2004 Lexus GX Air Bags & Restraints Problems

I am writing to formally request an investigation into a safety defect affecting the dashboard on my 2004 Lexus GX470. Over the past several months, I have observed significant cracking along the top of the instrument panel. I believe this defect poses a serious safety hazard: if the dashboard material fractures or delaminates, it could interfere with proper expansion and deployment of the front passenger airbag in the event of a collision. Despite the severity of this condition, Lexus has only issued a “limited-service campaign” rather than a full safety recall. Under that campaign, Lexus offers repair assistance only to owners located within certain regions and only if they pay a service fee. I contacted Lexus Headquarters, and requested a complete, no-cost replacement of the defective dashboard assembly, and was declined without satisfactory justification. I consider this response inadequate because: 1.Safety Risk to Occupants oThe dashboard crack traverses the airbag deployment zone. oIf the material fails, the passenger airbag may not be deployed correctly or on time. 2.Insufficient Remedy oA limited-service campaign does not guarantee replacement or cover all affected vehicles. oOwners outside specified regions or who have previously paid for dashboard repairs receive no assistance. 3.Regulatory Precedent oFederal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208 mandates reliable airbag deployment. oA comprehensive recall would ensure all affected vehicles receive robust, no-cost repairs. I respectfully request that NHTSA open an investigation under 49 U.S.C. § 30162(a) to determine whether this dashboard cracking constitutes a safety-related defect warranting a nationwide recall. I am prepared to provide photographs, service records, and any additional information needed.

THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. THE DASHBOARD IS ALL CRACKED BUT MY PROBLEM IS THAT I DRIVE MY KIDS AND THERE IS A RECALL PROBLEM WITH SIDE CURTAIN-SHIELD-AIRBAGS (CSAS) WHICH DEPLOY FROM THE ROOF RAILS IN THE EVENT OF CERTAIN TYPES OF CRASHES. I HAD CALL 2 DIFFERENT LEXUS AND THE HEADQUATERS AND THEY ALL THEM ME DIFFERENT THINGS. I JUST WANT THE DASHBOARD AND AIRBAGS TO BE FIX AS THIS IS A FAMILY BAG.

BRAKES TOTALLY FAILED WHILE DESCENDING A STEEP INCLINE ON A CITY/ STATE HIGHWAY CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND IMPACT WITH A TREE. AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.

CURTAIN SHIELD AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE. RECALL # 16V-065. LEXUS IS NOT REPAIRING THIS IN A TIMELY FASHION. IT HAS BEEN APPROX. SIX MONTHS SINCE WE FIRST RECEIVED NOTICE OF THIS RECALL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS GX470. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V065000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

THE CAR HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO 2 RECALLS. FIRST, A RECALL FOR THE SELF-DESTRUCTING DASHBOARD AND FOR THE CURTAIN SHIELD AIRBAGS. THE COMPANY HAS REFUSED TO PROVIDE ME WITH THE PART IN ORDER TO PROCEED TO A REPLACEMENT OF THE AFFECTED PARTS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS GX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE CONTACT HAD NECK INJURIES AND WAS TREATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE BODY DAMAGES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS GX470. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V065000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS GX 470. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V065000 (AIR BAGS) THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 03/03/17*LJ *CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS GX470. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V065000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

2004 LEXUS GX 400. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REPLACEMENT DASHBOARD NOT AVAILABLE TO REPLACE CURTAIN-SHIELD AIRBAG MODULE AND CRACKED DASHBOARD. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED, A YEAR PASSED AND THE AIR BAG AND DASHBOARD WERE NOT REPLACED. UPDATED 03/22/2017 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS GX470. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V065000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NUMEROUS CRACKS HAVE APPEARED ALL OVER THE DASHBOARD, INCLUDING OVER THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. *TR

MY VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM A LOCAL LEXUS DEALERSHIP IN JANUARY 2008 AND SINCE THEN HAS BEEN GARAGED DURING THE DAY AT MY OFFICE AND GARAGED OVERNIGHT IN MY BUILDING'S ENCLOSED PARKING STRUCTURE. THE VEHICLE RARELY SAT IN THE SUN FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME, BUT IN NOVEMBER 2012, CRACKS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH BEGAN APPEARING. THEY WERE RAZOR THIN AND BY THE END OF 2013, THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE DASH WAS COVERED IN CRACKS, DIRECTLY ABOVE THE AIR BAG. THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP EXPLAINED THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE WAS NO OPEN RECALL, ANY REPAIR WOULD BE AT MY EXPENSE, WHICH WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $2,500. I SEARCHED MULTIPLE ONLINE FORUMS (CLUBLEXUS.COM, LEXUSOWNERSCLUB.COM) AND THIS SAME PREMATURE CRACKING OF THE GX470 DASH WAS BEING EXPERIENCED BY HUNDREDS OF OWNERS. I ALSO OWN A LEXUS LS430 AND I HAVE TREATED IT EXACTLY LIKE MY GX470, BUT THANKFULLY THE LS HAS NOT EXHIBITED ANY DASH CRACKING. I FEEL THAT THE GX470 DASH CRACKING ISSUE IS A SAFETY RISK, SINCE THE INTEGRITY OF THE DASH IS BEING COMPROMISED AND IT MAY NEGATIVELY EFFECT THE FUNCTIONING OF THE VEHICLE AIR BAGS. I FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM IS DUE TO POOR QUALITY MATERIALS AND THAT LEXUS SHOULD PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT AT NO COST TO THE VEHICLE OWNER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS GX470. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN HE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, HEAD AND BACK. A PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BROKEN NOSE AND BROKEN CHEEK BONE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,000.

