NHTSA Complaint #10294385 — 2002 LEXUS RX300

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 RX300 LEXUS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON A HILL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND THE PEDAL WAS STUCK TO THE FLOOR. SHE WAS ONLY ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AFTER SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL GEAR. THE CONTACT SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN UNTIL SHE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE PRESENT IN THE ENGINE AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN MOVING IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER TEST INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FLOOR MATS COULD HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE; ALTHOUGH, THE HOOKS WERE SECURELY FASTENED ONTO THE FLOOR MATS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON ONE OCCASION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,433 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000. UPDATED 01/05/10 *BF UPDATED 01/07/10.*JB