NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
116 reports139,000 miles · Jul 7, 2011
Air BagsCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 TO 40 MPH MERGING INTO TRAFFIC, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVERS SIDE OF HER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER ARMS, LEGS AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. A P…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 TO 40 MPH MERGING INTO TRAFFIC, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVERS SIDE OF HER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER ARMS, LEGS AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY INVESTIGATING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 139,000.
NHTSA ODI #10410866
118,000 miles · Nov 22, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SUDDENLY BECAME STUCK AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE RAILROAD. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD INVESTIGATIE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHI…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SUDDENLY BECAME STUCK AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE RAILROAD. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD INVESTIGATIE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 118,000.
NHTSA ODI #10367179
73,000 miles · Oct 20, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I NOTICED WHEN I WOULD PULL OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY I WOULD HEAR A KNOCK WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE ALSO; I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ONE EVENING AND IT WAS RAINING I WAS ON A BUSY FREEWAY, I WAS BEGINNING TO SLOW DOWN AND THE BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND A LOUD RUBBING NOISE OCCURRED I SLID FOR ABOUT A MIN. THANK GOD…
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I NOTICED WHEN I WOULD PULL OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY I WOULD HEAR A KNOCK WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE ALSO; I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ONE EVENING AND IT WAS RAINING I WAS ON A BUSY FREEWAY, I WAS BEGINNING TO SLOW DOWN AND THE BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND A LOUD RUBBING NOISE OCCURRED I SLID FOR ABOUT A MIN. THANK GOD I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY ,THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES, I PREPARE FOR IT NOW BY BEING VERY CAREFUL. THIS IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. JUST THE OTHER DAY I WAS ON A BUSINESS TRIP AND THE GUY THAT VALET PARKED MY CAR TOLD ME HE ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR, BECAUSE OF THE BRAKES GOING ALL THE WAY DOWN. I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES CHANGE AND 2 SETS OF TIRES WITHIN THE LAST 2 YRS NEITHER WAS THE PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10361473
Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2010
Air BagsTraction Control SystemCrashInjury
I HAD A TOTAL LOSS CAR CRASH , A LEXUS ES 300 ON MY WAY TO COLLEGE , MY NECK AND BACK WERE AFFECTED AND NOT EVEN ONE AIRBAG OPENED TO PROTECT THE PASSENGERS , THAT THANK GOD I WAS THE ONLY ONE , THAT TRAGIC DAY. I BOUGHT THAT CAR , NOT FOR LUXURY BUT FOR THE SAFETY AND SECURITY IT OFFERED AND THAT IN MY CASE DIDN'T WORK. MY CAR …
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I HAD A TOTAL LOSS CAR CRASH , A LEXUS ES 300 ON MY WAY TO COLLEGE , MY NECK AND BACK WERE AFFECTED AND NOT EVEN ONE AIRBAG OPENED TO PROTECT THE PASSENGERS , THAT THANK GOD I WAS THE ONLY ONE , THAT TRAGIC DAY. I BOUGHT THAT CAR , NOT FOR LUXURY BUT FOR THE SAFETY AND SECURITY IT OFFERED AND THAT IN MY CASE DIDN'T WORK. MY CAR HAS A DEFECT AND A VERY SERIOUS ONE. HOW MANY OTHER LEXUS MIGHT HAVE THE SAME DEFECT? DO SOMEONE WILL HAVE TO DIE TO SOLVE THIS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10351124
41,237 miles · Apr 11, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingCrash
ON MARCH 26, 2010 MY HUSBAND AND I WERE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL, (WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AS YOU WOULD EXPECT), WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT FULL THROTTLE. IN THE BRIEF BUT TERRIFYING MOMENTS THAT THE CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL I UNFORTUNATELY COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AS I THREW THE GEAR SELECTOR INTO NEUTRAL. *T…
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ON MARCH 26, 2010 MY HUSBAND AND I WERE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL, (WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AS YOU WOULD EXPECT), WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT FULL THROTTLE. IN THE BRIEF BUT TERRIFYING MOMENTS THAT THE CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL I UNFORTUNATELY COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AS I THREW THE GEAR SELECTOR INTO NEUTRAL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10324941
Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2010
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
2003 LEXUS ES300 WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AND VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL ISSUES. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A LOW SPEED THERE IS A DELAY BEFORE THE ENGINE RESPONDS. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED A SIGNIFICANT ABRUPT DOWNSHIFT WHEN SLOWING DOWN FROM HIGHER SPEEDS AND AN AB…
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2003 LEXUS ES300 WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AND VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL ISSUES. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A LOW SPEED THERE IS A DELAY BEFORE THE ENGINE RESPONDS. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED A SIGNIFICANT ABRUPT DOWNSHIFT WHEN SLOWING DOWN FROM HIGHER SPEEDS AND AN ABRUPT UPSHIFT WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A SLOW SPEED. IT FELT AS THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION COULD NOT DECIDE WHAT GEAR IT SHOULD BE IN. THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED A COMPUTER PATCH WAS AVAILABLE FOR THE PROBLEM, BUT IT USUALLY DID NOT WORK AND IT COULD MAKE THE PROBLEM WORSE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10312121
54,000 miles · Mar 15, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2-3 MPH. THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EVEN AFTER THE CRASH OCCURRED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AT THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOS…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2-3 MPH. THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EVEN AFTER THE CRASH OCCURRED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AT THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,972. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.
