AS THE CAR WAS PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVING SPOT AND MAKING ITS WAY, SEVERE BLACK ICE WAS PREVENTING CONTROL. THE CAR SEEMED TO HAVE ACTIVATED SOME ANTI-SKIDDING MECHANISM. THE CAR WAS STOPPED THEN. FROM A RESTING, ZERO SPEED POSITION, THE CAR SLID ON BLACK ICE ABOUT A FOOT OR LESS AND WAS STOPPED BY A SIDE IMPACT BETWEEN THE RIGHT WHEEL AND THE CURB. THE CAR WAS THEN DRIVEN BACK A FEW FEET TO ITS PARKING SPOT AND PARKED BECAUSE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS. UPON CLEARING AND DRIVING AGAIN, SOMETHING WRONG SEEMED TO HAVE HAPPENED TO THE STEERING. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE TIE RODS (BENDING) AND THE STEERING COLUMN, DAMAGE IN EXCESS OF $5,200. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNJUSTIFIED BY THE EVENT AND POINTS TO A DANGEROUS FLAW IN THE CAR - EITHER DESIGN OR MATERIAL. AN INSPECTOR PULLED THE CRASH DATA FROM THE CAR BUT LEXUS IS NOT AVAILABLE TO EXPLAIN IT TO US, INDICATING IT MAY TAKE 30 DAYS FOR THEIR ANALYSIS. IN THE MEANTIME, THE LEXUS DEALER NEEDS HIS LOANER CAR BACK. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THIS CAR ENDANGERS LIVES AND THE MODEL SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OUT OF CIRCULATION. LEXUS IS NOT BEING APPROPRIATELY RESPONSIVE. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10679725