NHTSA Complaint #10350621 — 2002 LEXUS RX300

I EXPERIENCED SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN MY 2002 LEXUS, RX300 ON 4 AUG, 2010. I WAS IN A PARKING LOT MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO THE PARKING AREA WHEN THE VEHICLE REVVED FULL THROTTLE AND SURGED FORWARD. I APPLIED THE BRAKES FULLY AND WHEN THE VEHICLE DID NOT FULLY STOP I PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL WHILE STILL APPLYING THE BRAKES AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. IT WAS STILL IDLING FULL THROTTLE. I SHUT IT OFF AND LET IT SIT A FEW MINUTES AND STARTED IT AGAIN. IT WENT TO FULL THROTTLE AND WOULD NOT THROTTLE DOWN. I THEN WENT UNDER THE HOOD AND TRIED TO JIGGLE THE ACCELERATOR LINKAGE BUT TO NO AVAIL. I CALLED THE LOCAL TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY TOLD ME TO GET THE VEHICLE THERE. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE SERVICE CENTER. THEY WOULD NOT DO ANY WORK ON IT OR EVEN LOOK AT IT BECAUSE IT WAS A LEXUS AND THEY HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED NOT TO DO ANYTHING WITH UNINTENDED ACCELERATION PROBLEMS ON ANY TYPE OF VEHICLE THAT WAS NOT A TOYOTA EVEN THOUGH LEXUS IS MANUFACTURED BY TOYOTA. I HAD TO GET IT TO A LEXUS DEALER IN TUCSON, AZ (~80 MILES AWAY) FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE LEXUS DEALER SERVICE CENTER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A BENT THROTTLE CABLE. SOME HOW A COVER HAD COME LOOSE AND THE CABLE WAS EXPOSED FROM ITS SHEATH AND BENT. I AM SURE THE LEXUS OF TUCSON SERVICE MANAGER, MR. PAUL MINOR COULD EXPLAIN IT EXACTLY BUT THAT IS MY INTERPRETATION OF WHAT HE EXPLAINED TO ME. I ASKED HIM HOW THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED AND HE SAID HE DID NOT KNOW. THE REPAIR WAS ACCOMPLISHED FOR ~$365.00 PARTS AND LABOR. I WILL HAVE THE CAR BACK ON FRIDAY 20 AUG, 2010. I WILL HAVE THE OLD/BAD PARTS ON HAND. I FEEL THIS IS A PROBLEM IN DESIGN THAT LEXUS SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO REIMBURSE ME AND TO ISSUE A SAFETY RELEASE AND RECALL. THERE SHOULD BE A FAIL SAFE IF THE THROTTLE CABLE SHOULD BEND. IN MY CASE THE BENT CABLE CAUSED A FULL THROTTLE CONDITION AND SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT I WAS AWARE OF WHAT TO DO IN THAT SITUATION AND THAT A PEDESTRIAN OR ANOTHER VEHICLE. *TR