NHTSA complaint: 2003 LEXUS LS430 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
HYDRAULIC TRUNK SUPPORTS FAILED, WITH HEAVY TRUNK FALLING ON HEAD OF PERSON WORKING IN TRUNK. MAY HAVE CAUSED A CONCUSSION, AT LEAST A GROOVE IN TOP OF HEAD. PERSON STUNNED FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. IF THE TRUNK HAD HIT PERSON IN THE BACK WHILE LEANING OVER INTO THE TRUNK, IT MAY HAVE BROKEN A VERTEBRAE. IF IT HAD HIT FINGERS IN LOWER PART OF TRUNK, IT MAY HAVE CHOPPED THEM OFF, PARTICULARLY A CHILD'S. THESE HYDRAULIC SUPPORTS WORE OUT AT AROUND 60-70 THOUSAND MILES. NOT REALIZING THE DANGER, I NEGLECTED CONTACTING LEXUS ABOUT REPLACING THEM. HOWEVER, THIS DANGER SHOULD NOT BE OVERLOOKED OR UNATTENDED TO BY OTHER OWNERS OF LEXUS CARS. WHEN LEXUS WAS CONTACTED AT THIS LATE DATE, THEY OFFERED MINIMAL ASSISTANCE WITH THE PROBLEM, PLUS A BIT OF A RUNAROUND. I SUGGEST CONTACTING AN IMPORTED PARTS DEALER FOR THE EASILY INSTALLABLE PARTS AT A SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED PRICE.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation