2008 Lexus IS 350

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.

SO I BOUGHT THE CAR JUST YESTERDAY AND I SEARCHED THE VIN IN UR WEBSITE AND I SAW THAT THERE IS ONE UNREPAIRED ISSUE AND I'M A LITTLE WORRIED IT COULD CAUSE A SAFETY ISSUE LATER IN THE FUTURE IF I DON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT FROM TOLD ME THE CAR WAS GOOD WITH NO ISSUE SO I WAS A LITTLE CONFUSED AFTER SEEING THIS. BELOW I SENT A SCREENSHOT OF THE ISSUE I SAW AND JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT DO I DO ABOUT IT.

NHTSA ID

11207999

Incident

May 15, 2019

Mileage

110,252 mi

THERE HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON MY VEHICLE. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE, UNFORTUNATELY THE LIGHT WENT OUT, AND NO CODE WAS CAPTURED. IT WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER RECENTLY, AND A FAULT CODE WAS RECOGNIZED; A POSSIBLE KNEE AIRBAG ISSUE. WHEN TALKING WITH THE SERVICE WRITER, THEIR TECHNICIANS HAD MENTIONED IT WAS MOST LIKELY A SHORT IN A WIRING HARNESS AT A COST OF $3500 TO REPLACE. I WAS TOLD ALL OF THE AIRBAGS MAY BE INOPERATIVE WITH THE WARNING LIGHT ON, BUT THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT SURE. A NUMBER OF ONLINE LEXUS BLOGS TALK ABOUT SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES AND STRUGGLING WHY A FAULTY (DEFECTIVE) WIRING HARNESS THAT DISABLES ALL AIRBAGS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL. IT SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE A FATAL CRASH DUE TO INOPERATIVE AIRBAGS TO WARRANT A RECALL.

NHTSA ID

11174298

Incident

Feb 4, 2019

Mileage

77,000 mi

AFTER HITTING A HARD BUMP, THE VEHICLE THREW A B1866 CODE INDICATING AN OPEN CIRCUIT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER KNEE AIRBAG. THE CONNECTOR HAS BECOME LOOSE AND AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN FREQUENTLY WITH THIS CONNECTOR OR ON THE DRIVER SIDE KNEE AIRBAG CONNECTOR.

NHTSA ID

11166718

Incident

Jan 11, 2019

Mileage

153,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL. AFTER LETTING THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP DO THE RECALL ON MY AIRBAGS, I RECEIVED A AIRBAG LIGHT SHORTLY AFTER AND LET THEM KNOW I DIDN'T HAVE THE ISSUE UNTIL AFTER THEY SERVICED THE AIRBAG. THE ISSUE IS STATED THAT THEY MADE THE HARNESS TOO SHORT IN MY YEAR CAR AND LEXUS IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ERROR WHICH IS PUTTING MY LIFE AND MY CHILD'S LIFE IN DANGER IF WE WERE TO GET IN A ACCIDENT WITH MY CAR. THE AIRBAGS ARE DISABLED DUE TO THIS FAULTY HARNESS. WHEN CONTACTING CORPORATE THEY ONLY OFFERED TO HELP WITH $500 OF THE COST WHILE THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $3500 TO FIX. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR A ISSUE THAT LEXUS KNOWS WAS THERE MISTAKE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY!

