2007 Lexus IS Visibility Problems

The dashboard material has degraded into a sticky, high-gloss liquid state. In direct sunlight, this creates a severe reflective glare on the interior of the windshield, causing temporary blindness and significantly obscuring my view of the road, pedestrians, and traffic signals. This manufacturer defect makes the vehicle unsafe to operate under normal daytime driving conditions. While driving on March 26, 2026, the sun hit the degraded dashboard, creating a mirrored reflection on the windshield that completely obscured my view of the road/pedestrians. This is a recurring safety hazard caused by the material's chemical failure. I have contacted Lexus Headquarters (Case # 260327002525) and that they refused to mitigate this known safety hazard because their "Customer Support Program" (ZLZ) had expired.

NHTSA ID

11727562

Incident

Mar 26, 2026

The dash is shining and obstructs my view of the road

NHTSA ID

11426068

Incident

May 31, 2021

I purchased a previously-owned Lexus IS 250 in 2017. At the time I was unaware of the "melting dashboard" issue that is associated with the make and model. As I begin to notice the sticky appearance of the dashboard, I began to conduct some research. During my research, I found that Toyota Corporation was aware of the situation and issued an extended warranty and that a recall has never been issued. Unfortunately, my complaints to Lexus other reiterated this decision. The melting dashboard has become a safety concern. When the sun shines on the dashboard, it produces a reflection that makes for poor visibility. (For the date this incident occurred, I am entering that date of filing this form).

NHTSA ID

11424844

Incident

Jul 14, 2021

THE DASHBOARD OF THE CAR BECOMES STICKY AND SHINY WHEN UNDER THE SUN. THIS CREATES GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD OF THE CAR AND IS SO BRIGHT THAT IT MAKES IT HARD TO SEE THE ROAD DURING THE DAYTIME.

NHTSA ID

11318543

Incident

Mar 11, 2020

Mileage

115,000 mi

MY DASHBOARD HAS A STICKY SUBSTANCE, CAUSING A GLARE ON MY WINDSHIELD AND BLOCKING MY ABILITY TO SEE OUT OF MY FRONT WINDOW. I RECENTLY LEARNED LEXUS HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS ISSUE FOR YEARS, BUT ONLY CONSIDERED IT A "COSMETIC DEFECT." HOWEVER, PER THE PHOTOGRAPHS, THIS DEFECT IS CAUSING SIGNIFICANT IMPAIRMENT TO MY ABILITY TO SEE OUT. I HAVE HAD MY CAR SERVICED AT NALLEY LEXUS IN SMYRNA, GA SINCE I FIRST OWNED IT AND THE RECALL WAS NEVER BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION BECAUSE THEY DEEMED IT "COSMETIC." I HAVE SENT PICTURES TO LEXUS'S CORPORATE OFFICES SHOWING THE BLOCKED VISIBILITY - THE SAME PICTURES I AM ATTACHING TO THIS CLAIM. THEY OFFERED ME $400 TOWARDS THE $2000-2500 REPLACEMENT COST. I AM UNSURE OF THE EXACT DATE WHICH THE ISSUE STARTED. IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED. ONLY IN THE PAST MONTH DID I BEGIN SEARCHING ONLINE FOR SOLUTIONS AND FOUND THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN LEXUS/TOYOTA DEFECT. LEXUS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO NOTIFY CUSTOMERS OF ANY DEFECT AT THEIR DEALERS, NOT JUST ONES THEY DEEM AS SAFETY.

NHTSA ID

11280744

Incident

Nov 18, 2016

REAR VIEW MIRROR IS BLURRED AND DEVELOPS INTERIOR SCRATCHES RENDERING THE MIRROR PRACTICALLY USELESS.

NHTSA ID

10924291

Incident

Dec 1, 2011

Mileage

36,000 mi

THE INTERIOR DASHBOARD BECOMES STICKY AND HAS FORMED SPOTS OF SMOOTH AREAS THAT DANGEROUSLY REFLECT SUNLIGHT INTO THE DRIVER'S EYES. THE DASHBOARD HAS STARTED TO PIT AND CRACK LEAVING PIECES OF MELTED DASH ON THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. THE DOOR PANELS SEEM TO BE MADE OF THE SAME MATERIAL AS THE DASH, AS THEY TOO ARE PITTING AND CRACKING.

NHTSA ID

10908825

Incident

Sep 1, 2016

MY DASHBOARD IS STICKY AND MELTING AND WHEN THE SUN SHINES IT CAUSES A GLARE. IT IS WORSE IN WARMER WEATHER.

