went from drive into reverse by accident
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: nc
went from drive into reverse by accident
I'm new to the NX- less than 3 weeks. I was driving about 15mph, reached over and accidentely hit the gear shift. The car went from drive into reverse! Immediately hit the brake and put the car back into drive. I see this as a huge safety issue. The dealer is telling me that all Lexus models will do this, as their is no safety button. I do understand that cars can go from drive/reverse into neutral easily. I would like your thoughts?
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 8,564
Likes: 389
From: PA
Did the vehicle physically respond to being placed in R? A long time ago we had a manager who loved to deliberately do that to rental cars (can't understand this behavior and he was not young maybe 40). It would seem that it could harm the vehicle, unless, nowadays everything is electronically controlled, the vehicle knows it's going 15 mph forward and even if the lever is moved, it knows not to go into R...but not sure....what I mean is I think of that lever today, as being nothing more than an electronic switch, it's not an actual linkage to the tranny like before....
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,101
Likes: 3,871
From: Maryland
If it actually went into reverse you'd have had a HUGE jolt and metal crushing sound. If you had time to hit the brakes and put it back into drive, the display said reverse but it was never in reverse.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,101
Likes: 3,871
From: Maryland
So the car was going forward at 15MPH, you put it into reverse and it immediately started going backwards, so you slammed it in park. No noises?
I think you are misremembering the circumstances lol
I think you are misremembering the circumstances lol
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: nc
That's exactly what happened and there were two adults in the car with the same experience. Please note, I accidentaly (not purposely) put the car in reverse, while i was trying to prevent something from falling from the dash. NOTE, there is no "safety" feature in all Lexus models that prevents this from happening...or so, I have been told by the dealer. There is no benefit for us to misrepresent what happened. We're looking for information/ intelligence to help us sort out this problem. Thanks for your feedback.
ClubLexus Stories
Celebrating Lexus & Toyota from Around the Globe
Top 10 Lexus & Toyotas to Drive Before You Die!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Lexus/Toyotas With The LEAST 5-Year Depreciation
Joe Kucinski
Lexus LC500 Convertible Auction: A Preview of Rising Values?
Brett Foote
GX 550 vs TX 550: Best 3-Row Luxury Lexus Family Hauler
Michael S. Palmer
9 Best Lexus Models You Can Buy for Half Price (And 1 You Shouldn't!)
Joe Kucinski
2026 Lexus NX Buyer's Guide: Models, Features, Prices & More!
Brett Foote
Top 10 Reasons to Buy a Lexus TX 550h+ (& 3 Reasons to AVOID!)
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Lexus & Toyota Models of the 1990s RANKED!
Joe Kucinski
10 Great Toyotas That Could Have Been Lexus Models
Joe Kucinski
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 8,564
Likes: 389
From: PA
If the car were not smart enough to prevent going into reverse while moving forward, then it's hard to surmise how it's not a bad thing. Be curious why a dealership would say "all Lexus models will do this." Most people would not try it...
Lexus Champion
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 2,954
Likes: 235
From: SoCal
I agree with SW15LS...if you didn't hear any grinding or sudden jolt, then most likely the car went into neutral (and you might have perceived it as going backwards) and it would shift into reverse when at a lower speed (probably less than 5 MPH). Like already mentioned, the gear lever isn't mechanically linked to the transmission, it's electronic.
Pole Position
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 237
Likes: 15
From: Selangor
15MPH directly into a stop, not to mention, reverse, would have been a strong enough impact to trigger your airbags I think.
I seriously think the car just disengaged the drive and you both perceived the loss of forward power as "reverse"...
I seriously think the car just disengaged the drive and you both perceived the loss of forward power as "reverse"...
Racer
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,488
Likes: 52
From: FL
Here's a youtube video showing a Toyota(model not specified) being shifted from drive at 20mph into reverse to see the backup camera. There appears to be no issue.
I won't be trying this on my NX until I hear conformation that this is OK.
I'm assuming this is what the OP experienced. However no mention of backup camera coming on was made.
I won't be trying this on my NX until I hear conformation that this is OK.
I'm assuming this is what the OP experienced. However no mention of backup camera coming on was made.
