Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2007 Lexus ES owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2007 Lexus ES350. The contact stated that the dashboard had started to melt due to sun exposure and there was an abnormal burning plastic odor inside the vehicle. The contact also stated that there was a glare coming from the melting dashboard obstructing the contact's vision while driving. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer and the dealer were informed of the failure but did not assist. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
Issue number one the dashboard the steering wheel and the clutch handle for automatic or manual melts it gets extremely hot and slippery it burns no matter if you cover your car or anything it melts and the glare from it is very dangerous when the Sun hits the windshield while driving it makes it look like a mirror form I'm not the only one who complains about this issue because why does the dashboard melts and create a dangerous flare with glare excuse the heating and cooling seats I believe also I'm not sure if it's causing condensation because it's connected to the AC which is also an issue no matter how much you get it fixed like I'm not sure if the blend door actuator gets stuck but a lot of people complain about that too because I'm not the only one with that issue 3 the gas pedal gets stuck no matter how many treatments and maintenance and services you get done with your car …
Purchased 2007 Lexus es350 and dash is melting with heat and humidity. Lexus dealership referred me to corporate and they said the warranty expired May 31, 2017 however, there was no recall letter received. Lexus is aware of issue but refuses to replace dash or repair. This is a safety issue due to glare from dash melting and sticky because of shine. Additionally, in the future, the dash cannot be removed because it will crumble to perform any repairs necessitating removal of dash and no shops want that responsibility. Lexus replaced a complete dash for a crack on my 2004 Lexus without it being a safety issue but won't do anything about the glare coming from the dash melting! The vehicle only has 70,000 miles and is always garaged! There have been lawsuits filed over this issue!
It isn't bad enough that Toyota corp sold me a dashboard on my 2007 Lexus es350 that melts in the sunlight, but as it melts it leaves a dangerous shiny residue that impairs my ability to drive safely, especially at night. This needs to be recalled.
2007 Lexus es350 dashboard melting produces chemical fumes and shiny sticky dasboard reflecting sunlight and night headlights blinding driver visibility. Fumes causing health issue in all car passenger breathing. Issues.
I'm responding to the segment I saw on the news regarding the melting dashboards. I took my car into the Lexus dealership back in 2010. They were not very friendly as a matter of fact they tried to make me feel stupid by telling me that who ever is washing and clearing my vehicle maybe using a cheap product on the vinyl. And when I asked about the areas that were not melting. I was told that, those areas are probably not being cleaned. I was then asked if I'm present when my car is being cleaned and what products are being used. I contacted Lexus again this year after learning that someone wrote a story about melting dashboards and I was told that they didn't know anything about it and it sounds like wear and tear. With the dashboard melting like it is,leaves a blinding glare which in my opinion is very dangerous. …
I have Lexus es350. Its expensive luxury car. But its dashboard is melting on the top now. Very uncommon behavior of this kind of car. This wouldn't happened even if in cheap car. I went to dealership and they confirm that it is melting. It's a dashboard, one of the main part of the car. Issue is in the sun, melted part is reflecting on the windshield and its very bright. It becomes safety issue to drive this car in the sun. It gives headache and not proper visibility to drive. Dealership refused to fix this issue as this car is more than 10 years old. This kind of issue should not happened in the car like Lexus. Please see attached pictures, it gives some idea like how it looks like in windshield while driving. Picture do not cover all reflections though.
Wife was operating the driver window in our Lexus ES 350. The driver window crashed down into the driver door panel momentarily startling her. She swerved into oncoming traffic. I had a technician pull off the door panel and the plastic mounting tabs on the window regulator and the plastic mounting tabs on the window had disintegrated. According to the Lexus owners web site this is a common problem on all 2007-2008 Lexus ES 350 models. Lexus will not cover this problem unless still under the 4 year warranty. See recall 08v16200 for similar problems.
The dashboard on my vehicle is melting. This is causing an unsafe glare on the windshield. It is very difficult to see out the windshield due to the melting, shiny dashboard reflecting onto the windshield. The dashboard is very sticky to the touch, you can't wipe the dashboard due to the stickiness causing a rag or cloth to stick to the dash. There is currently no help available from Lexus in regards to this problem. This s a vehicle defect, I have never had a vehicle do this. The only fix is to replace the dashboard.
I purchased a certified used 2007 Lexus ES 350 in 2010 with approximately 26,000 miles. In 2014, I left the Lexus in my florida parking lot for the summer (May-October). When I returned from new york, the entire Lexus dashboard had melted! Due to the melting, there is a shiny glare on the windshield which makes it hard to see. I believe this is very dangerous and there should be a recall. I paid a lot of money for this car, and this is a serious safety defect. Lexus should recall these cars and fix this problem.
Body complaints in other ES years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2007 Lexus ES?
NHTSA has 31 complaints about the body & structure of the 2007 Lexus ES, 25% of the model year's 125 complaints. The component named most often is body (13 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2007 Lexus ES body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2007 Lexus ES. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2007 Lexus ES body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 75,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 6 injuries to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.