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Lexus HS 250 HybridModel year report

2010 Lexus HS 250 Hybrid Problems

Complaints
76filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
78,950miles, 54 complaints with mileage
Recalls
4campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2010 Lexus HS 250 Hybrid (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2010 HS 250h most often describe brake problems: a pedal that goes to the floor or feels stiff, warning lights for brake, ABS and TRAC/VSC, and reduced braking. Many complaints also involve the rear suspension recall work itself — parts unavailability, alignment and tie rod issues — while a smaller group describes loss of power with a hybrid system warning and a few report unintended acceleration or surging.

  1. Suspension

    Rear suspension recall work and tie rod alignment

    • 30 complaints (39%)
    • median 71,150 mi at 7.2 yrs old (10 state mileage)
    • filed 2013–2021

    Many complaints center on the rear suspension arm recall rather than a failure: owners were told the parts were unavailable and waited months for repair. Others describe the rear feeling loose or fishtailing in rain, the car pulling to one side, repeated alignments, or a shop saying the tie rod could not be adjusted. In some cases alignment damage after recall work led to uneven tire wear. Reports span low mileage up to about 160,000 miles; many come from owners notified of the recall regardless of mileage.

    Recall 16V596000Recall 13V383000Recall 12V373000

    What to check: Confirm the rear suspension arm recall work was completed and ask for the alignment printout afterwards. Check rear tire wear and whether the car tracks straight on a test drive.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Nhtsa recall no. 16v-596, issued approximately one month ago. There is a nationwide shortage of the parts needed to correct the recall, and dealers cannot tell me when the parts will be available. This was confirmed by talking with two dealers near me and the Lexus customer care center. The recall cannot be completed in a timely manner - the recall appears to require immediate attention and replacement of both rear suspension arms. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10926457, filed 2016-11, 49,000 miles

    “I purchased a 2010 hs 250h Lexus in aug 8, 2016. I recently found out that it has been recalled 7 times with serious under the hood issues and was told the only one outstanding the one I stumbled upon due to research. This car has ruined my life.it has needed all sort of repairs since I purchased it. Most of the time it has had to just sit in the yard due to the fact that I was and still is, afraid to drive it.. It started just a few days after my dealer warranty had run out. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11090203, filed 2018-04, 79,000 miles
  2. Brakes

    Brake pedal sinks or goes hard; brake and ABS lights on

    • 23 complaints (30%)
    • median 84,500 mi at 9.0 yrs old (22 state mileage)
    • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2014–2023

    Owners describe the brake pedal dropping to the floor or feeling stiff and requiring heavy pressure, with longer stopping distances and the brake, ABS, TRAC and Check VSC warnings lit. Complaints mention a turbine-like noise, diagnosis of a faulty accumulator, booster pump or ABS actuator, and dealers sometimes being unable to duplicate the condition. Several owners say their vehicle was not covered by a brake-related campaign or that a software update did not resolve it. Mostly reported between roughly 75,000 and 160,000 miles, including a few at very low mileage.

    3 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask whether the brake booster and booster pump campaign coverage or the ABS/TRAC software bulletin was applied, and check for stored codes C1391, C1252 and C1256. Test the pedal for firmness and listen for pump noise when braking.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “2010 Lexus 250hs brake actuator. Driving along a city street going 55 MPH. Slowing down to approach a stop light. Immediately after depressing brake pedal the red brake light and ABS light comes on. My pedal goes straight to the floor and I have no brakes and almost crashed my car into the rear end of another car. I had to hit the ca shifter into b mode and fly into the grass to stop. There was a canal right there I almost went into. This was a recall in 2010 and VIN specific. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11208196, filed 2019-05, 81,000 miles

    “As my wife was driving car, she received (4) - lights on dashboard about break and ABS system. She was driving on 610s in houston, texas. Then all of sudden she was feeling break was not working as should and receiving noise like turbine running. It was vacuum from break. We took car to clear lake Lexus dealership for repair. They run computer and found code c1391/89 accumulator leak malfunction. Accumulator pressure sensor input does not increase before breaking or while the pump motor is operating. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11088843, filed 2018-04, 20 miles
  3. Electrical system

    Loss of power or stall with hybrid system warning

    • 10 complaints (13%)
    • median 112,000 mi at 8.3 yrs old (10 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2014–2022

    Owners describe losing power while driving, the check hybrid system or check engine light coming on, and the car refusing to accelerate or shift into drive. Complaints mention diagnoses of an internal transaxle short, a failed power inverter, or a hybrid battery needing replacement, with repair estimates owners describe as high. Some say the transaxle campaign had already been performed before the problem returned. Generally reported from about 80,000 miles upward, often on the highway.

    Recall 17V6190003 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask whether campaign 17V619000 was completed and whether the hybrid transaxle was ever replaced. Have the high-voltage battery checked and confirm the battery cooling fan filter has been cleaned.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I'm just over 100k miles and my Lexus had a check hybrid system light as I was driving on the freeway and completely lost power in my vehicle on the freeway going about 65 MPH. All warning lights came on and I was unable to accelerate or put the car in drive. I had to pull over and put on my hazards on a very busy freeway. I took my car to my local Lexus service center and they informed me that I have an internal transaxle short and the entire transaxle needs to be replaced for the cost of around $7,000. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11002051, filed 2017-06, 107,000 miles

    “Takata recall. The contact owns a 2010 Lexus HS 250 HYBRID. While driving various speeds, the malfunction warning indicator illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17v619000 (electrical system). The part needed for the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11056153, filed 2017-12, 131,000 miles
  4. Vehicle speed control

    Unintended acceleration or surging at low speed

    • 13 complaints (17%)
    • median 34,750 mi at 5.7 yrs old (12 state mileage)
    • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2012–2020

    A group of owners report the car shooting forward or accelerating unexpectedly at very low speed, such as while parking or turning into a space, in some cases striking a building or another vehicle. A related pattern is the brakes briefly releasing and the car surging when a bump or rough pavement is hit with the pedal applied. Dealers often could not reproduce the condition. Reported from very low mileage up to about 75,000 miles, mostly during parking or low-speed maneuvers.

