Table 1 shows two common vehicle speed control related problems of the 2001 Lexus GS300.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Accelerator Pedal problems | |
| Cruise Control problems |
The contact owns a 2001 Lexus Gs300. While driving 65 mph the accelerator pedal caused the vehicle to surge and increase the speed to 85 mph. The contact had to apply both feet on the brake pedal to slow the vehicle down. The contact took the vehicle to a dealer to have the accelerator pedal replaced and the dealer refused to replace the accelerator at the contacts request. The contact took the vehicle to an independant mechanic to have the accelerator pedal replaced and it was replaced. The contact called the manufacturer to notify them regarding the failure and the manufacturer has not responded to the contact. The contact has sold the vehicle. The failure mileage was 93,500.
My complaint is on the use of the cruise control device and the hidden dangers of it's usage, especially on slick/poor road surfaces. If used and the resume button is engaged the car attempts to accelerate to the set speed while the tires have no traction on the road, causing the car to spin out of control, a series of 360's. This is a very serious unpredictable situation no matter what your experience is as a driver. We can save lives if a warning was in full view in all vehicles, similiar to the airbag and seatbelt warnings. I am aware of several incidents but have found that there is not enough action being taken to inform drivers. In addition to some type of warning label, my question is, can any action be taken by all car manufacturers, to design the cruise control option to disengage if there is inadequate road traction?.