2006 Lexus GX470 4-DR w/SAB

I PURCHASED A 2006 GX470 LEXUS SUV BECAUSE OF SAFETY RATINGS. WITHIN A FEW MONTHS THE PAINT PEELS OFF EVERYWHERE. IT STARTED ON THE TOP THEN ON THE OUTSIDE WINDOW SEALS NOT THE HOOD PAINT IS PEELING AWAY. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A SHOTTY PAINT JOB BY THE MANUFACTURER. WHY ARE THEY NOT RECALLING THESE VEHICLES AND FIXING THE PAINT PEELING? I CAN NOT GET EXTENDED WARRANTY TO COVER THE PAINT. MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING. FORUM WHERE MANY OWNERS OF THE 2006-2007 HAVE THE EXACT SAME DEFECT IN PAINT/PRIMER. AND, LEXUS DID RECALL AND OFFER TO REPAINT FIX 2008 AND HIGHER BUT NOT 2006 OR 07. OWNERS ARE DRIVING AROUND IN A CAR WITH PAINT CHIPPING DAILY!

AS I WAS DRIVING ON A NORMAL SIDE STREET THE FRAME FULLY FELL OFF OF MY CAR AND HIT THE BREAK FLUID/GAS PIPE AND CAUSED A LEAK THAT COULD HAVE LEAD TO A DANGEROUS EXPLOSION. I HAD TO TAKE IT TO A SHOP AND THEIR THEY TOLD ME THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND THATS WHY IT HAD BROKE OFF

SIGNIFICANT FRAME COMPROMISED DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST. REAR CROSSMEMBER COMPLETELY DESTROYED.

THIS IS A 2006 LEXUS GX470. THE PAINT IS PEELING PROFUSELY AND FOR NO REASON. WE DO NOT LIVE AROUND SALT WATER, THE WEATHER HAS NOT GOT TO EXTREME COLD LEVELS. I HAVE SEEN SINCE THIS CAR ROLLED OUT THAT LEXUS HAS TAKEN NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PAINT PEELING. LIKE HUNDREDS OTHERS, IT IS PEELING ON THE TOP OF THE CAR, TOP OF THE DOOR UNDER ALL WINDOWS, AND VARIOUS PLACES ON THE HOOD. I HAD A PAINT SPECIALIST EVALUATE IT AND WAS TOLD OTHERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE AND IT HAD A BAD PRIMER WHICH CAUSES THE PAINT TO PEEL THIS BAD.

I HAVE REPEATEDLY CONTACTED LEXUS REQUESTING THEY HONOR AN EARLIER COMMITMENT TO REPLACE THE CRACKING OF MY DASHBOARD ' I AM ESPECIALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CRACKING WHERE THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG WOULD DEPLOY ' THE CRACKING COULD RELEASE SMALL PROJECTILES FROM THE DASHBOARD THAT COULD FUNCTION LIKE BULLETS IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT THAT DEPLOYED THE AIRBAG AND ITS FORCE

I PURCHASED THIS 2006 LEXUS GX 470 IN OCTOBER 2005, FROM WESTSIDE LEXUS IN HOUSTON TEXAS. THE PAINT ON MY VEHICLE STARTED PEELING THREE YEARS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. IT GOT WORSE AS THE YEARS WENT BY. I CALLED LEXUS AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM, AND DIDN'T GET ANY HELP. I HAVE BEEN CALLING LEXUS EVERY YEAR SINCE I FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM, STILL WITHOUT ANY HELP FROM LEXUS. IT IS A SHAME THAT LEXUS IS NOT TRYING TO HELP ME, CONSIDERING I AM A LOYAL CUSTOMER. I FELT LEXUS SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THE VEHICLE. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL 2005-2006 LEXUS GX 470 MODELS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON THE ROAD. IT APPEARS THE PROBLEM IS FROM LEXUS. I AM CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT TO PLEASE ORDER LEXUS TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES. IT IS SAD THAT ONE SPENDS HARD-EARNED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO PURCHASE A VEHICLE AND TO BE HAVING THESE SORTS OF ISSUES.

I HAVE AN 2006 LEXUS GX470 AND THESE LIGHTS CAME ON: ABS, VSC TRAC, VSC OFF, SKID, AND CHECK ENGINE. THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A HUMMING NOISE AT START UP AND NOW DRIVES IN STALLED MODE. HAD CODES CHECK AND IT TURNS OUT I HAVE THE DREADED SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM (EMISSIONS) DEFECT P0412, P0418 ,P1440/P1443, P1441/P1444, P2440, P2445, P1442/P1145 , WHICH IS A RECURRING PROBLEM. REPLACEMENT IS A NIGHTMARE FOR SELF REPAIR OR A $2000+ REPAIR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS GX470. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE PAST 50 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE, VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL, AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEXUS OF GREENVILLE (2660 LAURENS RD, GREENVILLE, SC 29607) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SECONDARY AIR PUMP AND VALVE SWITCH FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000.

SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM PUMP STUCK OFF BANK1 CODE P2445. THIS ISSUE IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR LEXUS GX-470. LEXUS EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR REPAIRS. HOWEVER, THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE WARRANTS A RECALL. THIS MALFUNCTION IS MANUFACTURER'S FAULT. THE COST TO REPAIR AT THE DEALER IS AROUND $2,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS GX470. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE MOVED AROUND IN A CIRCULAR MOTION. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD, THE BODY TURNED WITH NO CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE'S HOME. THE CONTACT CALLED NORTHEAST MOTOR CARS (664 MARKET STREET, PATERSON, NJ 07513, (973) 345-7000), BUT THE OWNER CLOSED THE DEALER AND MOVED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V065000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000. *DT CONSUMER STATED CAR IS STILL SITTING AT CONSUMER'S HOME. *JB

THE WHOLE DASH IS CRACK IN MORE THAN 8 PLACES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS GX470. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V065000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS GX470. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V065000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

WE CALLED GERMAIN LEXUS IN FLORIDA ON DECEMBER 1, 2015 TO HAVE THE NHTSA RECALL NO. 16V-065 REPAIRED. AS OF THIS DATE, WE HAVE STILL NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY THEM TO GET THIS DONE. THEY SAY WE ARE ON THE LIST.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS GX470. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V056000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS GX470. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG SENSOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN FEBRUARY OF 2016, BUT HAVE CONTINUOUSLY BEEN ADVISED BY LEXUS DEALER THAT LEXUS HAS NOT PROVIDED THE NECESSARY PART OR PARTS TO FIX THE ISSUE OF A FAULTY SIDE AIRBAG.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS GX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V065000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

SUSPENSION PROBLEM ON THE 2006 LEXUS GX470 BECOME VERY BUMPY

DASH BOARD CRACK ALL OVER . NEED TO FIX OR REPLACED IT.

I HAVE A 2006 LEXUS GX470 THAT THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKING EVERYWHERE. IT'S JUST NOT MY LEXUS THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. EVERYONE I KNOW THAT HAVE THIS SUV HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. LEXUS IS NOT DOING ANYTHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. IT IS THE MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE FIX. EVERYDAY I SEE MORE CRACK SHOWS UP IN DIFFERENT PLACES. I BELIEVE ONE DAY THIS DASHBOARD IS GOING TO COME APART. IT ISN'T VERY SAFE FOR ANYBODY. *TR

MY 2006 GX470'S DASH IS STARTING TO DISINTEGRATE IN FRONT OF MY EYES. FIRST ONE LITTLE LINE APPEARED ON MY DASH, IN FRONT OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG, THEN A COUPLE WEEKS LATER A FEW MORE SHOWED UP, NOW THEY ARE STARTING TO TAKE OVER THE DASH AND IT HAS A STICKY SOFT TEXTURE TO IT LIKE IT IS MELTING. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING ON THE RAG I USED TO WIPE THE DASH AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN WASHED, BUT IT HAS THIS ALMOST OILY SHEEN AND IS STICKY. MY FEAR IS, IF MY DASH IS BREAKING DOWN, THEN WHAT HAPPENS IF I GET INTO A FRONT END COLLISION AND THAT AIR BAG DEPLOYS? IS MY PASSENGER GOING TO END UP FRAGMENTS OF DASH BOARD EMBEDDING IN THEIR EYES OR FACE? THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE! THIS CAR HAS BEEN MY BABY AND IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED. GARAGED KEPT AND PARKED IN THE SHADE... WHAT IS CAUSING THIS ISSUE? PLUS, IT IS WINTER TIME, AND THE CRACKS ARE MULTIPLYING AS WE SPEAK! *TR

NOTED SEVERAL CRACKS ACROSS DASHBOARD AND IS DISINTEGRATING. LEXUS NOT HELPFUL SUBSEQUENT STORIES ON ABC ACTION NEWS TAMPA OF KNOWN PROBLEM WITH DASHES. *TR

APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO, SEVERAL HAIRLINE CRACKS STARTED TO APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD OF MY LEXUS 2006 GX470. THESE CRACKS QUICKLY SPREAD AND ARE NOW COVERING MOST OF THE DASHBOARD. IN ADDITION, THE DASHBOARD FEELS LIKE IT IS MELTING OR HAS BECOME VERY STICKY TO THE TOUCH AS TINY LITTLE PIECES WILL CHIP AWAY OR INDENT AT THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH. THIS VEHICLE IS GARAGE KEPT WITH A CUSTOM SUNSHADE PURCHASED FROM LEXUS BEING USED EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS PARKED OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS JUST OVER 100,000 MILES WITH NO EXTENDED WARRANTY. LEXUS OF TAMPA BAY WAS CONTACTED IN OCTOBER OF 2013 AND I WAS TOLD BY A SERVICE MANAGER ([XXX]) THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT THAT LEXUS WILL NOT CONTRIBUTE TO REPLACE. THE COST OF A NEW DASHBOARD QUOTED WAS $1822.26, NOT INCLUDING LABOR. THE CRACKS ARE STARTING TO DEVELOP INTO LARGER SPLITS WHICH ARE RUNNING THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE DASHBOARD AND ARE COVERING THE ENTIRE FACE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE LEATHERY TYPE MATERIAL THAT COVERS DASHBOARD IS MELTING. IT IS VERY SOFT TO THE TOUCH AND EXTREMELY HOT AND STICKY IN SUNLIGHT. THIS MATERIAL HAS CRACKS THAT CONTINUES TO SPLIT AROUND INSTRUMENT PANELS IN MY CAR. PLEASE HELP..... *TR

THE BACKUP CAMERA GOES IN AND OUT WHEN BACKING UP IT GOES PICTURE TO BLACK RANDOMLY TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT EVEN THAT WHEN I TOOK IT THERE IT WAS JUST SHOWING US A BLACK SCREEN THAT THE SERVICE ADVISER SAW AND MY TRUCK IS OUT WARRANTY SO I WOULD BE PAYING FOR THE SERVICE I A MEMBER OF A COUPLE BIG LEXUS OWNER FORMS AND I AM NOT TO ONLY ONE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME ISSUE RANGING FROM 2004 TILL 2009 GX'S. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS GX470. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WAS OPEN AND WAS DAMAGED WHEN IT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE CENTER DIFFERENTIAL LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS TWICE WHEN IT WAS REMOVED FROM THE TOW TRUCK. THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,800.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS GX470. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING A RECURRING FAILURE IN WHICH THE FRONT TURN SIGNAL LIGHT BULBS STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON BOTH FRONT TURN SIGNALS BUT NEVER SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS IN WHICH THE BULBS WOULD BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THE LEXUS BARRELLED INTO ME. AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. IT MUST HAVE BEEN SET ON CRUISE CONTROL AT 65 MPH. *TR

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF A 2006 LEXUS GX470 WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE. THIS IS THE FIRST KNOWN OCCURRENCE OF THIS ABNORMAL ACTIVITY IN THE 6 MONTHS I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE. THE ENGINE RPMS WENT FROM IDLE TO WIDE OPEN THROTTLE FOR 2-3 SECONDS WHEN I SHIFTED THE TRANSMISSION INTO DRIVE. SINCE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. THE ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL IDLE ON ITS OWN. FORTUNATELY, I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN EMPTY PARKING LOT AND THERE WERE NO DAMAGES AND NO INJURIES. THE DEALER (WOODFIELD LEXUS, SCHAUMBURG ILLINOIS) FOUND NO FAULTS OR FAILURES UPON INITIAL INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE. TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, NORTH AMERICA IS SENDING ME INSTRUCTIONS ON WHAT STEPS I SHOULD TAKE TO ADDRESS THIS DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE ISSUE. I WAS TOLD THESE INSTRUCTIONS SHOULD ARRIVE IN THE MAIL WITHIN 7-10 DAYS. *TR