    3 related service bulletins

    What to check: Test the car at a crawl in a parking lot, noting any surge or pedal-release over bumps. Ask whether the throttle-related bulletin for a stall/stuck-open throttle code was applied and whether any stored codes are present.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I was turning to the right into a parking slot. All of the sudden, the car shot forward and slammed into a brick building. The airbags deployed because of the force of the crash. Please note this is an edited version of an earlier report I sent. The change is in the affected parts. The part that caused the accident was a faulty accelerator (probably the throttle control software).”

    NHTSA complaint #10726781, filed 2015-06, 75,000 miles

    “When I run over a bump in the road or hit anything in the street, my car goes into a fit almost hitting the other cars. Its like after that, he moves really fast forcing it to go faster and my foot is not even on the breaks...”

    NHTSA complaint #11203399, filed 2019-04, 130 miles

Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the brake system — pedal feel, warning lights, stored ABS codes — and confirm the rear suspension recall was completed with a proper alignment. Also verify which hybrid-system campaigns the car has received and budget for possible high-voltage or transaxle work on a car of this age.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 76 consumer complaints for the 2010 Lexus HS 250 Hybrid. 54 of the complaints include a mileage, and 31% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 78,950 miles. Of all complaints, 9 involved a crash, 5 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 229 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Transmission and drivetrain (2), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (2), Hybrid propulsion system (1), Body and structure (1).

Example complaints

Suspension: “The 2010 hs250h rear lower suspension arm recall flaw the safety recall work caused non-recoverable damages to the rear tires of my 2010 hs250h. Toronto Lexus told me that the damages to the tires wererear due to misalignment by westside Lexus. Lexus USA only reimbursed me a small portion of the total cost (redo of recall work + 4 new tires). Neither Lexus USA nor westside Lexus would pay for the damages on the tires. The story: I purchase the Lexus 2010 h250h from westside Lexus houston in 2010. On april 10, 2015, westside Lexus did a recall work on the rear suspension arms (rear tie rods). …”

NHTSA complaint #11058362, filed 2018-01, 48,533 miles

Brakes: “Took my car to the mechanic and was told that there is a recall on ABS (reflash software) and break booster pump replacement. I have lost the hydraulic pressure on the breaks and is a safety issue. Dealer has same issue with other vehicles except of mine. How do I get my VIN number checked and added to the recall? Please assist. Thank you.”

NHTSA complaint #11119612, filed 2018-08, 123,000 miles

Electrical system: “On 9/29/2017 while turning left at night in a dark road all interior and exterior lights went out. We crashed into wall beside the city street and our car was totaled. We filed a claim with Lexus at that time. A recall notice for this problem came in december. On december 22,2017, Lexus stated in letter from their legal department that Lexus had no responsibility. They were able to start the car and turn on the lights on november 14, 2017 when an inspection of the vehicle was made. The urgent safety recall described what we experienced. …”

NHTSA complaint #11056580, filed 2017-12, 66,780 miles

Electronic stability control: “Traveling between 60-70 MPH I jerked the steering wheel to the right to avoid someone entering my lane at a freeway merge. The car started swerving to an extreme degree. I heard the beep of something engaging that I assume was the vsc, but my head was being jerked too hard from side to side to be able to confirm what might have been displayed on the dashboard. I slowly tried to brake when the vehicle continued to swerve without abatement and the vsc eventually turned off. …”

NHTSA complaint #11074255, filed 2018-02, 84,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

31% of the 54 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 44,000 and 123,000 miles.

9%0–104%10–2519%25–507%50–7522%75–10026%100–15013%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (54 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 78,950 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

20132015201723201920212023
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2010 Lexus HS 250 Hybrid → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 229 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 229 bulletins →

Other model years of the Lexus HS 250 Hybrid

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20107678,9504——Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Falling

All Lexus HS 250 Hybrid model years

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2010 Lexus HS 250 Hybrid?

Owners of the 2010 HS 250h most often describe brake problems: a pedal that goes to the floor or feels stiff, warning lights for brake, ABS and TRAC/VSC, and reduced braking. The issues reported most often: Rear suspension recall work and tie rod alignment; Brake pedal sinks or goes hard; brake and ABS lights on; Loss of power or stall with hybrid system warning.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2010 Lexus HS 250 Hybrid have?

NHTSA recorded 76 consumer complaints for the 2010 Lexus HS 250 Hybrid as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2010 Lexus HS 250 Hybrid is reported most often?

Suspension is named most often, in 30 complaints (39% of the total), followed by brakes with 21.

Has the 2010 Lexus HS 250 Hybrid been recalled?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2010 Lexus HS 250 Hybrid reported?

Among the 54 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 78,950 miles and the middle half falls between 44,000 and 123,000 miles; 31% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.