NHTSA ID

10838676

Incident

Jul 1, 2015

Mileage

145,000 mi

DASHBOARD HAS MELTED WITH A LIQUID APPEARANCE. WHEN THE SUN IS HIGH IN THE SKY, A REFLECTION CAUSES A SEVERE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. OFTEN IT IS NECESSARY TO MOVE MY HEAD OVER AROUND THE GLARE TO SEE WHATS DIRECTLY IN FRONT. THE DEALER SO FAR HAS JUST STATED WE SHOULD GET THE DASH REPLACED AT OUR EXPENSE, BUT THIS DOES NOT SEEM LIKE SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED ON A LUXURY CAR AFTER ONLY 5 OR 6 YEARS. WE MAY BE FORCED TO DO THIS TO KEEP THE CAR SAFE. WE HAVE HEARD THERE ARE SOME CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS STARTING IN SOME STATES. WE MAY BE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN ONE OF THESE TO GET THE DASH REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10671642

Incident

Sep 18, 2013

Mileage

95,000 mi

THE DASHBOARD PANEL HAS DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THAT IT IS SOFT, TACKY, AND A SIGNIFICANT GLARE IS REFLECTED ONTO THE WINDSHIELD REDUCING A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. THE DETERIORATION CONTINUES TO WORSEN SPREADING THROUGHOUT THE DASHBOARD WHERE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS ENCLOSED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10638917

Incident

May 1, 2014

Mileage

105,000 mi

I HAVE A STICKY DASHBOARD WITH ALL FOUR OF DOORS ARE CRACKING,SOFT AND STICKY, UPON TOUCHING THE STICKY SOFT DASH RUBS OFF ONTO YOUR HANDS AND CLOTHES, THERE'S A GLARE THAT REFLECTS UNTO YOU EYES WHEN THE SUN SHINES UPON SITTING AND/OR DRIVING WHICH CAUSES A SEVERE VISION IMPAIRMENT WHICH CAN AND WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT EVENTUALLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10638746

Incident

Jul 31, 2014

Mileage

100 mi

THE DASHBOARD SEEMS TO BE MELTING AND IS STICKY AND SHINY. IT CREATES A BLIND SPOT WHEN THE SUN HITS IT JUST RIGHT. I CONTACTED MY LEXUS DEALER IN AUSTIN AND THEY SAY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY SO THEY WANT US TO PAY TO FIX IT. I DON'T THINK A DASHBOARD SHOULD BE MELTING AND TURNING GLOSSY. THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A DEFECT THAT POSES A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10633471

Incident

Sep 1, 2014

THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND CAUSING A HUGE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD MAKING IT HARD TO DRIVE. ALSO THE MATERIAL ON THE DOOR PANEL IS LIKE CLAY. YOUR NAILS DIG IN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10628615

Incident

Jun 1, 2012

DASHBOARD IS EXTREMELY STICKY AS IF MELTED AND CAUSES AN AWFUL GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD DURING NIGHT AND DAY HOURS. LEXUS SAID THIS WAS A VANITY ISSUE AND WOULD NOT WARRANTY IT OUT. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD. ALSO THE HANDLES ON THE DOORS WHERE THE SAME MATERIALS IS, VERY SOFT AND ABLE TO BE MANIPULATED WHICH DOES NOT AFFECT DRIVING BUT IT IS AN ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10622177

Incident

Jul 30, 2012

Mileage

68,000 mi

DASHBOARD ON THIS VEHICLE IS SLOWLY MELTING OFF CAUSING A HAZARDOUS GLARE WHEN DRIVING. THE GLARE INTERFERES WITH VISION WHILE DRIVING. WITH THE DASHBOARD MELTING I AM NOW QUESTIONING WHETHER THE AIR BAGS ARE IN FULL FUNCTION OR IF THEY ARE FAULTY. THE DOOR PANELS ARE STAINING CLOTHING AND HANDBAGS AS WELL. LEXUS HAS SAID THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED MANY TIMES AND THEY ARE AWARE BUT THEY ARE UNABLE TO ASSIST WITH THIS ISSUE. DRIVING THIS CAR DURING DAYLIGHT IS BECOMING DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10617998

Incident

Jul 1, 2013

MINIMUM VISIBILITY BECAUSE OF MELTING DASHBOARD. THE GLARE FROM THE SUN DOES NOT LET YOU SEE. *JS

NHTSA ID

10617174

Incident

Jul 23, 2014

Mileage

50,000 mi

TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP DUE TO SHINY AND STICKY DASHBOARD. WAS TOLD THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT REPAIR UNDER GOOD WILL SINCE WARRANTY HAS PASSED. DASHBOARD IS EXTREMELY STICKY, WILL THIS CAUSE AIR BAG PROBLEMS DURING AN ACCIDENT? THE SHINY SURFACE ALSO REFLECTS AND MAKES DRIVING DIFFICULT IN SUNLIGHT. *JS

