WHILE DRIVING MY 1997 LEXUS LS400 IN CA ON THE 605 FWY, WEST TOWARD 210 FWY, ALL SYSTEMS ON THE CAR LOCKED (STEERING WHEEL, BRAKES, GAS PEDAL) AS I WAS CHANGING LANES. I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE CAR AND AFTER SPINNING SEVERAL TIMES RAN INTO THE CENTER DIVIDER. I WAS VERY LUCKY NOT TO GO OVER THE DIVIDER INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND BE KILLED. I SUSTAINED NECK AND HEAD INJURIES AND THE CAR WAS TOTALED. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT I SURVIVED AND THAT NO OTHER CARS OR PEOPLE WERE INVOLVED. EARLY IN 1998 I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AND TOOK THE CAR IN TO LEXUS ON 2/24/98. THE RECALL WAS FOR A "STARTER PLUG PROBLEM". I TRUSTED THAT AFTER THE REPAIR I WOULDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY LEXUS. IN FACT, JUST OVER A MONTH LATER I HAD THE ACCIDENT AND THE CAR WAS TOTALED. I VERY HAPPILY DROVE LEXUS CARS FROM 1992 UNTIL THE ACCIDENT AND THEY WERE MY FAVORITE CARS. I HAVE 2 FRIENDS WHO HAD THE SAME MALFUNCTION WITH A 1996 AND A 1997 LEXUS LS 400. I FEEL IT IS MY DUTY TO PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION TO MAKE SURE IT'S INCLUDED IN STUDIES AND HISTORICAL DATA THE NHTSA KEEPS. I HOPE THE INFORMATION WILL BE PUT TO GOOD USE TO PREVENT FUTURE ACCIDENTS, INJURIES AND DEATHS, REGARDLESS OF THE AUTO MANUFACTURER. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEMS TOYOTA IS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING ARE PROBABLY HAPPENING WITH OTHER AUTO MANUFACTURERS. *TR