214 of the
1,531 complaints filed about the Lexus ES350
are about the throttle and cruise control —
14% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2007.
214
Complaints
14%
Share of all complaints
85
Crashes
4
Fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year
The contact owns a 2018 Lexus ES350. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH and making a left turn into a parking lot, the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration driving to the opposite side of the parking lot before the vehicle shut off. The contact stated that moments later the vehicle was restarted and operated normally. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. The mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 66,150.
NHTSA complaint #11525958 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2008 Lexus ES350. The contact stated that the TPMS warning light showed that the tire pressure was low. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer to be repaired. While attempting to reverse out of a parking lot, the vehicle independently accelerated forward at 60 MPH. The contact was able to maneuver the vehicle out of the parking lot to avoid a crash. The vehicle decelerated independently. The contact pulled over and turned off the vehicle. After waiting for a while, the contact drove the vehicle home at slow speeds. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 49,000. The contact deemed the vehicle unsafe to drive and decided to sell it. The vehicle was sold to Carmax instead of to the dealership because they offered more money. But the contact still suffered a significant financial loss so they are requesting a reimbursement for the remainder of the value at which they purchased the vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11498702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2017 Lexus ES350. The contact stated that while in reverse and slowly reversing into a parking space, the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration and crashed into a tree. The contact indicated that the unintended acceleration occurred while pressing the brake pedal and also the crash avoidance safety features did not activate. No injuries were reported and no police report was taken. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer and to a local body shop repair center. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 7,500.
NHTSA complaint #11459976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I always use cruise control whenever i drive because this would always makes me put on a safety automatic brake whenever i get close to the car next to me. But it seems like my automatic emergency brake is defective which Lexus Dealership denies on the inspection when i complain. A lot of times the automatic emergency brake does not work when i use it even when im backing up it suppose to stop but a lot of times im almost at thr brink of hitting something so i have to manually brake. I also texted this to my Lexus Assistant Manager in Lexus Glendale California branch and had it inspected by them but they’ve sit my car in the dealership and at the end of the day told me that its normal. Is it normal to hit a car next to you when youre expecting your car to stop automatically and it does not stop? Why do i have this feature and it doesnt work? I hope you can help me becaus ethis car is very expensive and yet it does not guarantee safety!
NHTSA complaint #11459820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING AT 70 MPH, WITHOUT WARNING AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE PASSENGER WHEEL AND WITHIN SECONDS HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE CRASHING INTO A DITCH AND FLIPPING OVER. THE DRIVER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AS THE VEHICLE SLID ON THE WET ROADWAY DUE TO THE RAIN. THE DRIVER WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE THRU THE WINDSHIELD AS THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A BROKEN HIP AND FACE LACERATION AS HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS MADE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS CONTACTED AND TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A LOT WHERE IT WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. NO DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AS A CLAIM WAS FILED. HOWEVER NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS TAKEN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,000.
