Petition for a defect investigation into low-speed surging in different models of toyota automobiles in which the car starts accelerating and the engine RPM increases when accelerator is not depressed. *smd the consumer stated on february 13, 2015, his wife was driving to an appointment. She pulled into the parking lot and did not have her foot on the brake pedal as she was coasting into the parking spot. The vehicle suddenly accelerated. Big bushes in front of the vehicle limited the speed, so his wife turned off the ignition and the vehicle fell back. A witness saw the entire even and attested to the fact the engine suddenly started roaring. The front of the vehicle was smashed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed from the scene and subsequently inspected by a representative of the manufacturer. The petitioner disputes the manufacturer's conclusion that the edr readout downloaded as part of that inspection provided no evidence that the incident "was the result of any type of manufacturing or design defect." *jb updated 07/27/15. *jb updated 07/29/15.
2009 Lexus ES350 acceleration problems
24 complaints (17% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 15,807. 11 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 24
- of this car's complaints
- 17%
- typical mileage
- 15,807
- crashes
- 11
- recalls
- 1
Which part fails
- Accelerator pedal4
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Lexus ES350 acceleration problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2009 Lexus ES350 acceleration
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal
- What is wrong
- Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2010 passenger vehicles. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat.
- Risk
- A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Toyota filed an amended defect report on november 25, 2009, stating that dealers will modify the accelerator pedal and, on certain vehicles, alter the shape of the floor surface under the pedal. These changes address the risk of pedal entrapment due to interference with the floor mat. Redesigned accelerator pedals will become available beginning in april 2010 and dealers will replace any modified pedal with the new pedal if desired. Also, dealers will replace any genuine toyota or lexus all-weather floor mats with redesigned all-weather mats, or repurchase the previous mats from owners who do not want the new ones. Additionally, software modifications will be installed on camry, avalon and lexus es 350, is 350 and is 250 models that will ensure that the brake overrides the accelerator in the event both brake and accelerator pedals are applied. Toyota will begin mailing letters to owners on december 31, 2009. Owners may contact toyota at 1‑800‑331‑4331, lexus at 1‑800‑255‑3987.
Recall number 09V388000 · Recall details
Related investigations
Low-speed surging
The Agency received a petition on June 19, 2015, requesting an investigation into low-speed surging in different models of Toyota automobiles in which the car starts accelerating and the engine RPM increases even when the accelerator pedal is not depressed.The petition is based upon the petitioner's interpretation of pre-crash Event Data Recorder (EDR) data from a crash his wife experienced in a model year (MY) 2009 Lexus ES350 vehicle and from two other crashes involving a MY 2010 Toyota Corolla and a MY 2009 Toyota Camry.The petitioner's allegations regarding the three crashes are based upon several misconceptions about the manner in which the EDR samples and records pre-crash data in the ES350, Corolla and Camry vehicles.In each of the three crashes, the vehicles accelerated as the drivers were attempting to park the vehicles.All three accelerations occurred as the vehicles were entering the intended parking spaces and in the times and positions where driver braking should be initiated to safely park the vehicles.No braking was recorded in two of the crash events until the EDR trigger point (t = 0 seconds) and in the third crash no braking was recorded at all.The crashes are all consistent with pedal misapplications by the driver mistaking the accelerator pedal for the brake when attempting to park the vehicle.In addition, contrary to the petitioner's assertion regarding previous studies by the federal safety agency and NASA, the issues raised in the petition are fully within the scope of prior studies which have carefully examined the subject of low-speed sudden acceleration in Toyota vehicles equipped with electronic throttle control.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources, agency priorities, and the likelihood that an additional investigation would not result in a finding that a defect related to motor vehicle safety exists, the federal safety agency has concluded that further investigation of the issues raised by the petition is not warranted. The agency accordingly has denied the petition.The official petition denial, as published in the Federal Register, is available in the document file for this defect petition, as well as copies of reference material related to the denial.
DP15005
What 2009 Lexus ES350 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I put the car on d to drive. I stopped at a red light, I brake the car to stop. When the light turned green, I pressed on the gas pedal to drive forward, but the car reversed without me putting on r. The reverse go was slow. When it reversed, I tried to stop the car car by pressing on the brake pedal, but I could not stop the car that way. I had to turn off the car to stop the reverse. The car reversed like that both times sporadically on two consecutive days - on 11.11.2014 and on the morning of 11.12.2014. My car was under warranty. I brought it to the service of lexus at longo on the evening of 11.12.2014, which is where the vehicle was bought. They found no problem with the car, charge me money, and gave the car back to me the next day. I believe that the car needs more investigation. I am afraid of the sporadic reversal of the car while it is on d. I am further afraid that at high freeway speed, the problem it could cause is even more dangerous.
Car was being driven into a parking spot at less than 5 MPH when it suddenly accelerated and started to climb a rock hill before it could be stopped. Wheels were turned to right as result of turn into parking spot which caused the vehicle to start tipping over. Air bags were not deployed and repairs are approximately $4500.
On monday august 6th, 2012 at approximately 5: 25 am, I ([xxx]) was arriving at work at methodist hospital. I pulled in the parking lot and started to make a wide u turn into a parking stall driving about 5 miles per hour. My car suddenly accelerated and the brakes would not work and I was unable to stop the vehicle. I kept trying to brake to no avail. I went through a fence and drove over a steel pole. Just as I was about to hit a very large tree, the car finally stopped. The brakes finally work about 3 to 4 feet in front of the tree. I was able to drive around the tree and park like I do every day. After parking, I got out of the vehicle, got my phone from my purse in the trunk and called my husband and told him what had just happened. I was very shaken and crying. The car was wrecked on the passenger side. [xxx] called security & [xxx] came over. We both went back out where the accident happened. I showed him where it happened, what happened and where I ended up. [xxx] told a few photos. We have contacted lexus [xxx] #2 option (judy)and our attorney ([xxx]) [xxx]. We have taken the vehicle to lexus of omaha. Lexus wants us to sign a black box release. Our attorney suggest we turn in a claim to see if farmers wishes to see the black box 1st.. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 lexus es350. The contact was reversing from a residential garage. As the brakes were applied and the contact shifted from reverse to drive, the vehicle abnormally accelerated. The contact crashed into a brick wall and sustained injuries to the left leg. The crash caused damaged the contact's home. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and sent an investigator to inspect the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a lot by the insurance company and deemed destroyed. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 29,000.
When I was going to park my car in the box in front of the hotel room, I touched the accelerator slightly to advance the two meters distant to be properly parked, then the accelerator run in high speed the brakes did not respond. To reduce the impact, I turned the wheel to the right and crashed into the hotel wall. People from lexus is making an investigation. The question is how confident is that investigation. The car was check the day before for 15,000 miles check. I live now in durango, mexico and just came to have my car checked.
2009 lexus 350. Consumer writes regarding lexus recall floor mat interference with accelerator pedal and change to computer for engine shut down *tgw the consumer was not satisfied with the recall modifications that were performed. The consumer also stated the floor mats were not replaced as he was told they would be. The consumer stated the pedal was too short and his foot could slip off the end and become lodged under the pedal.
Tl*the contact owns a lexus es 350. The contact stated that the driver was turning into a parking space when the vehicle suddenly accelerated, jumped a curb and hit a parked vehicle. There was a minor injury as a result of the accident (someone in another vehicle). The vehicle had previously been repaired according to recall 09v388000 (vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal). A police report was filed. The contact filed a complaint with the manufacturer who stated that someone would get back with him. The contact was currently awaiting the call back. The vehicle had not been repaired. The current and failure mileages were unknown.
On july 22, 2010 I had been traveling from cape cod and was on i84 using my cruise control on my 2009 lexus es, set to 64 MPH. I would cancel it by pushing the lever towards me when traffic got heavy and push "resume" when I had an open road. After traveling about 210 mi and using it in the above manner it would not resume as before. The car would surge and accelerate to over 75 MPH. I had to cancel the cruise for it to stop accelerating because it was not stopping. I was not using the pedals at any time. I tried it twice. The same thing happened. I then turned off the cruise entirely and didn't use it again.
I am requesting that dot the federal safety agency investigate the driver's contribution to unintended acceleration (ua) due to programming code error. I am driving at 40 MPH. I see signal light turning red. I took my foot off accelerator. The car is coasting. When speed reached 20 MPH, the car suddenly started accelerating. I stepped on the brake. Car started slowing down. I reported this to lexus headquarter on 03-01-10 (lexus incident.) I was asked to drop off my car at dealer on 03-30-2010 so that field technical specialist can investigate. I was asked to pick up my car on 03-31-10. I requested copy technicians findings and report. As per technician's report, "we were able to duplicate his concern. What is happening is that as the vehicle slows down the torque converter lock up is turning off. This reduces the amount of engine braking and gives the feeling that the vehicle has sped up. We compared this to another es350 and it has the same characteristics. No repairs made, vehicle is operating as designed." I wrote lexus head-quarter again saying, "this is not a feeling I experienced. It is a real issue. I noticed speedometer reading rising." I received a phone call from lexus headquarter indicating there is nothing more they can do. I asked, "can your technician repeat the test with me in the car with him?". They said, "it is not necessary". Since my foot was not on accelerator or brake when car started accelerating, I suspect programming code error. My car was already repaired during safety recall by lexus some two months ago. So, this is not a stuck accelerator issue. I request your assistance in having lexus repeat this test with me inside the car to witness their test. They have refused to do this. Car was purchased brand new from sterling mccall lexus, houston in december 08. It is lexus 2009, es 350. Car is barely used since we bought it 16 months ago. It has 3,300 miles on it. All routine required maintenance was performed by dealer.
Questions about the 2009 Lexus ES350 acceleration
Does the 2009 Lexus ES350 have acceleration problems?
Owners have filed 24 complaints about the acceleration of the 2009 Lexus ES350, 17% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2009 Lexus ES350 acceleration problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 15,807 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2009 Lexus ES350 acceleration?
Yes, 1 recall: 09V388000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Lexus ES350 have the most acceleration problems?
The Lexus ES350 model years with the most acceleration complaints are 2007 (127 complaints), 2008 (39 complaints) and 2009 (24 complaints).
Other 2009 Lexus ES350 problems
Airbags 101Body 5Brakes 5Electrical 5Visibility 4Fuel system 3Lights 2Locks 1Tires 1Transmission 1
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