NHTSA Complaint #10565438 — 2006 LEXUS IS

INTERIOR PANEL PARTS (DASHBOARD, DOOR PANELS) MELTS IN HOT, HUMID CLIMATES. DURING THE SUMMER OF 2012 MY USED (PURCHASED IN MAY 2012) LEXUS IS350'S DASHBOARD AND UPPER DOOR PANEL SURFACES WOULD GLISTEN AND EMIT A STRONG CHEMICAL ODOR WHEN PARKED OUTSIDE IN THE SUN/HEAT. THE WET DASHBOARD SURFACE WOULD REFLECT OFF THE WINDSHIELD AND IMPAIR VISION DURING DRIVING. IT WOULD TAKE LESS THAN 30 MINS PARKED IN THE SUN/HEAT FOR THE PANEL SURFACES TO BEGIN GLISTENING. ATTEMPTS TO CLEAN THE SURFACE OF THE DASHBOARD AND DOOR PANELS DID NOT WORK, AS THE MATERIAL REMAINING WOULD AGAIN MELT AND GLISTEN. LEXUS HAS ISSUED AN INTERNAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO ITS DEALERSHIPS OF THE PROBLEM. I COMPLAINED TO LEXUS AND THEY AGREED TO COMPENSATE ME FOR THE COST OF A NEW DASHBOARD, BUT I HAD TO PAY FOR THE LABOR (AROUND $800). I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE DOOR PANELS MYSELF WITH USED ONES SOURCED FROM LESS HOT/HUMID CLIMATES (4 AT AROUND $150 EACH). THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE, AS VISION WHILE DRIVING WAS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPEDED BY THE REFLECTION OFF THE DASHBOARD. IN ADDITION TO THIS IMMEDIATE SAFETY RISK, THE STRONG CHEMICAL SMELL IN THE CAR COULD BE POTENTIALLY TOXIC AND POSE LONG-TERM HEALTH RISKS. *TR