NHTSA Complaint #10041648 — 2003 LEXUS GX470

A SULFUR ODOR OR ROTTEN EGG ODOR, IS PRESENT IN THE CAR WHEN ACCELERATING. I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SMELL AT MY 1,000 MILE CHECK UP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SMELL WOULD BE GONE BY MY 5,000 MILE CHECK UP. THE CAR STILL HAS THE ODOR AT THE 5,000 MILE CHECK UP. NOW I'M TOLD BY THE DEALER "SULFUR SMELL HAS NOT BEEN UNCOMMON DUE TO HIGH SULFUR CONTENTS IN RECENT FUEL PRODUCTION. NOTHING WRONG WITH CAR, SUGGEST USING DIFFERENT FUEL SUPPLIER." I TRIED SWITCHING GASOLINES AND IT DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE. LEXUS SAYS THAT IT IS NORMAL AND IS BECAUSE OF THE SULFUR IN THE FUEL. I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE DISCLOSED THIS AT TIME OF SALE. THEY GAVE ME A COPY OF A MEMO DATED 2/24/03 ADDRESSING THE SMELL, SO THEY OBVIOUSLY KNOW THAT IT IS A PROBLEM. I WOULD HAVE NEVER BOUGHT THE CAR IF I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO SMELL LIKE THIS. I AM ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONSTANT SULFUR FUMES THAT ARE IN THE VEHICLE. *LA