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Lexus, its parent company Toyota Motor Corp., and two Florida dealerships were hit with a class action lawsuit alleging that the dashboards in their luxury cars are defective and cannot withstand the climate in Florida.
Lead plaintiffs, Miami residents Daniela Perez and Jesus del Rio, filed the Lexus class action lawsuit this week. In their complaint, the plaintiffs allege that after normal use of Lexus brand vehicles, “the Florida heat caused the dashboards and other similarly constructed interior components to become sticky, oily, shinny, cracked and degraded.”
“The condition was and is known to [Lexus and Toyota],” the plaintiffs further allege in their class action lawsuit, pointing out that Toyota had issued a service bulletin in 2011 instructing Lexus dealers to repair and replace damage related to the alleged dashboard defect pursuant to the Lexus comprehensive warranty. However, the plaintiffs allege Lexus and Toyota refused to repair damage for Lexus vehicles that are no longer covered under the comprehensive warranty.
The plaintiffs point out in their class action lawsuit that “[t]hese vehicles are marketed as luxury vehicles and as the product of Lexus’ never-ending ‘pursuit of perfection,’” and argue Lexus should pay for repairs to the dashboards and interiors which occurred during normal use of the vehicles in Florida’s hot and humid climate. “The defective dashboard and interior has caused damage which Lexus K, Lexus F, and Toyota have refused, and continue to refuse, to repair pursuant to its implied warrantee,” allege the plaintiffs. “This is the core issue in this case which predominate over all other issues in this matter.”
The plaintiffs claim the Class Members of this class action lawsuit include “[a]ll individuals in Florida who own a Lexus vehicle which has experienced damage to the dashboard or interior as a result of heat within the applicable limitations period.”
The plaintiffs also claim two Lexus dealerships in Miami-Dade county in Florida, Lexus of Kendall, which serves Miami, Coral Gables and South Florida, and Scanlon Lexus of Fort Myers, should share responsibility for the damage. The plaintiffs claim that Lexus, Toyota and the Lexus dealerships have breached an implied warranty with Class Members. “At all times the class representatives and the class relied on representations made by Lexus K, Lexus F and Toyota that Lexus vehicles were luxury vehicles designed to be used in Florida,” alleges the class action lawsuit.
The plaintiffs claim that Lexus and Toyota should pay them and the Class Members for monetary damages because “ [a]s a direct and proximate result of Lexus K, Lexus F and Toyota’s breach, the class representatives and the Class have and will suffer [sic] monetary loss for required repairs to the dashboard and interior and resulting loss of use of their vehicles.
The plaintiffs, Daniela Perez and Jesus del Rio, are represented by Juan P. Bauta II of the Ferraro Law Firm PA.
The Lexus Defective Dashboard Class Action Lawsuit is Daniela Perez, et al. v. GFB Enterprises LLC d/b/a/ Lexus of Kendall, et al., in the Circuit Court of the 11th Judicial Circuit In and For Miami-Dade County.
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31 thoughts onLexus Dashboards Can’t Handle Florida Heat, Class Action Lawsuit Says
Leo, I have the same car and have water in my head light. How long was there water in the head light before it exploded?
Lexus is pretty slow, it took them 7 years to admit that the headlight on the drivers side of a RX350 leaked water causing the headlight to explode , a 2400.00 repair, 2000 for the headlight enclosure, 400 f or the bulb, they paid me 2000,00 this summer. Meanwhile the dashboard is one big “Post-it”, everything sticks to it and is very shiny and now cracking. I am guessing that they would devalue your car if the situation exists at trade-in time, as they could never resell that car in that condition. Their biggest hope is that the cars will end up in a junkyard before the necessary repairs have to be done. Of course the issue arises after about 7 years. Long after the warranty has expired, so issuing a statement that they will fix it if you are still under warranty is a cheap shot, everyone that have the cars affected are out of warranty by now because of mileage or age. Fortunately for the owner, the Lexus and Toyota cars have stellar reputations, and out last all the others with relatively few major problems. I hate to give up a great car because of this, and am POed at their refusing to accept the onus of a defective part which is a safety issue,and a needless devaluation of my car.
