NHTSA Complaint #10195311 — 2007 LEXUS GS 350

YESTERDAY MY TEST DRIVE OF THE 2007 LEXUS GS 350 AWD CONFIRMS THAT LIKE ITS SIBLINGS AND COUSINS (THE LEXUS ES 350 AND THE TOYOTA CAMRY), THE GS GIVES NO "ERROR WARNING" WHEN THE "STOP BUTTON" IS PRESSED WITH THE VEHICLE STOPPED WITH THE BRAKE APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE. THERE IS NO CHIME, NO MESSAGE TO "PUT CAR IN PARK", JUST TOTAL SILENCE. IF THE DRIVER RELEASES THE BRAKE AT THIS POINT AND THE CAR IN ON AN INCLINE, NATURALLY IT WILL ROLL. OTHER MANUFACTURER'S (CADILLAC, BMW, INFINITI) GIVE A CHIME WARNING AND/OR A MESSAGE TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK. THE BMW 535 ACTUALLY CORRECTS THE PROBLEM BY PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK BY ITSELF IN THIS SITUATION. HOPEFULLY, NO ONE WILL BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED BEFORE LEXUS/TOYOTA CORRECTS THIS PROBLEM. WHY EXACTLY ARE MANUFACTURERS QUICK TO JUMP ON THE "GIMMICK BANDWAGON" TO SELL NEW PRODUCTS WITH AN UNNECESSARY "START/STOP" BUTTON WHICH IS CAPABLE OF DEFEATING THE KEYED IGNITION-TRANSMISSION INTERLOCK SYSTEM WHICH PREVENTS VEHICLES FROM BEING TURNED OFF IN DRIVE AND HAS WORKED WELL FOR OVER 40 YEARS? A PROPERLY THOUGHT OUT "START/STOP" BUTTON WOULD (1) BE LEFT OFF THE VEHICLE ENTIRELY (2) GIVE AN AUDIBLE/ VISIBLE ERROR WARNING IF THE BUTTON IS HIT WITH THE CAR STOPPED AND IN DRIVE OR (3) INSIST THAT THE BUTTON BE ACTIVATED ONLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN "PARK". I HOPE TOYOTA/LEXUS DOES THEIR HOMEWORK BETTER IN THE FUTURE AND CORRECTS THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH A VOLUNTARY PRODUCT RECALLBEFORE THEY ARE TOLD TO DO IT BY THE NHTS.