2015 Lexus Rc 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.

BAD SMELL COMING FROM THE HVAC. HAVE TAKEN I TO THE DELLER THREE TIMES FOR SAME PROBLEM AND THEY CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11098675

Incident

Aug 1, 2017

Mileage

15,599 mi

NOTHING TOOK PLACE THAT RESULTED IN THE FOLLOWING ELECTRICAL BEHAVIOR TO OCCUR....THE LEFT REAR BRAKE LIGHT BLINKS AS IF IT HAS SOME SORT OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT; THEN AFTER A COUPLE DAYS OF ON-GOING BLINKING,IT HAS COMPLETELY WENT OUT. ULTIMATELY, THE LEFT SIDE BRAKE LIGHT IS COMPLETELY OUT WHICH IS DANGEROUS (ILLEGAL) TO DRIVE WITH OUT IT.

NHTSA ID

11051252

Incident

Nov 13, 2017

Mileage

25,000 mi

ON JANUARY 11 MY SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING ON HWY 146 IN BAYTOWN TX 5:08PM, NOTHING HIT THE VEHICLE. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT WENT OFF. I TOOK TO STERLING MCCALL LEXUS IN HOUSTON TX MY SERVICE ADVISOR CLAIMED WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER DAMAGE. MUST HAVE SOMETHING ELSE AS CAUSE TO SUNROOF EXPLODING. I HAD TO USE MY INSURANCE COVERAGE WITH $500 DEDUCTIBLE. I GOT RID OF THE CAR SOLD IT TO TEXAS AUTO DIRECT TAKING A 1000 LOST TO GET OUT MY LEASE AGREEMENT

NHTSA ID

10991954

Incident

Jan 11, 2017

Mileage

18,000 mi

SAME ISSUE AS STATED IN NHTSA ID NUMBERS 10881898, 10761786 AND 10748834. SPORADIC SEAT COOLING PROBLEM -- PANELS ON SEAT BACK SOMETIMES HEAT IN COOLING MODE. FOR ONE TEST I DID, THE CAR WAS IN THE GARAGE AND COOL (SO EXISTING HEAT FROM THE CAR BEING PARKED IN THE SUN WAS NOT A FACTOR). I STARTED THE CAR, TURNED ON THE SEAT COOLERS AND GOT OUT (SO BODY HEAT WAS NOT A FACTOR). I COULD VERY SPECIFICALLY FEEL HEAT ON THE TOP PANEL OF THE SEAT BACK (BOTH THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND THE PASSENGER SEAT). I TOOK IT INTO MY LOCAL LEXUS DEALER (SEPTEMBER, 2015) AND THEY REPORTED "SEATS COOLING PROPERLY WITHOUT FAULT". HOWEVER, AS THERE ARE 3 OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE, THERE WOULD PERHAPS SEEM TO BE A NON-ISOLATED PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10906864

Incident

Sep 28, 2015

Mileage

2,600 mi

WHEN VENTILATED SEAT IS TURNED ON THE BACK HEAT UP AND GETS REALLY HOT! IT'S ALMOST LIKE BURNING HOT. ONLY THE BOTTOM FEELS COOL.

NHTSA ID

10881898

Incident

Jun 1, 2016

Mileage

5,000 mi

WHEN I AM USING MY VENTILATED SEATS THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT IS COOL AND FEELS GOOD BUT THE BACK UPPER PORTION NEAR SHOULDER BLADES FEELS LIKE ITS BEING HEATED. I HAVE THE COLD AIR ON IN THE CAR AND THE COLD AIR ON IN THE SEATS AND I CAN HAVE BOTH AT MAXIMUM COOL AND IT WILL STILL HEAT UP. WORSE IS THAT IT IS RANDOM BUT HAS BEEN OCCURRING ON OTHER CARS TOO AS SEEN IN FORUMS. WHEN YOU TURN THE COOLING SEATS OFF IT WILL COOL DOWN AND WHEN YOU TURN THEM BACK ON THEN IT WILL HEAT UP AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

