2007 Lexus ES350 Brakes Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 LEXUS ES350. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN HIGHWAY SPEED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO ENGAGE WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DESTROYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER AN UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 07E082000 (EQUIPMENT) AND 09V388000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10854136

Incident

Jun 8, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ABNORMALLY DEPRESSED INTO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN ENGAGED AND WITHOUT RESPONSE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIR SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER COULD POSSIBLY NEED REPLACING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,985.

NHTSA ID

10421633

Incident

Aug 17, 2011

Mileage

41,985 mi

THIS IS ABOUT THE REAR BRAKE PADS OF LEXUS E350 AND THE ETHICS OF LEXUS DEALER. I TOOK MY 2007 ES350 TO LEXUS DEALER FOR A RECALL JOB. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR THE DEALER GAVE ME AN INSPECTION SHEET WHICH SHOWED THAT THE FRONT DISC PADS ARE 8MM THICK (REASONABLE FOR A 30,000 MILES CAR) WHILE THE REAR PADS HAD WORN DOWN TO 1MM ( DANGEROUSLY THIN). I ASKED THE DEALER WHETHER THE REPLACEMENT IS COVERED BY WARRANTY. THEY SAID EMPHATICALLY 'NO' AND OFFERED DECEIVING (EXTREMELY UNETHICAL) EXPLANATIONS AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED. SUBSEQUENTLY I DISCOVERED THAT LEXUS HAS INFORMED ITS DEALERS, THROUGH A TECHNICAL BULLETIN, THAT PREMATURE FAILURE OF REAR BRAKE PADS HAVE OCCURRED IN E350 AND THESE PADS SHOULD BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY WHEN CUSTOMER REQUESTS. THE SPECIFIC COMPLAINS ARE (1) MOST CARS' FRONT PADS WEAR MUCH FASTER THAN REAR ONES, AS A RESULT DRIVERS TEND TO INSPECT THE FRONT PADS MORE FREQUENTLY THAN THE REAR ONES. THIS CAN LEAD TO A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION LIKE WHAT I RAN INTO. LEXUS SHOULD ISSUE A NATIONWIDE RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEMS. (2) LEXUS SHOULD POLICE ITS DEALER. REQUIRE THEM TO PROVIDE CUSTOMERS WITH CORRECT, ACCURATE INFORMATION AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, TO HONOR LEGITIMATE WARRANTY REQUESTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10394057

Incident

Feb 22, 2011

Mileage

30,515 mi

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) RE: LEXUS ES350, 2007; 16,800 MILES; VIN: [XXX] ON FEBRUARY 2ND, 2010, I WAS DRIVING ABOVE REFERENCED CAR, WITH ONLY ABOUT 16,800 MILES DRIVEN ON IT, BARELY AT 20 MPH ON A SIDE STREET AND OUR LEXUS ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, BRAKES FAILED AND THE CAR SKIDDED AND HIT THE PAVEMENT OF A SIDEWALK. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LEXUS OF ROCKVILLE (301 762 9009) AND THEY SAID ALTHOUGH MOST REPAIRS ARE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY, A FEW ARE NOT. THEY INITIALLY QUOTED ME MY SHARE OF THE COST TO ABOUT $250 WITH WHICH I AGREED. SUBSEQUENTLY THEY CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT MY BILL WILL BE ABOUT $2300 IN ADDITION TO THE COSTS COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. PLEASE VERIFY THAT THESE COSTS ARE LEGITIMATE AND PLEASE RE-DETERMINE WHY WILL THEY NOT RELEASE MY CAR FOR A SECOND OPINION? BEING IN DOUBT, I ASKED FOR THE CAR BACK FOR TAKING IT TO ANOTHER DEALER, BUT THEY WILL NOT GIVE BACK TO ME MY OWN CAR (THEY SAID DUE TO SAFETY REASONS) AND COERCED ME INTO PAYING A BILL OF $2199.36 (INVOICE #882736), WHICH CONTAINED ALMOST $1800 IN LABOR COST AND THE BALANCE IN PARTS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS INCIDENCE AND THE ATTACHED INVOICE VERY THOROUGHLY. IT WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, BRAKES FAILED AND THE CAR SKIDDED AND HIT THE PAVEMENT. IT WAS NONE OF MY FAULT AND THE CAR IS STILL UNDER 7 YEAR WARRANTY. LEXUS SHOULD FULLY AND COMPLETELY REIMBURSE ME FOR REPAIRS AND INJURIES (TO MY RIGHT WRIST). AS A CIVIC AND HUMANITARIAN DUTY, I ALSO URGE YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER A RECALL, SO THAT OTHERS WILL NOT BE INJURED MORE SERIOUSLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10325597

Incident

Feb 2, 2010

Mileage

16,800 mi

SITUATION IS THAT ALWAYS STEP ON THE BRAKE HARD TO MAKE QUICK STOP IF NEEDED. SOMETIMES FELT CAR WOULDN'T STOP. SO I HIT THE BRAKE WAY IN ADVANCE. COMPLAINED IT TO DEALER, BUT THEY SAID THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10317431

Incident

Feb 1, 2010

ON 07/2009 WE TOOK OUR 2007 LEXUS ES350 IN FOR SERVICE WITH 20K MILES. IT WAS BEING TAKEN IN FOR A BRAKE PROBLEM, FAULTY VISOR AND VEHICLE TILTED/LEANING. I WAS ADVISED THAT THE BRAKES HAD 1MM LEFT (NEAR BRAKE FAILURE). A LEXUS TECH REPLACED THE BRAKES, VISOR AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TILTED/LEANING. SINCE THEN THE VEHICLE RETURNED SEVERAL TIMES FOR SERVICE INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING: BRAKES AND TILT/LEANING. THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED AGAIN AND ANOTHER TECH CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TILTED/LEANING WITH VISUAL AND PHYSICAL INSPECTION. THE TECH MEASURED FROM THE WHEEL WELL TO THE GROUND. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT SUSPENSION BUT THE RESULTS WERE THE SAME. THE VEHICLE IS STILL TILTED/LEANING AND NOW LEXUS IS REFUSING TO FIX IT AND STATED, THEY HAVE DONE ALL THEY CAN DO TO FIX IT. AFTER I COMPLAINT THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE A CORP FIELD TECH WAS SENT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE FIELD TECH ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TILTED/LEANING AND STATED THAT THEY DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE A REMEDY FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 25K MILES. DUE TO THE STATEMENT ABOVE IT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THE THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10317299

Incident

Jul 10, 2009

Mileage

20,000 mi

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER FREEWAY, AFTER PASSING THROUGH TOLLBOOTH, VEHICLE LOCKED AT 40 MPH, UNABLE TO ACCELERATE OR BRAKE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10316010

Incident

Feb 6, 2007

Mileage

6,600 mi

POWER BRAKES ON MY LEXUS ES350 . WHEN STOPPED THE POWER BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BOARD WHEN CONTINUOUS PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL . DUE TO THE FACT THE ELECTRONICS ATTACHED TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM REQUIRE CONTINUOUS PUMPING OF THE BRAKES TO MAINTAIN A FIRM FEELING WHEN MOVING AND STOPPED . ALSO WHEN THE MOTOR IS OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL DOES NOT WORK BUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DOES THE LEXUS MECHANIC TOLD ME THIS WAS NORMAL NOT TO WORRY . I TOOK THE CAR TO A VERY COMPETENT AUTO MECHANIC AND HE SUGGESTED I REPORT THIS TO THE NHTSA . I LIVE IN SANTEE WHERE THE POLICE OFFICER AND HIS FAMILY DIED DRIVING A VEHICLE SIMILAR TO MINE . I FIND MYSELF DRIVING MY TRUCK MORE OFTEN NOW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10308543

