2010 Lexus ES350

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

The contact owns a 2010 Lexus ES350.The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the sun was reflecting on the dashboard. There was a mirror-like image obstructing the driver's vision. The contact stated that there was a shiny substance on the dashboard. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and provided a case number. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.

NHTSA ID

11503596

Incident

Nov 1, 2022

Mileage

91,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V005000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. IRA LEXUS MANCHESTER (18 KILTON RD, BEDFORD, NH 03110, (603) 218-3500) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11207707

Incident

Apr 11, 2019

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V024000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. LEXUS OF ENGLEWOOD (53 ENGLE ST, ENGLEWOOD, NJ 07631, (201) 568-3900) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND NEEDED TO BE ORDERED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11205796

Incident

Mar 1, 2019

VEHICLE FAILED TO START WHEN PROPER PROCEDURE WAS FOLLOWED, THAT IS DEPRESSING THE BRAKE AND THEN WHEN GREEN LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON STARTER BUTTON ON DASHBOARD, PRESSING THAT BUTTON. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER FIFTY TIMES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED AT LOCAL LEXUS DEALERSHIP OVER THE COURSE OF AT LEAST FIVE SEPARATE DAYS. A COMPREHENSIVE SET OF DIAGNOSTIC TESTS WERE PERFORMED AT DEALERSHIP DURING ONE OF THESE INSPECTIONS WHEN CAR FAILED TO START IN THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHILE TECHNICIAN WAS BEING OVERSEEN BY A DIAGNOSTIC EXPERT FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM, AND SHOULD CALL AGAIN IF IT SHOULD REOCCUR. THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECORD OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE SO THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. DO YOU HAVE RECORD OF THIS HAPPENING WITH EITHER OTHER LEXUS OR ANY VEHICLES SIMILARLY EQUIPPED, AND IF SO ARE THERE ANY REPAIR STEPS THAT CAN BE UNDERTAKEN? MY WIFE AND I ARE VERY NERVOUS ABOUT TRYING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, BECAUSE WE NEVER KNOW IF WE WILL BE STRANDED SOMEWHERE AND UNABLE TO GET TO HOME OR SAFETY. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN OUR GARAGE OR AT A SHOPPING AREA, AND IT WAS NOT IDLING OR RUNNING, BUT IN. THE "OFF" MODE. THESE EVENTS OCCURRED 4/3/2018, 4/4/2018, 10/25/2018 THRU 11/1/2018 THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEING DRIVEN BETWEEN 5/11/2018 AND 10/13/2018 BECAUSE MY WIFE AND MYSELF WERE LIVING IN ANOTHER LOCATION, AND SAID VEHICLE WAS HOUSED IN A LOCKED GARAGE WITH A BATTERY CHARGER ATTACHED (TRICKLE CHARGER), THAT WAS PURCHASED FROM AN AUTHORIZED LEXUS DEALER. CAR AND CHARGER WERE CHECKED EVERY TWO WEEKS TO MAKE SURE CHARGER WAS WORKING. CHARGER OPERATED PROPERLY DURING THAT ENTIRE TIME SPAN.

NHTSA ID

11144974

Incident

Oct 25, 2018

Mileage

69,800 mi

HAPPENED IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. IN MOTION TO MAKE A TURN AROUND FROM THE MAIN STREET INTO A SIDE STREET. I WANTED TO HEAD BACK THE DIRECTION FROM WHERE I HAD JUST BEEN. I WAS MOVING VERY SLOWLY BECAUSE OF THE SMALL TURNING RADIUS.I WAS JUST TURNING INTO THE VERY OPENING OF THE SIDE STREET. UPON CURVING INTO THE "U" OF MY TURN THE CAR FIERCELY PROPELLED FORWARD. IT FELT LIKE IT WAS ATTEMPTING A "0 TO 60" LAUNCH. I LOOKED AT MY FOOT IN DISBELIEF THAT I MAY HAVE BEEN ON THE GAS PEDAL .NO... MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. MY CAR CRASHED INTO A LARGE ROCK/BOULDER RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPE THAT STOPPED IT. I SHUT MY ENGINE OFF. PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WAS OFF THE GROUND. FRONT RIGHT WAS ELEVATED ON TOP OF ROCKS. I WAS FINE. VERY SHAKEN AND IN DISBELIEF OF THE RAPID LAUNCH AND SITUATION. RAPID CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. EXTERIOR DAMAGE. UNDERSIDE DAMAGE AS WELL.

NHTSA ID

11128702

Incident

Sep 11, 2018

Mileage

39,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS MELTED AND STICKY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SUN PRODUCED A GLARE ON THE DASHBOARD, WHICH MADE DRIVING VERY DIFFICULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN TOOK PICTURES AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

NHTSA ID

11123089

Incident

Jun 15, 2017

Mileage

70,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL NOTIFIED A LEXUS DEALER, WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE 3 TO 4 MONTHS UNTIL PROBLEM IS REMEDIED

NHTSA ID

11093532

Incident

Mar 15, 2018

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V024000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN JUNE OF 2016. LEXUS OF RICHMOND IN RICHMOND, VA STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE RECALL WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. *TT

NHTSA ID

11089137

Incident

Jun 1, 2016

TI: 19LE05 Expired December 1, 2022

DP: Limited Service Campaign KLG expired December 01, 2022

TI: 19LE05 Expired December 1, 2022

DP: Customer Support Program 19LE05 expired December 1, 2022.

CSP: On July 30, 2018, a settlement of claims for Economic Loss related to Takata airbag inflators was approved for full implementation. The settlement includes Lexus?s agreement to provide a Customer Support Program (?CSP?) for 2002-2019 model year (MY) vehicles originally equipped with certain Takata airbag inflators or repaired under a recall with Takata airbag inflators to provide coverage for repairs of the airbag inflator contained in the airbag module. This CSP letter is to help clarify how to administer this coverage in accordance with the settlement. This is NOT a recall or a campaign, but is provided to reassure owners that Lexus stands behind the reliability of our vehicles

CSP: Takata CSP Coverage Job Aid - published 7.28.2022