NHTSA Complaint #10587595 — 2009 LEXUS RX350

EXPLODING PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR I OWN A 2009 LEXUS RX-350. IT'S IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH LIMITED MILEAGE. LAST WEEK, WE WERE STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT WHEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS A VERY LOUD & FRIGHTENING EXPLOSION EMANATING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR. THE MIRROR CAME FLYING OUT OF ITS CASING, HANGING BY ITS WIRES, & WAS CRACKED. MOREOVER, THE FLUID THAT'S IN THESE AUTO-DIMMING MIRRORS SPRAYED/DRIPPED ONTO VARIOUS PANELS, DAMAGING THE PAINT. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. NO BIKER, PERSON, OR CRAZY BIRD HIT MY MIRROR, NOR WAS I SHOT AT. IT WAS ALSO NOT TEMP-RELATED. SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE IN DIVERSE MAKES & MODELS: HTTP://WWW.PLANETLEXUS.COM/LEXUS-FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=2787 HTTP://COMMUNITY.CARTALK.COM/DISCUSSION/2129791/SPONTANEOUS-EXPLOSION-OF-RIGHT-SIDE-MIRROR HTTP://WWW.JUSTANSWER.COM/MERCEDES/1KS72-POSSIBLE-SIDEMIRROR-RIGHT-OUSIDE-EXPLODE.HTML HTTPS://ANSWERS.YAHOO.COM/QUESTION/INDEX?QID=20100730125750AANPD6F HTTP://WWW.MYFORDFREESTYLE.COM/FORUMS/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=8&T=4095&VIEW=NEXT HTTP://WWW.TOYOTANATION.COM/FORUM/8-GENERAL-DISCUSSION/102512-REAR-VIEW-MIRROR-EXPLODED-FREEWAY.HTML HTTP://WWW.MAZDAS247.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?123702932-[XXX]-IT!!-(SIDE-MIRROR-COVER-EXPLODED!!) HTTP://WWW.JAGUARFORUMS.COM/FORUM/XK8-XKR-17/ANYONE-EVER-EXPERIENCE-REAR-VIEW-MIRROR-EXPLODING-INTERNALLY-27371/ SOMETHING IS DEFECTIVE. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN WHILE YOU WERE DRIVING, IT COULD HAVE VERY SERIOUS SAFETY IMPLICATIONS. IN THE LAST LINK ABOVE, THE DEFECT HAPPENED IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. WHAT IF THE MIRROR HAD ALSO EXPLODED & THE GLASS SHARDS WENT IN SOMEONE'S FACE? IN ANOTHER LINK ABOVE, THE MIRROR EXPLODED & THE DRIVER SAW PIECES FLYING THROUGH THE AIR BEHIND HIM. WHAT IF A PASSENGER WERE IN THE FRONT SEAT WITH THE WINDOW DOWN AND THE EXPLOSION HAPPENED? THANK YOU FOR LOOKING INTO THIS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR