Problems · by component

2009 Lexus ES350 vehicle speed control problems

27 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Lexus ES350 cite vehicle speed control, 16% of all 173 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
27
16% of all complaints
Crashes
11
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
9
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the vehicle speed control

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2009 Lexus ES350. The contact stated that the vehicle intermittently accelerated upon releasing the brake pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that recently upon entering the garage, the vehicle suddenly accelerated after releasing the brake pedal, almost causing the vehicle to crash into the residence. The struck other materials inside the garage, causing front-end damages to the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the vehicle had already been repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V388000 (Vehicle Speed Control). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 2, 2025Vehicle speed controlODI 11633738
“PETITION FOR A DEFECT INVESTIGATION INTO LOW-SPEED SURGING IN DIFFERENT MODELS OF TOYOTA AUTOMOBILES IN WHICH THE CAR STARTS ACCELERATING AND THE ENGINE RPM INCREASES WHEN ACCELERATOR IS NOT DEPRESSED. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON FEBRUARY 13, 2015, HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING TO AN APPOINTMENT. SHE PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT AND DID NOT HAVE HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AS SHE WAS COASTING INTO THE PARKING SPOT. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. BIG BUSHES IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE LIMITED THE SPEED, SO HIS WIFE TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE FELL BACK. A WITNESS SAW THE ENTIRE EVEN AND ATTESTED TO THE FACT THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STARTED ROARING. THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS SMASHED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE AND SUBSEQUENTLY INSPECTED BY A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MANUFACTURER. THE PETITIONER DISPUTES THE MANUFACTURER'S CONCLUSION THAT THE EDR READOUT DOWNLOADED AS PART OF THAT INSPECTION PROVIDED NO EVIDENCE THAT THE INCIDENT "WAS THE RESULT OF ANY TYPE OF MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT." *JB UPDATED 07/27/15. *JB UPDATED 07/29/15. *JLQ”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 1, 2015Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 10732103
“I PUT THE CAR ON D TO DRIVE. I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, I BRAKE THE CAR TO STOP. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL TO DRIVE FORWARD, BUT THE CAR REVERSED WITHOUT ME PUTTING ON R. THE REVERSE GO WAS SLOW. WHEN IT REVERSED, I TRIED TO STOP THE CAR CAR BY PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR THAT WAY. I HAD TO TURN OFF THE CAR TO STOP THE REVERSE. THE CAR REVERSED LIKE THAT BOTH TIMES SPORADICALLY ON TWO CONSECUTIVE DAYS - ON 11.11.2014 AND ON THE MORNING OF 11.12.2014. MY CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. I BROUGHT IT TO THE SERVICE OF LEXUS AT LONGO ON THE EVENING OF 11.12.2014, WHICH IS WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT. THEY FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR, CHARGE ME MONEY, AND GAVE THE CAR BACK TO ME THE NEXT DAY. I BELIEVE THAT THE CAR NEEDS MORE INVESTIGATION. I AM AFRAID OF THE SPORADIC REVERSAL OF THE CAR WHILE IT IS ON D. I AM FURTHER AFRAID THAT AT HIGH FREEWAY SPEED, THE PROBLEM IT COULD CAUSE IS EVEN MORE DANGEROUS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 14, 2014Vehicle speed controlODI 10655131
“CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN INTO A PARKING SPOT AT LESS THAN 5 MPH WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND STARTED TO CLIMB A ROCK HILL BEFORE IT COULD BE STOPPED. WHEELS WERE TURNED TO RIGHT AS RESULT OF TURN INTO PARKING SPOT WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO START TIPPING OVER. AIR BAGS WERE NOT DEPLOYED AND REPAIRS ARE APPROXIMATELY $4500. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 9, 2013Air bags, Structure, Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 10511287
“ON MONDAY AUGUST 6TH, 2012 AT APPROXIMATELY 5: 25 AM, I ([XXX]) WAS ARRIVING AT WORK AT METHODIST HOSPITAL. I PULLED IN THE PARKING LOT AND STARTED TO MAKE A WIDE U TURN INTO A PARKING STALL DRIVING ABOUT 5 MILES PER HOUR. MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I KEPT TRYING TO BRAKE TO NO AVAIL. I WENT THROUGH A FENCE AND DROVE OVER A STEEL POLE. JUST AS I WAS ABOUT TO HIT A VERY LARGE TREE, THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED. THE BRAKES FINALLY WORK ABOUT 3 TO 4 FEET IN FRONT OF THE TREE. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AROUND THE TREE AND PARK LIKE I DO EVERY DAY. AFTER PARKING, I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE, GOT MY PHONE FROM MY PURSE IN THE TRUNK AND CALLED MY HUSBAND AND TOLD HIM WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED. I WAS VERY SHAKEN AND CRYING. THE CAR WAS WRECKED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. [XXX] CALLED SECURITY & [XXX] CAME OVER. WE BOTH WENT BACK OUT WHERE THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED. I SHOWED HIM WHERE IT HAPPENED, WHAT HAPPENED AND WHERE I ENDED UP. [XXX] TOLD A FEW PHOTOS. WE HAVE CONTACTED LEXUS [XXX] #2 OPTION (JUDY)AND OUR ATTORNEY ([XXX]) [XXX]. WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO LEXUS OF OMAHA. LEXUS WANTS US TO SIGN A BLACK BOX RELEASE. OUR…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 10, 2012Power train, Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 10470188
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT WAS REVERSING FROM A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE. AS THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE CONTACT SHIFTED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL AND SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEFT LEG. THE CRASH CAUSED DAMAGED THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOT BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 13, 2012Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 10461440

Showing 6 of 27 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal

Free remedy

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.

Vehicle speed controlReported Oct 5, 2009NHTSA 09V388000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 27, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Other 2009 ES350 problem areas