NHTSA Complaint #10199479 — 2007 LEXUS ES350

VISIBILITY AROUND THE CAR IS VERY DIFFICULT. FRONT POSTS ARE LARGE AND CLOSER TO THE DRIVER, BLOCKING MORE OF THE FIELD OF VIEW. THE HIGH BACKEND BLOCKS REAR VIEW AND THE LARGE POSTS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE REAR WINDOW ADD SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE BLIND SPOTS. BECAUSE OF THE VISIBILITY ISSUE, I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS CLOSE CALLS THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS HARM TO OTHERS AND DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I HAVE HAD TO SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGE MY DRIVING HABITS TO ACCOMMODATE WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE A DESIGN WEAKNESS IN THE CAR. THE CAR FEELS UNSAFE TO ME AND I WISH I HAD NEVER BOUGHT IT. IF I COULD AFFORD TO SELL IT I WOULD IN A NEW YORK SECOND. I AM A 17 YEAR TOYOTA CUSTOMER WHO HAS OWNED 5 OF THEIR PRODUCTS, ON THIS ONE THE DESIGN STINKS. I RANK IT "FAIR" ONLY BECAUSE IT HAS OTHER FEATURES AND PERFORMANCE THAT ARE QUITE GOOD, BUT THEY DON'T OFFSET THE VISIBILITY PROBLEMS. I LOVE TOYOTA/LEXUS, BUT I HATE THE ES350. *TR