NHTSA ODI #10319655
50,835 miles · Mar 9, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
PLACE OF ACCIDENT - ST. JOSEPH CHURCH PARKING LOTMACON, GA 31201. I WAS TURNING TO GET INTO THE AVAILABLE PARKING SPACE AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT NO REASON AT ALL. THE CAR FLEW AND HIT THE ELECTRIC POST IN FRONT OF ME. THIS ALL HAPPENED IN A SPLIT OF A SECOND. LUCKILY, THE CAR SIDE SWEPT THE ELECTRIC POST OTHERWIS…
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PLACE OF ACCIDENT - ST. JOSEPH CHURCH PARKING LOTMACON, GA 31201. I WAS TURNING TO GET INTO THE AVAILABLE PARKING SPACE AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT NO REASON AT ALL. THE CAR FLEW AND HIT THE ELECTRIC POST IN FRONT OF ME. THIS ALL HAPPENED IN A SPLIT OF A SECOND. LUCKILY, THE CAR SIDE SWEPT THE ELECTRIC POST OTHERWISE, I WOULD HAVE CRASHED INTO CAR(S) AND THE BUILDING IN FRONT OF ME. THERE WAS MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10318184
38,000 miles · Mar 9, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
TL* CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. WHILE COASTING TOWARD AN INTERSECTION AT SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AT A RAPID RATE OF SPEED. SHE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO VEER TOWARD A NEARBY WOODED AREA. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO APPROXIMAT…
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TL* CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. WHILE COASTING TOWARD AN INTERSECTION AT SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AT A RAPID RATE OF SPEED. SHE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO VEER TOWARD A NEARBY WOODED AREA. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO APPROXIMATELY 3 TREES BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. AS A RESULT, SHE SUFFERED UNKNOWN INJURIES. THE VEHICLE HAD SINCE BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 39,000.
NHTSA ODI #10318106
80,000 miles · Mar 3, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE IN SMALL PARKING LOT, CAR ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. WOULD NOT STOP WHEN STEPPED ON BRAKE AND CRASHED INTO TWO OTHER CARS. REPORTED TO DMV IN CA, WHERE CAR REGISTERED, ALTHOUGH ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN NEVADA. CAR SEVERELY DAMAGED AND REPAIRED BY INSURANCE CO. LEXUS DEALER CHECKED CAR AFTER REPAIR A…
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BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE IN SMALL PARKING LOT, CAR ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. WOULD NOT STOP WHEN STEPPED ON BRAKE AND CRASHED INTO TWO OTHER CARS. REPORTED TO DMV IN CA, WHERE CAR REGISTERED, ALTHOUGH ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN NEVADA. CAR SEVERELY DAMAGED AND REPAIRED BY INSURANCE CO. LEXUS DEALER CHECKED CAR AFTER REPAIR AND BLAMED FLOOR MATS BUT WE DISAGREE. IF ANYONE HAD BEEN BEHIND CAR THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR INJURED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10316327
NHTSA investigations
4DP09001 · Unwanted And Unintended Acceleration
Opened Apr 8, 2009 · Closed Oct 29, 2009