NHTSA ID

10609085

Incident

Jul 5, 2014

Mileage

68,000 mi

VERY BIG GLARE IN DASHBOARD THAT BLINDS YOUR VIEW IN THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10604394

Incident

May 16, 2013

Mileage

103,000 mi

BLACK DASHBOARD AND INSIDE DOOR PANELS ARE MELTING ON MY 2007 LEXUS IS 250. WHILE DRIVING, THE SUN WILL GLARE OFF OF THE MELTING DASHBOARD COMPROMISING VIABILITY TO THE DRIVER. IF YOU TOUCH THE DASHBOARD, AN IMPRINT IS LEFT. VALET SERVICES ARE UNABLE TO PLACE TICKETS, OR ANY OTHER MATERIAL FOR THAT MATTER, ON THE DASHBOARD BECAUSE IT WILL STICK TO THE DASHBOARD AND LEAVE RESIDUE. THE SAME MATERIAL IS USED FOR THE DOOR PANELS. AS YOU OPEN THE CAR DOOR FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, THE BLACK MATERIAL GETS CAUGHT UNDER MALE AND FEMALE FINGERNAILS, GOUGING THE MATERIAL. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THIS IS NOT A RESULT OF OWNER NEGLECT. ON A SIDE NOTE; THIS VEHICLE HAS LIVED IN MANY ENVIRONMENTS - COLORADO (DRY CLIMATE), TEXAS (DRY CLIMATE), AND FLORIDA (MOIST AND WARM CLIMATE). LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND DOES NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECT. IF I WANT IT FIXED, LEXUS STATES THAT IT IS MY FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE. IF COSMETICS AND QUALITY ARE NOT IMPORTANT TO LEXUS, SAFETY SHOULD BE! *TR

NHTSA ID

10577572

Incident

Mar 1, 2013

AS I DROVE DOWN I95 MY VISIBILITY WAS IMPAIRED BY A LARGE GLARE ON MY WINDOW CAUSE BY A REFLECTION OFF OF THE MELTED AND DEFECTED LEXUS IS250'S DASH BOARD. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS UP TO LEXUS OF PEMBROKE PINES AND WAS TOLD THE CAN NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10564649

Incident

Feb 11, 2014

Mileage

77,190 mi

THE DASH OF MY 2007 LEXUS IS 250 HAS BEEN DETERIORATING FOR OVER A YEAR. IT APPEARS TO MELTING AND IS VERY SHINY CAUSING EXTREME GLARE TO THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE GLARE CAN BE SO SEVERE AT TIMES THAT IT IMPEDES VISIBILITY. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE NEAREST LEXUS DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES REGARDING THIS ISSUE. I HAVE SENT PICTURES AT THEIR REQUEST AND CAN'T SEEM TO GET A DEFINITIVE ANSWER AS TO WHEN REPAIRS WILL BE INITIATED. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS IN AGREEMENT THAT THIS A "SEVERE" CASE OF DASH MATERIAL BREAKDOWN I HAVE RESEARCHED "MELTING DASH" ON THE LEXUS FORUMS AND THE PROBLEMS WITH MY DASH IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10460081

Incident

Feb 25, 2011

Mileage

55,000 mi

VSC WARNING LIGHT CAME WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. PULLED IN A LOCAL DEALERSHIP, WAS TOLD CAR WAS OK TO CONTINUE DRIVING BUT MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR SERVICE. LEFT DEALERSHIP, WENT APPROX 0.5 MILES TO GET GAS. WHEN I STOPPED THE CAR THERE WERE LOUD SCRAMBLING NOISES LIKE AN ANIMAL WAS LOOSE IN THE DASH. POPPED THE HOOD, COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING- LOOKED UNDER CAR AND ALL THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS POURING OUT. HAD CAR TOWED BACK TO DEALERSHIP. STILL WAITING FOR VERDICT. CAR IS ONLY 7 MONTHS OLD AND THIS WILL BE MY 3RD TIME IN THE SHOP. AT 3 MONTHS HAD TO RECEIVE FULL WHEEL ALIGNMENT DUE TO SEVERE SHAKING AND PULLING TO THE LEFT. AT 6 MONTHS BROUGHT CAR IN COMPLAINING OF A LOUD CREAKING DURING TURNS- ARM BOLT WAS LOOSE AND NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD MAKES A LOUD CRACK/POP NOISE EVERY MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK. THIS CAR HAD EXCELLENT REVIEWS, WHAT HAPPENED! *TR

NHTSA ID

10191273

Incident

May 19, 2007

Mileage

5,300 mi

HAVE A 2007 LEXUS IS250. WAS ON A FREEWAY YESTERDAY AND SUDDENLY HEARD THIS LOUD POP AND THOUGHT SOMETHING EXPLODED OR LANDED ON MY ROOF. I SAW DEBRIS COMING OFF MY ROOF THRU MY REARVIEW MIRROR. I OPENED MY SUNROOF SHADE AND SAW A HUGE HOLE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF MY SUNROOF!! MY SUNROOF JUST SHATTERED! I THOUGHT SOMETHING HIT ME BUT I LOOKED AROUND THERE WERE NO BRIDGES, OVERPASS, NOR CARS CLOSE TO ME SO THIS CAN'T BE ROCKS OR OTHER OBJECTS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10186428

Incident

Mar 27, 2007