Lexus GS300 sudden acceleration problems

Filed Sep 1, 2013 · Acceleration · 155,900 miles · OH

I stopped at a traffic light and all of a sudden my car started to accelerate, I pressed the brake real hard but the car lunged forward ahead. Quickly, I put it into neutral. It continued to accelerate to over 7500 and then went back down. Luckily no one was in front of me and the person at the intersection saw what was happening and he swerved away. I was able to drive it home. In my 45 years of driving many different vehicles, this has been the most scariest feeling.

Filed Oct 7, 2012 · Acceleration · 86,650 miles · NC

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.

Filed Feb 20, 2011 · 35,800 miles · CA · crash

I slowed down to park the car and was steering my car into the parking opening. And as the car slowed down to almost a stop position, and all of a sudden just before it stopped, the car suddenly accelerated unintentionally with high speed and ran over the parking blocks and then over the raised island in front of me. Then it crashed into the cars parked on the opposite side of the raised island and then it stopped. In 2009 I experienced my vehicle started to shake often when it was idling when the vehicle was at complete stop position. The dealer checked the engine and said that they could not find anything wrong. The problem, however, continued and the engine started to stall intermittently when the engine was idling while the vehicle was in stop position. Again I went back to the dealer to check the engine. And again, I was informed that nothing was wrong with the functions of the engine. When I went for 30,000-mile service, I again explained the engine's peculiar behavior to the dealer, who then top-cleaned my engine. The problem, however, kept happening and the engine stalled more often. I had to go back to the dealer and at this time they top-cleaned the engine again. Soon after the 30,000-mile service, I noticed the harsh gear shift during 30 to 40 MPH transmission shift and the dealer found out that the computer programming was in error and re-calibrated it. Soon after, the accident happened.

Filed Feb 10, 2011 · Electrical, Transmission · 8,000 miles · NJ · 1 injury

In late september1999 while sitting in traffic with the car in and my foot on the brake, the car began to accelerate and surged forward. I reacted immediately by shifting the car into park. This allowed me to regain control of the car. The second incident occurred in early november 1999, when I came to a complete stop a stop sign. As I applied the brake, the car once again attempted to surge through the intersection. Another episode occurred in early december 1999 when I was driving my son home from school. We approached the intersection and I stepped on the brake. The car surged forward so intensely that the seat belt tightened around him so tight I was unable to release him. He was completely horrified and his shoulder was bruised when I cut the seat belt off when we arrived home. At that point I contacted lexus and took the car to the dealership. Shortly thereafter I was contacted and told that could find anything wrong with the vehicle. On april 14, 2003 I was stopped at a traffic light with my foot on the brake, when the car began to accelerate and surged forward. As with the prior incidents I reacted by shifting into park. I contacted lexus again and they informed me that they could find anything wrong with the car. O april 21, 2003 I sent a letter to [xxx], ceo of lexus seeking assistance. I have never received an answer and the problem still exists. Their has been other incidents over the years. I have lost confidence in lexus ability to correct the problem. I still own the vehicle and decided to file the report after seeing the coverage of this incidents on the news. This problem goes back years any help would be greatly appreciated. Or perhaps save a life. Or expand the recall. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Feb 7, 2011 · Acceleration · 177,800 miles · CA · crash

Sudden acceleration. I was driving it on us-101 westbound before kanan road exit (~4 miles before destination exit), slowed down and changed one lane to most right lane. The car suddenly accelerated out of control. I applied the brakes immediately. The car turned to the left, made a spin counterclockwise and traveled from most of the right lane to most of the left lane. Finally, I got it stopped in the left lane, after its rear hit the freeway center divider. It was in the opposite traffic direction. Fortunately, no other vehicle was hit. The car has severe damage in the rear bumper, trunk, 2 rear side body, right front wheel/tire and some damage on the right side body. It's non-drivable, though engine can still be started. On 02/06/11, I went back, passing by the scene. The trace of black tire rubber (due to braking) is clearly seen from most right lane to most left lane. Updated 03/10/11 *bf updated portable 02/24/11 updated portable 05/26/11

Filed Jul 2, 2010 · Acceleration · 84,000 miles · MD

Referring to a 1998 lexus gs300, rear wheel drive car with 84,000 miles. On saturday, june 19, 2010, I was coming to a stop at an intersection with a 2 way stop sign, with my foot on the brake. My car after slowing down a bit, suddenly accelerated, almost resulting in an accident as I 'cruised' across the intersection instead of stopping. I called lexus and they advised that I bring the car in. I drove there about 15 miles, and on the way there I stopped about 100 feet behind another car which was stopped at a red light. I was at a total stop, my foot on the brake, and the car suddenly lunged forward. There was no accident because I was so far behind the car in front of me. I drove to lexus. They examined the car and told me they found nothing wrong, including with the computer. They then took me for a drive, perhaps 20 or 30 minutes, stopping and starting, and the problem could not be duplicated. I was too afraid to drive the car away as this sudden acceleration happened twice that morning, so I bought a new car on the spot. I was of the understanding that the problem of sudden acceleration did not involve the gs series. Lexus did allow my gs300 as a trade-in. Both times when the car accelerated, I had no distractions and am certain that this description is absolutely accurate. Also, I had only the original mats in the car and they were set properly with the hooks through them as they should be.

Filed Jun 2, 2010 · Acceleration · 98,000 miles · CA

Tl* 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 *cn updated 08/09/10

Filed Apr 16, 2010 · Acceleration · 2,761 miles · MD · crash

Tl* the contact owned a 2006 lexus gs300. The contact stated that the vehicle suddenly accelerated while driving at approximately 15 MPH. The vehicle began shaking and a warning light appeared on the instrument panel. In an attempt to stop the vehicle, the contact crashed into a construction site. There were no injuries and the vehicle had minor body damage. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the body damage was repaired, but the failure could not be duplicated. The current and failure mileages were 2,761. Updated 06/22/10.

Filed Apr 6, 2010 · Acceleration · 70,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 lexus gs300. While driving at approximately 45 MPH, the contact stated that the vehicle suddenly accelerated after he down shifted. He shifted into neutral to control the vehicle. Recently, the contact stated that he noticed the vehicle would not speed up when he depressed the accelerator pedal; a short while after, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and the rpms increased rapidly. The contact applied the brakes which were unresponsive so he shifted into neutral. Although the vehicle was in the neutral position, the engine continued to race so he turned the ignition off. The vehicle had not been inspected at the time of the complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000. The current mileage was approximately 70,100.

Filed Apr 6, 2010 · CA · crash

2004 lexus gs300 *gr the consumer stated her granddaughter was driving the vehicle. The consumer wondered how such an expensive vehicle could be totaled while driving at a low speed. The consumer wondered if sudden acceleration played a part in the accident.