IllustrationMELTING DASH BOARD TO INCLUDE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG COVER, LEAVES RESIDUE ON YOUR HAND WHEN YOU TOUCH IT REGARDLESS OF WHERE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED IN COOL OR HOT AREAS.
2004 Lexus Is
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Is years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 8 of 10 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Wheels. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
10 reportsDASHBOARD HAS BEEN MELTING SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW IN 2005. IT HAD 300 MILES ON IT. IT HAS HAD A STUCK VENT SINCE 8 BOUGHT IT ON TO OF THE DASH AND THE REPAINT THAT NOW LOOKS LIKE CRAP. BACK TO THE ORIGINAL ISSUE OF THE MELTING DASHBOARD. I HAVE BEEN BURNT BY THE MELTING WHATEVER IT IS MAKE OF. IT HAS STUCK TO MY HAND A…
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DASHBOARD HAS BEEN MELTING SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW IN 2005. IT HAD 300 MILES ON IT. IT HAS HAD A STUCK VENT SINCE 8 BOUGHT IT ON TO OF THE DASH AND THE REPAINT THAT NOW LOOKS LIKE CRAP. BACK TO THE ORIGINAL ISSUE OF THE MELTING DASHBOARD. I HAVE BEEN BURNT BY THE MELTING WHATEVER IT IS MAKE OF. IT HAS STUCK TO MY HAND AND LEFT A BLISTER. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY OTHERS MODELS WERE RECALLED AND NOT THE 2004 IS300???? ODVIOUSLY THERE ARE A LOT OUT THERE THAT ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. IF YOU ARE RESEARCHING TO BUY A LEXUS SAVE YOUR MONEY!
I HAVE A 2004 LEXUS IS300 AND HAVE THE SAME DASH MELTING ISSUE THAT OTHER PEOPLE IS HAVING. STARTING FROM 2007 THE DASH STARTED TO MELT AND TOOK TO DEAL BACK THEN AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING. RECENTLY GOT A LETTER FOR WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT NOTICE FOR MY OTHER 2007 LEXUS ES350 WITH SAME ISSUE OF MELTING DASH. I THINK LEXUS SHOU…
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I HAVE A 2004 LEXUS IS300 AND HAVE THE SAME DASH MELTING ISSUE THAT OTHER PEOPLE IS HAVING. STARTING FROM 2007 THE DASH STARTED TO MELT AND TOOK TO DEAL BACK THEN AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING. RECENTLY GOT A LETTER FOR WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT NOTICE FOR MY OTHER 2007 LEXUS ES350 WITH SAME ISSUE OF MELTING DASH. I THINK LEXUS SHOULD ALSO DO A REPLACEMENT FOR ALL 2004 IS300 FOR DASH PROBLEM.
2004 LEXUS IS300 PURCHASED FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER IN 2008. AS EVIDENCED BY MANY CLAIMS ON DIFFERENT LEXUS/TOYOTA VEHICLES THE DASHBOARD AND CENTER CONSOLE IS "MELTING." 2006 AND UP LEXUS IS MODELS HAVE AN EXISTING RECALL. 2002-2005 LEXUS IS MODELS DO NOT HAVE THIS RECALL ALTHOUGH THE ISSUE IS EXACTLY THE SAME. BEING A FATHE…
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2004 LEXUS IS300 PURCHASED FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER IN 2008. AS EVIDENCED BY MANY CLAIMS ON DIFFERENT LEXUS/TOYOTA VEHICLES THE DASHBOARD AND CENTER CONSOLE IS "MELTING." 2006 AND UP LEXUS IS MODELS HAVE AN EXISTING RECALL. 2002-2005 LEXUS IS MODELS DO NOT HAVE THIS RECALL ALTHOUGH THE ISSUE IS EXACTLY THE SAME. BEING A FATHER OF A 5-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHO RIDES IN THIS VEHICLE MY SAFETY CONCERNS ARE THREEFOLD... 1. FUMES AND/OR VAPORS BEING RELEASED INTO THE AIR AND BEING INHALED BY MYSELF AND/OR DAUGHTER. 2. AIRBAG PANEL IS AFFECTED AND WORRIES ME THAT DEPLOYMENT MIGHT BE AFFECTED. 3. GLARE ON THE INSIDE OF MY WINDSHIELD FROM MELTING PLASTIC.
THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING. WHEN TOUCHED IT LEAVES PRINTS AND FEELS STICKY. IT'S BEEN ON GOING FOR A FEW YEARS AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE. I'M CONCERNED IT MAY BE TOXIC.
THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2004 LEXUS IS300 IS MELTING; FEELS STICKY TO THE TOUGH, FINGERPRINTS CAN OCCUR, SCRATCHES VERY EASILY, AS TIME GOES BY IT BECOMES LESS AND LESS ATTRACTIVE, HAVE TO BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL WITH IT, AND WHILE CLEANING IT. I CONTACTED LEXUS AND THERE IS NO REMEDIATION ON THEIR PART. *TR
MY 2004 IS300 WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE OTHER VEHICLE (SATURN) HIT MY CAR ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE, DAMAGING THE SUSPENSION, FENDER, BUMPER, AND SURROUNDING PARTS. AFTER IMPACT MY CAR WENT UP THE CURB, OVER SOME LARGE ROCKS AND RESTED ON AN INCLINE. I SUFFERED NECK, SHOUL…
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MY 2004 IS300 WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE OTHER VEHICLE (SATURN) HIT MY CAR ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE, DAMAGING THE SUSPENSION, FENDER, BUMPER, AND SURROUNDING PARTS. AFTER IMPACT MY CAR WENT UP THE CURB, OVER SOME LARGE ROCKS AND RESTED ON AN INCLINE. I SUFFERED NECK, SHOULDER, AND BACK PAIN AND WAS TREATED BY A CHIROPRACTOR. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AT ANY TIME. MY CAR WAS REPAIRED AND I AM CURRENTLY DRIVING IT. *TR
MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING. THE PLASTIC IS STICKY AND LEAVES A BLACK FILM ON ANYTHING THAT TOUCHES IT INCLUDING FINGERS AND CLOTHING. THE BLACK RESIDUE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET OFF ONCE IT IS ON SOMETHING. JUST WASHING HANDS MULTIPLE TIMES WITH SOAP AND WATER IS NOT ENOUGH TO REMOVE IT. *TR
DASHBOARD HAS BEEN DETERIORATING FOR SEVERAL YEARS. CONTACTED DEALER AND LEXUS HEADQUARTERS AND WAS TOLD THEY DID NOT HAVE TO DO ANYTHING AS CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I EXPECT BETTER FROM A SO-CALLED LUXURY VEHICLE. MY DAUGHTER'S 1998 ACURA'S DASHBOARD IS STILL PRISTINE. NOT ONLY DOES THE MELTING MATERIAL LEAVE BLAC…
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DASHBOARD HAS BEEN DETERIORATING FOR SEVERAL YEARS. CONTACTED DEALER AND LEXUS HEADQUARTERS AND WAS TOLD THEY DID NOT HAVE TO DO ANYTHING AS CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I EXPECT BETTER FROM A SO-CALLED LUXURY VEHICLE. MY DAUGHTER'S 1998 ACURA'S DASHBOARD IS STILL PRISTINE. NOT ONLY DOES THE MELTING MATERIAL LEAVE BLACK MARKS ON ANYTHING IT TOUCHES, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT TOXICITY. *TR
THERE IS A DANGEROUS POTHOLE EASTBOUND ON LIE NEAR FRESH MEADOWS EXIT. DUE TO HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE POTHOLE WAS UNAVOIDABLE AS WE WERE LESS THAN 20 FEET BETWEEN THE CAR AHEAD OF US. THE POTHOLE WAS ON THE MIDDLE LANE. IT RESULTED IN A FLAT, A TOW, AND A BRAND NEW TIRE REPLACEMENT.
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.