NHTSA Complaint #10350031 — 2010 LEXUS RX350

2010 LEXUS RX 350 - I WAS COMPLETELY BLINDED BY BACKLASH WATER, WHICH CAME DIRECTLY FROM THE FRONT WHEEL-WELL, WHILE DRIVING IN VERY HEAVY RAIN ON FOOTHILLS PARKWAY, BOULDER CO. I UNEXPECTEDLY DROVE THROUGH A FLOODED SECTION OF A HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 30 MPH DURING A VERY HEAVY RAIN STORM. IMMEDIATELY ENTERING THE FLOODED AREA, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS COMPLETELY COVERED BY WATER, AND I WAS COMPLETELY BLINDED. IT LOOKED LIKE I WAS UNDERWATER! RATHER THAN WATER EXPELLING TO THE SIDES OF THE CAR, THE WHEEL-WELL REDIRECTED THE WATER BACK ONTO THE CAR IN A WAIVE LIKE MANNER. THE WINDSHIELD CLEARED AFTER THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 15/10MPH. I INITIALLY BELIEVED THAT THE WATER CAME FROM THE CAR TO THE RIGHT OF ME. I REALIZED THAT THE WATER CAME FROM MY OWN CAR WHEN I DROVE THE CAR THROUGH ANOTHER FLOODED SECTION OF A STREET AT A SLOWER SPEED. I COULD CLEARLY SEE THAT THE FRONT WHEEL-WELL WAS KICKING WATER BACK ON TO THE HOOD OF THE CAR IN A "WAIVE" LIKE FASHION. WITH A SLIGHT INCREASE IN SPEED, THE RATE OF WATER ON TO THE CAR INCREASED, AND WATER EVENTUALLY COVERED THE HOOD AND THEN THE WINDSHIELD. THE SECTION OF THE HIGHWAY WAS NOT CLOSED, AND OTHER VEHICLES WERE GOING THROUGH THE FLOODED AREA. NO CARS WERE STALLED. THIS WAS THE MOST HELPLESS SITUATION I HAVE EXPERIENCED IN MY 40+ YEARS OF DRIVING! THE CAR WAS A RENTAL LOANER FROM THE DEALER, STEVENSON LEXUS OF LAKEWOOD, COLORADO. *TR