10761786

Incident

Aug 26, 2015

Mileage

600 mi

WHEN I'M USING MY VENTILATED SEATS THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT IS NICE AND COOL BUT IT FEELS LIKE THE MY BACK IS BEING HEATED. I ALWAYS HAVE VENTILATION ON LOWEST SETTING. THE TOP OF THE SEAT BETWEEN SHOULDER BLADES... VERY HOT!??? SERIOUSLY. I FELT IT WITH MY HAND, AS IF THE VENTILATION WAS SHORTING THE HEATING ELEMENTS. IT STAYED HOT A WHILE AFTER I TURNED OFF VENTILATION. THEN IT COOLED. HAD THIS HAPPEN TO ME ON MY WAY HOME. THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT WAS COOLING BUT MID BACK THE SEAT GOT VERY HOT. TURNING IT OFF DID CUT THE HEAT AND THEN IT WOULD COME RIGHT BACK WHEN I TURNED IT ON. AND IT SEEMED TO BE GONE. THIS HAPPENED TO ME. TO MAKE SURE I TURNED ON THE VENTILATION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TOO, NO ONE SITTING IN IT. IT WARMS UP AT THE SAME SPOT AS THE DRIVER SIDE. JUST BELOW SHOULDER BLADE AREA. THE SEAT PORTION IS COOL AND YOU CAN FEEL THE AIR. THE BACK (WARMER PART) IS NOT EMITTING AIR, BUT JUST HOT. TURNED THE SWITCH ON AND OFF, BUT STILL GETS HOT IN THE THE BACK. FINALLY, TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. TURNED IT BACK ON, AND THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. HOWEVER, I FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL RETURN. JUST USED VENTED SEATS I EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME THING. COOLING ON THE SEAT AND IT GOT VERY HOT ABOUT WHERE MY SHOULDER BLADES ARE. IT WAS UNCOMFORTABLE ENOUGH THAT I WAS COOLER LEAVING THEM OFF. I TAKE IT INTO THE DEALER FOR THE 5K CHECKUP SOON. THE BACK OF THE SEAT HEATING IS REALLY ANNOYING!! HOPE IT'S A QUICK FIX! THEY CAN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THUS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE. ALTHOUGH I'M NOT HAPPY WITH THE FACT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT RESOLVED, I KNOW THAT THE PROBLEM IS OCCURS AT RANDOM. WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP THEM AWARE THAT THE PROBLEM EXIST BY REPORTING IT. THE SERVICE WRITER CREATED A CASE NUMBER (IT'S PRINTED IN THE PAPERWORK) AND SUBMITTED TO LEXUS CORP. HOPEFULLY WE GET A FIX FOR THIS SOON.

NHTSA ID

10748834

Incident

Jul 3, 2015

Mileage

3,500 mi

DL: On December 20, 2022, a settlement of claims for certain low pressure fuel pumps was approved by the federal court. The settlement includes Lexus?s agreement to provide a Customer Support Program for certain 2015-2020 model year (MY) vehicles that were not previously involved in a Safety Recall or Special Service Campaign related to the low pressure fuel pump. The purpose of this Customer Support Program letter is to help clarify how to administer this coverage in accordance with the settlement.

DL: On December 20, 2022, a settlement of claims for certain low pressure fuel pumps was approved by the federal court. The settlement includes Lexus?s agreement to provide a Customer Support Program for certain 2013-2020 model year (MY) vehicles originally equipped with low pressure fuel pumps repaired under Safety Recall 20LA01 or Special Service Campaign 21LC01. The purpose of this Customer Support Program letter is to help clarify how to administer this coverage in accordance with the settlement.

TSB: Some 2013 ? 2020 model year Lexus vehicles may exhibit a hard start and/or MIL ON condition with one or more of the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs): ?DTC P0171 and/or P0174 (System Too Lean Bank 1/Bank 2) ?DTC P0087 Fuel Rail / System Pressure ? Too Low Techstream data list analysis may reveal positive fuel trims including a no pressure condition verified by a manual fuel pressure gauge. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to address these conditions.

TI: 19LE05 Expired December 1, 2022

DP: Customer Support Program 19LE05 expired December 1, 2022.

TI: 19LE05 Expired December 1, 2022