2019 LEXUS RC 350 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

Traveling distance of 0.2 miles in a residential complex with 15 mph speed limit, on an uneven road that loops around. The road goes on a slight incline as it bends towards the left reaching my parking destination, a 2-car stall. At slow speed I made a right turn into the stall (a break-release-break maneuver) when the car lurched and suddenly picked up speed. Visualizing a wide pedal in the middle I hard-pressed the brakes with my right foot, same time thinking I should not pass the white post (about halfway of the stall) instinctively put my left foot over the right to press harder on the brakes. Next thing I know the car stopped and noticed white particles floating around. The airbags deployed - front, knee and side airbags activating roadside assistance (SOS). The engine would not start, and I can’t open the driver’s side door and window. The car crashed into the guardrail and right front wheel went over the concrete bump on the ground. I sustained chest and leg injuries. There is no other passenger, or third party involved. I did not hear or see any indication of system alerts or warnings before and during the incident. Car was totaled. While waiting for assistance and thinking about what happened it never occurred to me to wonder if I mistakenly stepped on the gas until the police at the scene brought it up. I had at least 3 lurching incidents on this vehicle, but the brakes worked. I could not replicate these incidents as it happened randomly.

Traveling distance of 0.2 miles in a residential complex with 15 mph speed limit, on an uneven road that loops around. The road goes on a slight incline as it bends towards the left reaching my parking destination, a 2-car stall. At slow speed I made a right turn into the stall (a break-release-break maneuver) when the car lurched and suddenly picked up speed. Visualizing a wide pedal in the middle I hard-pressed the brakes with my right foot, same time thinking I should not pass the white post (about halfway of the stall) instinctively put my left foot over the right to press harder on the brakes. Next thing I know the car stopped and noticed white particles floating around. The airbags deployed - front, knee and side airbags activating roadside assistance (SOS). The engine would not start, and I can’t open the driver’s side door and window. The car crashed into the guardrail and right front wheel went over the concrete bump on the ground. I sustained chest and leg injuries. There is no other passenger, or third party involved. I did not hear or see any indication of system alerts or warnings before and during the incident. Car was totaled. While waiting for assistance and thinking about what happened it never occurred to me to wonder if I mistakenly stepped on the gas until the police at the scene brought it up. I had at least 3 lurching incidents on this vehicle, but the brakes worked. I could not replicate these incidents as it happened randomly.

Traveling distance of 0.2 miles in a residential complex with 15 mph speed limit, on an uneven road that loops around. The road goes on a slight incline as it bends towards the left reaching my parking destination, a 2-car stall. At slow speed I made a right turn into the stall (a break-release-break maneuver) when the car lurched and suddenly picked up speed. Visualizing a wide pedal in the middle I hard-pressed the brakes with my right foot, same time thinking I should not pass the white post (about halfway of the stall) instinctively put my left foot over the right to press harder on the brakes. Next thing I know the car stopped and noticed white particles floating around. The airbags deployed - front, knee and side airbags activating roadside assistance (SOS). The engine would not start, and I can’t open the driver’s side door and window. The car crashed into the guardrail and right front wheel went over the concrete bump on the ground. I sustained chest and leg injuries. There is no other passenger, or third party involved. I did not hear or see any indication of system alerts or warnings before and during the incident. Car was totaled. While waiting for assistance and thinking about what happened it never occurred to me to wonder if I mistakenly stepped on the gas until the police at the scene brought it up. I had at least 3 lurching incidents on this vehicle, but the brakes worked. I could not replicate these incidents as it happened randomly.

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 101 NORTHBOUND AT ABOUT 65 MPH BETWEEN 3RD AND DORE EXIT, I HEARD AN EXPLOSION OVERHEAD. I LOOKED AROUND AND DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. BUT THEN I HEARD A WIND NOISE ABOVE ME. MY SUNROOF COVER WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME. IT WAS ABOUT 60 DEGREES OUTSIDE, AND I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 35 MINUTES FROM SUNNYVALE. MY WINDOWS WERE NOT OPEN (SO NO PRESSURE CHANGE), AND NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY WITHIN THE CAR. I WAS ON MY WAY TO SAN FRANCISCO FOR A COVID TESTING APPOINTMENT. I MADE IT TO THE APPOINTMENT, AND AFTERWARDS, ABOUT 20 MINUTES AFTER I HEARD THE INITIAL EXPLOSION, I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ASSESSED THE DAMAGE. MY SUNROOF GLASS WAS GONE. NOT MUCH GLASS INSIDE THE SUNROOF COVER, AND THE GLASS THAT WAS STILL ON THE SUNROOF FRAME WAS BENT UPWARDS, INDICATING THE SUNROOF EXPLODED UP AND OUTWARDS, SO I DIDN'T THINK SOMETHING HAD HIT IT. PICTURE ATTACHED.

ROUGH ENGINE SPEED. ALL MOST STALL DURING FIRST GEAR TO SECOND GEAR. LIKE LOW FUEL PRESSURE.