Incident

Feb 10, 2010

I BOUGHT A LEXUS ES 350 2007 MODEL (MANUFACTURED BY TOYOTA) IN NOVEMBER 2006 AND FROM THE VERY BEGINNING I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING TO THE DEALERSHIPS ABOUT HOW THE ABS BRAKES ARE VERY SLOW TO RESPOND TO APPLICATION AND HOW THEY DON'T ENGAGE AS HARD AS THEY SHOULD. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THE DEALERSHIP TESTED THESE AND REPORTED BACK THAT THEY ARE IN CONFORMITY WITH "TOYOTA STANDARDS" FOR ES 350 EVEN THOUGH THE OTHER LEXUS MODELS LIKE RX OR IS HAVE MUCH MORE RESPONSIVE BRAKES (I KNOW THIS BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP GIVES US LOANER CARS DURING SERVICING). THE DEALER ALSO CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS ONLY THE ES 350 MODEL BRAKES THAT WERE SO UNRESPONSIVE. THIS TIME, WHEN I WAS GIVEN A 2010 ES 350 LOANER, I FELT THAT THE BRAKES ON THAT WERE MUCH MUCH BETTER AND WHEN I INQUIRED FROM THE DEALER HE TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE OF THE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS THAT TOYOTA HAD RECEIVED ON THE ES 350 2007-2009 MODELS, THEY HAVE CHANGED THE BRAKES ON THE ES 2010 MODEL TO MAKE THEM MORE RESPONSIVE. WHEN I INQUIRED ABOUT REPAIRING OR REPLACING THE BRAKES ON 2007-2009 MODELS TO MAKE THE SIMILAR TO THE NEW 2010 MODEL BRAKES, HE SAID THAT TOYOTA WAS NOT DOING THAT, AGAIN BECAUSE THEY STILL ARE APPROPRIATE BY "TOYOTA STANDARDS". ON MANY OCCASIONS WHEN I HAVE HAD TO APPLY BRAKES IN AN EMERGENCY, I HAVE FELT VERY UNSAFE AND WANTED BETTER BRAKES BUT WAS RECONCILED DUE TO THE PROMISE OF THE "TOYOTA STANDARD". BUT GIVEN THE PROBLEMS NOW FOUND IN THE ABS BRAKES OF PRIUS AND OTHER CAR MODELS, I REQUEST YOU TO PLEASE ASK TOYOTA TO MAKE THE 2007-2009 MODEL ES CAR BRAKES COMPLIANT WITH THE NEW BRAKES THEY PUT IN THE 2010 ONWARDS ES MODELS TO AVOID ACCIDENTS DUE TO UNRESPONSIVE BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10305284

Incident

Feb 4, 2010

I AM PLEASED TO SEE SOMETHING IS FINALLY BEING DONE ABOUT THE LEXUS ES 350 2007 ACCELERATION PROBLEM. I FILED A COMPLAINT IN DEC 2006, AS I WAS SPARED FROM A FATAL CRASH DUE TO THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM. THE RECALL THAT CAME OUT THE FOLLOWING SPRING WAS ONLY FOR LEXUS MATS AND I DID NOT HAVE A LEXUS MAT BUT HAD ANOTHER STORE BOUGHT MAT. THE 2007 RECALL PROGRAM DID NOT PROPERLY ADDRESS THE ISSUE. I DISCUSSED WITH THIS AGENCY AND SENT LETTERS TO TOYATO IN JAPAN AND TO THE LEXUS HEADQUARTERS IN CA. I KEPT COPIES OF ALL CORRESPONDENCE SENT IN 2006 SO THEY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I EVEN SENT COPIES OF COMPLAINTS POSTED ON THIS WEBSITE, AS THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP DENIED ANY REPORTABLE INCIDENCE. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED THAT PEOPLE DIED AFTER MY ATTEMPT TO GET SOMEONE TO LISTEN. I AM STILL FEARFUL OF OUR CAR, BUT CAN'T SELL IT FOR A FAIR PRICE SO WE HAVE CONTINUED TO DRIVE IT WITH MUCH CONCERN FOR NOT ONLY OUR FAMILY BUT OTHERS ON THE ROAD. THESE CARS SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN OFF THE ROAD IN 2006. I STILL HAVE NIGHTMARES ABOUT THE CAR ACCELERATING AND PROBABLY WILL FOR A LIFETIME. I FEEL YOUR AGENCY SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE AGGRESIVE IN 2006 WHEN THIS FIRST STARTED. TOYOTA/LEXUS HAS FAILED THOSE WHO HAVE DIED OR BEEN INJURED AND ANY ADDITIONAL POTENTIAL INJURIES OR LOSSES THAT MAY OCCUR BEFORE APRIL 2010 WHEN THE NEW SOFTWARE AND PEDALS BECOME AVAILABLE WILL BE THEIR FAULT AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10303432

Incident

Dec 12, 2006

Mileage

1,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS ES350. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS HAVING HER VEHICLE INSPECTED THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR BRAKE PADS WERE WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT HAD NO KNOWLEDGE THAT THE BRAKES PADS NEEDED TO BE SERVICED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS AND THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 20,000.

