NHTSA Complaint #11386326 — 2007 LEXUS LS

WHEN DRIVING WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON VSC(VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL), TRACTION CONTROL, CHECK ENGINE; WARNING TEXT TO TAKE TO DEALER. THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT WORK AND THE PERFORMANCE OF THE MOTOR DECLINED, LOSS OF POWER AND EXCESSIVE ENGINE NOISE. WHEN STATIONARY UPON INSPECTION BOTH HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMPS THAT RESIDE IN THE REAR TOP OF THE VALVE COVERS SHOWED SIGNS OF LEAKING GASOLINE AND OIL. THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS SO BAD THAT THE CHANCE OF IGNITING WAS IMMINENT, AS IT LEAKED ONTO THE EXHAUST BELOW AND CAME IN CONTACT WITH AN O2 SENSOR DIRECTLY BELOW ON THE ENGINE BLOCK, THAT HAS AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. MY VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 170K MILES. AT 85K MILES THE RECALL #10V30900 (VALVE SPRINGS) WAS PERFORMED. UPON INVESTIGATION THIS RECALL WAS INCOMPLETE AS IT DID NOT INCLUDE A SERVICEABLE PART GASKET #2322438010 THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE "VALVE SPRING KIT"#0400037338. THIS GASKET IS ALWAYS REPLACED WHEN THE FUEL PUMPS ARE REMOVED. IT RESIDES IN THE VALVE COVER UNDER THE REMOVABLE FUEL PUMP PLATE. ALL OTHER SERVICEABLE GASKETS IN THE FUEL PUMP WERE INCLUDED: 2 O-RINGS FOR MOUNT BOLTS, 2 RING GASKETS FOR FUEL DAMPENER, 1PUMP TO PLATE GASKET BUT NOT THE PLATE TO VALVE COVER GADKET. THIS IS A KNOWN LEAKING PROBLEM FOR 2007-2008 LS460 (YEARS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL), MOST COMMONLY SEEN AS OIL LEAKS AT THE VALVE COVER BUT MINE AND OTHERS SHOW DEGRADATION TO WHERE GAS LEAKS FROM THE PUMP TO PLATE GASKET AS WELL. THE POSSIBILITY OF A SEVERELY DETERIATED GASKET AT THE VALVE COVER #2322438010 HAS THE POSSIBILITY OF PIECES FALLING INTO THE MOVEABLE PARTS AREA THAT WERE THE REASON FOR THE RECALL. THIS NON REPLACED GASKET SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND IT HAS CREATED A FIRE HAZARD. I CURRENTLY SHOW DTC P0455, P0441, P0455, P0441. THE P0012 VSC ERROR HAS RESOLVED RECENTLY AFTER CLEARING THE MEMORY.