2002 Lexus LS430 Problems

AS I WAS TURNING ONTO A ROAD FROM A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CAUSING THE CAR TO CROSS OVER BOTH LANES OF THE ROAD AND CRASH INTO A MAILBOX. THE RESULT WAS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF MY CAR AND A BROKEN MAILBAX POST. *TR

I OWN A 2002 LEXUS LS IN DEC. 2010, WHILE I WAS TAKING THE GROCERIES OUT OF MY TRUNK, THE TRUNK FELL ON MY HEAD AND CREATED AN INJURY TO MY EYES, I HAD TWO SURGERIES, THE TRUNK UNEXPECTEDLY JUST CRASH ON MY HEAD, IT WAS VERY PAINFUL, I ALMOST PASSED OUT,APPARENTLY THE SPRINGS WORE OUT, THERE WAS NO WARNING, I AM STILL HURTING AND GET SEVERE HEADACHES, I WROTE TO LEXUS, THEY JUST IGNORED ME COMPLETELY, IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE DEALT WITH ACCORDINGLY. I AM ASKING FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION I SAVED THE OLD SPRINGS FOR REVIEW. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE TRUNK LID OF MY 2002 LEXUS LS 430 HAS TWO PNEUMATIC STRUTS WHICH PROVIDE LIFT AND KEEP THE LID UP IN THE OPEN POSITION. NOW, OVER TIME THE STRUTS SLOWLY FAILED TO KEEP THE TRUNK LID OPEN, AND IN A GENTLE BREEZE, THE LID WILL COME DOWN WITH GUILLOTINE FORCE. IT HAS HIT MY HEAD SEVERAL TIMES WITH PAINFUL RESULTS AND NOW I AM AFRAID TO LOAD ITEMS IN MY TRUNK WITHOUT ANOTHER PERSON THERE TO HOLD IT OPEN. I THINK THAT THE "LIFT ASSIST" OF THE PNEUMATICS SHOULD BE ONLY AUXILIARY TO A MECHANISM THAT HOLDS THE TRUNK IN A FULL OPEN POSITION. I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE WHOSE TRUNK LID DID NOT STAY IN THE OPEN POSITION ONCE LIFTED, REGARDLESS OF AGE. *TR

THE TRUNK LID KEEPS FALLING DOWN ON MY 2002 LEXUS LS430. SEVERAL PERSONS HAVE BEEN HIT IN THE HEAD AND SHOULDERS WITH THE HEAVY LID. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME NOW. *TR

AS I WAS TURNING ONTO A ROAD FROM A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CAUSING THE CAR TO CROSS OVER BOTH LANES OF THE ROAD AND CRASH INTO A MAILBOX. THE RESULT WAS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF MY CAR AND A BROKEN MAILBAX POST. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS LS430. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ENTER A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT INTENTION. EVEN AFTER REPEATED BRAKE APPLICATION THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. CONSEQUENTLY SHE CRASHED INTO SEVERAL VEHICLES AND A BUILDING. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 72,000.

DEAR SIR: I BOUGHT MY LEXUS LS 430 BRAND NEW IN 2002, AND I LOVE IT VERY MUCH EXCEPT FOR ONE THING: THE BRAKE SYSTEM. WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE, MY LS430 SKIDS (FORWARD), AND DOES NOT STOP IN TIME. I THOUGHT IT WAS MY OLD MAN'S DRIVING HABITS. BUT I DECIDED TO VISIT THE LEXUS DEALER. THE LEXUS DEALER, AFTER DRIVING THE CAR, TOLD ME IT IS NORMAL FOR THE ABS SYSTEM TO DO THAT, AND I SHOULD NOT PRESS THE BRAKE HARD. WELL, I LEFT THE DEALER, AND A FEW METERS AWAY I WAS DRIVING AROUND 20-25 ML/H WHEN THE CAR AHEAD OF ME STOPPED, I PRESSED THE BRAKE, BUT MY CAR - AS USUAL- SKID AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING VERY SERIOUS DAMAGE TO MY CAR ($9000). MY QUESTION: DOES THIS ACCIDENT PROVE THAT THE LEXUS LS 430 ABS BRAKE SYSTEM IS FLAWED SUCH THAT IT SKIDS WHEN YOU MOST NEED IT EVEN AT VERY SLOW SPEED? AND HOW CAN I AVOID SUCH A DANGEROUS SITUATIONS IN THE FUTURE ? I ASKED TWO OF MY FRIENDS WHO HAVE LEXUS LS430, AND THEY TOTALLY CONFIRMED MY COMPLAINT. I AM WORRIED AND SCARED TO DEATH THAT I MIGHT BE IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN I NEED THE BRAKING SYSTEM OF MY LS 430 THAT WILL FAIL ME AS IT DID TODAY AND MANY TIMES BEFORE. TO BE HONEST WITH YOU: I WILL DEFINITELY SELL MY LEXUS L 430 IF YOUR TECHNICIANS CAN NOT FIX THE SKIDDING PROBLEM. BEST REGARDS *TR

