NHTSA complaint: 2010 LEXUS RX HYBRID — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS RX450 HYBRID. AR APPROXIMATELY 6:10AM ON SATURDAY DEC. 10TH, IN CLEAR WEATHER, WHILE OPERATING HER VEHICLE, SHE ENTERED A PARKING AREA AND BACKED INTO A YELLOW BARRIER POST AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, BUT THE VEHICLE AGAIN REVERSED. THE VEHICLE THEN MOVED FORWARD, APPROACHING THE STREET. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT IT WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED IN A FORWARD MOTION WITH APPARENT ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE LEFT, DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES AGAIN, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED FORWARD WITH FURTHER ACCELERATION. APPROACHING A STOP SIGN APPROX. 30 YARDS FROM THE PARKING AREA AND NOT BEING ABLE TO HALT OR SLOW THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT PROCEEDED THROUGH IT, TURNING RIGHT, ONTO A SERVICE ROAD. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE AND ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER TO ANOTHER GEAR, BUT NEITHER RESPONDED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE A SENSE OF ACCELERATION. AT A POINT APPROX. 140 YARDS FROM THE STOP SIGN, THE CONTACT OPENED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND JUMPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE AS IT MOVED FORWARD AT APPROX. 25-30 MPH. THE CONTACT'S RIGHT ELBOW, WRIST AND LEFT ARM HIT THE GROUND. AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO FLAG DOWN PASSING MOTORIST, THE VEHICLE RAN UP AGAINST THE CURB AND FINALLY GROUND TO A HALT AGAINST THE GRANITE CURB. APPROX. 60 YARDS FROM THE CONTACT'S EXIT POINT. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ENGAGED IN DRIVE WHEN THE CONTACT
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation