What 197 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Lexus Es350

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10888408

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO PROVIDE THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DELAY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10885615

"TAKATA RECALL" - YOUR SITE NO LONGER ALLOWS CHECKING VIN# BUT REDIRECTS TO A LINK THAT DOES NOT WORK.

NHTSA ODI 10885241

TAKATA RECALL COMMENTS: HELLO..I RECEIVED A INTERIM RECALL NOTICE FOR MY 2011 LEXUS ES350. IN THE NOTICE IT STATED, THAT IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT I DO NOT HAVE A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER AREA DUE TO AIRBAG DEFECT. THEY HAVE NOT COME UP WITH REMEDY FOR THIS PROBLEM THEY JUST STATED THEY RECOMMEND NOT TO HAVE PASSENGER THERE. HOW CAN I DRIVE THIS CAR AND NOT CARRY PASSENGERS? THIS IS UNREASONABLE REQUEST FOR AUTOMAKER TO MAKE TO CONSUMER. I HAVE 48,000 MILES CURRENTLY ON IT. I SENT COMPLAINT TO LEXUS DEALER AND THEY RECOMMEND THAT I STORE THE CAR UNTIL END OF THE YEAR AND NOT DRIVE IT UNTIL THEY HAVE REMEDY. THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT THEY INSTRUCT THE CUSTOMER TO DO THIS. I CONTACTED LEXUS 2 DAYS AGO AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED RESPONSE. CAN I DEMAND THAT THEY BUY MY VEHICLE BACK? OR DEMAND THAT THEY GIVE ME A ALTERNATE/LOAN CAR TO DRIVE IN THE MEANTIME BEFORE FIX CAN BE FOUND AND PROBLEM SOLVED? I PURCHASED A LEXUS EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 100,000 MILES ALSO! VIN # [XXX] THANK YOU. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10885094

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10884076

MY LEXUS ES 350 ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON HWY W/O PRIOR NOTIFICATION OF ANY ERROR MESSAGES. MECHANIC SAID DIAGNOSTICS POINTED TO COOLING SYSTEM ERROR - WATER PUMP RELATED. THE PUMP WAS REPAIRED. CAR TEMP LIGHT WOULD FLUCTUATE FROM COLD TO HOT BACK TO COLD. MECHANIC SAID COOLING SYSTEM APPEARS TO BE FUNCTIONING BUT SENSORY GAUGE STILL FLUCTUATING. DEALER MECHANIC SAID WATER PUMP NEEDED TO REPLACED BUT THIS WAS ALREADY DONE. THEN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT ENGINE OVERHEATED AND WARPED. NOW CAR NEEDS ENGINE. CAR INITIALLY SHUT DOWN ON HIGHWAY W/O WARNING.

NHTSA ODI 10877003

LEXUS INBOX X [XXX] <[XXX]@GMAIL.COM> 10:23 AM (0 MINUTES AGO) TO ME I OWN A 2011 LEXUS ES 350. ON 12/10/2015 I WAS PARKING IN A CHURCH PARKING LT WHEN SUDDENLY MY CAR ROARED LIKE AN AIRPLANE AND SURGED UP A HILL THROUGH AN IRON GATE AT A CEMETERY, DOWNING A STONE PILLAR AND FINALLY COMING TO A STOP ON TOP OF A HEADSTONE. I CANNOT DESCRIBE THE SHEER PANIC I EXPERIENCED. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS THANK GOD NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME. THE PREVIOUS DAY I PICKED UP MY 5 YR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER AT HER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. CHILDREN COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!!!! I CAN NEVER DRIVE THIS CAR AGAIN. I BELIEVE IT WILL BE TOTALED ANYWAY. IT'S AT EDDIE'S AUTO BODY IN MOODUS, CONNECTICUT. I RETIRED 2 1/2 YRS AGO FROM P&W AIRCRAFT AS A PERFORMANCE ENGINEER TO BUY THE CAR OF MY DREAMS WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE MY WORST NIGHTMARE. FOLLOWING ARE OTHER EXAMPLES OF THE SAME ISSUE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS TO SAVE LIVES! [XXX] [XXX] MOODUS, CT. 06469 [XXX] VIN UNAVAILABLE INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *JB

NHTSA ODI 10810656

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LEXUS ES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THERE WAS A VIBRATION EMERGING FROM THE FRONTAL DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR PANELS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10776547

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LEXUS ES350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM SCREEN WENT BLACK WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON ONE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ODI 10763944

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LEXUS ES350. WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE DRIVER REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.

