NHTSA Complaint #10806524 — 2007 LEXUS IS 250

NOVEMBER 2015: I OWN A 2007 IS 250 WITH APPROXIMATELY 240,000 MILES. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND THE CAR IS TOTALLY STOCK. THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING SEVERAL DAYS AGO. THIS WAS UPON START-UP AFTER SITTING FOR ABOUT 90 MINUTES, NOT WHILE DRIVING. THIS CAR USES AN ELECTRONIC STEERING SYSTEM, NOT THE NORMAL SYSTEM WHICH USES POWER STEERING FLUID. I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE IT, SO THE CAR WAS FIRST TOWED TO MY HOUSE WHERE IT SAT FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. THEREAFTER, WITH THE STEERING STILL NOT WORKING, THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (MEADE LEXUS OF SOUTHFIELD MICHIGAN). THE DEALER CHECKED THE CAR OUT AND HELD IF FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THEIR 'REPAIR' WAS TO UNPLUG THE CAR'S COMPUTER AND PLUG IT BACK IN. NOW THE STEERING WORKS. THEY TELL ME THAT NO FURTHER REPAIR IS NECESSARY. THIS ALL SEEMS VERY ODD TO ME. I'M SCARED OUT OF MY MIND TO ALLOW MY KID BACK IN THE CAR (18 YEAR OLD NEW DRIVER). IT WAS LITERALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE WHEEL WHEN THE STEERING WENT OUT. THERE WAS A STEERING CAMPAIGN SEVERAL YEARS AGO (9LC), BUT THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT MY VIN IS NOT IN THE RANGE OF CARS NEEDING REPAIR. I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT OLDER HIGH MILEAGE CARS SOMETIMES NEED REPAIR, BUT THE STEERING SYSTEM SHOULD NEVER FAIL. AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND USER FORUMS, I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS WITH OTHER LEXUS IS250 AND IS350 VEHICLES. I AM UNSURE HOW TO PROCEED, BECAUSE I FEAR THAT THE CAR IS UNFIT TO DRIVE.