MY 2004 LEXUS GX470 IS GARAGE KEPT AND THE DASH HAS SEVERAL CRACKS. ONE AROUND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND ONE ABOVE THE AIR CONDITIONING VENTS AND ONE THE PASSENGER SIDE. I KEEP MY DASH CONDITIONED AND MY CAR IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED. DESPITE MY EFFORTS THE CRACKS CONTINUE TO GET WORSE. THIS STARTED A FEW YEARS AGO AND CONTINUES TO PROGRESS. I AM AFRAID THAT WILL EFFECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE AIRBAGS SHOULD THEY DEPLOY.

THE DASH IS CRACKING ALL OVER THE PLACE(BETWEEN 20-30 PACES). THE MOST CRACKING HAS OCCURRED IN FRONT OF AND AROUND THE PASSENGERS AIRBAG. THIS IS PARTICULARLY CONCERNING BECAUSE I FEAR IT THE AIRBAG NEEDED TO DEPLOY, IT WOULD NOT PROPERLY DO SO, AND ALSO THAT IT MAY BE EXTRA DANGEROUS IF THE CRACKED PIECES OF THE DASH GO FLYING IN ALL DIRECTIONS UPON AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF SUCH CONDITIONS REPORTED THROUGHOUT THE US HERE: HTTP://WWW.CLUBLEXUS.COM/FORUMS/GX-FIRST-GENERATION/427349-CRACKED-DASHBOARD.HTML IT DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER IF THE VEHICLE WAS GARAGE KEPT, OR PARKED IN THE SUN. ALSO CLIMATE TEMPERATURE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A FACTOR. THIS CONDITION IS BEING REPORTS ALL OVER THE US. *TR

AFTER A SHORT TIME OF BUYING MY WIFE'S GX470, A SMALL CRACK APPEARED IN THE DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LOCATION. AT THE TIME WE DIDN'T THINK MUCH ABOUT IT AS MY WIFE STATED IT WAS MORE LIKE A LINE IN THE DASH. THROUGH THE YEARS OF OWNERSHIP THESES CRACKS HAVE GROWN, AND NOW THE ENTIRE DASH IS CRACKED ALL THE WAY ACROSS. WE HAVE TAKEN OUR VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER IT WAS OUT OF FACTORY WARRANTY AND THEY STATE THAT NOW THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. WE TAKE EXCEPTIONAL CARE OF HER CAR AND ALWAYS PARK IT IN THE GARAGE. THE DEALERSHIP ONCE STATED THAT THE PROBABLE PROBLEM WAS SUN RELATED, BUT THAT STATEMENT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE, AND THIS ISSUE REALLY UPSETS ME SINCE LEXUS SEEMS TO HAVE A WIDE-SPREAD PROBLEM WITH THESE DASH CRACKING ISSUES. I EVEN FOUND THIS TOPIC BEING DISCUSSED IN LENGTH IN THIS LEXUS FORUM: HTTP://WWW.CLUBLEXUS.COM/FORUMS/GX-FIRST-GENERATION/427349-CRACKED-DASHBOARD.HTML THE DEALER FINALLY DID OFFER TO REPLACE THE DASH IF I PAID FOR THE LABOR, WHICH WAS LIKE $800. I DON'T BELIEVE WE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A KNOWN DEFECT IN THESE DASHES. IT NOW APPEARS MORE CLEARLY THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, BEING THAT IT IS IN THE AIRBAG LOCATION. I AM REQUESTING THAT LEXUS STEPS UP TO THE PLATE AND REPLACE OUR DASH DUE TO THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE REAR QUARTER PANEL ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. UPON IMPACT THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER TWICE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK *NM

VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED ALL NIGHT, PUT KEY IN IGNITION TURNED KEY TO 'ON' PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING AND WAS NOT MOVING, SHIFT WAS IN "PARK". *TR