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Lexus HSModel year report

2010 Lexus HS Problems

Complaints
70filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
4,825miles, 44 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
35 mpgcombined, 2.4L 4-cyl · hybrid FWD · 35 city / 34 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2010 Lexus HS (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Complaints about this model year center almost entirely on the brakes: many owners describe a moment of reduced braking when the pedal is pressed on bumpy, wet or loose surfaces, and a separate group describes brake booster pump or ABS actuator failures at higher mileage, often with warning lights and a pedal that goes soft or to the floor. Most early brake complaints arrive well under 15,000 miles, while booster pump and actuator reports cluster around 85,000 to 170,000 miles. A smaller recurring theme involves rear suspension work performed under an earlier recall, after which the rear alignment can no longer be adjusted.

  1. Brakes

    Momentary loss of braking on bumps or slick roads

    • 24 complaints (34%)
    • median 2,500 mi at 0.4 yrs old (21 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2010–2026

    Owners describe pressing the brake and feeling the car keep rolling or briefly speed up when the tires pass over a bump, pothole, railroad crossing, loose gravel or a wet or icy patch. Many say braking returns after releasing and reapplying the pedal. Several report the dealer could not reproduce the condition or said the vehicle was operating normally, and some say the braking problem came back after a recall repair was performed. Mostly reported at low mileage, often under 8,000 miles, and frequently in wet, snowy or rough-road conditions.

    Recall 10V039000

    What to check: Drive the car over broken pavement, speed bumps and wet patches at low speed and pay attention to whether the pedal holds firm. Ask whether the ABS control unit recall 10V039000 was completed and whether the owner noticed any change afterward.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “We own a Lexus HS-250h that seems to have a problem with the braking system. On uneven or bumpy road surfaces when the brakes are applied they do not initially respond. It takes a second braking application for the stopping process to begin. This defect has occurred approximately 4 times since we purchased the car in september, 2009.”

    NHTSA complaint #10306428, filed 2010-02, 1 miles

    “Lexis hs250h 2010.....on 4 different ocasions the brakes fade and almost caused me to have a rear end accident. I informed Lexus and they said there was nothing wrong. I have owned a hybrid car in the past and the brakes on that car worked as they should. This vehicle you can not tell if it will stop in time.”

    NHTSA complaint #10306752, filed 2010-02, 4,800 miles
  2. Brakes

    Brake booster pump / ABS actuator failure with warning

    • 29 complaints (41%)
    • median 4,600 mi at 0.6 yrs old (17 state mileage)
    • filed 2010–2026

    At higher mileage, owners report the ABS, brake, traction and stability lights coming on together, a pedal that feels soft or sinks to the floor, a pump that runs repeatedly or beeps, and longer stopping distances. Complaints describe diagnoses of a failed brake booster pump or ABS master cylinder, and quote repair estimates in the thousands of dollars. Several owners state their vehicle identification number was not covered by the brake booster recall even though the symptoms match. Typically reported between roughly 85,000 and 170,000 miles, sometimes after a period of warning lights with no other symptoms.

    Recall 13V235000

    What to check: With the car on, listen for the brake pump cycling continuously or beeping, and check that no ABS, brake or traction lights stay lit. Ask for the repair history on the booster pump and actuator and whether recall 13V235000 or any related program was applied.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I have a 2010 HS 250h with 90,000 miles. Out of the blue, the brake actuator started activating every 10 seconds (and even runs for a while once car is shut off) and there is a noise coming from brake pedal area when depressed. Lexus had previously recalled some 2010 HS 250 cars for brake booster pump issues. My VIN was not part of the recall; I dreaded this day would come. Toyota/Lexus is well aware of the brake booster pump issues in their hybrids. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11505865, filed 2023-02, 90,000 miles

    “On 8/16/19, I was leaving for work, and went to reverse my vehicle out of garage, down inclined driveway, found out that the brakes were completely out accompanied by warning beeping rapidly. The power steering also locked up. I was able to push emergency brake, which did stop the vehicle, I put in car in drive and went forward into garage and pushed/locked emergency brake again to store vehicle in garage on flat surface. Car was towed to local toyota (Lexus certified) service shop. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11280151, filed 2019-11, 117,695 miles
  3. Vehicle speed control

    Sudden acceleration or lunge while braking

    • 11 complaints (16%)
    • median 2,750 mi at 0.5 yrs old (10 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2010–2025

    Owners report the car surging forward or failing to slow when the brake is applied, sometimes described as the gas engine starting or the car feeling like it accelerates on its own, and in one case cruise control not disengaging. Dealers in several complaints said nothing was wrong or that the behavior was normal for the hybrid system. Reported at low mileage, mostly under 7,000 miles, sometimes in rain or on uneven pavement.

    What to check: Test low-speed stops and a steady cruise-control set and cancel on a quiet road, and ask whether any throttle or hybrid control software updates have been applied.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “On january 27 2012 my Lexus took off by itself brakes would not stop the car reported to Lexus dealer they found nothing wrong on april 10 2012 while on vacation in florida if happened again this time more power hitting a brick wall and damaging the car that we had to sell it because we were afraid to drive it.”

    NHTSA complaint #10457496, filed 2012-05, 6,200 miles

    “On 4 separate occasions- 2 times each for 2 different drivers, occurring about every 1200 miles, our Lexus hs250h accelerated during a stopped or braking situation. We brought it to the dealer and contacted Lexus customer service. The response: [there is nothing wrong and the vehicle is operating normally. You are either using the accelerator and brake at same time or just experiencing the gas engine starting up which is giving you the sensation of moving when you actually aren't moving. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10342029, filed 2010-07, 1,200 miles
  4. Suspension

    Rear suspension arms seized by recall epoxy, alignment not

    • 5 complaints (7%)
    • typically at 12.8 yrs old
    • filed 2017–2026

    Owners report that after the rear suspension recall repair, the rear control arms were locked in place, so the rear alignment can no longer be adjusted. They describe uneven inner tire wear, premature tire replacement, and a car that pulls or drifts in corners. Complaints say dealers declined to redo the work at no charge. Reported on cars well past 80,000 miles, typically years after the recall repair was performed.

    What to check: Inspect the rear tires for uneven inner-edge wear, check whether the rear suspension parts still carry recall stickers or epoxy, and ask for a rear alignment printout before buying.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Recall for Rear Suspension arms. There was a recall on my car which was processed in Aug 2016 at 89k miles by previous owner. I purchased the car in Dec 2021-Jan 2022 at around 93-94k miles. This means the car was almost not used by previous owner for 5 years as the recall wasn't performed well Also, the label for safety recall is still on the entire rear suspension arms which proves the point. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11461860, filed 2022-04

    “The rear suspension lateral links (Rear Control Arm No. 1) have failed to remain adjustable because they were permanently encapsulated in epoxy by the dealer during the official Lexus Safety Recall for rear suspension arm corrosion. This component is currently installed on the vehicle and available for inspection upon request. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11713019, filed 2026-01

Buying note. Brakes are the thing to scrutinize on this model year: confirm which brake recalls were performed and when, and budget for a booster pump or actuator repair on a high-mileage example. Also check rear tire wear and whether a rear alignment can still be done.

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 70 consumer complaints for the 2010 Lexus HS. 44 of the complaints include a mileage, and 70% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 4,825 miles. Of all complaints, 5 involved a crash, 4 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 33 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: Tires (2), Engine (1), Exterior lighting (1), Forward collision avoidance (1), Hybrid propulsion system (1).

Example complaints

Brakes: “So I just got this Lexus 2 days ago and I notice that if I have to brake suddenly, the car rolls forward for like a extra 3 seconds..you can feel when the brakes lock up and make the car slide forward, and you can also hear it as well..this is super dangerous and needs to be fixed”

NHTSA complaint #11405087, filed 2021-03, 61,159 miles

Suspension: “The previous recall on this issue is not completely resolved. The rear suspension on this model of Lexus was simply epoxied in place permanently. The recall resolution approved by NHTSA and implemented by Lexus does not allow for the common maintenance on the vehicle - namely, alignment. Therefore, inordinate and substantial tire wear occurs due to the inability to align the wheels. The only way to “align” the tires is to buy completely new suspension parts (approximately $900) which will then be permanently epoxied in place again. …”

NHTSA complaint #11476309, filed 2022-07

Electrical system: “My car has only 80,000 miles is 2010 and is telling me to check the hybrid sistem the hybrid battery is supposed to work longer more miles I really need help”

NHTSA complaint #11291846, filed 2019-12

Vehicle speed control: “The contact owns a 2010 Lexus hs250 hybrid. While the vehicle was stopped and the contact had her foot on the brake pedal, the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The contact applied the brakes with extreme force to stop the vehicle. The failure occurred four times. Whenever it rained, the vehicle slid when the brakes were applied. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer but the failure could not be duplicated. The contact called the manufacturer who stated that an engineer would inspect the vehicle mid-october 2010. The vehicle had not been repaired. …”

NHTSA complaint #10360505, filed 2010-10, 6,300 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

70% of the 44 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 1,200 and 85,000 miles.

68%0–102%10–250%25–502%50–7514%75–1007%100–1507%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (44 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 4,825 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

29201120172020202220242026
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.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2010 Lexus HS version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
HS 250h FWD2.4L 4-cyl · hybridCVT353435$1,900

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

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

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. 33 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 33 bulletins →

Other model years of the Lexus HS

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2010704,8253—35Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Stable

All Lexus HS model years

Frequently asked questions

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

Complaints about this model year center almost entirely on the brakes: many owners describe a moment of reduced braking when the pedal is pressed on bumpy, wet or loose surfaces, and a separate group describes brake booster pump or ABS actuator failures at higher mileage, often with warning lights and a pedal that goes soft or to the floor. The issues reported most often: Momentary loss of braking on bumps or slick roads; Brake booster pump / ABS actuator failure with warning; Sudden acceleration or lunge while braking.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2010 Lexus HS have?

NHTSA recorded 70 consumer complaints for the 2010 Lexus HS as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

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

Brakes is named most often, in 42 complaints (60% of the total), followed by suspension with 6.

Has the 2010 Lexus HS been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2010 Lexus HS get?

The EPA rates the 2010 Lexus HS (HS 250h, 2.4L 4-cyl · hybrid) at 35 mpg combined, 35 city and 34 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,900 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

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

Among the 44 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 4,825 miles and the middle half falls between 1,200 and 85,000 miles; 70% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

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.