NHTSA Complaint #10256027 — 1997 LEXUS LS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LEXUS LS. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT START AND A CLICKING SOUND WAS HEARD. SHE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE A THIRD TIME AND WAS SUCCESSFUL. SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HER DESTINATION AND WHEN SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE ENGINE. FIVE MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. SHE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED BURNT WIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT WITH THE STARTER MOTOR, WHICH CAUSED THE UNDER HOOD FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS; THEREFORE, THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000.