2004 Lexus RX330 air bags problems

“Dashboard crack in 2024, that started on passenger side near air vent, expanded recently causing the "passenger air bag off" alert to light up and stay on continually. If I were to have a passenger at the time of an accident, the air bag might not deploy, which would be a safety issue. This could possibly lead to a liability issue, so I have not had any passengers but that isn't sustainable, so I contacted the dealer. I was told that the previous recall for cracked dashboards ended in 2017 and that it was cosmetic only, not safety related, but that the part was available for $964.50, not including labor, tax, etc. I feel that a safety related recall should be issued, the previously known dash cracking problem didn't end when their recall did, the fact that my vehicle is primarily garaged preserved the interior integrity, I don't believe I should be penalized for my dash not cracking 8 years earlier. Thank you for your consideration.”

“MELTING/CRACKED DASHBOARD PASSENGER SIDE - SMELLS OF CHEMICALS - DOES THIS AFFECT PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT? I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 4 YEARS AND WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF ANY PROGRAMS - DASH FIRST STARTED MELTING/CRACKING ABOUT 6-8 MONTHS AGO LONG AFTER THEIR CONSUMER ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM WENT AWAY.”

“RECENTLY THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON AND WAS STATIONARY. IT RESULTED IN CRACKS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS I DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. IS THERE A LEXUS RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM?”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS RX330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS DEFECTIVE AND EXHIBITED FRACTURES NEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG AREA. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE THE REPLACEMENT DASHBOARD; THEREFORE, THEY WERE UNABLE TO PERFORM THE REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. *JS”

“PARENT CO, TOYOTA ISSUED A VOLUNTARY REPLACEMENT OF DASHBOARD DUE TO CRACKED, STICKY, SHINY CONDITION IN WHAT WAS AN OBVIOUS ATTEMPT TO STAVE OFF AN OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT RECALL AND/OR A CLASS ACTION. PARENT CO, TOYOTA IS NOW STALLING BY NOT SUPPLYING THE DEALERS WITH SAID DASHBOARDS THEY PROMISED TO REPLACE. I FIRST BROUGHT THIS ISSUE TO THE ATTENTION OF MY DEALER IN MAY OF 2012. EVEN IF THE DEALER WAS RECEIVING THE DASHBOARDS AT THE RATE OF 2 OR 3 A WEEK AS ORIGINALLY PROMISED, IT WOULD BE ANOTHER FULL YEAR OR MORE BEFORE THEY WOULD REPLACE MINE. AT THIS TIME, THE DEALERS ARE RECEIVING NONE AND NO DASHBOARDS ARE BEING REPLACED. THIS IS NOT JUST A COSMETIC ISSUE, IT'S A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD. IN THE CASE OF MY DASH, WHICH IS COMPLETELY COVERED WITH CRACKS, IF THE AIRBAG IS DEPLOYED AT 200 MPH THOSE SMALL LITTLE PIECES OF PLASTIC WILL SHRED MY FACE AND THE FACES OF ANYONE RIDING WITH ME INTO HAMBURGER. CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT THE TAKATA AIR BAGS CAN BE DEPLOYED EVEN WHEN THERE ISN'T A ACCIDENT, MAKES IT EVEN A BIGGER HAZARD. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO STEP IN AND ISSUE AN OFFICIAL RECALL AND FORCE TOYOTA TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARDS IMMEDIATELY…”

“I HAVE A SEVERELY CRACKED DASHBOARD AND A LOT OF THE VERY DEEP CRACKS ARE OVER WHERE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS LOCATED. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR A FEW YEARS NOW BUT LATELY IT HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE IN THE AREA OF THE AIRBAG. LEXUS ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM BUT THEY SAY IT COULD BE SEVERAL MORE MONTHS OR EVEN YEARS BEFORE THEY HAVE ENOUGH REPLACEMENT DASHBOARDS. I BELIEVE MY DASHBOARD IS MORE OF A SAFETY ISSUE THAN JUST COSMETIC. UNABLE TO ATTACH PHOTOS BUT COULD EMAIL THEM TO YOU IF AN EMAIL ADDRESS IS PROVIDED. *TR”