Skip to content
Lexus IS 350Model year report

2007 Lexus IS 350 Problems

Complaints
53filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
70,000miles, 39 complaints with mileage
Recalls
8campaigns 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
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
21 mpgcombined, 3.5L 6-cyl RWD · 19 city / 25 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2007 Lexus IS 350 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2007 Lexus IS 350 most often describe a dashboard and door trim that become sticky, shiny, or melted, causing glare on the windshield, especially in heat or direct sun. Other common reports include recall repairs waiting on parts, sudden unintended acceleration, and airbag warning lights tied to wiring or connector faults. Acceleration complaints are generally reported at lower mileage, while the airbag warning light complaints appear at higher mileage.

  1. Body and structure

    Dashboard and door panels become sticky, shiny, or melted

    • 18 complaints (34%)
    • median 59,000 mi at 7.8 yrs old (15 state mileage)
    • filed 2013–2023

    Owners describe interior plastic on the dashboard and door panels becoming sticky, glossy, or soft, and some report cracks or pieces peeling away. The shiny surface reflects onto the windshield, which owners say makes it hard to see on sunny days. Some complaints say the dealer would not replace the parts, or that a customer support letter had already expired. Mileage in the sample ranges from about 28,000 to 137,000 miles, and many complaints mention heat or direct sunlight.

    8 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask the dealer to inspect the dashboard and door trim for stickiness or melting, and check whether any warranty enhancement or customer support program covering these parts is still open for the VIN. Ask about the program's expiry date, since some complaints describe programs that had already ended.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Dashboard is sticky and shiny, I complained to the dealership but they did not repair the defect. Dealership stated they have seen many of the same model vehicle with the same problem, but Lexus has not issued a recall. I feel this material is hazardous as it makes driving difficult since it causes a strong glare.”

    NHTSA complaint #10608234, filed 2014-07, 93,000 miles

    “Takata recall I am having issues regarding getting this fixed as well as my dashboard and doors as they are melting and cracking away after several attempts over the last year to get this resolved I still have gotten no response and it is only getting worse. It's becoming harder and harder to see when driving due to the glare from the dashboard and not to mention the fact that it is literally falling apart day by day.”

    NHTSA complaint #10888051, filed 2016-07, 103,000 miles
  2. Other or unknown

    Recall repair parts or remedy not yet available

    • 18 complaints (34%)
    • median 87,000 mi at 8.6 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2010–2021

    Owners describe recall repairs that could not be scheduled because the replacement part was unavailable, in some cases for a long period. Some say the dealer gave no date and the manufacturer could not estimate when the repair would be possible. Other complaints say the dealer found no remedy for an open recall, or that the remedy was not announced in time. Most of these complaints do not list a mileage; where it is given, it ranges from about 15,000 to 103,000 miles.

    Recall 16V3400001 related service bulletin

    What to check: Check the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup and ask the dealer whether each open recall has its repair part in stock and a scheduled date. Ask the dealer to confirm in writing when the remedy will be available, since some owners waited a long time for parts.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Well from my understanding the interior ( dash board and door panels-all four) were to be replaced due to a recall; they all had this sticky residue on them. They have completed the dash board but not the door panels. It has been quiet some time and whenever I call all I ever get is that they have 3 panels and they're just waiting for the fourth one to come in. I've even called the corporate office of Lexus and they don't seem to have any control over this either. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11081211, filed 2018-03

    “Takata recall. The contact owns a 2007 Lexus IS 350. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v340000 (air bags) and stated that the part was not available within a reasonable time frame to schedule the recall repair. The dealer did not give a specific date for when the part would become available. The contact was unable to determine when the vehicle would be repaired. The manufacturer could not provide an estimated date for when the contact's vehicle would receive the recall repair. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10894458, filed 2016-08
  3. Vehicle speed control

    Sudden unintended acceleration, often at low speed

    • 5 complaints (9%)
    • median 15,000 mi at 2.4 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
    • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2009–2010

    Owners describe the car speeding up suddenly and unexpectedly, sometimes while idling, parking, or stopped at traffic lights. Some complaints describe the car reaching a much higher speed than expected and slowing only by using the brake pedal. Some describe crashes or injuries that followed, and some say the dealer tested the vehicle and found no problem or no remedy. Mileage in the sample ranges from 200 to 56,000 miles, and episodes are described while idling, parking, or stopped at traffic lights.

