NHTSA Complaint #10310902 — 2004 LEXUS RX330

2 TO 3 YEARS PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT I WAS COMING TO A STOP LIGHT AND THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK, BUT ONLY FOR A FEW SECONDS. I REPORTED THIS TO MY HUSBAND AND HE TOOK IT TO SEVERAL MECHANICS BUT DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, MY HUSBAND HAS OWNED A AUTO PARTS STORE FOR 40 YEARS AND KNOWS A FEW QUALIFIED MECHANICS. 3 PEOPLE WERE ON A FREEWAY ABOUT 1/4 MILE FROM OFF RAMP DOING ABOUT 65 MPH, WE STARTED TO MOVE OVER TO THE SLOWER LANE AS WE GOT TO THE SLOWER LANE I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN FOR THE OFF RAMP WHEN I FELT THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING, I PUMPED THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES TO MAKE SURE I WAS STEPPING ON THE BRAKES BUT INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN THE VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING. I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HARD AS I COULD AND HUNG ON FOR DEAR LIFE UPON ENTERING THE OFF RAMP I STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE AND FLIPPED THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES. I ENDED UP WITH A CRACKED STERNUM, THE PASSENGER BROKE 3 OR 4 OF HER VERTEBRA, AND PASSENGER IN THE REAR SEAT WAS FATAL. UPDATED 03/10/10 *BF *TR UPDATED IVOQ 09/28/10 UPDATE 9/19/2011*CW