# 2002 LEXUS IS 300 — WHEELS
> NHTSA complaint `749656` · 2009-12-24 · Toyota Motor Corporation
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 1
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** LEXUS
- **Model:** IS 300
- **Year:** 2002
- **Manufacturer:** Toyota Motor Corporation
- **Component:** WHEELS
- **Miles at failure:** 100,474
- **Speed:** 60 mph
## Narrative
LEXUS IS300 2002 VEHICLE ROLLOVER ON FREEWAY.  DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE CAR TO ROLL WAS FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL/RIM BROKE IN HALF WHILE DRIVING. I WAS MERGING AND HEARD SOMETHING BREAK UNDER THE CAR. MY STEERING WHEEL  TURNED A HARD RIGHT FORCEFUL AND WITHOUT MY CONTROL. I TRIED TO STRAIGHTEN THE STEERING WHEEL OUT FROM THIS INVOLUNTARY HARSH DIRECTION OF VEHICLE, IT WAS LOCKED UP.  I TURNED COMPLETELY AROUND FACING TRAFFIC.  ALL ATTEMPTS TO TURN THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO DO SO (COMPLETELY LOCKED POSITION). THE VEHICLE SPUN AND I HEARD AND FELT THE BACK END HIT SOMETHING. THE CAR CATAPULTED OVER A 8 FT. FENCE THAT SEPARATES THE ACCESS ROAD. THE CAR LANDED ON ITS ROOF. MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED! IMPACT CRUSHED THE ROOF INTO THE GROUND I WAS SUSPENDED UPSIDE DOWN BY MY SEAT BELT.  THE CAR ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING.  I ATTEMPTED TO UNLATCH MY SEAT BELT, IT TOOK A FEW ATTEMPTS.  I COULD NOT FIND A DOOR HANDLE, OR WINDOW TO GET OUT. I TRIED FORCING THE DRIVERS DOOR OPEN.  IT WOULD NOT MOVE, I WAS TRAPPED INSIDE THE UPSIDE DOWN VEHICLE.  IN A PANIC, I FEARED THE CAR WOULD SPILL GASOLINE AND CATCH FIRE.  I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF.  I THEN REALIZED NO ONE STOPPED TO HELP...I FORCED MY BODY TO HIT THE DOOR OVER AND OVER, TO BREAK IT OPEN. I GOT THE SIDE MIRROR TO BREAK ALLOWING THE DOOR TO OPEN A FEW INCHES...JUST ENOUGH TO CRAWL OUT.  I WENT BACK IN TO FIND MY PHONE AND CALL 911.  AT THAT TIME A PERSON PULLED OVER.  I FOUND MY PHONE AND FOR SOME REASON I DECIDED TO TAK
---
*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*