What 197 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Lexus ES 350

I purchased the car on Feb 9, 2014 at the above Lexus Dealership. $26,596.   My dashboard is melting and it’s definitely a safety hazard. When materials used in the dashboard are prone to melting or degrading in extreme heat, potentially obstructing the driver's view and impacting visibility.  At times I couldn't see and I almost had an accident when the sun reflected in my eyes. It’s a defect that Lexus is aware of because they offered to fix it under the Customer Support Program (Takata Economic Loss Class Action Settlement).   Furthermore, by way of legal agreement, the ZLZ warranty enhancement coverage extends to my vehicle until January 8, 2026.  However, I should not have to rely on this legal agreement to get Lexus to take care of this repair which has been determined as a defective product/material.   I contacted Lexus HQ 716-941-2295 on November 21, 2024. Lexus said they would not be responsible.   The law recognizes concepts of negligence and strict liability to hold sellers liable for defective goods even when no contract existed.   Furthermore, regarding this dashboard defect, there is liability based on the breach of a warranty for the sale of this defective product. Regarding negligence and strict liability, the law has expanded the scope of warranty protections for consumers. This is true both of liability for express promises made by the sellers regarding the quality of products, and the protections the law presumes when sellers offer goods for sale. Lexus knows that when a seller makes a representation at the time of sale regarding the quality of the product, that product is said to be under warranty. Lexus should not continue to avoid responsibility using the excuse of time limitations on the warranty item.  Lexus should authorize the repair.

NHTSA ODI 11628978

We purchased this vehicle in mid 2018. In October of 2018 Lexus issued a customer support process ZLZ which covered our vehicle for problems with the dashboard. At that time, we had no deterioration of our dashboard so we did not respond. The Lexus program expired in 2021. In the last two years, our dashboard has deteriorated quite substantially becoming sticky and more importantly, becoming very reflective. This condition is a serious safety issue for day and night driving as light reflects up on the windshield and obscures vision out of the windshield. We took the vehicle to Lexus San Diego in August of 2024 and they declined to address the repair as a defect and offered to replace the dashboard for approximately $3000. At that time I called the Lexus Corporate Dept and they said that it could fall under the support program again if they re-opened the program. The representative did not offer any timeline for that happening. I sent correspondence to Lexus Corporate in Oct of 2024 and finally heard back on 11/08/2024 that they would only offer a customer paid fix of approximately $2200.00. The dashboard is definitely defective (soon to be inoperable) and creates a very significant safety problem. I do not understand or agree with Lexus not addressing it properly.

NHTSA ODI 11624496

I started my vehicle and drove about 1/2 mile when the car started acting like it was running out of gas. I pulled over and got about 1gallon of gas in a gas can and put it in the vehicle. I turned the car back on and drove about 2 blocks when the vehicle started jumping like it was going to run out of gas again. The vehicle then shut down while I was driving it. I made it to the side of the road and put the vehicle in park and turned off the ignition with the push start button. I tried to start the vehicle again with the push start button and the vehicle would just try to start but just crank and not turn on. This ended up being a fault fuel pump. After some research I was able to find out Lexus had several thousand vehicles of the same year make and model recalled due to a faulty fuel pump that goes out while driving causing a dangerous driving condition which is exactly what occurred in my vehicle. I contacted Lexus and was told my vehicle was not included in the recall which I don’t understand due to the fact that my fuel pump went out while was driving. I am requesting this issue be investigated and the vehicle be added to the list of recalled vehicles with faulty fuel pumps

NHTSA ODI 11607669

The contact owned a 2011 Lexus ES 350. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, another vehicle crossed over into oncoming traffic, resulting in a head-on collision with the contact's vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed a total loss by the contact insurance provider. A police report was filed, and injuries were reported. The contact's wife was transported to an area hospital by EMT and treated for injuries to her right shoulder, left hip, left femur, and left foot, requiring surgery on her shoulder, hip, and femur. The contact also stated that it was required that a stint be placed in his wife's heart. The contact mentioned the injuries sustained resulted in over $1 million in medical treatment. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11586401

The contact owns a 2011 Lexus ES350. The contact stated that the passenger’s side air bag warning light was flashing constantly. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the Occupant Classification Sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred, and the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the Occupant Classification Sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact had researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags). The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

NHTSA ODI 11584675

I own a 2011 Lexus ES350. I understand there were several times in the past when repairs for a melting dashboard was fixed with no cost to the car owner. I don’t recall receiving information on this offer in a timely manner and now the offers have apparently expired. I think most customers were concerned about the cosmetic damage of the dashboard, but I have valid safety concerns. Sometimes when the sun is out, the line of vision is blurred due to the reflection of the melted dashboard. I want this to be repaired before I have an accident.

NHTSA ODI 11556374

The contact owned a 2011 Lexus 350. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, her vehicle collided with another vehicle that ran a red light at 50 MPH on the front passenger side door. The impact caused the vehicle to careen off the roadway and collide with a billboard support beam where it came to stop. No air bags were deployed. A police report was filed, and injuries were reported. The contact was transported to an area hospital by emergency services and treated for ocular facial pain, diplopia gaze, and a possible brain aneurysm, resulting in post-concussion syndrome. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 170,000.

NHTSA ODI 11553879

The vehicle has severe rust and corrosion underneath affecting the suspension. The brakes and power steering needed repairs but the service would cause even more damage to the vehicle. The vehicle was confirmed by sterling mcall lexus of clear lake. 18160 Gulf Fwy, Houston, TX 77546. and also Firestone Center Pearland 2908 Broadway St, Pearland, TX 77581. This vehicle is unsafe to operate due to the corrosion. An accident may soon occur.

NHTSA ODI 11488619

2011 LEXUS ES. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BROKEN DOOR HANDLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE WAS BROKEN, THE DRIVER'S SEAT COVER AND OUTER BOLSTER SECTIONS WERE DAMAGED, AND THE ROOF PAINT WAS PEELING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE.

NHTSA ODI 11433846

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING AT 70 MPH, WITHOUT WARNING AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE PASSENGER WHEEL AND WITHIN SECONDS HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE CRASHING INTO A DITCH AND FLIPPING OVER. THE DRIVER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AS THE VEHICLE SLID ON THE WET ROADWAY DUE TO THE RAIN. THE DRIVER WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE THRU THE WINDSHIELD AS THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A BROKEN HIP AND FACE LACERATION AS HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS MADE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS CONTACTED AND TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A LOT WHERE IT WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. NO DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AS A CLAIM WAS FILED. HOWEVER NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS TAKEN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,000. *DT

NHTSA ODI 11348985

THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING WHICH RESULTS IN THE NOXIOUS CHEMICAL SMELL AND ADHESIVE COMPOUND THAT IS STICKY TO THE TOUCH.

NHTSA ODI 11323268

THIS WEB SITE (THE NHTSA) SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS VIN, BUT TOYOTA/LEXUS SITE SAYS THERE IS, FOR THE AIRBAGS. THIS MISLEADING INFORMATION ON A GOVERNMENT WEB SITE CAN BE DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI 11175933

N/A

NHTSA ODI 11115902

SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) WARNING LIGHT IS ILLUMINATING ON INSTRUMENT PANEL AND DOES NOT GO OUT WHEN CAR IS STARTED AND DRIVEN.

NHTSA ODI 11113066

THE LEATHER ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS HAVE FAILED AND SPLIT, DETERIORATED AND THE LEATHER ON THE ARMREST BETWEEN SEATS HAVE DETERIORATED.

NHTSA ODI 11099516

1. BODY PAINT HAS DETERIORATED GREATLY ON ROOF, FRONT HOOD AND TRUNK, PICTURES ATTACHED. 2. LEATHER SEATS DETERIORATED. DRIVER SEAT BROKE IN VARIOUS PARTS. PASSENGER AND REAR SEATS ALSO DETERIORATING. PICTURES ATTACHED. DATE RECORDED ON THE WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN FIELD IS AN APPROXIMATE WHEN WE FIRST NOTICED THE IMPLICATION OF THESE ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI 11083224

TAKATA RECALL - NO INCIDENT YET

NHTSA ODI 11072916

EXPLODING SUNROOF

NHTSA ODI 11065787

"TAKATA RECALL", AFTER CONTACTING LOCAL LEXUS DEALERSHIP I MADE AN APPOINTMENT ON 9/8/2017 TO HAVE REPAIRS MADE, I WAS TOLD NO REMEDY AVAILABLE PER THE LOCAL LEXUS DEALERSHIP (LEXUS OF BELLEVUE). IT IS NOW 12/19/2017 AND STILL NO REPAIRS OR REMEDY FROM LEXUS.

NHTSA ODI 11055593

TAKATA RECALL; I HAVE MAJOR CONCERN RELEVANT TO NOT ONLY THE PASS/SIDE AIR BAG, BUT TO THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG ALSO. I REQUEST BOTH SIDES BE REPLACED, UNLESS YOU CAN PROVIDE DATA THAT WILL CONFIRM THERE IS NO ISSUE WITH DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG. DEALER/SEWELL ADVISED MY WORK WOULD BE DONE IN SEPT 17. THEY HAVE YET TO SET UP AN APPT FOR MY REPAIRS. PLS HELP. THANKS

NHTSA ODI 11048783

TAKATA RECALL - HAVE CALLED THE DEALER THREE DIFFERENT TIMES AND SAYS PARTS AREN'T AVAILABLE

NHTSA ODI 11047324

TAKATA RECALL RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN JULY 2016. RECEIVED NO CONTACT FROM THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT SCHEDULING REPAIRS. CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER IN MARCH 2017. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD NO IMMEDIATE PLANS TO REPLACE THE AIRBAGS DUE TO LACK OF REPLACEMENT PARTS. MY VEHICLE IS SEVEN YEARS OLD, AND BASED ON THE INFORMATION PUBLISHED REGARDING DEGRADATION OF THE ORIGINAL AIRBAGS, I UNDERSTAND THAT MY VEHICLE IS IN GREATER DANGER OF HAVING DEFECTIVE AND POSSIBLY DANGEROUS AIRBAGS. AS A RESULT, I REQUESTED A REPLACEMENT OR LOANER VEHICLE UNTIL REPAIRS COULD BE MADE TO MY VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD I WOULD BE CONTACTED BY A LOCAL DEALER REPRESENTATIVE TO ARRANGE ONE, BUT WAS NEVER CONTACTED THEREAFTER. MANUFACTURER CASE NUMBER IS 1701061699.

NHTSA ODI 11046357

I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE JUST OUTSIDE BEAUMONT, TEXAS ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2 WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE SIMILAR TO A GUNSHOT OR AN EXPLOSION. IMMEDIATELY AFTER I HEARD THE NOISE, I NOTICED MY SUNROOF COVER SHAKING AND WIND COMING THROUGH THE TOP OF MY CAR. I PULLED THE COVER BACK JUST A LITTLE AND NOTICED SHATTERED GLASS. WHEN I PULLED OVER AT THE NEXT SERVICE STATION, I GOT OUT AND REALIZED MY SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED. I CONTACTED LEXUS AND THEY PRETENDED TO BE SURPRISED; HOWEVER, AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AND MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE. I HAVE SINCE HAD THE SUNROOF REPAIRED, BUT NOT BY LEXUS. THE DEALERSHIP OFFERED TO REPAIR IT TO THE TUNE OF $2,000. THE SUNROOF REPAIR COMPANY WHERE I TOOK MY CAR REPAIRED IT FOR A FRACTION OF THAT. THIS MORNING I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM LEXUS CORPORATE OFFICE STATING THAT THE DAMAGED SUNROOF WAS DUE TO "IMPACT," WHICH IS NOT TRUE. OF COURSE, LEXUS IS NOT TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY VEHICLE. I SUSPECT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP THEIR DEFECTIVE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD UNTIL AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE DIED FROM THE DEFECTS. THE GENERAL MANAGER OF LEXUS OF CLEAR LAKE REACHED OUT TO ME ON THIS PAST SATURDAY AND ASKED THAT I EMAIL HER, WHICH I DID. HOWEVER, I NEVER HEARD ANYTHING BACK FROM HER.

NHTSA ODI 11044166

TAKATA RECALL. WE RECEIVED NOTICE OF THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL IN ROUGHLY AUGUST OF 2016. IT SAID THAT A PASSENGER SHOULD NOT SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. MY WIFE AND I ARE RETIRED AND ALWAYS DRIVE TOGETHER. THIS RECALL MADE OUR LEXUS UNDRIVEABLE FOR THE PAST YEAR AND 3 MONTHS. THERE HAS BEEN NO RECOMPENSATION BY LEXUS.

NHTSA ODI 11043464

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. JM FAMILY ENTERPRISES (LEXUS) OF COCONUT CREEK, FLORIDA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE AND THAT THE CONTACT COULD LEASE A VEHICLE AS AN ALTERNATIVE OPTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PART DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. *BF CONSUMER STATED IT IS NOT SAFE FOR A PASSENGER TO SIT IN THE FRONT SEAT, MAKING THE CAR, ESSENTIALLY, USELESS FOR US. FRONT PASSENGER SEAT UNUSABLE. UPDATED 7/27/18*JB

NHTSA ODI 11033090