2006 Lexus IS Airbags Problems

There is a common issue with these makes and models with the drivers side knee air bag having issues with connecting which cause the SRS light go on the dashboard. I called Lexus corporate office and local dealer and they said there was a recall but it expired in 2020. From the research i did, this was a small window and there shouldn’t have been an expiration on the recall for something that is a safety hazard. Because of this, they are charging thousands for this issue that has affected hundreds of thousands of vehicles.

NHTSA ID

11611967

Incident

Aug 29, 2024

My 2006 Lexus IS350 is subject to NHTSA Recall number 16V340, for passenger airbag replacement. According to the diections on the NHTSA website shown in the following link: [XXX] The dash pad needs to be removed to access the airbag and perform the repair. Ive contacted my 3 local Lexus dealers and was told in various ways that they do not remove the dash to accomplish the repair but instead just remove the glove compartment and associated parts to access the airbag. I wanted the dash replaced (it was cracked) when the old dash was removed to do this recall repair. SInce the dealers do not actually remove the dash, I was told this was not possible. One dealer told me that for an extra $350, the service dept. would do the repair according to the above linked instructions. I have notified Lyndss Tor at [email protected] as well as Toyota Quality Compliance [email protected] and recieved no reply. I hope the NHTSA can enforce the above linked instructions so that the airbag replacement can be conducted in a proper and safe fasion. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11603397

Incident

Jul 15, 2024

My dash has cracked and melted due to a manufacturing defect. The Lexus dealers who I have contacted to perform the safety recall for the defective airbags will not replace the cracked dash at the same time. Having the passenger airbag deploy through a cracked dash is an apparent safety issue. Please investigate this

NHTSA ID

11601764

Incident

Jul 13, 2024

Many people have have issues with the SRS warning light coming on and not going off. This issue seems to stem from harness connection issues that Lexus is aware of and have acknowledged. This needs to be fixed asap!

NHTSA ID

11549638

Incident

Oct 12, 2023

was in a car accident and air bigs didnt go off

NHTSA ID

11518435

Incident

Apr 17, 2023

My dashboard is melting due to a manufacturing defect. The glare from my dashboard makes driving difficult as the glare can blind you. The chemical smell from the melting is horrible. I have placed a dash cover on which has helped but if I am in an accident this dash cover will impede the correct deployment of my airbag on the passenger side. Also the inside door panels are melting and are becoming a "putty" like substance. Everything sticks to it. Including my clothes. While driving I have had to jerk my arm from the rest on the door trim to remove it. This can cause my vehicle to possibly swerve off the road or into oncoming traffic. Warranty Enhancement Program – ZLD and CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM ZLZ were the remedies for this issue. But these have expired. The Manufacturer will not honor this or consider this a safety / hazardous issue and correct it now. This is a safety issue and needs to be addressed.

NHTSA ID

11470682

Incident

Mar 31, 2022

Hello ,I am in Seattle Washington. I’m emailing about my Lexus IS250 2006. A few months ago I took my car to the dealership to get the passenger airbag recall done. Immediately after getting that recall fixed. My airbag light on my vehicle came on. We did not think anything of it, we thought it would come off over time. Time has gone by the light has not gone off. So today we took our vehicle to Lexus of Bellevue. They told us that there was an issue with the driver side airbag harness. Something about tension on it or it Deteriorating. The dealership is now saying that my car is not safe. That none of the safety features airbags or seatbelts will work due to this light being on. They will not be covered because there is no recalls for this harness. I have done much research online this is a common well known issue with Lexus. Now my car is a paperweight. I do not feel safe driving my family or disabled family member in this vehicle. This part is located under the dash and has absolutely nothing to do with how me and my husband maintain or take care of our vehicle. This is Lexuses issue and should be addressed and recalled. Any help in where or how to address this further. Or any help and how to take this higher would be appreciated. At this point is my car totaled? Safe to be on the road? Ok to be insured? They are charging us 200, just to tell us the issue. Not to fix it, didn’t even take the dash apart. How do they know even know what the issue is without taking it apart? To fix this issue it will be a total of over 600. Help!!!

NHTSA ID

11451581

Incident

Feb 10, 2022

A known problem in this year of lexus is250. The knee bag wiring harness was constructed too short (lexus has a tsb regarding this, # L-SB-0007-19). The airbag warning light will often come on and stay on. When the light is on the airbag system is inoperable. Having an inoperable airbag system is a great safety concern. A mechanic at a local shop used the scan tool and identified the airbag code as related to the wiring harness for the knee air bag. This should be a recall since it is a known problem and it renders the vehicle unsafe due to inoperable air bags. If this isn't an unsafe problem justifying a recall I dont know what is. Thank you.

