NHTSA Complaint #10427530 — 2004 LEXUS ES 330

IGNITION KEY HOUSING/CASE CONTAINING METAL KEY BLADE AND ELECTRONIC REMOTE TRANSMITTER FOR UNLOCKING/LOCKING DOOR CRACKED ALLOWING TRANSMITTER TO FALL OUT. INQUIRY WAS MADE WITH DEALERSHIP ON REPLACEMENT. INFORMED KEY NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY - CONSIDERED TO BE LIKE TIRES OR WIPER BLADES. REPLACEMENT COST $200.00 PER KEY. USED TAPE TO HOLD KEY AND TRANSMITTER TOGETHER AND USED SECOND REMOTE KEY. SECOND KEY HOUSING CRACKED SEVERAL MONTHS LATER. USED TAPE TO ALSO HOLD TOGETHER. KEY CASE CAME APART IN GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT AND TRANSMITTER WAS LOST. KEY WOULD UNLOCK DOOR BUT CAR WOULD NOT START. FEMALE STRANDED ALONE AT NIGHT WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION. CALLED WRECKER - QUOTED $80 FOR NIGHT PICKUP AND TOW TO DEALERSHIP. A FRIEND WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AND RIDE HOME INSTEAD. NEXT DAY, BEFORE TOWING, CALLED DEALERSHIP TO INQUIRE WHAT WOULD CAUSE CAR NOT TO START. INFORMED CAR WILL NOT START WITHOUT CHIP INSIDE (LOST) TRANSMITTER. RETURNED TO CAR WITH SECOND (CRACKED) KEY AND WAS ABLE TO START AND DRIVE HOME. KEY HOUSING DESIGN IS DEFECTIVE AND MANUFACTURE IS WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE GOING BACK 10 YEARS FOR LEXUS AND TOYOTA MODELS. WILL NOT REPLACE BROKEN KEYS WITHOUT PAYMENT OF $200.00 PER REPLACEMENT KEY !!! THIS IS A RIPOFF !!! INTERNET SEARCH AND CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER LEXUS OWNERS CONFIRM SAME EXPERIENCES. LEXUS MAKES A DEFECTIVE KEY FOR PROBABLY $10 COST AND WANTS CONSUMER TO PAY $200 TO REPLACE. BROKEN PLASTIC KEY HOUSING CAN CUT SKIN ON FINGERS. LOST TRANSMITTER MAKES THE REST OF KEY WORTHLESS. LEAVES OWNER STRANDED AND POSSIBLY INCURRING TOWING FEES BECAUSE OF A CHEAP PLASTIC KEY HOUSING THAT MANUFACTURE WILL NOT FIX OR REPLACE. *TT