NHTSA Complaint #10668482 — 2009 LEXUS RX350

ON OR ABOUT MARCH 5TH 2014, I ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE TAILGATE ON OUR 2009 LEXUA RX350 AND ENCOUNTERED HOT MELTED RUBBER STICKING TO MY FINGERS. I REMOVED THE STICKY BLACK RUBBER FROM THE LOCK, BUT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE THE TAR-LIKE MATERIAL. AS A CERTIFIED ELECTRICAL TECHNICIAN, I CONCLUDED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SWITCH ON THAT TAILGATE LOCK STUCK AND HEATED TO A POINT THAT MELTED RUBBER, MAKING A GOO-LIKE MATERIAL. PLEASE NOTE THIS ABOVE REFERENCED CAR WAS NOT IN THE SUN DURING THE TIME THE RUBBER MELTED. WE HAVE BEEN USING THIS VEHICLE WITHOUT USING THE TAILGATE LOCK WITH THE RUBBER BOOT, BECAUSE WE DO NOT LIVE WITHIN 80 MILES OF A LEXUS DEALER, NOT CAN PAY THE $295 TO REPLACE THE BOOT AT THIS TIME. *TR