2004 LEXUS RX330 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT

MY WIFE HAD PULLED ROUTINELY OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY ON A CLEAR MORNING WITH NO OBSTRUCTIONS ON THE ROAD, SHE TURNED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY ONTO OUR PRIVATE ROAD AND SUV THEN SUDDENLY AND VIOLENTLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, ROCKETING HER INTO A TREE AND STONE WALL. THE AIR/KNEE BAGS AND ACTIVE SEAT BELT RESTRAINT WERE DEPLOYED, SAVING MY WIFE'S LIFE. THE INVESTIGATION BY THE LEXUS FRONT OFFICE IN TORRANCE REVEALED THAT VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING ACCORDING TO SPECS. I HAD NOTICED A REVVING NOISE ON DAY ONE OF PURCHASE AND MENTIONED IT TO THE SALESMAN WHO SAID HE WOULD LOOK INTO IT. WITH NO FURTHER INFORMATION THE DEALER SUGGESTED MENTIONING THE PROBLEM AT THE 1000 MILE CHECK-UP. NOTHING ABNORMAL WAS DETECTED, THOUGH MY COMPLAINT WAS RECORDED (APRIL '04). THE REVVING NOISE CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY BUT WITHOUT INCIDENT UNTIL JUNE 30, 2004, THE DATE OF THE CRASH. UPON HEARING OF A LEXUS SUV INCIDENT IN MY TOWN, I DECIDED TO CHECK THE NTSB DATABASE. I WAS ASTOUNDED BY THE CONCENSUS OF COMPLAINTS INVOLVING THE POWER-TRAIN. I HAVE BEEN A LEXUS OWNER SINCE 1995 (SC 300 COUPE) AND HAVE DRIVEN A NUMBER OF RX 300'S AND ONE OTHER RX 330 (AS LOANER VEHICLES). I BELIEVE IN THE PRODUCT SO MUCH SO, THAT I WOULD ENTRUST THE SAFETY OF MY WIFE AND CHILDREN IN A LEXUS. HOW MANY FATALITIES WILL RESULT BEFORE A RECALL IS ISSUED?? THE MALFUNCTION APPARENTLY DEFIES DIAGNOSTIC DETECTION. *AK