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Lexus IS 250Model year report

2012 Lexus IS 250 Problems

Complaints
17filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
40,000miles, 9 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.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
22 mpgcombined, 2.5L 6-cyl AWD · 20 city / 26 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2012 Lexus IS 250 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 17 consumer complaints for the 2012 Lexus IS 250. The part named most often is air bags, with 10 complaints (59% of the total), followed by electrical system (4) and brakes (3). 9 of the complaints include a mileage, and 67% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 40,000 miles. Of all complaints, 4 involved a crash, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 216 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 3 recall campaigns covering the inflator module and 11 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 67 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

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.

Example complaints

Air bags: “Takatabrantakata recall my vehicle was rear ended at 34 to 50 miles an hour. The vehicle behind me impacted me so hard that it pushed me into the vehicle in front of me and in turn she hit the vehicle in front of her. There was damaged to the front and side panels of my car as well. The air bags failed to deploy. I sustained and suffered injuries. This occurred on a busy city street while at a traffic light.”

NHTSA complaint #11234294, filed 2019-07, 1 miles

Electrical system: “This is the third Lexus I have had that the automatic door locks don't work. All 4 actuators are bad after I even had one replaced. I have had this happen I all three Lexus' that I have owned. I have talked to Lexus about this and the service people say that they see more than they should go. Bad boy. Lexus/toyota does not think it's a problem. This becomes a safety hazard locking the doors manually and having to open one door with a key and reach around and open the others as needed. Specially with all the crime around us. …”

NHTSA complaint #11104861, filed 2018-06, 15,000 miles

Brakes: “Unintended acceleration while inching into parking space at very slow rate of speed. Engine raced unexpectedly and car jumped curb with all 4 tires, across a small median, and down another curb with 3 tires, striking a parked car, which stopped forward motion.”

NHTSA complaint #11122773, filed 2018-08, 70,000 miles

Body and structure: “I want to report that I experienced un-intended acceleration on my Lexus is 250c, 2012 model purchased in december 2011 as a result of which my vehicle crashed and went turtle.”

NHTSA complaint #10760099, filed 2015-08, 22,700 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

67% of the 9 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 17,000 and 70,000 miles.

11%0–1033%10–2522%25–5011%50–7511%75–10011%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (9 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 40,000 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.

2015201620178201820192022
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 2012 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 · sedan AWDnot rated———5 · 10.1% risk
IS250 · sedan RWDnot rated———5 · 10.1% risk

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

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2012 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 2012 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. 216 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 216 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 2012 Lexus IS 250 have?

NHTSA recorded 17 consumer complaints for the 2012 Lexus IS 250 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2012 Lexus IS 250 is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 10 complaints (59% of the total), followed by electrical system with 4.

Has the 2012 Lexus IS 250 been recalled?

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

What gas mileage does the 2012 Lexus IS 250 get?

The EPA rates the 2012 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 2012 Lexus IS 250 reported?

Among the 9 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 40,000 miles and the middle half falls between 17,000 and 70,000 miles; 67% 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. 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.