I WANTED TO WRITE TO EXPRESS MY EXTREME DISAPPOINTMENT IN MY LEXUS DRIVING EXPERIENCE. I CURRENTLY OWN A 2002 LEXUS LS 430 SEDAN THAT I PURCHASED ON DECEMBER 28, 2005. SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD VERY SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKING SYSTEM. FIRST, MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN THE SHOP 7 TIMES FOR MY BRAKES. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM; MY EMERGENCY BRAKE COMES ON BY ITSELF. WHILE I AM DRIVING THE BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON, I MUST PULL OVER AND STOP THE VEHICLE AND PULL THE BRAKE BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL MOVE AGAIN. MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN THE SHOP A TOTAL OF THREE WEEKS FOR THIS ONE PROBLEM THAT IS STILL ON GOING. EVERYONE IN THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT HAS LOOKED AT MY VEHICLE THEY TELL ME THEY CAN NOT FIND OUT WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. FINALLY, THIS VEHICLE WAS A PRE-OWNED VEHICLE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN CHECKED OUT. LET ME TELL THE REAL STORY, FIRST I HAD TO PAY OUT OF MY POCKET TO GET THE BRAKE FIXED. THE BRAKES WERE MAKING A LOUD NOISE, I PAID FOR NEW BRAKE PADS THAT WAS $75 DOLLARS. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY I HAD TO PAY FOR NEW BRAKES ON A PRE-OWNED VEHICLE? NEXT, THE TWO OUTSIDE MIRRORS HAD TO BE REPLACED IT WAS COVERED BY THE WARRANTY; AGAIN KEEP IN MIND I ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR FIVE MONTHS. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE THAN ON THE ROAD. LASTLY, MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP ONCE AGAIN FOR MY BRAKE SYSTEM. *JB

2002 LEXUS LS430 ACCELERATED AND SHIFTED GEARS UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING AN UNCONTROLLED VEHICLE SITUATION. THE VEHICLE PLUNGED ABOUT TEN FEET INTO THE SIDE OF A HILL. THE CAR WAS EXTRACTED AND TAKEN TO A BODY REPAIR SHOP. *TR

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY 2002 LEXUS 430 LS WHEN SHE HAD A SEIZURE. DURING THE SEIZURE HER FOOT HIT THE GAS PEDAL AND SHE PROCEEDED THROUGH SEVERAL RESIDENTIAL AREAS BEFORE CRASHING INTO A TREE. THE AIRBAG WAS NOT DEPLOYED CAUSING 2 LEG AND FOOT FRACTURES. INSURANCE ADJUSTER AGREED THAT THE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. THE LOCAL LEXUS DEALER HAD COMPLETED AN ANNUAL SERVICE ON THE CAR WITHIN THE LAST 12 MONTHS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS LS430 PURCHASED NEW. HE STATED ALL FOUR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WINDOWS WERE DE LAMINATING. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FIRST INITIAL REPAIR WAS DONE UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD TAKE NO LIABILITY FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 110,000. UPDATED 02/02/10 *BF ALL OF THE WINDOWS WERE DELAMINATED RESULTING IN A FAILURE OF THE SAFETY GLASS AND PROGRESSIVE OBSTRUCTION ON BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES. UPDATED 02/04/10.*JB

I WANTED TO WRITE TO EXPRESS MY EXTREME DISAPPOINTMENT IN MY LEXUS DRIVING EXPERIENCE. I CURRENTLY OWN A 2002 LEXUS LS 430 SEDAN THAT I PURCHASED ON DECEMBER 28, 2005. SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD VERY SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKING SYSTEM. FIRST, MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN THE SHOP 7 TIMES FOR MY BRAKES. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM; MY EMERGENCY BRAKE COMES ON BY ITSELF. WHILE I AM DRIVING THE BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON, I MUST PULL OVER AND STOP THE VEHICLE AND PULL THE BRAKE BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL MOVE AGAIN. MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN THE SHOP A TOTAL OF THREE WEEKS FOR THIS ONE PROBLEM THAT IS STILL ON GOING. EVERYONE IN THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT HAS LOOKED AT MY VEHICLE THEY TELL ME THEY CAN NOT FIND OUT WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. FINALLY, THIS VEHICLE WAS A PRE-OWNED VEHICLE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN CHECKED OUT. LET ME TELL THE REAL STORY, FIRST I HAD TO PAY OUT OF MY POCKET TO GET THE BRAKE FIXED. THE BRAKES WERE MAKING A LOUD NOISE, I PAID FOR NEW BRAKE PADS THAT WAS $75 DOLLARS. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY I HAD TO PAY FOR NEW BRAKES ON A PRE-OWNED VEHICLE? NEXT, THE TWO OUTSIDE MIRRORS HAD TO BE REPLACED IT WAS COVERED BY THE WARRANTY; AGAIN KEEP IN MIND I ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR FIVE MONTHS. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE THAN ON THE ROAD. LASTLY, MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP ONCE AGAIN FOR MY BRAKE SYSTEM. *JB

