NHTSA Complaint #10330300 — 2001 LEXUS RX300

I WAS DRIVING A LEXUS RX 300 AND HAD EXITED THE FREEWAY. I PRESSED THE BRAKE LIGHTLY TO DECREASE MY SPEED BUT INSTEAD, THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED. I THEN STEPPED ON THE BRAKE FULLY BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE BY ITSELF. I TRIED TO SLOW THE CAR BY SHIFTING THE GEARS...TRIED NEUTRAL, L1, L2, AND EVEN REVERSE BUT FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. I WAS GOING AT HIGH SPEEDS, UNABLE TO STOP, AND VERY SCARED AS I WAS ON A STREET WITH MANY LIGHTS. AFTER PASSING THROUGH A RED LIGHT, I TURNED THE CAR INTO THE CURB AND DRAGGED THE WHEELS AGAINST THE CURB UNTIL THE CAR CAME TO A STOP. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE NOT TO HIT ANOTHER CAR OR PEOPLE THROUGH TWO INTERSECTIONS. THIS OCCURRENCE HAPPENED AT 3:55PM, MAY 12, 2010. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST LEXUS DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AND AT THIS TIME, IT IS STILL UNDER EVALUATION. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS CAR HAS DEMONSTRATED ANY UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OR FAILURE OF BRAKES TO STOP ACCELERATION. *TR