NHTSA Complaint #764399 — 2001 LEXUS LS430

FIRST, THIS COMPLAINT APPLIES TO BOTH SIDE VIEW MIRRORS. IN THE SALES BROCHURE FOR THIS CAR ON PAGE 63, UNDER "SAFETY & SECURITY" THE FOLLOWING APPEARS: "POWER-ADJUSTABLE, AUTO-FOLDING OUTSIDE MIRRORS WITH DEFOGGERS, PUDDLE LAMPS AND AUTO TILT-DOWN IN REVERSE". UNFORTUNATELY, THE FUNCTION DOESN'T WORK TOO WELL! BOTH OUTSIDE REAR-VIEW MIRRORS ARE POSITIONED AND SET INTO MEMORY. WHEN MIRRORS UNFOLD (E.G., WHEN STARTING CAR) OR WHEN THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO RETURN TO THEIR MEMORY POSITION (E.G., AFTER SHIFTING FROM REVERSE) THEY RETURN TO A POSITION THAT IS ALMOST NEAR THEIR MEMORY SETTING!!! THIS REQUIRES THE DRIVER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, PUT GEAR SELECTOR IN NEUTRAL, (MEMORY FUNCTION WON'T WORK WHILE CAR IS MOVING OR UNLESS GEAR SELECTOR IN NEUTRAL OR PARK POSITION), AND THEN PRESS MEMORY BUTTON TO BRING MIRRORS BACK TO THEIR SET MEMORY POSITION. MY DEALER WAS FIRST INFORMED OF THIS MALFUNCTION IN NOVEMBER, 2001. AND HAS BEEN INFORMED ON NO LESS THAN TWO SUBSEQUENT OCCASIONS. I'M TOLD BY DEALER THAT THE FACTORY IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE FACTORY KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM AS IT HAS EXISTED ON ANOTHER MODEL. IT CERTAINLY IS AN INCONVENIENCE TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THE AFOREMENTIONED PROCEDURES AFTER BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE IN ORDER TO SAFELY TRAVEL DOWN THE ROAD. PLUS, I HAVE A VERY NICE FEATURE (PRICE BEING INCLUDED IN PURCHASE PRICE OF CAR) WHICH I CAN'T USE. SAFETYWISE, IF I FORGET TO READJUST THE MIRROR AFTER BACKING UP OR STARTING THE CAR, MY REARWARD (SIDE VIEW) VISION IS COMPROMISED.*AK