NHTSA ID

10303179

Incident

Jan 29, 2010

Mileage

20,000 mi

I HAVE OWNED LEXUS ES350 2007 AND I AM PROBLEM WITH THE HANDLE WHEN I PRESS BRAKE AT HIGH SPEED. I BROUGHT INTO DEALER AND THEY CHANGED THE ROTORS 3RD TIME AND THIS IS FOURTH TIME FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. MAY 2007, NOV. 2008, AUG. 2008, MAR 2009 I AM HAVING SAME PROBLEM. THIS TIME THEY WANT ME TO CHANGE ROTORS FOR FRONT AND BACK AT MY EXPENSE, BUT I BELIEVE THIS IS NOT NORMAL AND DEALER COULD NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM. I AM WORRY THAT IT IS ASSOCIATE WITH BRAKES AND THIS IS WHAT MY WIFE DRIVES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10261686

Incident

May 6, 2007

Mileage

47,800 mi

I WAS GETTING ON HWY 101 RAMP ON A SATURDAY MORNING AROUND 10:45 AM WHERE TRAFFIC WAS MODERATE, SUDDENLY FELT THE CAR BEGAN ACCELERATING BY ITSELF SO I EASED UP ON THE ACCELERATOR. CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNCONTROLLABLY ON ITS OWN. I THEN STEPPED HARD ON THE BRAKE BUT THE CAR DIDN'T SLOW DOWN. SAW THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WAS ON BY ITSELF, TURNED IT OFF BUT THE CAR WAS STILL ACCELERATING. MEANWHILE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 105 MPH .MIRACULOUSLY MANAGED TO MOVE OVER TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT HITTING ANY CARS BUT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL MOVING AT 100+ MPH. FINALLY MY HUSBAND HAD TO FORCE THE GEAR BOX TO PARK AND I APPLIED THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE BEFORE THE VEHICLE FINALLY STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND EVENTUALLY STOPPED NEAR EXIT #389. IT WAS A 3.5 MILES JOURNEY AT OVER 100 MPH WITH MANY CLOSE CALLS OF SERIOUS ACCIDENTS .VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LEXUS DEALERSHIP. DEALER LATER INFORMED US THAT THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION WAS CAUSED BY THE ALL WEATHER FLOOR MAT AND THEIR EXPLANATION ON WHY THE BRAKE DID NOT WORK WAS WHEN THE GAS THROTTLE WAS OPEN, THE HORSEPOWER OF THE CAR WAS SO GREAT THAT THE BRAKE WASN'T ABLE TO STOP IT. WE WERE NOT CONVINCED AND DEMAND TO HAVE LEXUS CORPORATION SEND A MASTER TECHNICIAN OR HAVE AN INDEPENDENT AND QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN FOR A FULL AND COMPLETE DIAGNOSIS. REQUEST WAS REFUSED BY THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT MANAGER. BASED ON THEIR COMPUTER DIAGNOSIS, THERE WAS NO ERROR CODE CAME UP AND THEREFORE WE HAVE TO TRUST THEM THAT THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN RESOLVED BY THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FLOOR MAT OUR RESEARCH FOUND THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT MODELS OF VEHICLES OF TOYOTA AND LEXUS. SUSPICION IS THAT THERE IS SOME OTHER BIGGER SAFETY ISSUES BEHIND AND TOYOTA IS USING THE FLOOR MAT ISSUE AS AN EXCUSE TO COVER UP MORE SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10232948

Incident

Jun 28, 2008

Mileage

16,857 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY 2007 LEXUS ES350 NORTH ON ROUTE 34 IN COLTS NECK, NEW JERSEY. SUDDENLY CAR SPEED INCREASED FROM APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH TO IN EXCESS OF 70MPH. I APPLIED BRAKES AND EMERGENCY BRAKES WHICH DID NOTHING. I SPENT THE NEXT THREE MILES AVOIDING CARS IN MY LANE AND ONCOMING LANES. DURING THIS TIME I ATTEMPTED TO PUT CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN IT OFF. NOTHING HAPPENED. I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO PUT CAR IN REVERSE WHICH SLOWED IT DOWN BUT THEN IT STARTED GOING BACKWARDS. I FINALLY GOT INTO NEUTRAL AND WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF. CAR IS PRESENTLY AT LEXUS DEALER. THEY KEPT ASKING ME ABOUT FLOOR MATS AND THAT THEY WOULD INSPECT THEIR PLACEMENT. I KEEP MATS AT LEAST SIX TO 12 INCHES FROM PEDALS. THERE HAVE 40 SUCH INCIDENTS WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL SINCE IT CAME OUT. LEXUS KEEPS TALKING ABOUT FLOOR MATS, BUT SOME OF THE CARS DID NOT EVEN HAVE FLOOR MATS. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE BEFORE A LOT OF PEOPLE DIE. I WAS VERY LUCKY TO NOT KILL MYSELF AND A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10228861

Incident

May 23, 2008

Mileage

17,000 mi