NHTSA Complaint #10213447 — 2000 LEXUS RX300

HELLO RECENTLY I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY LEXUS RX300 HATCH BACK DOOR COMING LOOSE. FIRST, THE BOLT THAT HOLDS ONE OF THE HYDRAULIC CYLIDER THAT WERE USED TO KEEP THE DOOR OPEN BROKE, AND THEN THE HANDLE THAT OPENS THE HATCHBACK DOOR BROKE AND SHOT CLOSED. THE ONLY THING THAT WAS HOLDING THE DOOR WAS THE OTHER CYLIDER. HAD THAT BROKEN LOOSE, THE DOOR WOULD HAVE HAD FALLEN OFF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR, I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY LEXUS THAT IT WAS A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT. I HAVE LEARNED SINCE THEN THAT THIS ISSUE THAT I HAD EXPERIENCED IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENTS. I HAVE HEARD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN RX300 AND DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED TO BE FIXED. I AM WRITING THIS LETTER TO NHTSA HEADQUARTER IN WASHINTON TO REQUEST TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT IT COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD ON THE ROAD. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.*CN