NHTSA complaint: 2002 LEXUS LS430 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation