2007 Lexus ES350: fire, smoke or burning smell

5 of the 539 complaints about the 2007 Lexus ES350 describe fire, smoke or burning smell.

owner complaints: 5
of this car's complaints: 1%
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 40 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Fire, smoke or burning smell by model year

2010
1
2009
2
2008
1
2007
5

What owners say

Filed Nov 29, 2016 · 105,000 miles · TX · fire

Car caught on fire after shutting off last night. Fire department could not determine.problem.

Filed Jul 28, 2014 · Body · FL

Dash is melting and lexus or toyota are not willing to replace free of charge. I'm the original owner of this car and the problem started about a year and a half ago. It's causing a reflection on the dash board which is blinding and makes it hard to see while driving. I'm worried with the florida heat the dash board will catch on fire or completely melt, or cause an accident due to the visibility issue.

Filed Mar 12, 2009 · Acceleration · 18,390 miles · MN

Driving home from work, I experienced a sudden uncontrollable surge in acceleration causing my speed to increase from about 60 MPH to 80+ MPH. Immediately I began to brake hard as I was rapidly approaching traffic just ahead of me. Fortunately the inside left lane was unoccupied and I was able to make an immediate lane change. Initially I depressed the brake pedal as hard as I could using both feet but only managed to slow the vehicle to 40-45 MPH. With my speed reduced, I alternated between pumping the accelerator pedal and pulling up on it from the underside with my right foot as it became clear that the throttle was stuck in an open position. The vehicle continued to speed back up to over 65 MPH with less pressure on the brake pedal. With traffic just ahead of me, I moved over to the left shoulder next to the center barrier and continued to try to release the open throttle. There were clouds of smoke around the vehicle and the smell of burning materials from the overheating brakes. After finally getting the vehicle slowed down to about 25-30 MPH, I shifted into 'neutral' and depressed the start/stop push button a number of times hoping to stop the engine but nothing happened. Instead the rpms moved up into the redline range on the tachometer. I quickly shifted back into 'drive'; the vehicle jolted and rapidly accelerated to 60+ MPH. As the brakes were fading quickly, I was certain that I would need to shift back into 'neutral' and let the engine blow up to stop the vehicle. Suddenly the acceleration surge stopped and I was able to bring the vehicle to a stop ' about 1 to 2 miles from where it had started. I quickly shifted into 'park' and depressed the start/stop push button to turn off the engine. The vehicle seemed to 'shutter' as I did so. Upon restarting the car, I drove cautiously to lexus of wayzata a short distance away fully prepared to shift into 'neutral' if the acceleration repeated. The car remains there over 5 weeks later.

Filed Jun 13, 2008 · Acceleration · 13,000 miles · MA

Reported: 27-may-2008 (incidence memorial day weekend 25 may 2008) problem: runaway acceleration: evidence of malfunctioning cruise control car was nearing end of 200 mile trip. Cruise control had been engaged on and off for last hour. Driver stopped at entrance onto old-designed fast-moving highway rte4) with old-fashioned short access and no breakdown lanes. Cruise control green light on, but system supposedly disengaged. Car began to exhibit strong engine noise and runaway acceleration. Driver shut off cruise control, passenger observed the light go off and then back on several times. Driver firmly stepped on brakes. The brakes smoked and smelled of burning. When car slowed down, driver pulled to small indentation at side and pressed ignition button for several seconds. Car stopped with jolt. Driver started car in park. Engine made same loud blow-out sound. Re-shut down car. Driver restarted car to move to exit about 50 yds ahead. Car began run-away acceleration again, driver repeated steps pushing hard on brakes (smell and smoke) and shutting car off by pressing ignition button. Off-duty police (chief of force) smelled brakes and said loud engine noise made car a hazard; tow driver would also testify to loud engine noise when car turned on again to be placed on his truck. Because spill of ice-coffee during incident, mats were inspected by both driver and passenger before car was towed. Both noted that mats were intact and in their proper place. Driver noted clips were in place. (the car was in compliance with lexus recall of mats having been serviced two months prior to incident.) improper mats are still lexus' stated cause; however, driver and passenger say this is not case. Cruise control malfunctioning seems likely cause of runaway-acceleration. While our dealer is responsive, national lexus has been most neglectful;agent does not return calls; and this is almost three weeks after incident. *tr see also 10228954 &10229189

Filed May 3, 2007 · Acceleration · 17,000 miles · WI · crash · fire · 2 injuries

The vehicle owner claims that the vehicle suddenly accelerated and that she applied the brakes but the vehicle did not slow down. She also tried the emergency brake but that did not slow the vehicle either. She then hit another vehicle and that stopped her vehicle. The vehicle then started on fire after the collision.