NHTSA complaint: 2005 LEXUS LS — POWER TRAIN
I OWN A 2005 LEXUS GX470 WITH 10,000 MILES. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE TOYOTA/LEXUS "BUMP/STOP" WHIPLASH SIMULATION ON A DAILY BASIS. LEXUS/TOYOTA HAD BEEN REPLACING DRIVE SHAFTS ON MANY VEHICLES WHICH "JUMP FORWARD" FOR NO REASON. LEXUS IS NOW SAYING THAT THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION IS A "NORMAL DESIGN FUNCTION" OF THE VEHICLE. I SPOKE WITH TOM NORTON, ONE OF THE OWNERS OF LEXUS OF CHERRY HILL, NJ TODAY. HE TOLD ME THAT HIS GX470 DOES THE SAME THING THAT MY $50,000 VEHICLE DOES. MR. NORTON DID AGREE THAT LEXUS HAD REPLACED MULTIPLE DRIVESHAFTS IN THE PAST & THAT THIS CONDITION IS ABSOLUTELY NOT NORMAL. HOWEVER, HE, & I'M NOW USING MY OWN WORDS, MUST HOLD THE COMPANY LINE, & TELL CUSTOMERS WHAT THEY'RE BEING INSTRUCTED FROM LEXUS HEADQUARTERS. AS A POLICE SUPERVISOR, I DRIVE FOR A LIVING. I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED A VEHICLE "JUMPING FORWARD" AS I HAVE ON MY LEXUS GX470. SHOULD THIS PROBLEM NOT BE CORRECTED, I WILL SUE UNDER LEMON LAW. I WILL WRITE MY LEGISLATORS. I WILL WRITE EDITORIALS TO EVERY NEWSPAPER IN THE REGION. I WILL PICKET DEALERSHIPS ON MY DAYS OFF. SHOULD NHTSA AND/OR LEXUS/TOYOTA NEGLECT IMMEDIATE ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER, I WILL SHARE MY EXPERIENCE WITH INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS. WHY SHOULD MY 4 YEAR OLD HAVE TO SIT IN A VEHICLE THAT IS UNSAFE? WHY SHOULD MY WIFE HAVE TO CRY IN A SERVICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE HER PLEAS FOR ASSISTANCE GO COMPLETELY UNANSWERED? WHY SHOULD A COCKY SERVICE MANAGER CALL MY CELL PHONE TO EXPLAIN TO ME THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M T
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation