASH INVESTIGATIONS OFFICE.IT HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED ON A VEHICLE OWNER QUESTIONNAIRE.THE OPERATOR REPORTEDLY TRAVELLED AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 100 MPH FOR AN ESTIMATED EIGHT MILES ON AN INTERSTATE IN CALIFORNIA BEFORE IT STRUCK TWO OTHER VEHICLES.ONE OF THE STRUCK VEHICLES AND THE SUBJECT VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE.THE OCCUPANT OF THE STRUCK VEHICLE DID NOT EVACULATE AND DIED AT THE SCENE.THE SUBJECT VEHICLE DRIVER SUFFERED A BROKEN BONE.THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL IS INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT ALSO.ODI DID NOT ISSUE AN INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER DURING THIS INVESTIGATION.THE TOYOTA REPORTS NOTED ABOVE WERE REPORTED DURING PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE07-016 AND ARE CURRENT THROUGH APRIL 2007 FOR MY 2007 LEXUS ES350 ONLY.ODI DOES NOT HAVE FIELD EXPERIENCE DATA FROM TOYOTA FOR CAMRY VEHICLES.THROTTLE ENTRAPMENT DUE TO IMPROPERLY INSTALLED FLOOR MATS COULD BE A CONCERN IN ALL VEHICLES.THEREFORE, DRIVERS SHOULD ALWAYS ENSURE THEIR FLOOR MATS ARE PROPERLY AND SAFELY INSTALLED.THIS INCL
Additional source detail variants (2)
Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal
THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR MAT WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH THE THROTTLE PEDAL IF PROPERLY SECURED USING THE RETAINING HOOKS PROVIDED BY TOYOTA.HOWEVER, IF THE ALL WEATHER MAT IS UNSECURED AND MOVES FORWARD FROM ITS INTENDED POSITION IT CAN ENTRAP THE THROTTLE PEDAL AT THE FULLY OPEN POSITION AFTER IT HAS BEEN DEPRESSED.THIS CAN HAPPEN REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT ANOTHER MAT (CARPET) IS UNDERNEATH.WHEN THIS OCCURS, SOME OPERATORS REACT BY APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL MULTIPLE TIMES, DEPLETING THE BRAKING SYSTEM'S (VACUUM BASED) POWER ASSIST.STOPPING THE VEHICLE WITH UNASSISTED BRAKING WHILE THE THROTTLE IS FULLY OPEN REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT PEDAL FORCE, WHICH SOME OPERATORS DID NOT, OR WERE UNABLE TO, APPLY FOR THE REQUIRED DURATION.CONTINUED DRIVING IN THIS CONDITION RESULTS IN OVERHEATED BRAKES, WHICH FURTHER DIMINISHES THE BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS.SOME OPERATORS ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF BY DEPRESSING THE ENGINE CONTROL BUTTON, HOWEVER THEY WERE UNAWARE THE BUTTON HAD TO BE DEPRESSED FOR THREE SECONDS TO STOP THE ENGINE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION; THIS FUNCTIONALITY WAS NOT EXPLAINED ADEQUATELY IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL.IN ODI INTERVIEWS, OWNER'S REPORTED THEY WERE UNAWARE THE ALL WEATHER MAT HAD THE POTENTIAL TO INTERFERE WITH THE THROTTLE PEDAL, ADVISING THAT THIS WAS NEVER PROPERLY EXPLAINED GIVEN THE SIGNIFICANT HAZARD IT REPRESENTED.OWNERS REPORTED SEVERAL EXPLANATIONS FOR WHY THE MAT WAS UNSECURED, INCLUDING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED IN THIS CONDITION (MOST COMMON REASON), OR THAT THEY HAD (UNWITTINGLY) INSTALLED THE MAT THEMSELVES, OR THAT ANOTHER PARTY, SUCH AS A CAR WASH ATTENDANT, HAD DISTURBED THE MAT WITHOUT THE OWNER'S KNOWLEDGE.ONE CONSUMER REPORTED THAT THEIR VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED WITHOUT THE RETAINING DEVICES INSTALLED.IN A SEPTEMBER 26, 2007 LETTER TO NHTSA, TOYOTA INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO REPLACE THE ALL WEATHER MAT WITH A REDESIGNED MAT.ACCORDING TO TOYOTA, THE NEW MAT DESIGN WILL REDUCE THE POTENTIAL FOR MAT INTERFERENCE WITH THE THROTTLE PEDAL.THE POPULATION NOTED ABOVE REPRESENTS THE NUMBER OF SUBJECT MATSTHAT HAVE BEEN SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES.SINCE TOYOTA CANNOT IDENTIFY WHICH VEHICLES MAY HAVE THE SUBJECT MATS, THEY WILL SEND A LETTER TO ALL REGISTERED OWNERS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES (ESTIMATED 750K) ADVISING THEM OF THE CONCERN AND REMEDY.A COPY OF THAT LETTER WILL BE POSTED TO NHTSA'S WEB SITE UNDER RECALL 07E-082; IT CONTAINS A DESCRIPTION OF THE CONDITION AND THE ACTIONS AN OPERATOR SHOULD TAKE IN THE EVENT THROTTLE ENTRAPMENT OCCURS WHILE DRIVING.THE FATALITY INCIDENT NOTED ABOVE OCCURRED IN JULY 2007 AND WAS INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA'S SPECIAL CRASH INVESTIGATIONS OFFICE.IT HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED ON A VEHICLE OWNER QUESTIONNAIRE.THE OPERATOR REPORTEDLY TRAVELLED AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 100 MPH FOR AN ESTIMATED EIGHT MILES ON AN INTERSTATE IN CALIFORNIA BEFORE IT STRUCK TWO OTHER VEHICLES.ONE OF THE STRUCK VEHICLES AND THE SUBJECT VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE.THE OCCUPANT OF THE STRUCK VEHICLE DID NOT EVACULATE AND DIED AT THE SCENE.THE SUBJECT VEHICLE DRIVER SUFFERED A BROKEN BONE.THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL IS INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT ALSO.ODI DID NOT ISSUE AN INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER DURING THIS INVESTIGATION.THE TOYOTA REPORTS NOTED ABOVE WERE REPORTED DURING PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE07-016 AND ARE CURRENT THROUGH APRIL 2007 FOR MY 2007 LEXUS ES350 ONLY.ODI DOES NOT HAVE FIELD EXPERIENCE DATA FROM TOYOTA FOR CAMRY VEHICLES.THROTTLE ENTRAPMENT DUE TO IMPROPERLY INSTALLED FLOOR MATS COULD BE A CONCERN IN ALL VEHICLES.THEREFORE, DRIVERS SHOULD ALWAYS ENSURE THEIR FLOOR MATS ARE PROPERLY AND SAFELY INSTALLED.THIS INCL
Vehicle Speed Control
THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR MAT WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH THE THROTTLE PEDAL IF PROPERLY SECURED USING THE RETAINING HOOKS PROVIDED BY TOYOTA.HOWEVER, IF THE ALL WEATHER MAT IS UNSECURED AND MOVES FORWARD FROM ITS INTENDED POSITION IT CAN ENTRAP THE THROTTLE PEDAL AT THE FULLY OPEN POSITION AFTER IT HAS BEEN DEPRESSED.THIS CAN HAPPEN REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT ANOTHER MAT (CARPET) IS UNDERNEATH.WHEN THIS OCCURS, SOME OPERATORS REACT BY APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL MULTIPLE TIMES, DEPLETING THE BRAKING SYSTEM'S (VACUUM BASED) POWER ASSIST.STOPPING THE VEHICLE WITH UNASSISTED BRAKING WHILE THE THROTTLE IS FULLY OPEN REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT PEDAL FORCE, WHICH SOME OPERATORS DID NOT, OR WERE UNABLE TO, APPLY FOR THE REQUIRED DURATION.CONTINUED DRIVING IN THIS CONDITION RESULTS IN OVERHEATED BRAKES, WHICH FURTHER DIMINISHES THE BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS.SOME OPERATORS ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF BY DEPRESSING THE ENGINE CONTROL BUTTON, HOWEVER THEY WERE UNAWARE THE BUTTON HAD TO BE DEPRESSED FOR THREE SECONDS TO STOP THE ENGINE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION; THIS FUNCTIONALITY WAS NOT EXPLAINED ADEQUATELY IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL.IN ODI INTERVIEWS, OWNER'S REPORTED THEY WERE UNAWARE THE ALL WEATHER MAT HAD THE POTENTIAL TO INTERFERE WITH THE THROTTLE PEDAL, ADVISING THAT THIS WAS NEVER PROPERLY EXPLAINED GIVEN THE SIGNIFICANT HAZARD IT REPRESENTED.OWNERS REPORTED SEVERAL EXPLANATIONS FOR WHY THE MAT WAS UNSECURED, INCLUDING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED IN THIS CONDITION (MOST COMMON REASON), OR THAT THEY HAD (UNWITTINGLY) INSTALLED THE MAT THEMSELVES, OR THAT ANOTHER PARTY, SUCH AS A CAR WASH ATTENDANT, HAD DISTURBED THE MAT WITHOUT THE OWNER'S KNOWLEDGE.ONE CONSUMER REPORTED THAT THEIR VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED WITHOUT THE RETAINING DEVICES INSTALLED.IN A SEPTEMBER 26, 2007 LETTER TO NHTSA, TOYOTA INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO REPLACE THE ALL WEATHER MAT WITH A REDESIGNED MAT.ACCORDING TO TOYOTA, THE NEW MAT DESIGN WILL REDUCE THE POTENTIAL FOR MAT INTERFERENCE WITH THE THROTTLE PEDAL.THE POPULATION NOTED ABOVE REPRESENTS THE NUMBER OF SUBJECT MATSTHAT HAVE BEEN SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES.SINCE TOYOTA CANNOT IDENTIFY WHICH VEHICLES MAY HAVE THE SUBJECT MATS, THEY WILL SEND A LETTER TO ALL REGISTERED OWNERS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES (ESTIMATED 750K) ADVISING THEM OF THE CONCERN AND REMEDY.A COPY OF THAT LETTER WILL BE POSTED TO NHTSA'S WEB SITE UNDER RECALL 07E-082; IT CONTAINS A DESCRIPTION OF THE CONDITION AND THE ACTIONS AN OPERATOR SHOULD TAKE IN THE EVENT THROTTLE ENTRAPMENT OCCURS WHILE DRIVING.THE FATALITY INCIDENT NOTED ABOVE OCCURRED IN JULY 2007 AND WAS INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA'S SPECIAL CRASH INVESTIGATIONS OFFICE.IT HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED ON A VEHICLE OWNER QUESTIONNAIRE.THE OPERATOR REPORTEDLY TRAVELLED AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 100 MPH FOR AN ESTIMATED EIGHT MILES ON AN INTERSTATE IN CALIFORNIA BEFORE IT STRUCK TWO OTHER VEHICLES.ONE OF THE STRUCK VEHICLES AND THE SUBJECT VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE.THE OCCUPANT OF THE STRUCK VEHICLE DID NOT EVACULATE AND DIED AT THE SCENE.THE SUBJECT VEHICLE DRIVER SUFFERED A BROKEN BONE.THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL IS INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT ALSO.ODI DID NOT ISSUE AN INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER DURING THIS INVESTIGATION.THE TOYOTA REPORTS NOTED ABOVE WERE REPORTED DURING PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE07-016 AND ARE CURRENT THROUGH APRIL 2007 FOR MY 2007 LEXUS ES350 ONLY.ODI DOES NOT HAVE FIELD EXPERIENCE DATA FROM TOYOTA FOR CAMRY VEHICLES.THROTTLE ENTRAPMENT DUE TO IMPROPERLY INSTALLED FLOOR MATS COULD BE A CONCERN IN ALL VEHICLES.THEREFORE, DRIVERS SHOULD ALWAYS ENSURE THEIR FLOOR MATS ARE PROPERLY AND SAFELY INSTALLED.THIS INCL