NHTSA complaint: 2004 LEXUS RX330 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ON THE DATE OF THE ACCIDENT I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 LEXUS RX300 APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION WITH CARS STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME WAITING FOR THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TO CHANGE TO GREEN. ALTHOUGH I KEPT PRESSING ON THE BRAKES NOTHING HAPPENED AND I ENDED UP CRASHING INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF ME AND CAUSING A CHAIN REACTION INVOLVING FOUR (4) OTHER CARS, THEN SWERVING ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND FINALLY COMING TO A STOP BY HITTING THE TRAFFIC LIGHT POLE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. STILL VISIBLY IN SHOCK, I WAS HELPED OUT OF MY VEHICLE BY OTHERS WHO HAD STOPPED TO HELP INCLUDING THOSE INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT. THE POLICE ARRIVED SHORTLY AFTER ON THE SCENE AND BEGAN AN INVESTIGATION BY ASKING OTHER DRIVERS WHO HAD WITNESSED THE ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORTS, THE DRIVERS BEHIND ME CLEARLY SAW THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON THOUGH THE VEHICLE OBVIOUSLY CONTINUED MOVING. SINCE THE ACCIDENT WE HAVE TRIED TO WORK WITH OUR INSURANCE PROVIDER (METLIFE) TO DO A THOROUGH INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT, BUT IT HAS BEEN ALL WITH NO AVAIL. WE HAVE BEEN KEPT IN THE DARK AS TO WHAT HAS EXACTLY BEEN DONE IF ANYTHING. THE VEHICLE IN THE MEAN TIME WAS DEEMED 'TOTALED' BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY WHO HAS SENT A CHECK. WE'D LIKE TO CLEARLY UNDERSTAND WHAT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT SINCE IT WAS NOT AN OPERATOR ERROR. PLEASE ADVISE ON HOW TO PROCEED. *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation