2004 Lexus IS Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2004 Lexus IS, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags342.9%
- Body & structure342.9%
- Other / unspecified114.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
MELTING DASH BOARD TO INCLUDE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG COVER, LEAVES RESIDUE ON YOUR HAND WHEN YOU TOUCH IT REGARDLESS OF WHERE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED IN COOL OR HOT AREAS.
2004 LEXUS IS300 PURCHASED FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER IN 2008. AS EVIDENCED BY MANY CLAIMS ON DIFFERENT LEXUS/TOYOTA VEHICLES THE DASHBOARD AND CENTER CONSOLE IS "MELTING." 2006 AND UP LEXUS IS MODELS HAVE AN EXISTING RECALL. 2002-2005 LEXUS IS MODELS DO NOT HAVE THIS RECALL ALTHOUGH THE ISSUE IS EXACTLY THE SAME. BEING A FATHER OF A 5-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHO RIDES IN THIS VEHICLE MY SAFETY CONCERNS ARE THREEFOLD... 1. FUMES AND/OR VAPORS BEING RELEASED INTO THE AIR AND BEING INHALED BY MYSELF AND/OR DAUGHTER. 2. AIRBAG PANEL IS AFFECTED AND WORRIES ME THAT DEPLOYMENT MIGHT BE AFFECTED. 3. GLARE ON THE INSIDE OF MY WINDSHIELD FROM MELTING PLASTIC.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2004 LEXUS IS300 IS MELTING; FEELS STICKY TO THE TOUGH, FINGERPRINTS CAN OCCUR, SCRATCHES VERY EASILY, AS TIME GOES BY IT BECOMES LESS AND LESS ATTRACTIVE, HAVE TO BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL WITH IT, AND WHILE CLEANING IT. I CONTACTED LEXUS AND THERE IS NO REMEDIATION ON THEIR PART. *TR
MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING. THE PLASTIC IS STICKY AND LEAVES A BLACK FILM ON ANYTHING THAT TOUCHES IT INCLUDING FINGERS AND CLOTHING. THE BLACK RESIDUE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET OFF ONCE IT IS ON SOMETHING. JUST WASHING HANDS MULTIPLE TIMES WITH SOAP AND WATER IS NOT ENOUGH TO REMOVE IT. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
THERE IS A DANGEROUS POTHOLE EASTBOUND ON LIE NEAR FRESH MEADOWS EXIT. DUE TO HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE POTHOLE WAS UNAVOIDABLE AS WE WERE LESS THAN 20 FEET BETWEEN THE CAR AHEAD OF US. THE POTHOLE WAS ON THE MIDDLE LANE. IT RESULTED IN A FLAT, A TOW, AND A BRAND NEW TIRE REPLACEMENT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .