2007 Lexus RX Body & Structure Problems

The cable holding the spare tire up underneath the car snapped while I was at a stop light, resulting in my tire and it's cover falling onto the road

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED. THE DEALER (STERLING MCCALL LEXUS, 10025 SOUTHWEST FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77074, (713) 995-2630) WAS CONTACTED, BUT HAD NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,390.

MY DASHBOARD IS TERRIBLY CRACKED AND IT'S VERY SHINY. IT'S DIFFICULT TO SEE WHEN DRIVING ON THE SUN

I WENT TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF THE BACK OF MY LEXUS, WHICH WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE, AND THE HANDLE TO THE REAR DOOR LATCH IS "MELTED". I WENT TO MANUALLY OPEN THE REAR POWER DOOR AND THE PLASTIC OR RUBBER THAT WAS COVERING THE MANUAL BUTTON WAS MELTED AND STICKY. I KEEP MY CAR IN MY GARAGE WHEN I'M NOT RUNNING ERRANDS OR AT WORK. NOT SURE WHEN IT "MELTED" CAUSE I USUALLY USE THE POWER DOOR BUTTON ON MY REMOTE TO OPEN THE REAR DOOR. I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME ISSUE.

THE LIFTGATE ON OUR 2007 LEXUS RX350 HAS A VERY HAZARDOUS SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN PUSHING THE AUTO LIFTGATE BUTTON IN THE CAR TO OPEN THE LIFTGATE IT OPENS FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS BUT THEN WITHOUT WARNING WILL START TO SHUT ON ITS OWN. THERE IS NO SAFETY FEATURE THAT KEEPS IF FROM CLOSING EVEN IF YOU ARE STANDING THERE EMPTYING GROCERIES, ETC. BOTH MY SON AND I ALMOST GOT OUR HEADS CRUSHED BY THE LIFTGATE COMING DOWN ON US. THE CAR IS STATIONARY WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN IF THE LIFTGATE IS OPENED MANUALLY. WE FEEL THAT THIS IS A HUGE SAFTETY CONCERN FOR ANYONE WHO DOES NOT KNOW TO MOVE AWAY BECAUSE THE LIFTGATE WILL COME RIGHT DOWN ON YOUR HEAD.

WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON THE ROAD WITH NO CARS NEAR BY AND NO OVERPASSES NOR ANYTHING OVER HEAD, I HEARD AN EXTREMELY LOUD POP. MY SUN ROOF SHATTERED INTO MILLIONS OF PIECES. THE SUN ROOF IS STILL IN TACKED BUT CRACKED. I PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED THE CAR. THE SUN ROOF GLASS IS LIFTED VERTICALLY AS THOUGH THE PRESSURE DUE TO THE TEMPERATURE FROM THE OUTSIDE AND THE INSIDE OF THE CAR CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN

EXTERIOR REAR HATCH HANDLE COVERING MELTED INTO A STICKY GOO RENDERING THE HANDLE USELESS. DEALER ADVISES THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ABOUT THIS OCCURRING ONLY IN FLORIDA AND THAT IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. REMEDY IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLY AND COVER. *TR

THE DASHBOARD HAS DEVELOPED SEVERAL HAIRLINE CRACKS AND IN ONE SPOT A SMALL PART OF THE DASHBOARD HAS DETACHED, REVEALING THE PADDING UNDERNEATH. IF NOT REPAIRED, THE CRACKS WILL CONTINUE TO ENLARGE, POSSIBLY AFFECTING THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE DASHBOARD AIR BAGS. I FEEL THAT THE DEFECTIVE DASHBOARD IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND IT SHOULD BE REPAIRED/REPLACED BY LEXUS, AS IT IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM. *TR

DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND HAS NUMEROUS CRACKS. DASHBOARD IS STICKY TO TOUCH AND CAUSING GLARE ON FRONT WINDSHIELD, CAUSING REDUCED VISIBILITY. CRACKS ARE AROUND PASSENGER AIRBAG AND IS UNSAFE AS A POSSIBLE EXPLOSION OF AIRBAG MAY OCCUR OR AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY DURING IMPACT (WHEN NEEDED TO DEPLOY). ADDITIONAL CRACKS AROUND IGNITION AND INSTRUMENT PANEL, AGAIN UNSAFE CONDITION. DOOR PANELS ARE MELTING AND CRACKING. INSIDE DOOR PANEL, MATERIAL AROUND WINDOW IS NOW MELTING CAUSING THE PLASTIC TO REMAIN ON WINDOWS AFTER THEY ARE LOWERED AND RAISED. AGAIN, UNSAFE CONDITION, AS VISIBILITY IS REDUCED WHEN TRYING TO SEE OUT WINDOWS. *TR

MY LEXUS'S DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND CRACKING. IT'S SO SOFT THAT IF I MISS THE KEY HOLE IT WILL DIG A HOLE IN THE RUBBER AROUND THE IGNITION. RESALE VALUE SERIOUSLY DIMINISHED. *TR

THE DASHBOARD PRESENTS MULTIPLE CRACKS WITH NO APPARENT REASON. *JS

THE DASHBOARD ON THIS VEHICLE STARTED TO CRACK IN MULTIPLE SPOTS BEFORE OUR EYES. THE DASHBOARD IS NOW AN EYESORE. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED TO A LEXUS AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY THE DEALER AT NO COST TO ME. READING ALL THE INTERNET INFORMATION ON THIS, LEXUS IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO MAKE GOOD ON SHABBY WORKMANSHIP AND PARTS TO KEEP CUSTOMERS HAPPY. *TR

THE DASHBOARD BEGAN CRACKING ALL AROUND THE GLOVE BOX. THE CAR HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT AND SHOULD NOT BE CRACKING DUE TO HEAT. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ON THE WEB AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE LEXUS DASHBOARDS. I WENT TO BOTH THE DEALER AND LEXUS CORPORATE OFFICE FOR ASSISTANCE AND THE REFUSED ANY HELP. THE OFFERED TO REPALCE IT FOR $2,500. *JS

I NOTICED EXTENSIVE CRACKING OF MY DASHBOARD. I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT...IT SEEMED TO SHOW UP ALL AT ONCE, AND I HAD NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN TO A VEHICLE BEFORE. MY RX HAS LOW MILES AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY KIND OF ACCIDENT. IN 45 YEARS WE HAVE OWNED MANY VEHICLES, HAVE DRIVEN MANY OF THEM TO OVER 200,000, AND NONE OF THEM HAVE EVER HAD A CRACK IN THE DASH, MUCH LESS CRACKING ACROSS THE ENTIRE DASH! IN FACT MY SISTER IN CA HAS THE EXACT SAME VEHICLE, BUT HERS HAS 225,000 MILES, AND HER DASH IS PERFECT! IMMEDIATELY, I SUSPECTED A QUALITY ISSUE, AND ASSUMED THAT SURELY LEXUS WOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. BOY WAS I WRONG! I TOOK IT INTO MY DEALERSHIP FOR AN INSPECTION, WAITED 6 WEEKS FOR A REPLY, AND WHEN NO RESPONSE WAS GIVEN, I CALLED BACK. I WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY (WE AREN'T TALKING ABOUT A WEAR-AND-TEAR ISSUE HERE ...THIS IS A QUALITY ISSUE!). BECAUSE MY HUSBAND DOES THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, I WAS TOLD THAT THE DECISION NOT TO OFFER ASSISTANCE WAS BECAUSE WE HAD NOT SPENT ENOUGH MONEY WITH THEM! HOWEVER, THAT THEY SURELY HOPED I COULD GET LEXUS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, BECAUSE THEN THEY WOULD MAKE MONEY ON THE REPAIR! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT! LIKE OTHER OWNERS, I AM CONCERNED THIS WILL AFFECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE AIRBAGS. THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT CRACKING AND MELTING DASHBOARDS, AND IN SOUTH FLORIDA, THEY ARE TRYING TO GET A CLASS-ACTION SUIT ON THE PROBLEMS. COME ON LEXUS, I EXPECTED MORE FROM YOU! DON'T ADVERTISE YOUR PRODUCT AS A QUALITY PRODUCT, WHEN SHODDY PARTS ARE USED IN ITS PRODUCTION. WE BOUGHT THE RX BECAUSE WE WANTED A VEHICLE THAT WOULD LAST A LONG TIME; WE'VE HAD 2 TOYOTA AVALONS WE HAVE PUT OVER 200,000 MILES ON. STEP UP, AND STAND BEHIND YOUR PRODUCT! I WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $1759.19 TO REPLACE THE DASH!!! *TR

THIS VEHICLE HAS A CRACK IN THE DASHBOARD PAD. WHILE THIS ONE ISN'T VERY LARGE, THE LAST LEXUS RX WE HAD, A 2004 RX 330, HAD CRACKS ALL OVER THE PAD. THE FORUM ON EDMUNDS.COM INDICATED THAT THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF OWNERS OF LEXUS RX AND GS MODELS WITH THIS COMPLAINT, AND THAT LEXUS REFUSED TO REPAIR THIS OBVIOUS MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. LEXUS ANSWERED MY COMPLAINT SAYING THAT THE CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED WARRANTY I HAVE DOESN'T COVER DASH PADS. I'M CONCERNED THAT THE CRACKS MAY HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS. LEXUS WOULDN'T ADDRESS THAT ISSUE. MAYBE IT'S TIME THAT YOU MADE THEM. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS 350 RX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL THAT EXPOSED FOAM THROUGH THE INTERIOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT PROVIDE A REMEDY. A LOCAL DEALER STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS COMPLETED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 09/11/2014*LJ UPDATED 1/13/2015 *JS

THE DASHBOARD HAS DEVELOPED SEVERAL HAIRLINE CRACKS AND HAS BECOME SEVERELY BRITTLE, FOR EXAMPLE IF YOU WERE TO JUST SCRAPE IT WITH YOUR FINGERNAIL THE MATERIAL JUST PUTTYS UP LIKE CLAY. IF NOT REPAIRED, THE CRACKS WILL CONTINUE TO ENLARGE AND THE DASH WILL LITERALLY DISINTEGRATE, POSSIBLY AFFECTING THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE DASHBOARD AIR BAGS. I FEEL THAT THE DEFECTIVE DASHBOARD IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND IT SHOULD BE REPAIRED/REPLACED BY LEXUS, AS IT IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM!!!!! *TR

THE DASHBOARD HAS CRACKS, IT BECOMES STICKY TO THE TOUCH AND THEN CRACKS APPEARS. THOUGHT THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH JUST MY CAR BUT AFTER SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET I LEARNED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DASHBOARD ON THE LEXUS CAR. IT ODD THAT IT STARTED CRACKING ABOVE THE AREA HERE THE AIRBAG IS, AT FIRST JUST ONE CRACK THEN MONTHS LATER MULTIPLE CRACKS TO THE POINT THEY HAVE JOINED TOGETHER AND NOW PIECES OF THE DASH IS FALLING OFF. THIS CAR IS GARAGE KEPT, NEVER LEFT OUTSIDE IN THE SUN FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME, SO SUN EXPOSURE IS NOT AN ISSUE. *TR

THE WHOLE DASHBOARD IS CRACKING. *TR

THERE IS MELTED PLASTIC IN THE REAR BOOT DOOR WHICH PREVENTS THE REAR DOOR FROM OPENING AUTOMATICALLY. I HAVE TO WALK TO THE BACK OF THE CAR TO MANUALLY OPEN THE REAR DOOR. OPENING FROM THE REMOTE OR FROM THE BUTTON ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR DOES NOT WORK. THE DOOR STICKS TO THE BODY AND HAS TO BE FORCED OPEN. *TR