All four door panels and dash are defective (sticky/melted with chunks easily removed).

I was at a dealership in 2017 (handling a recall issue) when the promotion to replace door panels was running unbeknownst to myself. With clearly damaged door panels easily visible when speaking to a service advisor. This issue did not arise from my negligence.

About a year later there was another recall but took the vehicle to a different Lexus dealer. The service advisor immediately noticed the damaged door panels and asked if I was waiting on my panels to arrive. Had no idea what he was talking about so he filled me in on the program but said it was no longer running and even contacting corporate would accomplish nothing.

Was a little irritated by this because, if the service advisor from the first dealership had just mentioned it, I could have taken advantage of the promotion and received replacement door panels at no cost. Never received mail, a phone call or email about the promotion either. There are clear dealer records showing I was at a dealership during the promotion without anything ever being mentioned to me. Beyond that, to replace all four panels they want $2,400 just for parts not including install.....

Figured I had nothing to lose and tried contacting Lexus corporate anyway. Everyone that I spoke to essentially told me I was SOL. They offered an opportunity to speak with a manager about the situation but assured me the message would remain the same so stopped there.

My questions are:

1. Would it be worth it to attempt another corporate contact requesting them to be replaced given the circumstance?

2. Are there any aftermarket door panels to be used as replacements at a reduced cost?

3. Are there any junkyards in southern California where I might be able to acquire these Lexus parts more easily?

I've looked on the internet but it has been difficult to find Gen 2 parts specifically from junkyards.

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

 

1. Sending an e-mail or making a phone call to Corporate is free. You loose nothing.
2. No aftermarket, either fork the bucks to get new ones or fork the bucks to get used ones from eBay/Junkyard.
3. No answer as I am not in S. California. Sorry

 

tbh corporate won’t do anything. I’ve tried... I even said that it’s a risk for passengers in my car as the plastic maybe toxic, and it gets everywhere.

They pretty much told me tough luck so I had to buy used door panels and install them myself. I was only able to afford the fronts,

 

Have you ever asked anyone to run the VIN and see specifically if there’s an extended window on yours? I think the knee-jerk reaction is just to tell you that you are too late if it is beyond 10 years. I have no earthly idea how mine was extended, but it was. Knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t be satisfied unless I saw a friendly, happy service advisor put in the VIN number on a computer terminal right in front of me. Your case is especially aggravating considering you were not informed during your window. In his defense, I will say that something similar happened to my husband with a Toyota Tacoma. We found out about the buyback program /
or frame replacement for excessive rust on the undercarriage from an extended family member. Absolutely nobody in my state knew about the recall except one dealership who had processed this family member’s claim. Some of the pricier programs appear to be kept hush hush, even from the advisors.