FROM:[XXX] SUBJECT:2006 LEXUS GX 470 ACCELERATION HELLO, MY 44 YEAR-OLD WIFE [XXX] WAS DRIVING HER 2006 LEXUS GX 470 THIS MORNING IN SEATTLE, WA. AS SHE WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. DESPITE HITTING THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES, THE CAR DID NOT STOP AND ENDED UP JUMPING A CURB AND CRASHING INTO A CHAIN LINK FENCE. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS HURT. SHE CALLED OUR LEXUS DEALERSHIP IN BELLEVUE, WA. THEY TOLD US THAT SINCE IT WAS A PRODUCT LIABILITY ISSUE THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE US A LOANER CAR AND WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO INSPECT THE CAR FOR TWO WEEKS. MY WIFE HAS NO CONFIDENCE IN OUR LEXUS AND WANTS TO SELL IT AS SOON AS IT IS FIXED UP FROM THE ACCIDENT (WE ARE FILING AN INSURANCE CLAIM AND ALSO FILED A POLICE REPORT). I AM ALSO VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE RESPONSE OF LEXUS NOT TO PROVIDE A LOANER VEHICLE AND IMMEDIATELY INSPECT THE CAR. A FRIEND OF OURS SUGGESTED WE CONTACT NHTSA. YOU MAY REACH ME AT [XXX] OR [XXX]. PLEASE ADVISE IF THERE ANY OTHER ACTIONS WE SHOULD TAKE AT THIS POINT IN TIME. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS GX470. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED POOR VISIBILITY WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. HE STATED THAT STREAKS APPEARED WHEN THE WINDOW ROLLED UP AND DOWN, PREVENTING VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE, BUT HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. THE PART HAS BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIME. , HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 20,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPURCHASED BY THE TOYOTA DEALER. UPDATED 06/13/07 *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS GX470. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL MADE CONTACT WITH THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP IMMEDIATELY. THE CONTACT HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES FOUR TO FIVE TIMES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO AN AIR BUBBLE. THE CONTACT HAD THE SAME FAILURE A MONTH LATER. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR. ALSO, THE DEALERADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE MASTER AND SLAVE CYLINDERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THREE MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKE PEDAL FOUR TIMES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SHIM AND REPLACED THE SHIM ON THE BRAKE PEDALS. THE CURRENT AND RECENT FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON A STEEP LOOSE GRAVEL ROAD WHICH TURNED, MY VEHICLE STARTED SLIDING OUT TOWARD THE EDGE NEXT TO A RATHER LONG DROP OFF. I STOPPED MY VEHICLE TO SEE THE PROGRESS AND SELECT A ROUTE. THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LET ME USE IT. I HAD TO DRIVE THE MOST DANGEROUS PART OF THE ROAD WITHOUT A SEAT BELT. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! IS THERE SOME WAY TO GET THE BELT TO RELEASE? NONE WAS FOUND IN THE MANUAL. AFTER A LITTLE DIGGING AND A COUPLE OF TRYS, WE GOT OUT O.K., BUT HAD NO SEAT BELT PROTECTION IN THE PROCESS. LEXUS REPORTS THAT THIS FUNCTIONED PROPERLY; IF SO IT IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT BECAUSE THERE IS NO RELEASE TO ALLOW USE OF THE SEAT BELT. *NM

I HAVE A 2006 LEXUS GX470 WITH ABOUT 15,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS GOING UP A STEEP GRADE ON A DIFFICULT ROAD IN 4WD. WHEN I STOPPED AND GOT OUT TO LOOK AT THE ROAD, THE SEAT BELT LOCKED IN A RETRACTED POSITION AND WOULD NOT DEPLOY AGAIN UNTIL VEHICLE WAS ON MORE LEVEL GROUND. THUS, I HAD TO DRIVE THE MOST DANGEROUS PART OF THE ROAD WITHOUT A SEAT BELT TO PROTECT ME IN EVENT OF ROLLOVER. LEXUS SAYS THIS IS NORMAL: "NORMAL CONDITION WHEN VEHICLE IS NOT LEVELED. LOCK WILL RELEASE WHEN LEVEL." MY THOUGHTS ARE: (1) I HAVE GREAT 4WD BECAUSE I COULD BARELY WALK UP THE ROAD I FINALLY GOT UP, BUT (2) THE SEAT BELT LOCK SHOULD HAVE A RELEASE FOR THESE CIRCUMSTANCES BECAUSE THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. *JB

LEXUS HAS HAD NO RESPONSE TO THIS INQUIRY IN OVER ONE MONTH, EXCEPT "WE GOT YOUR MAIL": I'M CONCERNED FOR OTHERS IN THIS SITUATION. WHILE DRIVING ON A STEEP LOOSE GRAVEL ROAD WHICH TURNED, MY VEHICLE STARTED SLIDING OUT TOWARD THE EDGE NEXT TO A RATHER LONG DROP OFF. I STOPPED MY VEHICLE TO SEE THE PROGRESS AND SELECT A ROUTE. THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LET ME RE-CONNECT IT. I HAD TO DRIVE THE MOST DANGEROUS PART OF THE ROAD WITHOUT A SEAT BELT. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! IS THERE SOME WAY TO GET THE BELT TO RELEASE? NONE WAS FOUND IN THE MANUAL. AFTER A LITTLE DIGGING AND A COUPLE OF TRIES, WE GOT OUT O.K., BUT HAD NO SEAT BELT PROTECTION IN THE PROCESS. *JB