NHTSA ID

11084671

Incident

Jun 2, 2017

Mileage

170,000 mi

ON NOVEMBER 8, 2017, I WAS INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT IN SANTA MONICA, CA AS I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM AN ALLEY ONTO A TWO-LANE RESIDENTIAL STREET. THE OTHER VEHICLE STRUCK ME ON THE LEFT FRONT CORNER OF MY CAR. WHILE THE AIRBAGS OF THE OTHER CAR WERE DEPLOYED , NONE OF MY AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. FURTHER, MY SHOULDER BELT FAILED TO PROPERLY RESTRAIN ME AND THE TOP OF MY HEAD STRUCK THE LEFT 'A-PILLAR'. SOON AFTER THE ACCIDENT, I REQUESTED THAT LEXUS DOWNLOAD MY CAR'S EDR( AKA "BLACK BOX" ). THE INJURY TO THE TOP OF MY HEAD DID NOT TURN OUT TO BE SERIOUS. HOWEVER, ABOUT 2-3 WEEKS FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT, I STARTED HAVING PAIN IN MY LOWER RIGHT ABDOMEN. THIS WAS SOON THEREAFTER DIAGNOSED AS A RIGHT SIDE INGUINAL HERNIA. ABOUT THIS SAME TIME, I RECEIVED A DOWNLOAD OF THE RAW DATA FROM MY CAR'S EDR. I WAS ABLE TO COMPUTE THAT I EXPERIENCED A 20 G FORCE TOWARDS THE LEFT FRONT CORNER OF MY VEHICLE. MY CONCLUSION IS THAT MY BODY WAS FORCED UPWARDS AND TORQUED TO THE LEFT DURING THE ACCIDENT WITH A FORCE EQUAL TO 20 TIMES MY BODY WEIGHT. I CONCLUDE THAT THIS CAUSED THE INJURY LEADING TO THE HERNIA. WHEN I FIRST CONTACTED LEXUS LAST NOVEMBER, I INDICATED THAT I BELIEVED THERE WAS A "SAFETY GAP" IN MY VEHICLE. WHILE I ACCEPT THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THE SHOULDER BELT SHOULD HAVE PRECLUDED MY HEAD HITTING THE "A-PILLAR' AND THE INJURY TO MY LOWER RIGHT ABDOMEN. AFTER MUCH DELAY, I FINALLY RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM TOYOTA ON FEBRUARY 8, 2018. IN A BRIEF, DISMISSIVE ONE-PAGE LETTER, THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT MY CAR PERFORMED PROPERLY DURING THE ACCIDENT. IN THIS LETTER, THEY FAILED TO EVEN MENTION THE FAILURE OF MY SHOULDER BELT TO PROPERLY RESTRAIN ME. BASED ON EARLIER CONVERSATIONS VIA PHONE WITH LEXUS, I HAD BEEN EXPECTING A REPORT PREPARED BY LEXUS SAFETY ENGINEERS. IN CONCLUSION, I WILL NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER LEXUS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11075460

Incident

Nov 8, 2017

Mileage

50,000 mi

I HAVE A 2008 LEXUS IS 350 IN WHICH THE INTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR HAS BECOME HAZY AND FILLED WITH BLACK LINES LIMITING REAR VISIBILITY. I HAVE READ SEVERAL BLOGS AND BEEN INFORMED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. THIS SEEMS TO BE IN VIOLATION OF THE FOLLOWING SAFETY GUIDELINES, HOWEVER LEXUS DOES NOT FEEL THE NEED TO REPLACE THE MIRROR WITHOUT $1000 OUT OF OWNERS POCKET. < 571.110 571.112 > SUBPART B - FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS 571.111 STANDARD NO. 111; REARVIEW MIRRORS. S1. SCOPE. THIS STANDARD SPECIFIES REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PERFORMANCE AND LOCATION OF REARVIEW MIRRORS. S2. PURPOSE. THE PURPOSE OF THIS STANDARD IS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF DEATHS AND INJURIES THAT OCCUR WHEN THE DRIVER OF A MOTOR VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE A CLEAR AND REASONABLY UNOBSTRUCTED VIEW TO THE REAR.

NHTSA ID

11053303

Incident

Nov 20, 2017

Mileage

104,000 mi

WHILE STATIONARY AND IN MOTION, WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, IT PRODUCES A GRINDING NOISE. WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING HAS THE TENDENCY TO LOCK UP/CREATE RESISTANCE FOR A FEW SECONDS AS A RESULT THE CAR WANDERS INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC OR INTO THE OTHER LANE/SHOULDER OF THE ROAD UNTIL IT BREAKS FREE WHICH THEN CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE OUT OF CONTROL AND I REGAIN CONTROL. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC FOR AN ESTIMATE. THE FAULT IDENTIFIED WAS THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MOTOR AND RACK AND PINION SYSTEM WAS NO GOOD. THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED FOR A YEAR BECAUSE IT IS TOO UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

11002651

Incident

Jul 13, 2016

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS IS 350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10945755

Incident

Jan 10, 2017

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

Lexus Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements 4.13.2022

TSB: This Service Bulletin includes procedures to replace damaged or loose front carpet floor retainer(s) without replacing the carpet assembly. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to replace the loose or damaged carpet floor retainer(s).

TSB: Some 2005 ? 2022 model year Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty smell is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This service bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare the interior of the vehicle prior to an odor remediation being performed, as well as contact information for an approved vendor who will arrange the remediation, and instructions on how to prepare the interior of the vehicle for reassembly once the remediation has been completed. Refer to all model and model year specific Repair Manuals and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) website for the most up-to-date safety and precautionary guidelines. This service bulletin is to provide a general overview and direction for the odor remediation process.

POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Lexus. This information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be available to any customer that requests it. Customers can find this information on the Owner?s section of Lexus.com. Dealers can locate a copy of this guide on the Claims Processing & Resource Center in Dealer Daily as well.