2009 Lexus IS: complaints, problems and recalls

THIS WAS A LOANER CAR. THE GAS PEDAL STUCK ON THE FLOOR. THE HEAVY RUBBER MAT CAUGHT THE EDGE OF THE GAS PEDAL AND HELD IT DOWN ON THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL (DON'T KNOW HOW THE ENGINE DIDN'T BLOW UP), BRAKE THE CAR TO A STOP, SHIFT TO PARK AND SHUT ENGINE OFF. I SAW THIS MORNING ON TV THAT THERE HAVE BEEN FATALITIES REPORTED ON TOYOTA VEHICLES RELATED TO THIS ISSUE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10284260 at NHTSA ↗

THE REAR AXLE VIBRATES ON MY LEXUS IS 250, CAUSING SERIOUS VISIBILITY ISSUES IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND A VERY UNSTABLE RIDE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.. THE LEXUS SERVICE MANAGER SAYS THAT THIS PROBLEM ALSO EXISTED IN 2008 AND 2007 LEXUS MODELS. SO THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10292083 at NHTSA ↗

LEXUS IS 250 2009 , DRIVER SIDE MAT WAS NOT THERE ,STILL MY CAR COULD NOT STOP AT A RED LIGHT , WHY? I WAS TERRIFIED, NEARLY ESCAPED A CRASH , SO PLEASE RESEARCH WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE LEXUS CARS . TOYOTA NEVER SENT ME ANY RECALL NOTICE UNTIL AFTER THE FACT , BUT I KNEW ABOUT THE MAT RECALL THROUGH THE MEDIA , AND HAD REMOVED IT . NOW I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE . *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 8,095 miles reported. Look up ODI 10292635 at NHTSA ↗

FOUR INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. ON FOUR OCCASIONS THE 2000 LEXUS IS250 I PURCHASED ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2009 HAD UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF UP TO 5000 RPM.. THREE TIMES THIS OCCURRED WHEN STARTING THE CAR IN PARK; THE FOURTH TIME WAS WHEN THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND IDLING. TWICE I HAD THE DEALER, THOUSAND OAKS, CA LEXUS, EXAMINE THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD NO DEFECT COULD BE FOUND. ON THE FOURTH OCCURRENCE I NOTICED MY FOOT WAS ON THE EDGE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR SIMULTANEOUSLY. I WEAR ONLY A SIZE 9 SHOE, HAVE BEE…

Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10292715 at NHTSA ↗

RAPID ACCELERATION, 2009, IS 250, LEXUS. PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE. CAR ACCELERATED, JUMPED A CURB, OVER A 6 FOOT WIDE GRASS SEPARATION AND TOTALED A PARKED CAR IN FRONT OF THE PARKING SPACE. CAR WAS SERVICED THAT VERY DAY FOR IT'S 5,000 MILE CHECK. FIRST TIME WE DROVE THE CAR AFTER BEING SERVICED. HAD OUR CAR REPAIRED FOR FRONT END DAMAGE. CONTACTED LEXUS ON THEIR HOT LINE, REPORTED THE INCIDENT, WAS INSTRUCTED TO WRITE THEM WITH ALL THE DETAILS. HAVE NOT HEARD ONE THING FROM LEXUS CORPORATE SINCE WE SENT THE …

Owner-reported narrative. 4,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10303814 at NHTSA ↗

MAY OF 2009 - LEASED 09 LEXUS IS250; HAVING ONLY DRIVEN IT FOR ABOUT 1 WEEK WHEN ENTERING THE ONRAMP OF I-35 IN TEXAS, SUDDENLY REALIZED THAT CAR WAS ACCELERATING OUT OF CONTROL. THE CRUISE CONTROL LOCKED IN BY ITSELF. RPM WAS OFF THE CHARTS. I COULD NOT EXIT AT "MY" EXIT AND CONTINUED SOUTH ON I-35. I TRIED TO BRAKE, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. I CALLED MY HUSBAND AND TOLD HIM MY CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL. I KEPT TRYING TO BRAKE...STILL NOTHING. SOMEHOW THE CAR STARTED TO SLOW, I GOT ON THE SHOULDER AND KEPT GOING FOR 1-2 MILES. I TRIED TO PUT T…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10304001 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED A HIGH END LEXUS ISF IN WHICH THE EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT WORK AS IT IS SUPPOSED TO. I RAISED MY CONCERNS WITH CROWN LEXUS IN SO CA WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR THE 5,000 MILE CHECK. THE EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE ON ANY TYPE OF INCLINE NOR WOULD IT STOP THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. I HAVE COMPLAINED NUMEROUS TIMES TO CROWN LEXUS WITH NO SATISFACTION TO DATE. THEY EVEN FLEW A TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE IN FROM JAPAN TO INVESTIGATE. THEY TOOK PICTURES AND VIDEOS OF THE VEHICLES BRAKE SYSTE…

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10308037 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 LEXUS IS 250 . HE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH UP A HILL WHEN TURNING AND SLOWING DOWN BY PUTTING HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED OVER A MOUNTAIN. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES, BROKE HIS RIGHT SHOULDER, CHEST PAINS, AND HIS FACE WAS ALSO INJURED WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED HITTING HIM IN THE FACE. THE POLICE AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY WERE CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS FILED BY BOTH OF THEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL TOWING FACILITY WHERE…

Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10312261 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2009-10-05 (October 5, 2009)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 2011-01-26 (January 26, 2011)

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 LEXUS IS AND MODEL YEAR 2006-2007 LEXUS GS VEHICLES. DUE TO INSUFFICIENT TIGHTENING OF THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR CONNECTED TO AN ENGINE FUEL DELIVERY PIPE WITH NICKEL PHOSPHORUS PLATING, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT, OVER TIME, THE PRESSURE SENSOR COULD LOOSEN. IF LOOSENING OCCURS, FUEL COULD LEAK PAST A GASKET USED IN THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SENSOR AND THE PIPE AND THROUGH THE THREADED PORTION OF THE SENSOR.

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE THREADED PORTION OF THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR AND IF A FUEL LEAK IS NOT CONFIRMED, DEALERS WILL FURTHER TIGHTEN THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR WITH THE PROPER TORQUE. IF A FUEL LEAK IS CONFIRMED, THE GASKET BETWEEN THE SENSOR AND THE FUEL DELIVER PIPE WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE, AND THE SENSOR WILL BE TIGHTENED WITH THE PROPER TORQUE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 7, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.