NHTSA Complaint #10313631 — 2003 LEXUS ES300

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300 PURCHASED APRIL 2004. SHE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN EXPERIENCING FAILURES WHEN THE VEHICLE SURGED AND VIOLENTLY LUNGED FORWARD WHILE IT WAS IDLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS A "SMART CAR" AND WAS AWARE WHEN THERE WAS A DRIVER, OTHER THAN HERSELF BEHIND THE WHEEL, WHICH WOULD "CONFUSE" THE VEHICLE. NO DIAGNOSTIC TEST WERE PERFORMED. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER A SECOND TIME. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER BECAME FAMILIAR WITH THE FAILURE; THEY STATED THAT SHE NEEDED TO WAIT A YEAR UNTIL THE "NEW PROGRAMMING" WAS AVAILABLE. ONE YEAR LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE SOFTWARE REPROGRAMMING AND THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LUNGE VIOLENTLY WHILE SITTING IDLE, DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF UNDER 35 MPH OR WHILE COASTING. WHEN THE VEHICLE LUNGED IT FELT AS IF SHE WAS BEING STRUCK FROM THE REAR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 78,000.