NHTSA Complaint #10556521 — 2006 LEXUS IS 350

MY 2006 LEXUS IS 350 HAS A DEFECTIVE, MELTING DASH PANEL THAT REFLECTS A GLARE ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS IT IMPAIRS MY VISION TO SEE CLEARLY WHILE DRIVING. NEWER 2008-UP MODELS ARE MADE WITH DIFFERENT MATERIAL & DESIGN AND DON'T HAVE THIS ISSUE. WHEN I CALLED LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE TO COMPLAIN OF THE MELTING DASH TO ASK FOR A NEW DASH PANEL THEY DENIED MY REQUEST BECAUSE I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. LEXUS IS IGNORING OWNERS WITH MODELS MANUFACTURED BEFORE THE NEWLY REDESIGNED DASH & DOOR PANELS. LEXUS KNOWS THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE AS THEY HAVE EVEN RELEASED A TSIB(L-SB-0144-11). NOT ONLY IS THE DASH DEFECTIVE BUT THE DOOR PANELS GET STICKY AND MARKS EASILY WITH BARELY A TOUCH. I WAS AFRAID TO TOUCH THE DASH & DOOR PANELS FOR THE FEAR OF ACCIDENTALLY DAMAGING IT. I EVEN BOUGHT A SUNSHADE COVER TO PREVENT THE DASH FROM GETTING HOT, HOWEVER WHENEVER I TOOK OFF THE SUNSHADE I INEVITABLY SCRAPED THE SOFT, BRITTLE DASH. THIS IS ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD AS ALL OF THESE ACCIDENTAL DAMAGES LOWERS THE CAR VALUE. THIS IS BECOMING A WIDESPREAD ISSUE AS IT IS VERY COMMON ON ONLINE FORUMS LIKE CLUBLEXUS.COM AND MYIS.COM. I ACTUALLY GOT THE IDEA TO SUBMIT THIS INQUIRY FROM ANOTHER 06-08 IS 250 OWNER WHO WENT THROUGH NHTSA. I BELIEVE THE DASH PANEL IS A SAFETY HAZARD IN THAT THE SHINY GLARE FROM THE WINDSHIELD MAKES IT DANGEROUS FOR ME TO DRIVE ENDANGERING MY LIFE AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. I ALSO WISH TO HAVE NEW DOOR PANELS FROM THE NEWLY DESIGNED MODEL'S DOOR PANELS AS THESE NUISANCES CAN SIGNIFICANTLY DEPRECIATE THE CAR'S VALUE. *TR