NHTSA — Vehicle Speed Control Problems

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
127,500 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1997 Lexus LS 400 engine problems

engine problem

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1997 Lexus LS 400 Owner Comments

problem #2

Dec 092014

LS 400

  • 230,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

As I was driving, my vehicle started accelerating on it's own. When I had previously checked the speed odometer it said 50. All of a sudden the vehicle started gaining speed. I took my foot off of the gas pedal and the speed kept accelerating. I pressed the brakes and the brakes did not work! the vehicle kept accelerating. I saw a side road and turned onto it. I kept trying to stop the vehicle and it kept going. I thought to pull the emergency brake and it slowed the vehicle considerable, but it kept moving. The engine continued to accelerate. I kept pumping the breaks with the emergency brake on and the car was still moving. It finally stop, but the engine was still accelerating. I put the vehicle in park and the more the engine accelerated. I put back in drive and it continued to accelerate. The vehicle started smoking. I didn't know what to do or what was going to happen to the vehicle. I told my sons to get out of the car. I turn the engine off, the car jumped and I ran away from the car. The vehicle was still smoking. I called 911. The car stopped smoking and remained in place. My husband came and started the vehicle it accelerated and he pressed the gas pedal and it stopped. I drove the car home and parked it. I am not driving the vehicle and this is the reason that I have not entered a VIN number.

- Mt. Juliet, TN, USA

problem #1

Mar 311998

LS 400

  • 25,000 miles
While driving my 1997 Lexus LS400 in ca on the 605 fwy, West toward 210 fwy, all systems on the car locked (steering wheel, brakes, gas pedal) as I was changing lanes. I had no control of the car and after spinning several times ran into the center divider. I was very lucky not to go over the divider into oncoming traffic and be killed. I sustained neck and head injuries and the car was totaled. I was very lucky that I survived and that no other cars or people were involved. Early in 1998 I received a recall notice and took the car in to Lexus on 2/24/98. The recall was for a "starter plug problem". I trusted that after the repair I wouldn't have any problems with my Lexus. In fact, just over a month later I had the accident and the car was totaled. I very happily drove Lexus cars from 1992 until the accident and they were my favorite cars. I have 2 friends who had the same malfunction with a 1996 and a 1997 Lexus ls 400. I feel it is my duty to provide this information to make sure it's included in studies and historical data the NHTSA keeps. I hope the information will be put to good use to prevent future accidents, injuries and deaths, regardless of the auto manufacturer. I believe the problems Toyota is currently experiencing are probably happening with other auto manufacturers.

- Arcadia, CA, USA

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