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED DP09-001 ON APRIL 8, 2009, TO EVALUATE A DEFECT PETITION REQUESTING ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION OF POTENTIAL THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM DEFECTS UNRELATED TO FLOOR MAT INTERFERENCE WITH ACCELERATOR PEDALS IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 LEXUS ES 350 VEHICLES.THE PETITIONER REFERENCED AN EARLIER ODI INVESTIGATION CONCERNING FLOOR MAT INTERFERENCE WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL RETURN (PE07-016/EA07-010), WHICH HE STATED WAS TOO NARROW IN SCOPE AS IT DID NOT INCLUDE ALL INCIDENTS OF UNWANTED ACCELERATION AND CONSIDER ALL POTENTIAL CAUSES OF VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL CONCERNS.THE PETITION ALSO REQUESTED AN INVESTIGATION OF MY 2002-2003 LEXUS ES300 FOR THOSE 'LONGER DURATION INCIDENTS INVOLVING UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION WHERE BRAKE PEDAL APPLICATION ALLEGEDLY HAD NO EFFECT' THAT WERE DETERMINED NOT TO BE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF INVESTIGATION PE04-021. AS BACKGROUND, THE PETITIONER OWNS A MY 2007 LEXUS ES350 THAT ALLEGEDLY EXPERIENCED AN UNWANTED AND UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION EVENT (ODI COMPLAINT NUMBER 10261660).TOYOTA CONCLUDED THAT THE INCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY AN UNSECURED FLOOR MAT. TO ASSESS THE PETITIONER'S REQUEST, ODI INTERVIEWED THE PETITIONER, INSPECTED HIS VEHICLE, REVIEWED INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY TOYOTA, REVIEWED OWNER COMPLAINTS ALLEGING INCIDENTS OF UNWANTED ACCELERATION IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND MATERIAL RELATED TO THE INVESTIGATIONS CITED BY THE PETITIONER.ODI IDENTIFIED 64 COMPLAINTS ALLEGING INCIDENTS OF UNWANTED ACCELERATION IN MY 2007 LEXUS VEHICLES, RESULTING IN 8 CRASHES AND 15 INJURIES.ODI'S ANALYSIS OF THESE COMPLAINTS DETERMINED THAT 50 (78%) INVOLVED INCIDENTS OF FLOOR MAT INTERFERENCE, INCLUDING 7 (88%) OF THE CRASHES AND ALL 15 INJURIES.THEREFORE, ODI'S ANALYSIS FOUND THAT THE ONLY DEFECT TREND RELATED TO VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES INVOLVED THE POTENTIAL FOR ACCELERATOR PEDALS TO BECOME TRAPPED NEAR THE FLOOR BY OUT-OF-POSITION OR INAPPROPRIATE FLOOR MAT INSTALLATIONS. ON OCTOBER 5, 2009, TOYOTA INITIATED A SAFETY RECALL (RECALL 09V-388) TO ADDRESS CONCERNS WITH POTENTIAL ACCELERATOR PEDAL ENTRAPMENT BY FLOOR MATS IN APPROXIMATELY 3.8 MILLION VEHICLES, INCLUDING THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.EXCEPT INSOFAR AS THE PETITIONER'S CONTENTIONS RELATE TO THAT RECALL, THE FACTUAL BASES OF THE PETITIONER'S CONTENTIONS THAT ANY FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS NECESSARY ARE UNSUPPORTED. IN OUR VIEW, ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION IS UNLIKELY TO RESULT IN A FINDING THAT A DEFECT RELATED TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXISTS OR A NHTSA ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT, AS ALLEGED BY THE PETITIONER, AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE REQUESTED INVESTIGATION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.THIS ACTION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY FUTURE CIRCUMSTANCES.PLEASE SEE THEFEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE FOR FURTHER DETAILS.
