2014 Lexus IS 350

The defect

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, 2018 Avalon, Corolla, 2014 FJ Cruiser, 2017 Sienna and Lexus 2018 ES 350, 2018-2019 GS 300, 2013-2014 GS350, 2014-2015 GX 460, IS 350 and LX 570, 2014 IS F, 2018-2019 IS 350, LC 500H and LS 500H, 2013-2015 LS 460, 2015 NX 200T and RC350, 2017 RC 200T and RX 350. Toyota also removed the 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser and 2018-2019 Lexus GX 460 and LX 570 and 2019 NX300 from inclusion in this recall. On March 19, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include 2015 Lexus GS350 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

The risk

If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

The remedy

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB02 and 20TA02 for Toyota vehicles and 20LB01 and 20LA01 for Lexus vehicles.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 1,830,752 vehicles across all model years covered

Still open engineering analysis · opened September 17, 2021

the air bags

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.

crash · 32,000 miles

WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, I NEEDED THE BRAKES TO BE APPLIED VERY RAPIDLY AS A VEHICLE CUT ME OFF AND IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES. UPON MY FULL AND RAPID PRESSING OF THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FORCE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM BRAKING DID NOT APPEAR TO APPLY AS ON PREVIOUSLY VEHICLES I'VE HAD OR HAVE INCLUDING TWO LARGE SUV'S. BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND PRESSED WITH FULL AND COMPLETE FORCE TO THE POINT THAT IT NO LONGER WENT ANY FURTHER. CONTINUED IN MOTION, NO SLIDING, MINIMAL ABS KICKED IN. AND ACCIDENT DID OCCUR AS VEHICLE DID NOT STOP IN TIME. PRIOR TO AND SINCE THEN, I'VE PAID MORE ATTENTION TO THE PEDDLE PRESSURE AND LEVEL AND SURE ENOUGH, UNLESS I PREPUMP THE …

NHTSA complaint 11054377, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Having an issue with my 2014 lexus is350 steering..the steering feels notchy and grabs when going around curves..it does it when returning wheel back to straight position..and wheel has to be pulled back into straight position or it will keep pulling ..thats when it catches and causes the jerk in the steering.. Usually when driving a car It'll somewhat straighten itself smoothly.. I have taken it to repair shops to have alignment/ brakes/rotors done and nothing has helped this what so ever. I've seen many forums about this same issue.. why hasn't this been addressed ..its obviously a huge issue that's been ignored.. this car isn't old enough or with 89k miles on it to be experiencing these …

NHTSA complaint 11479408, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

2014 Lexus IS350 Destination Assist and Safety Connect stopped working. Lexus tech support has no clue on how to resolve this problem. They are telling customers to go to the dealership. This puts those in need of assistance or emergency that the SOS function of the vehicle to become nonresponsive. Including location of a accident or collision notification.

NHTSA complaint 11465229. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

[XXX] Numerous times I've cleaned the area and it continues to build mold. A serious health and safety hazard. Foul odor from their vehicle smells like a fuel leak. Also car sputtering while driving. Vehicle check and no recall under my vin. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint 11442679. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

THERE IS AN URGENT SAFETY RECALL ON MY VEHICLE PUT OUT BY YOU GUYS STATING THE FUEL PUMP MUST BE REPLACED OR IT CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO SEIZE AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED. I AM MILITARY STATIONED IN GERMANY AND THE LOCAL GERMAN LEXUS DEALERSHIPS ARE STATING THEY HAVE NO ACCESS TO THIS PART BECAUSE IT IS A US SPEC LEXUS. I HAVE CONTACTED LEXUS CORPORATE TO REQUEST THEY FED EX THE PART TO LEXUS GERMANY WHERE I LIVE TO BE REPLACED. THEY ARE SLOW ROLLING THIS AND IT HAS ALREADY BEEN A MONTH. IT SHOULD NOT TAKE THIS LONG. THIS IS A SERIOUS RECALL. IT'S NOT A HARD FIX. THEY NEED TO MAIL THE PART TO MY DEALER HERE IN STUTTGART GERMANY. WITH THE HIGH RATES OF SPEED DRIVEN HERE IN GERMAN THE LIABILITY FOR …

NHTSA complaint 11343125, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

WHEN IT'S RAINING ,I TURN ON THE WIPER AT SLOW SPEED IT'S WORKING NORMAL FOR ABOUT 2 MIN THEN IT'S WILL STOP WORKING . I HAVE TO SWITCH IT ON HIGH SPEED ONLY. I ALMOST GOT IN TO ACCIDENT THAT DAY .IT'S HAPPEN MORE OFTEN NOW AND THEN . I DID BROUGHT THE CAR TO DEALER THEY SAID CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint 11165298. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

39,560 miles

WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. THE WIPERS 'FROZE' IN THE UP POSITION. I HAD TO WORK THE WIPER CONTROL INSIDE THE CAR 6-10 TIMES TO GET THE WIPERS TO WORK AGAIN. AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING THE WIPERS STOPPED WORKING AGAIN. THE WIPERS ONLY WORKED INTERMITTENTLY AND ONLY IF I KEPT WORKING THE SWITCH. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL LEXUS DEALERSHIP AND THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING "WIPER RELAYS SHORTING" CAUSING THE WIPERS NOT TO WORK.

NHTSA complaint 11150197. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.