NHTSA Complaint #10193769 — 2007 LEXUS ES350

ON MAY 20, 2007 WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN A HIGH TRAFFIC PRIVATE PARKWAY THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT THREE OTHER CARS. THE ROAD HAD A VERY GENTLE UP SLOPE AND A SMALL CURVE. THE ENGINE WAS ROARING VERY LOUD AS I TRIED VERY HARD TO BRAKE, BUT THE BRAKE WAS NOT EFFECTIVE. I HIT THREE CARS: RIGHT, FRONT AND FRONT RIGHT. ONE OF THE BY STANDER TOLD ME THAT HER PARENTS HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE WITH THE SAME MODEL CAR LESS THAN A WEEK BEFORE THAT ON A HIGHWAY. ALSO, THE FRONT CAR PASSENGER REPORTED THAT SHE HEARD AN UNUSUAL LOUD ENGINE NOISE FROM MY CAR IN THE POLICE REPORT. LATER, THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S ASSESSOR INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A MEMORANDUM FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO INSURANCE COMPANIES ABOUT THE ALL WEATHER FLOOR MAT FOR THIS MODEL COULD CAUSE SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON THE THROTTLE. I REPORTED THE ACCIDENT TO THE CUSTOMER SERVICE SPECIALIST FROM THE MANUFACTURER ON MAY 21, 2007. THEY HAVE SENT A FIELD TECHNICIAN TO INSPECT THE CAR ON JUNE 7 , 2007, AND HE CONCLUDED THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. THE SPECIALIST TOLD ME TO SUBMIT ANY CAR RENTAL EXPENSE CLAIM THROUGH THE INSURANCE COMPANY ,AND ANY FURTHER ACTION WILL HAVE TO DEAL DIRECTLY WITH THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT. I ALSO TALKED WITH TWO SERVICE STAFFERS FROM 2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS, AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FLOOR MAT PROBLEM ABOUT THE SAME MODEL OF MY CAR. SINCE THEN I HAVE FOUND 18 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME MODEL CAR IN THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION WEB SITE. I WANT THE MANUFACTURER TO REIMBURSE ALL MY CAR RENTAL EXPENSES AND TO REPLACE MY CAR BECAUSE I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE ABOUT THE CAR WARRANTY, AND I SHOULD NOT BE BEARING THE DEPRECIATION COST FOR A CRASHED CAR. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD RECALL ALL THE CARS THAT HAVE THE FLOOR MAT PACKAGE.*AK