NHTSA complaint #11348985 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS ES350. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LEAVE A DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT REQUIRED ADDITIONAL BRAKE PRESSURE TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LEXUS OF GLENDALE (LOCATED AT 1221 S BRAND BLVD, GLENDALE, CA 91204, (818) 507-1300) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE OR RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO DRIVER ERROR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #11246043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING IN A STORM ALL THE FORWARD LOOKING SENSORS FAILED AS THE SENSOR BECAME COVERED WITH SNOW AND ICE. THESE ARE THE SENSORS THAT CONTROL COLLISION ALERT, LANE DEPARTURE ALERT, CRUSE CONTROL ETC. THE SAFETY FUNCTIONS MOST REQUIRED IN BAD WEATHER FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #11053832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CRUISE CONTROL WITH DISTANCE FOLLOWING. THIS SYSTEM WHEN ACTIVE AND BY DESIGN STOPS SLOWING THE VEHICLE AT AN ESTIMATED 25 MILES AN HOUR. THE OPERATOR IS EXPECTING THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND IT DOES NOT. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE REAR END COLLISIONS BECOME PROMINENT REGARDLESS IF DOCUMENTED IN MANUALS. SINCE THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF THIS SYSTEM THE OWNER MAY NOT KNOW WITH WHICH ONE THEY HAVE. SO IF YOU'RE COMING UP ON STOPPED TRAFFIC AND RELYING ON THE CAR TO STOP ITSELF FROM SAY 65 70 MILES AN HOUR, THE CAR SLOWS TO 25 MPH OR SO AND SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY BRAKES RELEASE YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN WITH ONLY 50 FEET OR SO TO BRING THE CAR TO A COMPLETE PANIC STOP. INCREDIBALLY DANGEROUS. IT SHOULD BRING THE CAR TO A COMPLETE STOP IF NECESSARY. DATES OF OCCURANCE ARE VARIOUS
NHTSA complaint #11051352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS ES350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVELER FRACTURED FROM THE BASE OF THE STEERING COLUMN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER. THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,300. UPDATED 06/13/17*LJ
NHTSA complaint #10958767 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON THE FREEWAY WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON WHEN IT STARTED TO RAPIDLY DECELERATE AND PULL BACK TO A STANDSTILL. I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR BUT NOTHING WOULD STOP THE DECELERATION. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY SINCE THE CAR EVENTUALLY STOPPED AND PUSHED THE BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, I FELLT THAT I COULD REENTER TRAFFIC AND WAS ABLE TO DO SO BUT WITHOUT THE CRUISE COUNTROL ENGAGED. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED OR GONE OFF THE ROAD. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT NIGHT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN VERY BAD CONSEQUENCES.
NHTSA complaint #10920004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 LEXUS ES350. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AT A VERY LOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND LATER DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
NHTSA complaint #10915555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS ES350. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT AND ATTEMPTING TO AVOID A CURB ON THE LEFT, THE CONTACT VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STEER TO THE LEFT, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AND ROLLED OVER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LEG INJURIES AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 189,000.
NHTSA complaint #10881514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXPERIENCED THREE INSTANCES OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE THIRD INSTANCE OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE ACCELERATION AND FORWARD MOMENTUM. HAD TO PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL TO STOP THE FORWARD MOVEMENT WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES. IT STILL TOOK APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS FOR THE THROTTLE ACCELERATION AND SPINNING TIRES TO STOP. FLOOR MATS WERE ORIGINAL LEXUS INSTALLED CARPET MATS AND CHECKED TO SEE THEY WERE PROPERLY INSTALLED, AND THEY WERE. AFTER THE FIRST INSTANCE OF THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION, I WAS DILIGENT IN ENSURING MY FOOT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND NOT INADVERTENTLY ON THE ACCELERATOR. THE FACT THAT IT OCCURRED TWO MORE TIMES, WITH THE LAST INSTANCE BEING QUITE SEVERE WHILE I PROPERLY APPLIED THE BRAKES POINT TO A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM. REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO LEXUS AND ALLEGEDLY THEY WILL INVESTIGATE. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE FROM LEXUS AND HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED EVERY 5K MILES AND THE DEALERSHIP NEVER MENTIONED NOR TOOK ACTION ON THE RECALL SPECIFIED IN NHTSA CASE NUMBER 09V388000.
NHTSA complaint #10872361 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 LEXUS ES350. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN HIGHWAY SPEED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO ENGAGE WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DESTROYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER AN UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 07E082000 (EQUIPMENT) AND 09V388000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10854136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS PULLING INTO MY GARAGE SLOWLY, BRAKING TO STOP, WHEN THE CAN ACCELERATED. I COULD HEAR THE ENGINE REV AND I PRESSED HARD ON THE BRAKE AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK. THE CAR TRAVELED ABOUT 4 FEET BEFORE IT CAME TO A STOP. I REPORTED TO LEXUS WHO TURNED OVER TO 'LEGAL' AND I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A WEEK FOR AN INVESTIGATOR TO CONTACT ME TO LOOK AT THE CAR, AFTER WHICH THEY SAY IT WILL BE ANOTHER 30 DAYS FOR A FINDING. THE PAPERWORK I FILLED OUT TERMED THIS AS 'UNINTENDED ACCELERATION". THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH THIS CAR, WHICH I PURCHASED NEW AND HAVE HAD FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR.