DP05002 · Vehicle Speed Control
Opened Aug 5, 2005 · Closed Jan 5, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control
IN A LETTER DATED JULY 8, 2005, AND AFTER EXPERIENCING TWO INCIDENTS (AND ONE CRASH) WHERE HE ALLEGES HIS MODEL YEAR (MY) 2002 CAMRY ACCELERATED WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT, MR. JORDAN ZIPRIN PETITIONED THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION?S (NHTSA) OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) TO COMMENCE A PROCEEDING TO DETERMINE THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT WITHIN THE ETC SYSTEM IN MY 2002 TO 2005 TOYOTA AND LEXUS VEHICLES, OR TO REOPEN A PRIOR INVESTIGATION PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE) 04-021.IN A LETTER DATED AUGUST 18, 2005, MR. ZIPRIN AMENDED HIS PETITION TO INCLUDE ALLEGATIONS OF INTERRELATED BRAKE AND ACCELERATION PROBLEMS THAT ALLEGEDLY RESULT IN INAPPROPRIATE AND UNCONTROLLABLE VEHICLE ACCELERATIONS.THE 1172 VEHICLE OWNER QUESTIONNAIRE REPORTS CITED BY THE PETITIONER INVOLVE 4 LEXUS AND 15 TOYOTA MODELS DEFINING A POPULATION OF 7 MILLION VEHICLES.THE REPORTS TYPICALLY ALLEGED A DEFECT IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM, THE THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM, OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH SYSTEMS.IN ITS REVIEW OF THE REPORTS, ODI A) FAILED TO FIND EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE EXISTENCE OF A BRAKE RELATED DEFECT IN THE CITED MODELS, AND B) DETERMINED THAT MANY CITED PRODUCTS WERE NOT EQUIPPED WITH ETC.ACCORDINGLY, ODI RESTRICTED ITS ANALYSIS TO THE 432 PETITIONER REPORTS INVOLVING MY 2002 TO 2005 CAMRY, SOLARA, AND ES MODELS (ALL EQUIPPED WITH ETC) THAT ALLEGED AN ABNORMAL THROTTLE CONTROL EVENT (SEE THE JANUARY 3, 2006 FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE FOR FURTHER DETAILS).ABOUT 40% OF THE 432 REPORTS INVOLVE A DRIVEABILITY CONCERN WHERE THE OPERATOR INTENTIONALLY APPLIES THE THROTTLE PEDAL, IN EXPECTATION THAT THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE, AND THEN EXPERIENCES A DELAY OR HESITATION IN VEHICLE RESPONSE.THESE REPORTS INVOLVE VEHICLE RESPONSE TO INTENTIONAL DRIVER COMMANDS WHICH ODI CONSIDERS UNRELATED TO THE ALLEGATIONS RAISED BY THE PETITIONER.THEREFORE, THE REPORTS DO NOT PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED.ABOUT 20% OF THE REPORTS INVOLVE INCIDENTS WHERE OPERATORS ALLEGE VEHICLE ACCELERATION WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT AND AN INABILITY OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHEN APPLIED.NEITHER THE REPORTS, NOR THE INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED BY ODI, IDENTIFIED ANY VEHICLE-BASED CAUSE TO EXPLAIN THE INCIDENTS OR DISCLOSED EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THAT A FAILURE OF THE BRAKE OR THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM HAD OCCURRED.BECAUSE THESE REPORTS DO NOT INDICATE A DISTINCT SAFETY DEFECT FOR INVESTIGATION, THE REPORTS DO NOT PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED BY THE PETITIONERTHE REMAINING REPORTS (~ 40%, SIMILAR TO THE PETITIONER?S AND THOSE OF PE04-021) TYPICALLY DESCRIBE INCIDENTS WHERE A VEHICLE IS BEING MANEUVERED AT SLOW SPEED IN A CLOSE QUARTER SITUATION AT WHICH POINT THE OPERATOR ALLEGES THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT AND CRASHES.IN THE AFTERMATH, OPERATORS ARE UNSURE OF WHETHER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED OR NOT, SOMETIMES STATING THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT TIME TO USE THE BRAKE; A CRASH OCCURRED AND THE OPERATOR BELIEVES AN UNCOMMANDED ACCELERATION CAUSED IT.IN SPITE OF THE EFFORT EXPENDED DURING PE04-021 AND DURING THIS ANALYSIS, ODI HAS NOT IDENTIFIED ANY VEHICLE-BASED CAUSE TO EXPLAIN THE REPORTS, OR UNCOVERED ANY EVIDENCE TO INDICATE THAT A THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE OCCURRED.THEREFORE, THE REPORTS HAVE AMBIGUOUS SIGNIFICANCE AND DO NOT CONSTITUTE A BASIS ON WHICH ANY FURTHER INVESTIGATIVE ACTION IS WARRANTED.BASED ON THE ANALYSIS CONDUCTED, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THE NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.CONSEQUENTLY, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES T
PE04021 · Throttle Control System
Opened Mar 3, 2004 · Closed Jul 22, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control