NHTSA ODI 10732581

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS TREATED FOR POST CONCUSSION SYNDROME, TEMPORARY HEARING LOSS ON HER LEFT EAR AND SEVERE LEFT SHOULDER, ELBOW, AND KNEE INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.

NHTSA ODI 10628724

2011 LEXUS ES350. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HER HUSBAND MOVED THE GEAR FROM PARK, TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE SHOT OUT LIKE A ROCKET. THE VEHICLE WENT THROUGH AND BROKE AN IRON GATE, SMASHED SOME ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT, TOOK DOWN A TREE AND ANOTHER ONE FELL ON TOP OF THE VEHICLE CRUSHING AND BREAKING THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED UNDER THE STAIRWAY TO AN UPSTAIRS CONDO WALL. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE AT SOME POINT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. ALSO, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10574543

NEW TIRE, WIRES COMING OUT OF THE SHOULDER OF THE TIRE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10565264

VEHICLE DUE FOR REGULAR, PERIODIC SERVICE AT LEXUS OF MANHATTAN. ARRIVED @ 07:00. AT 09:35 SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED US OF SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE ROTORS, BRAKES, AND ALIGNMENT. SAID THEY HAD COMPLETED THE ALIGNMENT AND CAUTIONED THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO SUBSEQUENTLY HAVE MAJOR BRAKING SYSTEM REPAIRS. VEHICLE WAS LEASED NEW IN MAY 2011. HAD NEVER EXHIBITED A SINGLE PROBLEM. WAS DRIVEN ~98% HIGHWAYS. ALWAYS GARAGED. NEVER PARKED ON A CITY STREET. THIS LEXUS EITHER IS A "LEMON" OR THE DEALER IS FABRICATING THE TRUTH. PROBLEMS REPORTED TO LEXUS. RESPONSE: "THE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE ARE NOT COVERED AND MUST HAVE RESULTED FROM YOUR MISUSING THE VEHICLE." IN EFFECT, LEXUS IS TAKING THEIR DEALER'S SIDE IN THIS SITUATION LEAVING THE DOOR OPEN TO THIS COMPLAINT TO THE FEDERAL AUTHORITIES. THIS SITUATION IS PURE NONSENSE AND EITHER THE VEHICLE IS A "LEMON" OR THE DEALER WAS "UP-SELLING" AN UNNECESSARY REPAIR. LEXUS HAS REFUSED TO AUTHORIZE THIS VEHICLE BE INSPECTED BY THEIR OWN TECHNICIANS. THUS LEXUS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION (THE PEOPLE WITH WHOM I WAS SPEAKING AT LEXUS) IS PUTTING ITSELF INTO THE POSITION OF ADMITTING THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THEIR VEHICLE BUT THEY WILL NOT EVEN INVESTIGATE THEIR DEALER'S FINDINGS! SOMETHING IS (AGAIN) VERY WRONG WITH THE PEOPLE FROM TOYOTA! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10549838

EXTREMELY DANGEROUS RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER GRASPS TOP OF DOOR FRAME TO CLOSE DOOR. DRIVER CLOSES WINDOW BUT IS UNABLE TO STOP WINDOW FROM CLOSING. ONCE IT STARTS IT CAN'T BE STOPPED NOR IS THERE A SAFETY STOP SUCH AS THAT FOUND IN GARAGE OR ELEVATOR DOORS. WINDOW CRUSHES FINGER OF PASSENGER AND FLESH IS TORN. FLESH RETRIEVED AND SEWN IN EMERGENCY ROOM BUT HOSPITAL SURGERY REQUIRED 3 WEEKS LATER ON RIGHT RING FINGER. POTENTIAL DEATH TRAP! IMAGINE IF IT CLOSES ON A CHILD, A DOG, OR OBJECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10481962

AT APPROXIMATELY 7:23 PM ON JULY 8, 2012, WHILE PARKING IN THE PARKING LOT OF OUR LOCAL CHURCH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE CAR WAS ALMOST AT A COMPLETE STOP, WHEN THIS SUDDEN UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION OCCURRED. AT THAT TIME LOTS OF PEOPLE WERE EXITING THE CHURCH AND WALKING TOWARDS THE PARKING LOT TO GET INTO THEIR CARS, WHILE OTHERS WERE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THEIR VEHICLES WAITING FOR THE NEXT SERVICE TO START. I WAS TERRIFIED SINCE AS HARD AS I PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL, MY CAR CONTINUED ACCELERATING ; IT RAN OVER THE CONCRETE PARKING BUMP, HIT AN ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION, AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN IT HIT A PARKED SUV ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE PARKING LOT. THE FRONT SECTION OF MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED TO THE POINT WHERE IT WAS NOT DRIVABLE. I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO MY HOUSE AND LATER TO THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP FOR AN INSPECTION. AN INSPECTOR FROM LEXUS CORPORATION INSPECTED IT ON JULY 17, 2012. HE CALLED ME THE SAME DAY TO LET ME KNOW THAT THE INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED, HOWEVER HE WOULD NOT DISCLOSE ANY INSPECTION RESULTS, DUE TO LEXUS POLICY. I AM STILL AWAITING A FORMAL RESPONSE FROM LEXUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10466313

AT APPROXIMATELY 6:30PM, WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN INTO A FRIENDS DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN, AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO THE RIGHT AS IF LOCKED IN TO THE RIGHT HAND POSITION, HIT A TREE AND FINALLY CAME TO A STOP BY HITTING HIGH CONCRETE STEPS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND LATER TO THE BODY SHOP AS THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. DURING THE INTERIM, THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY TOYOTA. POST INVESTIGATION, THE LETTER RECENTLY RECEIVED FROM TOYOTA STATES "DURING THE LIMITED TEST DRIVE ACCELERATING AND BRAKING TESTS WERE CONDUCTED AND THE VEHICLE PERFORMED WITH NO ABNORMALITIES FOUND". THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE PER THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MECHANIC AT THE BODY SHOP, DUE TO THE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE AND FLUID LEAKAGE. THIS LETTER FROM TOYOTA'S INVESTIGATION IS INCONGRUENT WITH THE FACTS AS I KNOW THEM. AS OF THIS DATE, JUNE 3, 2012, THE VEHICLE IS STILL BEING WORKED ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10460433

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A OWNS A 2011 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND FORGOT TO SHUT THE IGNITION OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A PUSH TO START AND STOP FEATURE. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN UNTIL A CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR SOUNDED. THE DRIVER SUFFERED CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING AND AS A RESULT, WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL TO TREAT THE CONDITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10458009

AT ABOUT 2:00 PM ON DEC 26, 2011, WHILE PARKING IN A PUBLIC COVERED GARAGE, I TURNED INTO THE PARKING SPACE, POSITIONED MY CAR, AND WAS ABOUT TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE WHEN THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD, HITTING THE CONCRETE WALL IN FRONT OF ME. THE PASSENGER IN MY CAR, MY 21 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, ALSO A LICENSED DRIVER, FELT THE CAR LURCH AND ACCELERATE FORWARD. SINCE I HAD REACHED A GOOD PARKING POSITION, I AM CERTAIN THAT I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. THE INJURY TO MY FOOT, FROM ALL INDICATIONS, SHOWS THAT MY FOOT WAS ON THE BREAK. I HAD IT X-RAYED ON DEC 27 AT A PATIENT FIRST MEDICAL FACILITY AND ALSO WAS SEEN ON DEC 28, BY MY FAMILY PHYSICIAN. HE EXAMINED MY FOOT AND INDICATED THAT MY ANKLE SPRAIN WAS INJURED AS I WAS BRAKING; IT WOULD NOT HAVE SUSTAINED THAT INJURY IF MY ANKLE WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE ACCELERATOR. *KB