NHTSA ID

11434233

Incident

Sep 21, 2021

BEFORE THE AIRBAGE RECALL THE AIRBAGE LIGHT DID NOT CAME ON, NOW SINCE THE AIRBAGE RECALL WAS DONE ON 7/24/20 AT VALLEY LEXUS MODESTO CA. NOW THE AITBAGE LIGHT CAME ON AND I CALL THE VALLEY LEXUS THEY TOLD ME THE AIRBAGE LIGHT IS NOT PART OFF THE AIRBAGE RECALL, AND THEY TOLD ME I HAVE PAID FOR DINO, BUT I DID NOT CAUSE THE LIGHT TO CAME ON. SINCE VALLEY LEXUS DOES NOT WANT TO FIX IT CAN [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11362222

Incident

Sep 21, 2020

THE VEHICLE HAD THE FRONT AIRBAGS REPLACED UNDER A NATIONAL RECALL. AFTER HAVING THE RECALL DONE, I RECEIVED, BY USPS MAIL, A "CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM NOTIFICATION - ZLJ" SENT TO ME FROM THE MANUFACTURER DESCRIBING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, AS ISSUES HAVE OCCURRED WITH THE NEW DRIVERS SIDE KNEE AIRBAG INFLATOR TRIGGERING THE SRS LIGHT TO COME ON AFTER THE WORK WAS DONE BASED ON FAULTY CRIMPING. THIS VEHICLE IS A SECOND VEHICLE AND DOES NOT GET DRIVEN VERY OFTEN. IN JUNE OF 2020, I NOTICED THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY WHEN FIRST STARTING THE CAR. I REMEMBERED THE NOTICE AND CALLED THE DEALER. I WAS TOLD ON JUNE 15TH THAT THE HARNESS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AND THE WARRANTY ENDED ON JUNE 12TH, 2020. THEY ARE REFUSING TO REPAIR THE NEW HARNESS THAT WAS INSTALLED UNDER RECALL. I WAS QUOTED $2700 OUT OF POCKET FOR THE REPAIR. THE DEALER INSTALLED A KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART, AND ARE NOW REFUSING TO PERFORM THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. SEE ATTACHED PHOTO FOR MORE INFORMATION. THE REPLACEMENT PARTS SHOULD BE LIMITED BY MILEAGE, NOT BY TIME, AS THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN A FEW THOUSAND MILES SINCE THE WORK WAS PERFORMED. THE FAULTY CRIMPING IN THE REPLACED HARNESS SHOULD BE A NEW RECALL.

NHTSA ID

11353205

Incident

Jun 2, 2020

Mileage

59,700 mi

I GOT AN ACCIDENT, TRY TO SAVE DEER AND FOX BUT BRAKE DIDN'T WORK PROPERLY AND DIS-BALANCED THE CAR AND MY CAR ROLL OVER FEW TIME AND HIT FROM FRONT AND BACK BUT NO AIRBAG DEPLOYED, AND STABILITY CONTROL DIDN'T WORK.

NHTSA ID

11240222

Incident

Jun 11, 2019

Mileage

131,000 mi

THE DASHBOARDS AND INTERIOR PLASTIC PANELS IN CERTAIN LEXUS AND TOYOTA MODELS IS MELTING IN HIGH HUMIDITY AREAS. THIS CAN CAUSE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG TO NOT PROPERLY DEPLOY IN A COLLISION DUE TO THE DASHBOARD DEGRADING. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH LEXUS AND ASKED FOR A LETTER STATING THE DEGRADATION OF THE DASHBOARD WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND I WAS DECLINED. LEXUS (TOYOTA) IS ACTIVELY AVOIDING THIS SAFETY ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE FROM THE NHTSA ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE PLEASE.

NHTSA ID

11104655

Incident

Jun 29, 2018

Mileage

33,356 mi

TAKATA RECALL

NHTSA ID

11020303

Incident

Aug 11, 2009

THE SRS AIRBAG LIGHT RANDOMLY COMES ON AT VARIABLE TIMES. AFTER RUNNING THE ANALYSIS WITH A BOSCH OBD1200, IT APPEARS THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE KNEE SQUIB CIRCUIT IS SHOWING AN OPEN FAULT. WHEN THE SEAT IS MOVED BACK, THE WIRING HARNESS FAILS. ITS BELIEVED THAT THE FACTORY INSTALLATION OF THE WIRING HARNESS IS TOO SHORT, CAUSING STRAIN ON THE HARNESS CONNECTOR. THIS CAUSES A FAULT ON THE AIRBAG MODULE AND RENDERS THE DRIVERS SIDE KNEE AIRBAG INOPERABLE. THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY CONCERN AND A RECALL SHOULD FIX THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11011580

Incident

Apr 7, 2017

Mileage

120,000 mi

AIRBAG LIGHT INDICATOR IS ON AND LEXUS INSISTED THEY REPLACE THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS FOR OVER 2K DUE TO SAFETY ISSUES. THE PRICE OF THIS REPAIR FOR AN ELECTRICAL FAULT IS OBSCENE AND IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL OF LEXUS ACCORDING TO OWNER FORUMS.

NHTSA ID

10991805

Incident

May 25, 2017

Mileage

115,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS IS 350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (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.

NHTSA ID

10936456

Incident

May 23, 2016

TAMARA RECALL: WOULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL TO KNOW THE ECACT DATE THE AIR BAG FIX WILL BE AVAILABLE. CURRENT UNCERTAINTY AS TO WHETHER AN AIR BAG EXPLOSION WILL OCCUR IS UNSETTLING.

NHTSA ID

10934984

Incident

Dec 13, 2016

TAKATA RECALL I HAVE YET TO HAVE MY AIRBAG REPLACED IT HAS BEEN 6 MONTHS SINCE THE LETTER NOTIFICATION WAS SENT OUT. I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF THE AIR BAG GOING OFF DURING A COLLISION AND SENDING SHRAPNEL IN ANY DIRECTION. DASH BOARD RECALL I HAVE BEEN ON THE WAIT LIST FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS AND MY DASH BOARD HAS YET TO BE REPLACED. THE DASH BOARD HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE EVERY MONTH. THE DASH BOARD HAS BECOME SO SHINY ITS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE THE CAR ON SUNNY DAYS.

NHTSA ID

10915393

Incident

Jan 27, 2014

TAKATA INFLATORS - CANNOT USE CAR WHENEVER I HAVE MORE THAN 3 PASSENGERS. NO SOLUTION PROVIDED AFTER THE RECALL ALERT RECEIVED FOR 2 MONTHS. NO NEWS ABOUT WHEN THE REPAIR CAN BE DONE.

NHTSA ID

10905107

Incident

Sep 9, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS IS250. 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 EXCEED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 09/29/16*LJ UPDATED 08/08/017*JS

NHTSA ID

10895964

Incident

Aug 15, 2016

TAKATA RECALL

NHTSA ID

10885163

Incident

Jul 15, 2016

L-SB-0167-08 THE SRS AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON FOR AWHILE. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN DEFECT AND ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLE. A FAULTY WIRE HARNESS. THERE IS TSB BUT IT IS ONLY COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I FIND IT SURPRISING THAT THIS IS NOT CONSIDERED A SAFETY RECALL GIVEN THE POTENTIAL HARM AND RISK OF THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING DUE TO A FAULTY HARNESS.

NHTSA ID

10853136

Incident

Jun 15, 2012

MY LEXUS IS 250 AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE AND LEXUS OF LAS VEGAS AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE LEXUS DESIGNED THE PART WRONG. I LEARNED THAT IF I'M IN AN ACCIDENT THAT MY SAFETY SYSTEM WILL NOT WORK. LEXUS NEEDS TO REPLACE MY DEATH TRAP NOW. FIX THE WIRING HARNESS.... [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10644911

Incident

Oct 15, 2014

Mileage

95,000 mi

THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS NOW CONSTANTLY DISPLAYING RED ON MY DASHBOARD. NALLEY LEXUS OF SMYRNA GA STATED THAT THERE IS A SHORT IN THE WIRE HARNESS AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED AT A COST OF $3300 OR THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT WORK IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. FROM READING ONLINE IN THE LEXUS OWNERS BLOGS, THIS IS VERY COMMON AND I HAVE READ IN THE FORUMS THAT LEXUS, IN 2006, 2007, INSTALLED A WIRING HARNESS THAT WAS TOO SHORT. THE HARNESS PLUGS BECOME LOOSE AND IN SOME CASES THE WIRE INSULATION BECOMES CHAFED AND SHORTS OUT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. I AM NOT AWARE WHERE THE POSTER GOT THEIR INFORMATION BUT I, ALONG WITH OTHERS THINK THIS IS SHOULD BE A SAFTEY RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10617994

Incident

Jul 24, 2014

Mileage

108,000 mi

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON MY VEHICLE TURNED ON. WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO LEXUS FOR A RECALL I HAD THEM CHECK WHY THE LIGHT WAS ON. THEY TOLD ME THE AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $2546. THEY ALSO SAID THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE THAT LEXUS IS WELL AWARE OF AND ISSUED A TSB FOR IT IN 2008 BUT WOULD ONLY COVER THE REPAIR UNDER THE INITIAL WARRANTY PERIOD BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO MAKE A RECALL. WELL NOW 6 YEARS AFTER THEY ISSUED THE TSB I'M SURE THERE HAS TO BE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS BECAUSE A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH SHOWS HOW MANY CARS ARE AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM. THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AND ACCIDENT UNTIL THE REPAIR IS MADE. I CONTACTED LEXUS CORPORATE TWICE AND BOTH TIMES THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO HELP. I BELIEVE LEXUS SHOULD COVER THIS REPAIR SINCE IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AND LEXUS IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR UPDATED 8/30/2017*CN

NHTSA ID

10595561

Incident

Feb 15, 2014

Mileage

146,000 mi