NHTSA Complaint #11123441 — 2005 LEXUS LS

THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH THE AUTOMATIC DOOR CLOSING SYSTEM, WHICH MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING REAR SIDE PASSENGER DOOR TO BE INCAPABLE OF SECURELY BEING CLOSED. WHEN THE DOORS ARE SOFTLY PARTIALLY SHUT, THIS SYSTEM GRABS THE DOOR AND FINISHES COMPLETELY SHUTTING THE DOOR FLUSH TO THE OUTER BODY OF THE CAR. WHEN THE SYSTEM FAILS, THE DOOR CANNOT BE SHUT EVEN MANUALLY. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN WHILE ON A TRIP, THE DOOR WOULD FLOP OPEN AND CLOSED AND BE A SERIOUS HAZARD AND DANGER TO PASSENGERS, OTHER TRAFFIC AND THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE DOOR MIGHT COME COMPLETELY OFF THE BODY OF THE CAR. FORTUNATELY, IN MY INCIDENT, I WAS IN TOWN AND GOT TO A STORE TO PURCHASE ROPE TO TIE THE DOOR CLOSED BY STRAPPING IT TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE REAR DOOR AND TAKING IT TO THE DEALER FOR VERY COSTLY REPAIR.