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Lexus IS 250Model year report

2010 Lexus IS 250 Problems

Compared with other Lexus IS 250 years

Typical for this model

50/100 1.0× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2011

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
40filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
38,557miles, 14 complaints with mileage
Recalls
6campaigns 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
22 mpgcombined, 2.5L 6-cyl AWD · 20 city / 26 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2010 Lexus IS 250 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 40 consumer complaints for the 2010 Lexus IS 250. The part named most often is air bags, with 26 complaints (65% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control (4) and other or unknown (3). 14 of the complaints include a mileage, and 64% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 38,557 miles. Of all complaints, 8 involved a crash, 4 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns and 223 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 4 recall campaigns covering the inflator module and 14 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Vehicle speed control complaints overlap with 3 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 4 Lexus IS 250 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 50 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

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: Steering (1), Transmission and drivetrain (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “Lexus alerted me in writing may, 2016 as to the problem with the passenger air bag. Their solution is to not have anyone in passenger seat. It has now been 8 months and there still is no replacement.”

NHTSA complaint #10944428, filed 2017-01, 65,000 miles

Vehicle speed control: “I was turning into a 10 feet deep strip parking lot and the Lexus is250 (2010) I was driving suddenly accelerated and crashed into a parked car. I do not recall either stepping on the accelerator or the brake. The distance from turning into the parking lot and the car I hit was approximately 5 feet. I did not have time to react. The airbags opened and the front was massively damaged.”

NHTSA complaint #10397969, filed 2011-04, 5,000 miles

Other or unknown: “I was driving home from a mountain community while it was snowing. I activated my ect snow button on my vehicle and proceeded to go up and down two large snow covered mountains. After successfully traversing the terrain, I approached a stop sign when I began to lose control of the car. My safety features , trac and ect activated and righted the vehicle, however, after the vehicle was righted, the vehicle suddenly loss power and seemed as if it stopped. The car was shut off and turned back on, however, the brake, ABS, and slip indicator lights remained illuminated. …”

NHTSA complaint #10372552, filed 2010-12, 10,300 miles

Body and structure: “The contact owns a 2010 Lexus is250. The contact stated when driving at various speeds with the convertible top down, both the driver and passenger side windows would rattle excessively. The dealer advised the windows were manufacturer to operate as they were and there was not a repair necessary or available to correct the rattling. The current and failure mileages were 4,294. Updated 05/18/2010. Updated 6/1/10”

NHTSA complaint #10325636, filed 2010-04, 4,294 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

64% of the 14 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 5,000 and 72,000 miles.

36%0–107%10–2521%25–5014%50–750%75–10021%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (14 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 38,557 miles.

Complaints by year filed

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

2010201120142015201620171520182019
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.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2010 Lexus IS 250. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
IS250/350 · sedan RWD/AWDnot rated4 / 4——5 · 10.1% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2010 model year: forward collision warning optional, lane departure warning not available, automatic emergency braking not available.

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2010 Lexus IS 250 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
IS 250 AWD2.5L 6-cyl6-speed automatic202622$3,750

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 IS 250 → · 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. 223 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 223 bulletins →

Other model years of the Lexus IS 250

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20151610,0000524—Falling
20143525,500052413 · FewerFalling
2013539,0002423—Not enough data
20121740,0004—22—Falling
2011305,2954—2232 · FewerStable
20104038,5576—2250 · TypicalStable
20094857,4506—2456 · TypicalStable
200812566,0005—2465 · MoreFalling
200721375,0005—24Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200618983,4116—24Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Lexus IS 250 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2010 Lexus IS 250 have?

NHTSA recorded 40 consumer complaints for the 2010 Lexus IS 250 as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

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

Air bags is named most often, in 26 complaints (65% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control with 4.

Has the 2010 Lexus IS 250 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 6 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 IS 250 get?

The EPA rates the 2010 Lexus IS 250 (IS 250 AWD, 2.5L 6-cyl) at 22 mpg combined, 20 city and 26 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,750 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

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

Among the 14 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 38,557 miles and the middle half falls between 5,000 and 72,000 miles; 64% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. 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.