2005 Lexus Ls

THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH THE AUTOMATIC DOOR CLOSING SYSTEM, WHICH MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING REAR SIDE PASSENGER DOOR TO BE INCAPABLE OF SECURELY BEING CLOSED. WHEN THE DOORS ARE SOFTLY PARTIALLY SHUT, THIS SYSTEM GRABS THE DOOR AND FINISHES COMPLETELY SHUTTING THE DOOR FLUSH TO THE OUTER BODY OF THE CAR. WHEN THE SYSTEM FAILS, THE DOOR CANNOT BE SHUT EVEN MANUALLY. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN WHILE ON A TRIP, THE DOOR WOULD FLOP OPEN AND CLOSED AND BE A SERIOUS HAZARD AND DANGER TO PASSENGERS, OTHER TRAFFIC AND THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE DOOR MIGHT COME COMPLETELY OFF THE BODY OF THE CAR. FORTUNATELY, IN MY INCIDENT, I WAS IN TOWN AND GOT TO A STORE TO PURCHASE ROPE TO TIE THE DOOR CLOSED BY STRAPPING IT TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE REAR DOOR AND TAKING IT TO THE DEALER FOR VERY COSTLY REPAIR.

I OWN A 2005 LEXUS GX470 WITH 10,000 MILES. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE TOYOTA/LEXUS "BUMP/STOP" WHIPLASH SIMULATION ON A DAILY BASIS. LEXUS/TOYOTA HAD BEEN REPLACING DRIVE SHAFTS ON MANY VEHICLES WHICH "JUMP FORWARD" FOR NO REASON. LEXUS IS NOW SAYING THAT THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION IS A "NORMAL DESIGN FUNCTION" OF THE VEHICLE. I SPOKE WITH TOM NORTON, ONE OF THE OWNERS OF LEXUS OF CHERRY HILL, NJ TODAY. HE TOLD ME THAT HIS GX470 DOES THE SAME THING THAT MY $50,000 VEHICLE DOES. MR. NORTON DID AGREE THAT LEXUS HAD REPLACED MULTIPLE DRIVESHAFTS IN THE PAST & THAT THIS CONDITION IS ABSOLUTELY NOT NORMAL. HOWEVER, HE, & I'M NOW USING MY OWN WORDS, MUST HOLD THE COMPANY LINE, & TELL CUSTOMERS WHAT THEY'RE BEING INSTRUCTED FROM LEXUS HEADQUARTERS. AS A POLICE SUPERVISOR, I DRIVE FOR A LIVING. I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED A VEHICLE "JUMPING FORWARD" AS I HAVE ON MY LEXUS GX470. SHOULD THIS PROBLEM NOT BE CORRECTED, I WILL SUE UNDER LEMON LAW. I WILL WRITE MY LEGISLATORS. I WILL WRITE EDITORIALS TO EVERY NEWSPAPER IN THE REGION. I WILL PICKET DEALERSHIPS ON MY DAYS OFF. SHOULD NHTSA AND/OR LEXUS/TOYOTA NEGLECT IMMEDIATE ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER, I WILL SHARE MY EXPERIENCE WITH INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS. WHY SHOULD MY 4 YEAR OLD HAVE TO SIT IN A VEHICLE THAT IS UNSAFE? WHY SHOULD MY WIFE HAVE TO CRY IN A SERVICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE HER PLEAS FOR ASSISTANCE GO COMPLETELY UNANSWERED? WHY SHOULD A COCKY SERVICE MANAGER CALL MY CELL PHONE TO EXPLAIN TO ME THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT? TOYOTA NOW CONTEMPLATES BUYING THE FAILING GM AS TOYOTA FEARS POSSIBLE AMERICAN CONSUMER & GOVERNMENTAL BACKLASH. IF YOU HAVE TO RECALL VEHICLES, SO BE IT. AS 60 MINUTES' ANDY ROONEY WOULD SAY, "...IT DOESN'T TAKE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO KNOW THERE'S A PROBLEM HERE..." LADIES & GENTLEMEN, THERE'S A PROBLEM HERE. WE'VE PAID TOP DOLLAR FOR WHAT ARE BILLED AS SUPERIOR VEHICLES. LIVE UP TO YOUR REPUTATION & FIX THE PROBLEM.