TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 LEXUS IS250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LUNGED AND THEN ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. ON ONE OCCASION, THE FAILURE OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER START-UP AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INTO A NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000. UPDATED 7/29/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN, THEN LUNGED FORWARD ABOUT 10-12 FEET. THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK, EVEN THOUGH SHE PUSHED THE BRAKE TO THE FLOOR FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. FINALLY, THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE ON THE INTERSECTION.
2006
AIR BAGS
THE SRS AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AIR BAGS. I FOUND THE TSB ( L-SB-0167-08) MYSELF ON THE INTERNET AND I TOOK VEHICLE INTO LOCAL DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY. THE DIAGNOSTIC PULLED CODE B1861- OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE KNEE AIRBAG ON DRIVER SIDE SQUIB CIRCUIT WHICH IS THE EXACT CODE FOR THE TSB. THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HARNESS. AT A COST OF $2600. THE FIX FALLS UNDER THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARRANTY OF 72 MONTHS OR 70,000 MILES WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. MY VEHICLE IS WELL UNDER THE MILEAGE BUT IT OUT OF WARRANTY BY TIME (10 MONTHS). I CALLED LEXUS CORPORATE AND THEY ARE ONLY WILLING TO COVER HALF THE PART COST. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT WITH THE LIGHT ON THE ENTIRE SRS SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY DISABLED; IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, NO AIR BAGS OR SEAT BELT PRE-TENSIONERS WILL ACTIVATE. BUT HE SAID IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE. HOW IS IT SAFE TO DRIVE A VEHICLE WITH NO SAFETY SYSTEM? THE PROBLEM IS A WIRING HARNESS WAS DESIGNED TOO SHORT SO IT PUTS TENSION ON IT CAUSING THE HARNESS TO BREAK TRIPPING THE LIGHT (MANUFACTURING DEFECT). LEXUS REDESIGNED THE HARNESS AND GAVE IT THE SAME PART NUMBER AS THE ORIGINAL. FROM WHAT I'VE FOUND ON THE INTERNET ITS A COMMON COMPLAINT FOR ALL 2006-2008 LEXUS IS 250 AND 350 MODELS. *TR
