NHTSA Complaint #10629724 — 2006 LEXUS IS 250

WE RECENTLY BOUGHT A USED LEXUS IS 250 2006, AND SHORTLY AFTER BUYING NOTICED TWO HUGE PROBLEMS. THIS IS EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING BECAUSE, AS FIRST TIME LEXUS BUYERS, WE WERE EXPECTING TO BE IMPRESSED BY THE QUALITY OF THE LEXUS BRAND. NOW WE'RE CONCERNED BECAUSE BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE WIDELY REPORT BY OTHERS FROM THE HOT, SUNNY SOUTH. 1. THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR IS DISTORTED IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT DOESN'T PROVIDE A CLEAR VIEW. WE DIDN'T NOTICE THIS BEFORE WE BOUGHT BECAUSE THE LADY WE BOUGHT IT FROM HAD A VANITY MIRROR WITH LITTLE DIAMONDS OVER TOP OF THE REGULAR MIRROR. SINCE IT MATCHED THE VANITY LICENSE TAG THAT SHE HAD AND SINCE SHE WAS AN INTERIOR DESIGNER, WE DIDN'T SUSPECT AT ALL THAT IT WAS COVERING UP A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. THE VANITY MIRROR OBSTRUCTED SAFE DRIVING AND IT WAS A HORRIBLE MIRROR, AND WHEN I TOOK IT OFF, I FOUND THAT THE LEXUS MIRROR UNDERNEATH WAS LADEN WITH BLACK/BROWN BLOTCHES, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. 2. THE MELTING DASH IS SHINY AND CREATES A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO CLEARLY SEE OUT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. I DIDN'T NOTICE THIS ON OUR SHORT TEST DRIVE BEFORE WE BOUGHT THE CAR, BUT ON MY WAY HOME FROM BUYING THE CAR, IT WAS A BRIGHT, SUNNY DAY AND THE GLARE FROM THE SUN SHINING FROM THE DASH AND REFLECTING UP ONTO THE WINDSHIELD WAS HORRIBLE. THE GLARE CAUSED ME TO REACH UP TO TOUCH THE DASH TO SEE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE GLARE AND I FOUND THE DASH TACKY AND SOFT. THE STICKINESS IS A MAJOR CONCERN AS WELL, BUT THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. NOT BEING ABLE TO CLEARLY SEE OUT OF THE FRONT AND THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE IS PUTTING MANY LIVES IN DANGER. I HOPE LEXUS DOESN'T WAIT UNTIL THERE ARE INJURIES AND DEATHS REPORTED AS A RESULT OF THESE MANUFACTURER'S DEFECTS. WE WANT TO LOVE THIS BRAND, BUT THIS TYPE OF UN-RECALLED DEFECT IS CAUSING US TO DOUBT OUR CHOICE OF A LEXUS VEHICLE. *TR