NHTSA complaint #10840059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WITH THE RADAR CRUISE ENGAGED, WE WERE APPROACHING A SLOWER CAR , ANOTHER CAR WAS IN THE INSIDE LANE ADJACENT TO US AND BEFORE WE COULD DISENGAGE THE CRUISE OUR LEXUS ES350 BRAKED FORCEFULLY AND THE CAR FOLLOWING HAD TO BRAKE TO AVOID A COLLISION...THIS IS FIRST HAND INFORMATION WITH NO DOCUMENTATION....WE HAD JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND WERE ON OUR WAY HOME....THERE ARE 3 DISTANCE SETTINGS FOR THE RADAR CRUISE AND I AM NOT SURE WHICH ONE WAS ACTIVE SINCE I HAD NO EXPERIENCE WITH IT....THIS RADAR CRUISE SYSTEM IS THE DEFAULT SYSTEM WHICH CAN BE DEACTIVATED EACH TIME THE CRUISE IS TURNED ON ....IT IS A PACKAGE WITH THE PRE COLLISION SYSTEM WHICH WAS RECALLED ON NOV 3 2015 FOR SUDDEN BRAKING....
NHTSA complaint #10811855 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WAS MOVING SLOWLY IN TRAFFIC HEADING TOWARD AN INTERSECTION (AROUND 15 MILES PER HOUR). WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE WHEN TWO CARS IN FRONT OF ME WENT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, MY CAR ZOOMED TO AROUND 60 MILES PER HOUR (FELT LIKE THE ACCELERATOR WENT LIMP). I PUMPED THE POWER BRAKES AND THEY WOULD NOT HOLD (PER LEXUS BECAUSE THE CAR WAS GOING TO FAST FOR THE AIR BRAKES). I WENT THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AND SWERVED AROUND A CAR AND WAS HEADING TOO FAST IN THE LANE OF TRAFFIC THAT I WAS GOING TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I TURNED QUICKLY INTO A PARKING LOT LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO CRASH THE CAR BECAUSE I COULD NOT STOP IT. A CAR APPROACHED ME COMING IN THE OTHER END OF THE PARKING LOT, AND I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE. WHEN I DID THAT THE ZOOM WENT OUT OF THE CAR, AND THE BRAKE HELD. THERE WERE 2 ADULTS AND 2 CHILDREN IN THAT CAR. (WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE GOOD DURING THIS DRIVING PERIOD).