I live in davie fl i purchased a 2007 lexus IS250 after a year the dashboard melted i payed to have it replaced shorty there after my door handels began to melt and door panels (all 4) reach out to Lexus only to be told it was out of warranty and that they would pay half to replace the panels which were 1,200 a piece times 4 which would of been 2,400.00 tried calling them again and again they said they would pay half this is not the way a company like Lexus should handel there customers how do I join this class action suit ? My case is on file with Lexus
I am a Toyota customer since 15 years.
About two years ago I bought my first Lexus a used 2008 Rx350 . The car came from Florida.. About a year ago the dashboard developed hairline cracks. It always was really easy to leave fingernail marks when cleaning the dash especially around the ignition switch the damage was clearly visible.During a recent vacation in Florida I noticed that the number of dash cracks have increased and the dash became very sticky. I have contacted Lexus customer service and have been told that since the car is out of warranty they would not have to give me anything towards replacing the dashboard. However they offered to contribute 25% of the $2520.00 replacement cost. I do not agree with their unwillingness to fully stand behind their product. I expected Lexus to replace the defective dashboard. I have owned much less expensive and older cars over the past 50 years and none of them had ever a problem with the dashboard. Lexus/ Toyota have now an image problem. Their formally excellent quality record is deteriorating quickly over the last 10 years. By moving to the use of cheep materials their quality is now highly overrated. If I would have done this research before I bought the car I never would have bought it.
I noticed early that my dashboard and door panel is defective and easily get nicks and damaged. I went to JM Lexus and asked them to repair it and they refused. They told me it will cost $1,500 a piece for the doors to be replaced. I would like to get involved in making them pay because I believe they knew when they sold me the car. The interior looks terrible and I find it embarrassing. Lexus gives warranties but turns their back on loyal customers. I had a BMW before this with no worries. I purchased this Lexus to try something different and Lexus raved about maintaining their vehicles except in this situation.
How would I go about joining this lawsuit? I have a 2008 Lexus Is250 with 55K miles on it and my whole interior has melted and deteriorated. The dash is smeared after vacuuming it on a hot day. This has caused a bright reflection in my windshield while driving. The door panels are all melted as well, getting all over my clothes and passengers clothes when getting in/out of the car. My quote from Lexus to get it all fixed is $5400!! Lexus Corporate informed me yesterday that they have decided NOT to help pay for it since I am out of warranty! Furthermore, my case manager Jackie told me that manufacturing is not considering it a defect even though thousands have complained about this issue. I have put in a formal complaint to http://www.nhtsa.gov If they get enough complaints they can issue a recall because it is a safety hazard. Along with the glare in the windshield, the melting plastic could tamper with the functioning of my airbags and may even be releasing harmful chemicals. DO NOT let Lexus get away with ripping off customers and potentially placing us in danger by not admitting to an obvious defect that has affected so many.
I have called and complained about my SUV for YEARS. I get nothing but condescending replies, and accusations that it is MY fault in my poor care of the car?!?!? I still own much older, much less expensive vehicles that are used for work purposes and not cared for NEARLY as well that look WONDERFUL inside. I am ASHAMED to allow ANYONE to see my interior. How can I become part of this??
About time this has started!! Where do I sign up. My 2005 Florida Solara convertible is a great running car but I am embarrassed to put the top down due to this issue. What happens if the airbag needs to deploy? Where will those shards of plastic end up? Not a lot of confidence with Toyota at this time. I just bought a Hyundai.
I have a Toyota Avalon 2006 which is also classified as a luxury model of Toyota and my dashboard has also cracked and melted and guess where I live? Yep Florida!! The inside of the car reaches such extreme heat the dashboard has cracked all the way across the front not on top where you would think and it is all sticky, I can take my fingernail and take a chunk out of the dashboard with no problem ( and I have very weak nails)!!
I need to get in on this law suit and I’m sure there are many others!!!
My poor seats bit the dust when I had it in the Florida heat.