NHTSA Complaint #10618425 — 2006 LEXUS IS

I NOTICED THAT THE DASH BOARD AND THE SIDE PANELS (BOTH SIDES -DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SIDE) ON MY LEXUS-IS-350 HAVE BEEN MELTING AWAY SINCE JULY 2010 AND AFTER MUCH COMPLAINT, THE DEALER REPLACED THE DASH BOARD COVER IN FEBRUARY 2013. HOWEVER THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT REFUSES TO REPLACE THE SIDE PANELS. THEY NAMED THE PROBLEM AS A "COSMETIC CONCERN" ON 2/26/2013 WHEN I COMPLAINED THAT THE COLOR OF THE REPLACED DASH DID NOT MATCH AND THE MATERIAL APPEARED TO BE OF LOWER QUALITY. I LEARNED RECENTLY FROM AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORT IN SOUTH FLORIDA (NBC- 6) THAT THE LEXUS HAD ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN IN 2011 ABOUT THIS MANUFACTURER DEFECT PROBLEM (CALLED INTERIOR PANEL SHINING...."STICKY LEATHER PROBLEM"). BUT THE DEALERSHIP NEVER INFORMED ME OF THIS SERVICE BULLETIN AT THE TIME IT CAME TO THEM. I BELIEVE THAT THE LEATHER PARTS (BOTH DASH BOARD AND SIDE PANELS) ARE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND SHOULD REPLACE IT AT THEIR EXPENSE ALTHOUGH I AM OUT OF WARRANTY AT THIS TIME. THE SMELL FROM THE MELTING PARTS, I SUSPECT CAN BE TOXIC. AT TIMES, I GET AN ALLERGIC REACTION WHEN DRIVING THE CAR. *TR