NHTSA complaint #10789879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE ENTERING MY GARAGE, MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND SMASHED INTO THE REAR WALL DESTROYING A CABINET AND REFRIDGERATOR AND WENT THROUGH THE WALL. I COULDN'T STOP THE CAR AS EVIDENCED BY BRAKE SKID MARKS ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. LEXUS LATER INSPECTED THE CAR AND CLAIMED THEY COULD FIND NO DEFECT. FORTUNATELY MY WIFE AND I WERE ONLY SHAKEN UP FROM THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. MY HOME AND AUTO INSURANCE COVERED PART OF THE DAMAGE AND LEXUS HAS DISAVOWED ANY RESPONSIBILITY, BUT THEY NEVER INSPECTED THE DAMAGE TO OUR HOME OR THE EVIDENCE THAT I WAS TRYING TO STOP THE CAR ALMOST FROM THE INSTANT IT ENTERED THE GARAGE. I CAN PROVIDE PICTURES BY EMAIL, BUT I CAN'T SEEM TO RETRIEVE THEM FOR THIS DOCUMENT. T
NHTSA complaint #10786456 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PETITION FOR A DEFECT INVESTIGATION INTO LOW-SPEED SURGING IN DIFFERENT MODELS OF TOYOTA AUTOMOBILES IN WHICH THE CAR STARTS ACCELERATING AND THE ENGINE RPM INCREASES WHEN ACCELERATOR IS NOT DEPRESSED. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON FEBRUARY 13, 2015, HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING TO AN APPOINTMENT. SHE PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT AND DID NOT HAVE HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AS SHE WAS COASTING INTO THE PARKING SPOT. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. BIG BUSHES IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE LIMITED THE SPEED, SO HIS WIFE TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE FELL BACK. A WITNESS SAW THE ENTIRE EVEN AND ATTESTED TO THE FACT THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STARTED ROARING. THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS SMASHED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE AND SUBSEQUENTLY INSPECTED BY A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MANUFACTURER. THE PETITIONER DISPUTES THE MANUFACTURER'S CONCLUSION THAT THE EDR READOUT DOWNLOADED AS PART OF THAT INSPECTION PROVIDED NO EVIDENCE THAT THE INCIDENT "WAS THE RESULT OF ANY TYPE OF MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT." *JB UPDATED 07/27/15. *JB UPDATED 07/29/15. *JLQ
NHTSA complaint #10732103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CAR ACCELERATION IS OUT OF CONTROL. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 4 YEARS NOW. MY CAR WAS 2 YEARS OLD WHEN IT STARTED. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO SEVERAL LEXUS DEALERSHIPS AND THEY PLAYED AS IF I WAS CRAZY OR IF I WAS IMAGINING THE PROBLEM. MY DAUGHTER AND I WAS ALMOST EJECTED FROM THE CAR WHILE I WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE CAR CAUSED US TO HIT OUR HEADS AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD. I'M TERRIFIED OF DRIVING THE CAR BUT I HAVE NO OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. THE HEAD MECHANIC AT AN ALEXANDRIA LEXUS TOLD ME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED REPEATED ON MY MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR. HE SAID, AT ONE POINT LEXUS WAS FIXING THE CAR BUT HAVE SINCE STOPPED. I TOLD HIM THIS WAS NOT FAIR TO ME. I FEEL MY LIFE AND MY FAMILIES LIFE IS IN DANGER. I PAID LOTS OF MONEY FOR WHAT IS SUPPOSE TO BE A QUALITY VEHICLE AND ITS TOTALLY UNSAFE. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE SUPERVISOR I BEGIN TO RESEARCH MY PROBLEM MORE. I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE THIS PROBLEM IS RESOLVED? I'M SHARING THIS INFORMATION WITH MY FAMILY. IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO ME IN THIS VEHICLE, I WANT LEXUS HELD RESPONSIBLE. I HAVE CALLED THE CORPORATE OFFICE AND THE YOUNG LADY ON THE PHONE WAS RUDE AND NASTY. SHE TOLD ME SHE WAS LEXUS AND SHE WAS NOT GOING TO HELP ME AT ALL. THE RPM ON THE VEHICLE SWING ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE. WHEN THE VEHICLE MOVES, IT SHOTS LIKE ITS BEING FIRED OUT OF A CANNON. THIS IS DANGEROUS. I'M AFRAID!!! BUT I HAVE NO OTHER CAR TO GET TO WORK. I PURCHASED A NEW TRANSMISSION THINKING THIS WAS THE PROBLEM AND I'VE PURCHASED OTHER PARTS. NOTHING HAS WORKED. THIS IS SERIOUS AND SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING. I PAID OVER $40K FOR A DANGER TO MYSELF AND MY FAMILY. I HAVE TWO TEENS ABOUT TO DRIVE. I WANT MY CAR FIXED OR REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10706718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.