NHTSA Complaint #11404485 — 2014 LEXUS ES350

SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WITH BRAKING PROBLEMS. THREE EPISODES. THE FIRST EPISODE WAS A COMPLAINT TO THE DEALER WITH DOCUMENTATION IN THE CAR'S SERVICE RECORD. THE SECOND OF WHICH WAS WORKED-UP FOR ONE WEEK BY THE DEALER WITH NO ANSWERS. THE THIRD EPISODE OCCURRED GOING DOWN A PARKING RAMP AND RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR AND INJURIES TO BOTH FENDERS. THE CAR'S "BLACK BOX" WAS NOT ACTIVATED DURING THE LAST EPISODE. THE CAR ACCELERATED RIGHT AFTER IT HAD BEGUN MOVING FORWARD. DURING THE OTHER EPISODES, THE ACCELERATION OCCURRED RIGHT AFTER BEING STARTED. DURING THE THIRD AND MOST SERIOUS EPISODE, THE CAR WAS MOVING DOWN THE CAR RAMP IN A PARKING GARAGE, FROM THE EIGHTH FLOOR TO THE SIXTH FLOOR. AFTER STARTING DOWN THE RAMP, THE CAR ACCELERATED AND COULD NOT BE STOPPED BY BRAKING, SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL AND PARK OR BY PRESSING THE OFF BUTTON SWITCH. WHEN THE SIXTH FLOOR WAS REACHED, THE CAR WAS DRIVEN DOWN ONE OF THE EXIT LANES WHERE FINALLY IT WAS ABLE TO BE STOPPED BY USUAL BRAKING MANEUVERS. IN THE "BLACK BOX" STUDY, THERE WAS NO RECORD OF ANY ABNORMAL ACTIVITY, EITHER ACCELERATION OR BRAKING. POLICE WERE NOTIFIED AND ESSENTIALLY DOCUMENTED THE EVENTS BUT MADE NO OTHER COMMENTS. DURING THE THIRD EPISODE, THE CAR WAS MOVING AT A RAPID RATE OF SPEED, PROBABLY AT ABOUT 50 MILES PER HOUR BUT THIS CANNOT BE DOCUMENTED. REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE COST ABOUT $6000.