10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 49,127 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
Bought a 2000 certified pre-owned in 2005 from Lexus dealer. In 2007 on a residential street, a driver was driving very slow and started to pull over. I quickly went around her to pass, at about 35 mph, but after releasing the gas pedal, car sped up instead. Tried to slow down with the brakes, but it sped up more. Then slammed the brake pedal with both feet and put it on park to avoid hitting stopped cars ahead. It stopped in "park" but was still revving high. I got out of the vehicle and it was still revving over 6 RPM! I bent under the dash and tried to loosen the gas pedal with my hand thinking it was stuck but it wouldn't stop revving so I turned the engine off. Before turning engine on again, I made sure no cars were ahead of me and prepared to put it into neutral/park immediately this time. Didn't happen again. Took it to Lexus (see invoice). They couldn't reproduce problem; claimed pedal got stuck in rubber floor mat. I told them I pulled gas pedal with my hand while the car was in park and revving on its own, and pedal was not stuck mat. In 2009 (now with 117K miles) on 60 mph highway when my daughter drove it and floored the pedal to pass someone. After releasing pedal, it accelerated on its own to 95 mph. Fortunately her lane was empty as she tried to slow down with the brakes, but this didn't work. Then she stomped on gas pedal to disengage it. After a minute the acceleration stopped. I called dealer to report the problem. They said the GS300 was not noted for this and didn't have recall. I still have car but now never floor the pedal and I'm on guard to put it in neutral. I cannot get rid of it because I can't sell it knowing this problem, and I cannot afford another car.
- Greensboro, NC, USA
I was turning onto the freeway (uphill onramp) I stepped on the gas going about 20 miles an hr when suddenly my car wouldn't stop. Accelerated so quickly. At first I thought my foot was touching the gas accidently so I moved and applied the brake which was no help, after I took my foot off the brake it accelerated faster I was terrified. I slammed on the brakes with both my feet and the car slowed enough that I was able to turn it off. Even while I applied the brakes the car was still trying to pull forward as I turned it off the steering wheel locked. This was the worst experience I have ever had afraid to drive it I had it towed to the nearest gas station to have it checked. I'm hoping that they will find the problem because I don't want this to ever happen again. Thankfully it was late at night and the freeway wasn't that crowded. I have a 2000 Lexus GS300.
- Menifee, CA, USA
While driving my Lexus gs 300, the vehicle stopped accelerating! the vehicle was driving normally and all of sudden it stalled out (engine still running) but no acceleration at all, almost causing me to get hit by another vehicle. The vehicles vsc and the engine light came on after this happened.. I pushed the gas pedal all the way to the floor board and nothing happened, after a minute or so, it begin to accelerate but only about 20-30 mph. After constantly holding the pedal to the floorboard, the car begin to accelerate normally again for a few miles. It does this continuously while driving now. At times I have had to pull off the road and let the vehicle sit for awhile and then it will return to functioning normally. The codes that the mechanic pulled up from the engine and vsc lights were for the throttle body sensor to be changed. This was done and the car drove perfect for about 15 miles, no problems, no engine light etc... then out of nowhere, everything started to happen again without warning, no acceleration and the vsc and engine lights came back on. I have looked on the internet to see if other consumers have experienced this same problem and they have and the outcome was basically the same results, some sensor (not definite) with a return to the initial problem. The code does not pull up the actual problem causing consumers to constantly have different sensors replaced, throttle body, etc. I have also read where a recall was on 1998 vehicles for this problem and I truly believe that this problem was not fully "fixed." Some consumers have battled with Lexus to include their later model vehicles in the recall to be fixed because it is the very same problem!!! after reading other consumer complaints and reviewing the previous recall, I know that this is a very serious default of the manufacturer which is undoubtedly putting consumers in terribly dangerous situations. These incidents happen with no warning! your help in this matter is greatly appreciated.
- Columbia, SC, USA
The contact owns a 2000 Lexus GS300. While driving at 5 mph, the contact stated that the vehicle accelerated without warning. In order to stop the acceleration the contact had to shift the vehicle into park. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership where the contact was informed that the failure could not be reproduced. The current and failure mileages were approximately 98,000. Updated 8/2/10 updated 08/09/10
- San Diego, CA, USA
Twice in the same day our 2000 Lexus GS300 experienced acceleration problems similar to those now involved in the international investigation of Toyota products. The acceleration began as the vehicle was stopped. I had to push the brake with great force to keep the vehicle from moving forward. When I placed the car in neutral, the revving of the engine stopped. The floor mat on the driver's side had not been moved and was not interfering with the gas pedal. We called a mechanic we use for the car after the incident to find out whether anything similar had been reported or if Lexus had issued a recall. When we learned that our model vehicle was not indicated as having a problem, we did not do anything further about the problem. We've not had the problem since then. However, I thought it best to report the problem after hearing about very similar issues in other models of Toyota and lexuses. I'm wondering if the problem extends further than the models and model years now being recalled?
- Vienna, VA, USA
Unintended acceleration without pressing accelerator. Has occurred previously. Car is a 2000 Lexus gs 300 with 107,000 miles. Floor mats were not the cause. Put car in neutral, it raced to red line and went back to idle.
- Los Angeles, CA, USA
While making a turn from a stop the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The consumer applied the brakes but the vehicle had extended stopping distance. The dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.
- Nicholasville, KY, USA
While driving at 35 mph vehicle suddenly accelerated. Dealer notified.
- Franklin, MA, USA
Vehicle accelerated without pressing the gas pedal. Took vehicle to dealer who stated that stabilizer bar was defective. Consumer stated that he hit five cars over a distance of about 1/2 mile before coming to a stop. Surging caused by electromagnetic wave, brake and airbag problems, arising from the wave and the vehicle's computer.
- Los Angeles, CA, USA
While driving vehicle started to surge forward out of control and struck several other vehicles. Dealer was notified. Feel free to provide any further information.
- Los Angeles, CA, USA
Vehicle started to accelerate while consumer was in traffic at a constant speed or 25-30 mph. Contacted dealer, and the dealer could not duplicate the problem, this problem occurs at least one a week.
- Jacksonville, FL, USA
Vehicle accelerated at slow speeds of 25 mph, and engine revved. This has happened 4 times. Took vehicle to dealer who could not remedy situation.
- Bayonne, NJ, USA
- Owasso, OK, USA