NHTSA Complaint #10326825 — 2007 LEXUS IS 250

I WAS DRIVING TO THE GYM AT 5:30 AM ON JULY 3, 2008 IN MY LEXUS IS 250. I PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR AFTER A LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND THE CAR TOOK OFF, SPEEDING FASTER AND FASTER. I TRIED USING THE BRAKES AND THAT DIDN'T HELP. I ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THAT DIDN'T WORK. MY CAR CONTINUED TO GO FASTER AND FASTER. I WAS SCARED TO DEATH AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. THANKFULLY THERE WAS VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC DUE TO THE TIME OF DAY. I PRESSED THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION BUTTON AND THAT DIDN'T WORK. I WAS PREPARING JUMP OUT OF THE CAR THAT WAS NOW SPEEDING AT ABOUT 60MPH OR SO WHEN I THOUGHT TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK. THAT FINALLY STOPPED THE CAR. I JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR AND A PEDESTRIAN LENT ME HIS CELL PHONE TO CALL MY HUSBAND. THE CAR WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET "BUCKING" ( THE ENGINE WAS STILL REVVING AND THE CAR WAS IN PARK - STILL RUNNING) FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES UNTIL MY HUSBAND ARRIVED. HE OPENED THE DOOR, CHECKED THE MAT - IT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. HE TURNED OFF THE CAR AND WE CALLED LEXUS TO HAVE THEM COME TOW THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP (LEXUS OF WATERTOWN, MA) CHECKED THE CAR AND TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THE MATTER WITH IT. THAT I WAS THE PROBLEM, THAT THE MAT WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR. THIS WAS NOT TRUE. BOTH MY HUSBAND AND I SAW THE MAT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. THEY COMPLETELY DISMISSED THE ENTIRE EVENT. I ALMOST DIED DRIVING THEIR CAR AND THEY BLAMED ME (ALL THE TIME KNOWING ABOUT THE PROBLEM). *TR