NHTSA ODI 10441934

CAPABILITY OF LEXUS ES 350 YEAR 2007: IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ONE TO BE LOCKED OUT OF ONE'S CAR WITH THE SMART KEY IN THE CABIN OR IN THE TRUNK. IF THE SMART KEY WERE IN THE CABIN, ONE COULD NOT LOCK THE DOORS AND WOULD BE ALERTED WITH LOUD CONTINUOUS SIGNAL. IF THE SMART KEY WERE IN THE TRUNK, ONE COULD NOT LOCK THE TRUNK AND WOULD ALERTED WITH A LOUD CONTINUOUS SIGNAL. THIS CAPABILITY DOES NOT EXIST WITH THE LEXUS ES 350 YEAR 2011: IF ONE LOCKS ALL THE DOORS TO THE CABIN AND THEN ACCIDENTALLY PLACES THE SMART KEY INTO THE TRUNK. THE TRUCK CAN THEN BE LOCKED LEAVING THE DRIVER IN THE COLD WITH NO WAY TO GET BACK INTO CAR. THIS A SAFETY HAZARD. WE WERE NOT ALERTED ABOUT THIS SAFETY HAZARD WHEN WE TRADED IN OUR 2007 LEXUS ES 350 FOR THE 2011 LEXUS ES 350. LEXUS RESPONSE: ONCE WE WERE ABLE TO GET TO A PHONE, LEXUS INDICATED THAT WE MUST HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A LEXUS DEALING!!! RECOMMEND THAT LEXUS FIX THIS SAFETY DEFECT ON LEXUS ES 350 YEAR 2011. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10440315

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE TRAFFIC AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH, MIDMORNING, WE HEARD A LOUD POP FROM THE CAR. WE SAW NOTHING ON THE ROAD AND NO ONE ELSE TRAVELING AROUND US EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS. WE WERE NOTIFIED BY A CAR TRAVELING NEXT TO US THAT WE WERE LEAKING GAS. WE PROCEEDED OFF THE HIGHWAY AT THE FIRST EXIT AND PULLED INTO A GAS STATION AND SHUT DOWN THE CAR. WITHIN 8-10 MIN, THE ENTIRE TANK OF GAS (WE JUST FILLED THE TANK UP APPROXIMATELY 20 MIN PRIOR) HAD LEAKED ONTO THE GROUND. THE FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED JUST IN CASE THE CAR BLEW UP. THE FIREFIGHTER LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND PUT A PLUG IN THE GAS TANK TO STOP WHAT FUEL WAS LEFT FROM LEAKING OUT THE TANK. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE CLOSEST DEALER. THE SERVICEMAN AT THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE CAR HAD A WHOLE IN THE GAS TANK, A DENTED OIL PAN AND A SMALL 2IN GASH IN THE SPARE-TIRE WELL ( THE LATTER TWO WE NEVER VERIFIED). THE VEHICLE, PURCHASED NEW 1 MONTH PRIOR, HAD BEEN DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 600-800 MILES WITHIN A 4 DAY PERIOD. AS THE MAIN DRIVER, I NOTICED THE VEHICLE HAD A SLOW TAKEOFF AND TOOK SEVERAL PUSHES OF THE GAS PEDDLE TO GET MOVING EVENTHOUGH IT IS A 6 CYLINDER VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10439276

CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CHANGES MADE TO 2011 LEXUS ES 350 VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SOMEONE USUALLY DRIVES HER VEHICLE, TO ONE LOCATION, AND LEAVE THE KEYS IN THE CAR, SO SHE CAN PICK IT UP WHEN SHE ARRIVES. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE BEEN INFORMED BY THE DEALER, IT IS NO LONGER AN OPTION TO LEAVE THE KEYS IN THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10431050