NHTSA Complaint #10440171 — 2012 LEXUS RX350

I BOUGHT THE NEW CAR FROM A LEXUS DEALER IN NJ ON SATURDAY 12/03/2011. RIGHT AFTER THE CAR WAS DELIVERED TO ME AND AS I DROVE THE CAR OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP, I NOTICED THAT RPM SURGED WHENEVER GEAR UPSHIFTED SPECIALLY IN 15-40 MPH RANGE. MY WIFE ALSO NOTICED THE SAME ISSUE. WE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER ON FOLLOWING FRIDAY, 12/9/2011, AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM. WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, IT HAD ~340 MILES ON IT. ONE MECHANIC AT THE DEALER ROAD TESTED THE CAR WITH ME AND NOTICED THE SAME ISSUE. WE LEFT THE CAR AT THE DEALER ON THAT DAY. ON FOLLOWING MONDAY AFTERNOON (12/12/2011), THE DEALER CALLED AND SAID THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILED AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. WE HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE CAR AND RESULTING SAFETY ISSUE: POWER TRAIN IS THE MAIN COMPONENT OF A CAR THAT HAS DIRECT IMPLICATION ON A CAR'S SAFETY. THIS CAR WAS A DEFECT EVEN BEFORE IT WAS DELIVERED TO ME. I ALSO HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE RIGOR OF LEXUS NEW CAR INSPECTION PROCESS BEFORE CUSTOMER DELIVERY. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS KIND OF POWER TRAIN ISSUE CAN LEAD TO A MORE SERIOUS SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM THAT CAUSES DISASTROUS ACCIDENTS. WITH THIS DEFECTED CAR, WE MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT RIGHT AFTER DELIVERY DUE TO POWER TRAIN FAILURE. *TR