LATCH PLATE PORTION OF SEAT BELT IN REAR MIDDLE POSITION ALWAYS SLIPS UNDERNEATH THE SEAT.*AKCONSUMER FEELS IT NEEDS TO HAVE A CLIP TO PREVENT THE ATTACHMENT FROM GOING UNDER THE SEAT. THERE IS ALWAYS A PROBLEM RETRIEVING THE ATTACHMENT FOR THE SEAT BELT. THE MANUFACTUR CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLD CONSUMER THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE AS IT MEETS GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS. *JG

REAR CENTER SEAT BELT ATTACHMENT FALLS UNDER SEAT WHEN TRYING TO ATTACH SEAT BELT. ATTACHMENT HAS TO BE FISHED OUT UNDER SEAT WHEN LOCATING IT FOR ATTACHING. CONTINUAL PROBLEM. LEXUS REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IT IS UNSAFE ASI HAVE 3 GRAND CHILDREN INBACK SEAT MANY TIMES.

CURRENTLY, LEXUS DOES NOT HAVE A SERVICE INTERVAL FOR THE POWER STEERING FLUID THAT IS USED IN THE LS430 RACK AND PINION. I HAVE FOUND THE FLUID IS NOW DARK BROWN IN COLOR AND HAS ATTACHED TO THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO USE THE OPAQUE RESERVOIR TO VIEW THE FLUID LEVEL. THE DENIGRATED POWER STEERING FLUID HAS OCCURRED WITHIN 60,000 MILES. THIS IS THE ONLY FLUID NOT REPLACED DURING THE 60,000 MILE SERVICE THE SOLE PURPOSE OF THE RESERVOIR IS TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO SEE THE CURRENT FLUID LEVEL IN THE EVENT ADDITIONAL FLUID IS NEEDED TO AVOID FAILURE OF THE STEERING UNIT. THE COST OF THIS SMALL WHITE PLASTIC RESERVOIR EXCEEDS $250.00 FOR THE PART ONLY AND DOES NOT INCLUDE LABOR TO REPLACE THE UNIT, FLUID AND ANY HOSES THAT MAY BE NEEDED. I HAVE CONTACTED LEXUS DEALERSHIP TWICE OVER THIS ISSUE. THE TECHNICIAN ADVOCATES THAT I SHOULD JOSTLE THE RESERVOIR TO CAUSE THE FLUID INSIDE THE SEALED OR CAPPED UNIT TO SPLASH ABOVE THE BLACKENED RING. THIS DOES NOT ALLOW ONE TO SEE IF THE FLUID IS AT A DANGEROUS LEVEL. I GUESS ONE COULD BE OVER ENTHUSIASTIC AND DAMAGE, CRACK OR BREAK THE PLASTIC RESERVOIR OR A HOSE AND CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE UNIT OR OTHER ATTACHED PARTS. TWO ITEMS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. IF NOT SERVICING THIS POWER STEERING FLUID, IT WILL DECREASE THE SERVICE LIFE OF THE RACK AND PINION STEERING UNIT! FAILURE TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING FLUID IN A TIMELY MANNER DOES CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE OPAQUE WHITE PLASTIC RESERVOIR, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO READ THE AMOUNT VISUALLY INSIDE THE RESERVOIR. THE CURRENT PRACTICE BY LEXUS SELLS PARTS AND AVOIDS SAFETY CONCERNS LEADING TO FAILURE OF STEERING COMPONENTS AND OR CAUSES PRE-MATURE FAILURE OF THE STEERING COMPONENTS. *TR

AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES OF DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WANDERD ALL OVER THE ROAD--AFTER 20 MILES YOU HAVE TO HOLD STEERING WHEEL WITH BOTH HANDS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WILL EITHER GO RIGHT OR LEFT--AFTER 40 MILES IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO HOLD THE VEHICLE STEADY. *JG

1. SALT AND WINTER CONDITIONS ARE THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. 2. THE FAILURE IS THE FLAKING AND PITTING OF CHROME WHEELS DUE TO APPARENT INAPPROPRIATE CHROMING PROCESS. 3. LEXUS REPLACED THE 4 WHEELS IN 2006, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WITH ANOTHER SET OF CHROME WHEELS THAT BEGAN NOTICEABLY DISPLAYED PITTING AND FLAKING IN 2009. *TR

I AM 76 YEARS OLD. I PASSED OUT AND HIT A POLE DEAD CENTER AT ABOUT 30 MILES AN HOUR.THE AIR BAGS NEVER CAME ON AND I BOUGHT A 2002 LEXUS LS 430 FOR SAFETY.I UNDERSTAND THAT LEXUS IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR AIR BAG SYSTEM. PLEASE HELP.*AK

2002 LEXUS LS430 ACCELERATED AND SHIFTED GEARS UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING AN UNCONTROLLED VEHICLE SITUATION. THE VEHICLE PLUNGED ABOUT TEN FEET INTO THE SIDE OF A HILL. THE CAR WAS EXTRACTED AND TAKEN TO A BODY REPAIR SHOP. *TR

TL-THE DRIVER OWNED A 2002 LEXUS LS430. HE WAS ALERTED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE SO THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED A VALVE SPRING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 55,000. SM.