2011 Lexus IS 350C

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.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LEXUS IS 350C. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED LEXUS OF SACRAMENTO (2600 FULTON AVE, SACRAMENTO, CA 95821, PHONE NUMBER: (916) 485-3987) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11023683

Incident

Jun 15, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LEXUS IS 350C. 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. LEXUS OF PLEASANTON (4345 ROSEWOOD DRIVE, PLEASANTON, CA 94588) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2017. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11020120

Incident

Jun 9, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LEXUS IS 350C. 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. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED (LEXUS OF MELBOURNE IN MELBOURNE, FLORIDA) 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 AND EXPRESSED DISSATISFACTION WITH THE VEHICLE, WHICH WAS KEPT AT THE DEALER'S GARAGE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11000225

Incident

May 23, 2016

TAKATA RECALL DEALER WON'T REMEDY THE DEFECT WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME. WE HAVE BEEN ON THE WAITING LIST A MONTH AND DEALER REPRESENTATIVE (VICTORIA) CONTINUES TO SAY THEY CANNOT TELL US WHEN THEY WILL BE ABLE TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG (CAN'T EVEN ESTIMATE). KEYES LEXUS 5905 VAN NUYS BLVD VAN NUYS, CA 91401 PHONE: (888) 499-1833 SERVICE: (818) 334-4199 (WE SPOKE TO VICTORIA)

NHTSA ID

10969304

Incident

Mar 1, 2017

Mileage

32,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG IN MY CAR FOR 6 MONTHS, DESPITE REPEATED CONTACT. THE AIRBAG IS PART OF RECALL 16V340. I PRESENTED MY 2011 LEXUS IS 350C, VIN [XXX] TO TREASURE COAST LEXUS IN FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA, ON JULY 28, 2016. THEY ADVISED THAT NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO MAKE THE REPAIR. I HAVE FREQUENTLY CONTACTED THEM SINCE, RECEIVING THE SAME ANSWER. ON THE SAME DATE, I NOTIFIED TOYOTA MOTOR SALES U.S.A., INC. (TOYOTA US) AND TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TOYOTA JAPAN). TOYOTA JAPAN ACKNOWLEDGED MY LETTER IN THEIR LETTER TO ME OF AUGUST 4, 2016. I HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY CONTACTED BOTH TOYOTA US AND TOYOTA JAPAN. NEITHER HAS SENT ME ANY ADDITIONAL WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE. AFTER THREAT OF LAWSUIT, AN ATTORNEY CLAIMING TO "REPRESENT TOYOTA IN SOUTH FLORIDA" CONTACTED ME BY PHONE ON NOVEMBER 30, MAKING NO PROMISES OF ACTION OF ANY SORT. SHE STATED THAT TOYOTA WAS "NOT BUYING BACK CARS AT THIS TIME." I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED ON APRIL 30, 2016, 4 DAYS BEFORE THE CURRENT RECALL WAS ANNOUNCED BY NHTSA. THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS STILL COVERED BY TOYOTA'S WRITTEN WARRANTY, AS THE CAR HAS ABOUT 66,000 MILES AND THE WARRANTY COVERS IT FOR 72,000 MILES OR 72 MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN AUGUST 2011, LESS THAN 72 MONTHS AGO. I SOUGHT ARBITRATION AND THE ARBITRATION PANEL (NCDS) DECLINED TO HEAR THE CASE. I WILL, WITHIN THE NEXT 2 WEEKS, INSTITUTE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST TOYOTA IN FLORIDA COURTS. I URGE YOU TO FIND THAT TOYOTA HAS VIOLATED AND CONTINUES TO MATERIALLY VIOLATE THE COORDINATED REMEDY ORDER AND 49 USC 30120. I ALSO URGE YOU TO REQUIRE TOYOTA TO STATE UNDER OATH HOW MANY VEHICLES HAVE BEEN PRESENTED FOR REMEDY BUT HAVE NOT BEEN REMEDIED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10948618

Incident

Jul 28, 2016

Mileage

66,050 mi

TAKATA INFLATORS. THIS IS A ZONE A VEHICLE. LEXUS CLAIMS TO HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THE RECALL WILL BE REPAIRED, BUT ADVISES US NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH ANYONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. SO, THE CAR IS BASICALLY UNUSABLE.

NHTSA ID

10903165

Incident

May 23, 2016

CSP: Takata CSP Coverage Job Aid - published 7.28.2022

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

Lexus Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements 4.13.2022

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.

TSB: For proper calibration of the millimeter wave radar sensor, the vehicle and radar target must be on a level surface with a consistent plane. If a level surface with a consistent plane is not available, use the Floor Slope Compensation Procedure in this service bulletin in conjunction with the appropriate model and model year Repair Manual instructions when adjusting the millimeter wave radar sensor.