NHTSA Complaint #10310654 — 2002 LEXUS ES300

I PRESENT THIS AS INFORMATION TO COMPLEMENT THE PRESENT ISSUES WITH TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY AND ITS INSTITUTIONAL FAILURE TO RESPOND TO SAFETY RELATED INCIDENTS. I OWNED A 2002 LEXUS ES300. THE MECHANICAL/COMPUTER PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR INVOLVED THE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION TO DOWNSHIFT EFFECTIVELY WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC AT 40-50 MPH. THIS ISSUE WAS FIRST OBSERVED WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO MERGE INTO THE FREEWAY IN FRONT OF A FAST MOVING TRUCK. THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED BUT DID NOT ENGAGE IN 3RD GEAR, BUT SIMPLY DISENGAGED THE ENGINE FROM THE WHEELS; THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED, THE TACHOMETER WENT TO THE RED LINE AND THE COMPUTER SHUT OFF FUEL TO THE ENGINE. THUS THE CAR DECELERATED IN FRONT OF THE TRUCK. THIS WAS EASILY REPLICATED, AND MANY SIMILAR STORIES FILLED THE AUTO CHAT ROOMS AT THAT TIME. LEXUS RESPONSE AT THE DEALER LEVEL: " YOU USE THE WRONG FUEL; YOU HAVE DRIVEN INCORRECTLY AND PROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER TO RESPOND THIS WAY; THIS IS THE ONLY CAR BEHAVING LIKE THIS" THE SHOP FOREMAN DROVE WITH ME, OBSERVED THE PROBLEM AND WROTE AN INCIDENT REPORT TO TOYOTA. I DEMONSTRATED THE EFFECT ON A NEW LEXUS WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, WHO STILL WAS NOT ABLE TO ADMIT THAT A SERIOUS PROBLEM EXISTED. LEXUS RESPONSE AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL: "NO PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN REPORTED ON A PROBLEM YOU DESCRIBE." FINALLY A SERVICE REP SHOWED ME A PRINT OUT FROM NATIONAL LEXUS SERVICE, "TELL THE CUSTOMERS THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS BEHAVING THE WAY THAT IT WAS DESIGNED! " OF COURSE, IT WAS INCORRECTLY DESIGNED AND IT BEHAVED THAT WAY. AFTER TWO YEARS, A PARTIAL COMPUTER UPGRADE WAS SENT TO THE DEALERS AND INSTALLED. MINE WAS THE SECOND CAR WITH THE FIX, THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP OWNER WAS THE FIRST. MY POINT IS THAT THE TOYOTA/LEXUS CORPORATE RESPONSE TO SAFETY ISSUES AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL HAS BEEN TO STONEWALL AND DENY THE EXISTENCE OF PROBLEMS EVEN WHEN THEY COULD PRODUCE POTENTIAL CATASTROPHIC RESULTS. THIS HISTORICAL POLICY OF DENIAL EXISTED LONG BEFORE THE PRESENT ISSUES GAINED NOTORIETY. *TR