General Motors might be trapped in recall hell these days, but they’re not the only automaker sending out notices. Lexus recently announced their plans to conduct a voluntary recall of 10,500 of its 2013 GS sedans.
Concerned owners will have to drive to their closest Lexus dealer to get the brake pedal support assembly replaced. Each car contains a load sensing switch that tells the brake system how much pressure the driver is applying to the left pedal. “Due to a manufacturing error, there is a possibility that the switch could improperly cause the brake system to activate without driver input while driving and without activating the rear brake lights.” As you can imagine, this might result in sudden, unexpected deceleration. Yikes.
Fortunately, Toyota isn’t aware of any accidents, injuries or deaths related to this issue.
If you think your GS might be included in this initiative, call the Lexus Customer Satisfaction Center at 1-800-25-LEXUS (1-800-255-3987) for more information.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
Where do you go for answers when you have a Lexus with a gorgeous leather interior but are not sure about how to maintain that luxurious look? The "Club Lexus" forums, of course.
