2000 Lexus RX300 acceleration problems

Filed Dec 2, 2016 · Acceleration, Engine · WA

My 2000 lexus rx300 had an unexplained sudden unintended acceleration where the vehicle almost killed me and my son. I was driving residential backroads by my house, accelerated slightly to get up a hill and that's when it took off. The brake pedal was unresponsive, the emergency break was unresponsive, I pulled the floor mat out for good measure, nothing worked, it kept accelerating at a high rate until I finally slammed it through gears to "park" to get it to a stop. I had it towed to the lexus dealership, where the tow truck driver even told me when it started the car to get it up on the truck, after being turned off for over 12 hours, it was still red lining the engine, and even lurched forward but because the car was in park, it didn't crash into the back of the tow truck. Lexus investigated the car and did absolutely nothing. They wouldn't tell me why it happened. I demand an explanation and a replacement vehicle - one that doesn't have a history of having sua problems. I fear for my life everytime I have to drive this vehicle.

Filed Apr 16, 2015 · Acceleration, Brakes · 165,000 miles · CA · crash

Incident because of sudden unintended acceleration when my foot on the brake.

Filed Jan 3, 2015 · Acceleration, Engine · 137,200 miles · IL

While driving, the car jerks and then cuts off. This has happened at least half a dozen times within the last 2 months. Engine light is constantly on, even after servicing the car at local lexus dealer. When car is parked, I noticed exhaust fume smells heavily with gas.

Filed Jul 15, 2014 · Acceleration, Steering · 125,000 miles · PA

With little/no warning, automatic transmission (2wd) failed. All gears (p,r,n,d,2,1) worked like neutral gear. If this would've occurred a few minutes earlier, my children and I (located at a sharp turn over a steep hill) could've been seriously injured or killed. Apparently, this is a common problem in lexus rx300's from year 1999-2002. How many early transmission failures does it take to have a recall?

Filed Apr 8, 2011 · Acceleration · AZ · crash

S10 appropriate handling-letter to the secretary from regarding her letter to toyota the unintended acceleration of toyotas. *kb the consumer stated as she applied the accelerator gently, the vehicle suddenly accelerated forward, jumping the curb, knocking down and running over a steel post on the sidewalk that was anchored in concrete all the while the consumer was frantically stomping on the brake trying to stop the vehicle. The vehicle finally stopped about six feet from the wall of a department store. The second incident happened on jan 31, 2011. As the consumer pulled into a parking space, the vehicle suddenly accelerated forward, over the curb and hit the post in front of the curb. The impact knocked the vehicle back about three feet and bashed in the front fender and grill. *jb updated 05/19/11

Filed Jan 30, 2011 · Acceleration · 113,457 miles · TX

I went into my garage and got in my car (lexus rx300,2000). It started normally, but it would not shift until I pressed the override button and put it into reverse. As soon as the shifter hit (r) the throttle seemed to go wide open and the car bolted out of the garage. Luckily, since my foot was on the brake almost instantly I was able to stop the car before it got out of control. The car traveled about 30 ft before I could stop it. I think I put it into park and just sat there and tried to calm down. I was terrified because of the horrible consequences of blasting out into the street etc. After, calming down I was able to continue on with a great deal of trepidation. As I drove I was constantly trying to plan what to do if it happened again. This was extremely dangerous, if the car had gone into drive it would have blasted into the garage wall, or worse. Addendum: [xxx], I inspected the car after the incident and could nothing wrong. However, I am a controls system engineer and it certainly sounded like a classic bounding/ boundary problem in the control software. By this I mean that the inputs to the control loop exceed the allowed values. Or due to some unusual set of inputs there is an overflow problem , where the loop does a calculation that causes the value to crossover from all ones to all zeros, this overflow issue can have very unexpected results, like railing the controlled parameter. It turns out that this model lexus engine seems to have a mechanical throttle linkage, so the only software controlled throttle commands have to come from the cruise control box, since it also has an independent cable linkage to the throttle plate. I disconnected the cruise control cable to be certain this could not recur. This implies that any toyota with cruise control is at risk, but it should allow a quick safety fix, just disconnect the cruise cable. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Feb 24, 2010 · Acceleration · 82,000 miles · TX

My parents own a 2000 lexus rx300. On the way back from a wedding, the car started to accelerate and my dad could not stop the car. He had to go over through a gas station parking lot to avoid cars stopped at a light. He said the engine kept revving high and the car kept accelerating. He was able to stop the car by running the wheels along the curb. After my dad and my mom were safe, he called me. I rushed over to the car and checked it out. No check engine lights and no other known issues. I called aaa for a tow. I started the car and everything seemed to be okay so I moved it into the parking lot away from the street. I let the car sit for awhile and made sure there was nothing wrong with it. I also checked the floor mats just in case something was stuck but nothing was. They ended up driving home that night. We had to service the brakes because they were all worn from the ordeal.

Filed Feb 23, 2010 · Acceleration · 69,986 miles · MN · crash

I experienced and had an accident due to the revving engine issue with toyota/lexus. I have a 2000 (used) lexus SUV and was pulling into a parking space in the lot of a business when the accident happened. I did not have my foot on the gas as I was allowing the car to "creep" into position but had it hovering and/or touching the brake pedal. All of a sudden the engine revved and starting speeding forward, again without my foot on the gas pedal. It happened suddenly and quickly and I immediately hit a sign at the front of the parking space. This set off the air bags, jamming me back in the seat and pulling the seat back. I could not longer reach the pedals but I was stunned by the seat belt explosion. The car went over the sign (flattened it), over a low cement barricade, and into the side of the business. I was not seriously injured due to the air bags but the front of the car was badly damaged. I've never received an type of recall notice and nothing has been done to repair the defect. I'm driving a very scary time bomb.

Filed Feb 15, 2010 · Acceleration · PA

2000 lexus rx300. On 3 occasions, in 2006, the car's gas pedal was stuck in the down position - therefore I was unable to stop the vehicle. Took the vehicle to lexus dealer 2 times (there are records of that), called them once, was told it was safe. After the 3rd time with the pedal sticking, had to sell vehicle. Frequency of appearance - it all happened within 10 days. Could not duplicate for lexus dealer to fix the problem.

Filed Jul 23, 2004 · Acceleration · PA

Problems with unintended acceleration in 2000 lexus 300.*mr within three month of the consumer taking delivery of the vehicle the consumer experienced three incidents of sudden acceleration. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but they were unable to duplicate the problem. The consumer traded the vehicle in for a 2002 rx 300 and hasn't had any problems.