NHTSA Complaint #10501883 — 2003 LEXUS IS 300

IN EARLY DECEMBER 2010 ON MY WAY TO DROP OFF AN PASSENGER AT THE ONTARIO AIRPORT, ONTARIO, CA MY LEFT FRONT END FELT LIKE IT FELL IN A POT HOLE. A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED AS THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS TURNED COMPLETELY INWARD AND CAUSED DAMAGE ON THE LEFT FENDER. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO MY HOME AS IT WAS LATE IN THE EVENING AROUND 11PM. I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY THE NEXT MORNING TO FILE A COMPREHENSIVE CLAIM, THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP, VEHICLE 2003 LEXUS IS 300 WHICH FOUND OUT THAT THE LEFT SIDE BALL JOINT BROKE, WHICH CAUSED THE LEFT TIRE TO TURN COMPLETELY INWARD AND CAUSE DAMAGE ON LEFT FENDER OVER TIRE AND DAMAGE TO LEFT FRONT DOOR. THE BODY SHOP HAD TO REPLACE BALL JOINT AND CASING, NEW TIRE AND FIX DAMAGE TO LEFT FENDER AND LEFT DOOR. I CHECKED FOR ANY RECALLS FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM, BUT HAVE NOT FOUND ANY. I WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN ON A SIDE STREET WHEN THIS HAPPEN, AS I HAD JUST EXITED A FREEWAY GOING THE MAXIMUM SPEED OF 65MPH AND DRIVEN TO SAN DIEGO EARLIER THAT DAY. I HAVE HAD ROUTINE MAINTENANCE CHECKS UP TO 120,000 MILES I ALSO CONTACTED LEXUS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ON 8/11/11 REGARDING THE INCIDENT AND THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY INCIDENT REPORTS. IM WRITING NOW BECAUSE I HAVE NOTICE A COUPLE OF OTHER LEXUS IS 300 ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY WITH THE TIRE THE SAME WAY, WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. *TR