THE LEXUS MODELS WERE THE SUBJECT OF DEFECT PETITION (DP) 04-003.TWELVE ODI COMPLAINTS ARE DUPLICATIVE TO TOYOTA REPORTS, INCLUDING THE TWO MINOR CRASHES.THE V6 EQUIPPED SOLARA MODELS HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED BECAUSE THEY DO NOT CONTAIN THE SUBJECT THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM.TOYOTA INTRODUCED ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL (ETC) ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES BEGINNING IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2002.ODI OPENED THE INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE IF THE SYSTEM COULD BE THE CAUSE OF COMPLAINTS ALLEGING THE ENGINE SPEED INCREASED, OR FAILED TO DECREASE, (FOR A SHORT DURATION) WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED (THE ALLEGED DEFECT).DURING THE COURSE OF THE INVESTIGATION, ODI ANALYZED AGENCY DATA AND REVIEWED VEHICLE OWNER QUESTIONNAIRE (VOQ) REPORTS, CONDUCTED INTERVIEWS INVOLVING 113 VOQ AND 36 TOYOTA REPORTS, INSPECTED TWO COMPLAINANT VEHICLES, REVIEWED RELEVANT TOYOTA SERVICE AND NEW CAR FEATURE DOCUMENTATION, REVIEWED AND ANALYZED TOYOTA?S RESPONSES TO ODI?S INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER, CONDUCTED A LIMITED CONTROL PEDAL ASSESSMENT, AND ATTENDED A TOYOTA TECHNICAL PRESENTATION THAT INCLUDED THE ASSESSMENT OF TWO DEMONSTRATION VEHICLES.THROUGH INTERVIEWS, ODI IDENTIFIED 14 VOQ AND 6 TOYOTA REPORTS (20 UNIQUE VEHICLES) WHERE COMPLAINANTS REPORT MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT.IN SOME CASES THE CONDITION WAS EXPERIENCED BY DIFFERENT VEHICLE OPERATORS OR WAS WITNESSED BY OTHER OCCUPANTS.ODI WAS UNABLE TO MAKE A DETERMINATION AS TO THE CAUSE OF 9 TOYOTA AND AN ADDITIONAL 37 VOQ REPORTS (WHICH DESCRIBE 28 UNIQUE INCIDENTS) DUE TO INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION.THE REMAINING COMPLAINANTS INTERVIEWED (62 VOQ, 21 TOYOTA) DESCRIBED CONDITIONS NOT CAUSED BY A FAILURE OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM AND WERE THUS CONSIDERED UNRELATED TO THE INVESTIGATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS INTERVIEWED REPORTED A COMPONENT FAILURE (OR OTHER INDICATOR OF A SYSTEM FAILURE) AS THE POTENTIAL CAUSE OF INCIDENTS RELEVANT TO THIS INVESTIGATION.IN MANY CASES, THE COMPLAINT VEHICLES WERE SUBSEQUENTLY INSPECTED BY DEALERSHIP OR MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVES WHO ALSO FAILED TO IDENTIFY A FAULT WITHIN THE VEHICLE.TOYOTA IDENTIFIED 43 RELATED WARRANTY CLAIMS, 24 OF WHICH WERE FOR DIAGNOSTIC PURPOSES ONLY (NO REPAIRS PERFORMED).ODI FOUND NOTHING ABNORMAL IN THE CONTROL PEDAL CONFIGURATION OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.A DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE THE ATTACHED SUMMARY FOR FURTHER DETAIL.
DP04003 · Throttle Control System
Opened Feb 17, 2004 · Closed Mar 5, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control
THE POPULATION NUMBER NOTED ABOVE IS ESTIMATED.IN THE JANUARY 15TH, 2004 PETITION REQUEST LETTER TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA), THE PETITIONER IDENTIFIED 37 VOQ COMPLAINTS AS RELATED TO VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL ISSUES SIMILAR TO THOSE THE PETITIONER ALLEGEDLY EXPERIENCED IN THEIR OWN VEHICLE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS (AS DESCRIBED IN THE PETITION REQUEST LETTER).DURING IT'S CONSIDERATION OF THE REQUEST, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) REVIEWED THE 37 COMPLAINTS AND CONCLUDED THAT 34 OF THE COMPLAINTS DID NOT INVOLVE A THROTTLE CONTROL ISSUE AS DESCRIBED AND ALLEGED BY THE PETITIONER; THREE VOQS (ONE OF WHICH IS THE PETITIONER'S) DO ALLEGE A THROTTLE CONTROL ISSUE.HOWEVER, THE THROTTLE CONTROL ISSUES ALLEGED BY THE PETITIONER ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE ALLEGED IN THE SUPPORTING VOQS FOR PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE04-021 WHICH INVOLVES THE THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM ON MODEL YEAR 2002 AND 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY AND CAMRY SOLARA MODELS.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF AVAILABLE SERVICE INFORMATION, IT APPEARS THE THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM MANUFACTURED ON THE LEXUS ES300 MODELS IS THE SAME AS, OR SIMILAR TO, THE THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM USED ON THE TOYOTA CAMRY AND CAMRY SOLARA MODELS.ACCORDINGLY, THE ES300 MODELS WILL BE ADDED TO THE SCOPE OF PE04-021 AND THE PETITION IS GRANTED.
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