NHTSA Complaint #10573208 — 2007 LEXUS RX350

LOST POWER ON HIGHWAY MY RX350 (2007) LOST POWER GOING 65 MPH ON A HIGHWAY, AND BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN QUICKLY. WITH A TRUCK ON ONE SIDE AND ANOTHER BARRELING DOWN MY BEHIND, I TRIED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHUDDER AND SHAKE VIOLENTLY! BY SOME MIRACLE, I MANAGED TO SWERVE TO THE SHOULDER ACROSS 2 LANES, AND AVOIDED GETTING HIT BY INCHES! GOT THE VEHICLE TO THE LEXUS DEALER AND THEY FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS A PREMATURE IGNITION COIL FAILURE - THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY ABOUT 42000 MI ON IT. ASKED LEXUS CORPORATE TO: 1) DO A FULL INVESTIGATION SO AS TO PREVENT SIMILAR LIFE THREATENING SAFETY FAILURES, AND 2) REIMBURSE THE COST OF REPAIR AT A MINIMUM LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE RESPONDED WITH A VERBAL OFFER TO BEAR 10% OF THE COST OF REPAIR - AND NO PROMISE OF ANY INVESTIGATION! TALK ABOUT ADDING INSULT TO INJURY. WE'D UNDERGONE A TRAUMATIC EVENT, ALMOST LOSING OUR LIVES - MY WIFE HAD STARTED SCREAMING ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND WOULD NOT GET BACK INTO THE VEHICLE! I REFUSED, OF COURSE, AND PAID THE ENTIRE (AND SUBSTANTIAL) BILL MYSELF. I'D LIKE ALL READERS TO BE AWARE OF THE POWER FAILURE AND BE ESPECIALLY CAREFUL OUT ON THE HIGHWAY. ALSO BE AWARE THAT THE LEXUS PROMISE OF PERFECTION SEEMS TO BE MAINLY LIP SERVICE NOWADAYS - SAFETY APPARENTLY IS NOT IN THEIR DEFINITION OF 'PERFECTION'. TO SEE SUCH A SERIOUS INCIDENT BEING TREATED SO TRIVIALLY WAS TOTALLY AT ODDS WITH THE LEXUS MISSION AND THE LEXUS PROMISE TO ITS DRIVERS. *TR