NHTSA Complaint #10440732 — 2009 LEXUS GS 350

2009 LEXUS GS 350. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIRST TIME HE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, HE WAS PULLING OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY, WHEN THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD UNCONTROLLABLY. HE APPLIED THE BRAKE, BUT COULD ONLY STOP THE VEHICLE BY PUTTING THE TRANSMISSION GEAR INTO NEUTRAL. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS ADEQUATE SPACE AND TIME TO TAKE ACTION AND AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE SECOND EVENT TOOK PLACE NEARLY A YEAR LATER, AS THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE TIME OR ADEQUATE SPACE AND CONSEQUENTLY, HE STRUCK A BIKE RACK AND SEVERAL BICYCLES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE THIRD EVENT HAPPENED LESS THAN 24 HOURS AFTER PICKING THE VEHICLE UP FROM THE REPAIR SHOP. THE CONSUMER WAS BRAKING TO SLOW DOWN AS HE WAS COMING OFF A BRIDGE RAMP. ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF THE WAY DOWN, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE ONCE MORE. HE INADVERTENTLY STUCK THE SIDE OF AN UNOCCUPIED PARKED TRUCK TO AVOID REAR-ENDING A CAR WAITING THE TURN OF A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE POLICE REPORT STATED THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONSUMER STATED HE PAID AN EARLY TERMINATION FEE OF $3,000 AND RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO LEXUS. *JB UPDATED 01/05/12.