NHTSA Complaint #10373483 — 2009 LEXUS LX570

I AM AN EXPERIENCED CPST (>800 SEATS PER YEAR) WHO YESTERDAY ASSISTED A MOTHER WITH INSTALLATION OF HER NEW GRACO SR-35 INFANT CAR SEAT W/ BASE MODEL # 1759703 IN HER 2009 LEXUS LX570 SUV. THIS COMPLAINT IS SPECIFIC TO A VEHICLE INTERIOR FEATURE THAT MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CORRECTLY INSTALL THE CHILD RESTRAINT. THE VEHICLE BENCH SEAT IN THE SECOND ROW HAD LEATHER INTERIOR. THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE SEAT CUSHION INCLUDES A SUBSTANTIAL ROUNDED CUSHION THAT PROTRUDES FORWARD AT THE VEHICLE SEAT BIGHT. THIS SUBSTANTIAL THICKNESS OF MFG DESIGNED PADDING INTERFERES SIGNIFICANTLY WITH THE INSTALLATION OF AN INFANT SEAT BASE BECAUSE IT DISPLACES THE BASE OF THE INFANT SEAT SEVERAL INCHES FORWARD OF THE SEAT BIGHT. THE DISPLACEMENT OF THE BASE SEVERAL INCHES FORWARD OF THE SEAT BIGHT PROHIBITED SECURE INSTALLATION OF THE BASE WITH BOTH THE LATCH SYSTEM AND THE SEATBELT. TOYOTA SUVS OF SIMILAR BODY TYPE ALSO HAVE A SIMILAR SEAT CUSHION FEATURE HOWEVER IT IS NOT AS PRONOUNCED. ATTEMPTING TO INSTALL THE BASE ON TOP OF THIS CUSHION THAT PROTRUDES FROM THE SEAT BIGHT WAS A PROBLEM AS THE BASE EASILY SLIPS OFF THE PROTRUDING CUSHION ....CAUSING EXCESSIVE SLACK AND SIDE TO SIDE MOVEMENT OF THE BASE. THIS SLIPPING AND THE EXCESSIVE SLACK IT CREATES COULD PROVE PARTICULARLY PROBLEMATIC IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THE OUTBOARD SEATING LOCATIONS OF THE 2009 LEXUS LX570 HAVE SEAT MOUNTED TORSO AIRBAGS. OWNER OF THE VEHICLE HAS REQUESTED THAT I SUBMIT THIS COMPLAINT. *TR