NHTSA complaint: 2004 LEXUS GX470 — ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
PROBLEM WITH VSC ON MY 2004 LEXUS GX470. I WAS DRIVING FROM A SKI RESORT ON SNOW COVERED ROAD AT APPROX 35-37 MPH. THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL HIT A POTHOLE AND THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SHOT SIDEWAYS AND WE WERE HEADED OFF THE ROAD TO THE RIGHT, THEN TRACTION CONTROL OR SOMETHING KICKED IN AND WE SHOT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I TRIED TO STEER BACK INTO OUR LANE AND THE REAR LEFT AGAIN SENT US INTO A SIDEWAYS SKID ACROSS THE RIGHT LANE AND HEADED OFF OF THE ROAD UNTIL THE RIGHT REAR HIT A POLE. THE CAR CONTINUED TO MOVE AND SHOT US BACK INTO THE RIGHT TRAFFIC LANE AND I WAS ABLE TO FINALLY GAIN CONTROL AND PULL OVER. I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND WE VEERED BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE HIGHWAY FOR SEVERAL YARDS. I HAVE DRIVEN IN WINTER CONDITIONS FOR YEARS AND HAVE BEEN IN SLIDES BEFORE, BUT NEVER WHERE THE CAR CHANGED DIRECTION AND VEERED BACK AND FORTH INSTEAD OF MAINTAINING THE SLIDE TRAJECTORY. I AM CONVINCED THAT THE SENSORS ARE WRONG OR SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE VSC AND REPORTED MY CONCERN TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND ALSO TO THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LEXUS AND HAD THEM RUN FULL DIAGNOSTIC, INCLUDING ZERO POINT/YAW RATE. THEY REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO ISSUES WITH THE VSC. THE TIRES AND BRAKES CHECKED OUT TOO. I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE SERVICED BY LEXUS, EVEN OIL CHANGES. I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING THIS SITE AND OTHERS FOR SIMILAR ESC/VSC COMPLAINTS AND HAVE FOUND A FEW, THEN WHEN THE ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE VSC PROBLEMS WITH THE NEW LEXUS GX CAME OUT, I KNE
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation