Lexus LS430 body problems

STRUCTURE:BODY

THE DRIVER/OWNER OF THE LEXUS LS 430 WAS PULLING IN TO A PARKING SPOT BEHIND ANOTHER CAR AT A PRIVATE CLUB. IT WAS STRAIGHT IN PARKING BEHIND A GMC YUKON. IN PULLING INTO THE SPOT, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WENT OVER A CURB, AND SUDDENLY THE CAR ACCELERATED LIKE A ROCKET. THE DRIVER STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND NOTHING WOULD STOP IT. SINCE THE CAR WAS ONLY ABOUT ONE FOOT AWAY FROM THE PARKED YUKON, THE LEXUS WAS STOPPED BY THE IMPACT. THE CAR WAS PUT IN PARK AND THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DAMAGE WAS DONE TO REAR BUMPER OF THE YUKON AND THE FRONT BUMPER OF THE LEXUS AS WELL AS AN A/M REINFORCEMENT BEAM AND OTHER EXTERNAL DAMAGE. AS OF THIS DATE, DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE OF THE LEXUS IS UNDETERMINED.

NHTSA complaint #10702307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

IN THE COURSE OF OPENING THE CLOSED CAR TRUNK LID IN ORDER TO RETRIEVE THE GROCERIES THAT WERE INSIDE THE TRUNK, , I PULLED IT UP BY ITS LOWER EDGE USING THE RING FINGER OF MY RIGHT HAND. WITHOUT WARNING OR REASON FOR IT TO DO SO, THE ELECTRIC AUTOMATIC POWER TRUNK LID CLOSER MECHANISM OPERATED AND SHUT THE LID, CRUSHING AND MANGLING MY FINGER BONE AND FINGER NAIL, AND CAUSING EXCRUCIATING PAIN AND PERMANENT DISFIGUREMENT. I AM TOLD BY THE DOCTOR WHO HAS BEEN TREATING MY FINGER THAT THE FINGER SORENESS AND PAIN IS ALSO A PERMANENT CONDITION.

NHTSA complaint #10594285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

AS I WAS TURNING ONTO A ROAD FROM A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CAUSING THE CAR TO CROSS OVER BOTH LANES OF THE ROAD AND CRASH INTO A MAILBOX. THE RESULT WAS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF MY CAR AND A BROKEN MAILBAX POST.

NHTSA complaint #10508825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

I OWN A 2002 LEXUS LS IN DEC. 2010, WHILE I WAS TAKING THE GROCERIES OUT OF MY TRUNK, THE TRUNK FELL ON MY HEAD AND CREATED AN INJURY TO MY EYES, I HAD TWO SURGERIES, THE TRUNK UNEXPECTEDLY JUST CRASH ON MY HEAD, IT WAS VERY PAINFUL, I ALMOST PASSED OUT,APPARENTLY THE SPRINGS WORE OUT, THERE WAS NO WARNING, I AM STILL HURTING AND GET SEVERE HEADACHES, I WROTE TO LEXUS, THEY JUST IGNORED ME COMPLETELY, IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE DEALT WITH ACCORDINGLY. I AM ASKING FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION I SAVED THE OLD SPRINGS FOR REVIEW. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10454698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT

FAILED COMPONENT: 2 HYDRAULIC SUPPORTERS ON TRUNK LID. COMPLAINTS: THE 2 HYDRAULIC SUPPORTERS ON TRUNK LID WERE COMPLETELY FAILED. I WAS INJURED ON OCTOBER 29, 2011 WHEN THE LID FELLED DOWN (CLOSED) ON ITS OWN WEIGHT AND HIT MY HEAD AND THEN MY RIGHT ARM. THE SUPPORTERS ARE VERY WEAK AS COMPARED TO THE TRUNK LID HEAVY DUTY STEEL STRUCTURE. I HARDLY DRIVE THE CAR WHICH REGISTERS ONLY 30K MILES. THE WEAK HYDRAULIC SUPPORTERS STARTED TO SHOW FATIGUE ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO. EVENTUALLY, IT CAUGHT ME AFTER SEVERAL YEARS LATER. I AM PRETTY SURE THAT THIS TYPE DEFECTS ARE COMMON FOR MANY VEHICLES OF SIMILAR YEARS AND MODEL. IT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IF ONE IS NOT CAREFUL, PARTICULARLY WHEN PARKING ON A SLOPED DRIVEWAY. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR LEXUS TO USE SUCH CHEAP PARTS OF WHICH REPUTATION EMPHASIZING SAFETY AND QUALITY.

NHTSA complaint #10434818 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID

TRUNK STRUTS FAILED TO HOLD THE TRUNK IN AN OPEN POSITION, CAUSING THE TRUNK TO FALL AND INJURE A PERSON. MULTIPLE TIMES. TRUNK WAS PROPERLY OPENED AND RAISED TO A FULL OPEN POSITION.

NHTSA complaint #10428196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

THE PISTON-LIKE AIR STRUTS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO HOLD THE REAR TRUNK LID OPEN ON MY 2003 LEXUS LS 430 (BOUGHT NEW IN DECEMBER 2002) SLOWLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING STARTING AROUND 4 YEARS AGO. NOW THEY DO NOT WORK AT ALL. WHILE THIS IS AN INCONVENIENCE TO HAVE TO OPEN THE TRUNK MANUALLY, THE REAL DANGER IS THAT ARE NO PROVISIONS TO HOLD THE TRUNK LID IN THE OPEN POSITION. THUS, EVEN A LIGHT WIND OR VIBRATION CAUSED BY PASSING VEHICLES WILL CAUSE THE TRUNK TO TEETER OFF THE OPEN POSITION AND SLAM SHUT. THE DOWNWARD MOTION OF THE SHARP AND HEAVY EDGES OF THE TRUNK CAN (AND HAVE) CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY TO HEAD, FINGERS, AND OTHER BODY PARTS - NOT MENTION DAMAGING CARGO.

NHTSA complaint #10406010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS LS430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A PASSENGER WAS STRUCK ABRUPTLY IN THE HEAD BY THE TRUNK HATCH AND SUSTAINED SEVERAL ABRASIONS TO THE HEAD. THE TRUNK LATCH FAILED AND WOULD NOT REMAIN OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. UPDATED 03/24/11*LJ UPDATED 1/5/12

NHTSA complaint #10386220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

THE TRUNK LID OF MY 2002 LEXUS LS 430 HAS TWO PNEUMATIC STRUTS WHICH PROVIDE LIFT AND KEEP THE LID UP IN THE OPEN POSITION. NOW, OVER TIME THE STRUTS SLOWLY FAILED TO KEEP THE TRUNK LID OPEN, AND IN A GENTLE BREEZE, THE LID WILL COME DOWN WITH GUILLOTINE FORCE. IT HAS HIT MY HEAD SEVERAL TIMES WITH PAINFUL RESULTS AND NOW I AM AFRAID TO LOAD ITEMS IN MY TRUNK WITHOUT ANOTHER PERSON THERE TO HOLD IT OPEN. I THINK THAT THE "LIFT ASSIST" OF THE PNEUMATICS SHOULD BE ONLY AUXILIARY TO A MECHANISM THAT HOLDS THE TRUNK IN A FULL OPEN POSITION. I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE WHOSE TRUNK LID DID NOT STAY IN THE OPEN POSITION ONCE LIFTED, REGARDLESS OF AGE.

NHTSA complaint #10384496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

HYDRAULIC TRUNK SUPPORTS FAILED, WITH HEAVY TRUNK FALLING ON HEAD OF PERSON WORKING IN TRUNK. MAY HAVE CAUSED A CONCUSSION, AT LEAST A GROOVE IN TOP OF HEAD. PERSON STUNNED FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. IF THE TRUNK HAD HIT PERSON IN THE BACK WHILE LEANING OVER INTO THE TRUNK, IT MAY HAVE BROKEN A VERTEBRAE. IF IT HAD HIT FINGERS IN LOWER PART OF TRUNK, IT MAY HAVE CHOPPED THEM OFF, PARTICULARLY A CHILD'S. THESE HYDRAULIC SUPPORTS WORE OUT AT AROUND 60-70 THOUSAND MILES. NOT REALIZING THE DANGER, I NEGLECTED CONTACTING LEXUS ABOUT REPLACING THEM. HOWEVER, THIS DANGER SHOULD NOT BE OVERLOOKED OR UNATTENDED TO BY OTHER OWNERS OF LEXUS CARS. WHEN LEXUS WAS CONTACTED AT THIS LATE DATE, THEY OFFERED MINIMAL ASSISTANCE WITH THE PROBLEM, PLUS A BIT OF A RUNAROUND. I SUGGEST CONTACTING AN IMPORTED PARTS DEALER FOR THE EASILY INSTALLABLE PARTS AT A SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED PRICE.

NHTSA complaint #10371392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID

THE TRUNK LID OF A 2002 LEXUS LS430 LANDED ON MY WIFE'S HEAD CAUSING INJURY AND BLEEDING. GAS CYLINDERS ARE USED TO HOLD TRUNK LID UP WHICH FAILED. I COMPLAINED ABOUT GAS CYLINDERS HOLDING HOODS UP ON LEXUS AUTOMOBILES IN THE PAST AND YOU PEOPLE DID NOTHING ABOUT IT. I EVEN CONTACTED LEXUS ABOUT IT BUT WENT UNACKNOWLEDGED.

NHTSA complaint #10363481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS LS430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRUNK LID IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY FALL DOWN OWN ITS OWN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO SUSTAIN A CONCUSSION. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PISTONS THAT HELD UP THE TRUNK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE PISTONS REPLACED AT HIS EXPENSE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 59,000.

NHTSA complaint #10362503 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.