NHTSA Complaint #10440315 — 2011 LEXUS ES

CAPABILITY OF LEXUS ES 350 YEAR 2007: IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ONE TO BE LOCKED OUT OF ONE'S CAR WITH THE SMART KEY IN THE CABIN OR IN THE TRUNK. IF THE SMART KEY WERE IN THE CABIN, ONE COULD NOT LOCK THE DOORS AND WOULD BE ALERTED WITH LOUD CONTINUOUS SIGNAL. IF THE SMART KEY WERE IN THE TRUNK, ONE COULD NOT LOCK THE TRUNK AND WOULD ALERTED WITH A LOUD CONTINUOUS SIGNAL. THIS CAPABILITY DOES NOT EXIST WITH THE LEXUS ES 350 YEAR 2011: IF ONE LOCKS ALL THE DOORS TO THE CABIN AND THEN ACCIDENTALLY PLACES THE SMART KEY INTO THE TRUNK. THE TRUCK CAN THEN BE LOCKED LEAVING THE DRIVER IN THE COLD WITH NO WAY TO GET BACK INTO CAR. THIS A SAFETY HAZARD. WE WERE NOT ALERTED ABOUT THIS SAFETY HAZARD WHEN WE TRADED IN OUR 2007 LEXUS ES 350 FOR THE 2011 LEXUS ES 350. LEXUS RESPONSE: ONCE WE WERE ABLE TO GET TO A PHONE, LEXUS INDICATED THAT WE MUST HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A LEXUS DEALING!!! RECOMMEND THAT LEXUS FIX THIS SAFETY DEFECT ON LEXUS ES 350 YEAR 2011. *TR