    What to check: Ask whether the vehicle has any open speed control or accelerator related recall, and ask the dealer to check the VIN for it. A test drive that includes idling and stop-and-go traffic can show whether the throttle responds normally.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The contact owns a 2007 Lexus is350. While parking, the vehicle rapidly accelerated over an embankment, hit a fence, and then rolled over. A police report was available. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 200.2/25/2010 updated 3/17/10 updated 05/06/10. Updated 06/18/10.”

    NHTSA complaint #10295380, filed 2009-12, 200 miles

    “The contact owns a 2007 Lexus is350. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle abnormally accelerated up to 135 MPH. She was able to slow the vehicle down by depressing the brake pedal. The contact stated that the vehicle had previously been diagnosed by the dealer several times for the failure but the dealer was unable to provide a remedy. The VIN was a part of NHTSA campaign id number 09v388000 (vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal) but the dealer stated that there was no remedy for the recall. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10328110, filed 2010-04, 15,000 miles
  4. Air bags

    Airbag warning light comes on (SRS fault)

    • 6 complaints (11%)
    • median 90,000 mi at 10.8 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2013–2021

    Owners report the airbag warning light turning on, sometimes without any warning beforehand. Diagnoses described in these complaints point to a loose connector or a harness that is too short, or to a squib circuit fault found with a diagnostic code. Some owners were quoted high repair costs, and some said the warranty had ended. Mileage in the sample ranges from about 63,000 to 142,000 miles, and some owners noticed the light soon after buying the car used.

    3 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask the dealer for the airbag diagnostic code, and ask whether the bulletin on SRS warning light illumination from a connector design issue has been applied to the car. Before paying for a repair, check whether any warranty or customer support coverage for the airbag wiring has expired for the VIN.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My airbag light is on. I did some research online and Lexus had issued a TSB for the airbag light for 2006-2007 (some 2008) Lexus is models. This TSB was only covering 5 years or 70k miles. I'm currently at 90k miles and this airbag light is on. Apparently the airbag harness the cars were fitted with were too short, and causes a fault in the system when one of the connectors related to the airbag system gets loosened up. This disables the entire airbag system from what I have read. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11011259, filed 2017-07, 90,000 miles

    “I bought my car used in 2015 and about 1,000 miles after driving it off the lot the airbag light came on. I took it to the local Lexus dealership and they diagnosed it as the driver's knee airbag and said the entire airbag wire harness needed to be replaced and quoted me $3,500. I looked up the issue and found that Lexus had previously issued a tsib on it (l-sb-0167-08). I also read many owners around that time were able to get it fixed under warranty (72mo or 70k miles). Unfortunately that expired for me 2 years before I even bought the car. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11002059, filed 2017-06, 63,000 miles

Buying note. When considering this model year, look for dashboard stickiness or glare and ask whether any open recall repair has a part with a scheduled date. Ask for any airbag warning light history and confirm whether a related bulletin or warranty program still applies to the VIN.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 48 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 53 consumer complaints for the 2007 Lexus IS 350. 39 of the complaints include a mileage, and 23% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 70,000 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns and 180 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). 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: Equipment (2), Brakes (1), Electronic stability control (1).

Example complaints

Body and structure: “My interior is melted and has stained and ruined new expensive clothing . Its also reflecting sun from dashboard to windshield making it hard to see on sunny days. Its horrible because the rest of my car is in great shape and well kept condition.”

NHTSA complaint #10617821, filed 2014-07, 35,000 miles

Air bags: “I was involved in a crash while driving my 2007 Lexus is on friday december 13, 2013. I rear ended a toyota sequoia truck. My car sustained heavy damage, yet the air bags failed to deploy. The air bag sensor at the front bumper was destroyed in the crash. I have never had any damage to the vehicle before this accident, and no repair work has been performed on the car other than routine maintenance and recall repairs.”

NHTSA complaint #10556324, filed 2013-12, 64,000 miles

Vehicle speed control: “The contact owns a 2007 Lexus is350. While idling, the vehicle suddenly accelerated into the contacts garage. The contact was injured as a result. The contact had previously received five recall notices from the manufacturer. The contact called the dealer who inspected the vehicle a month after the crash occurred and stated that the vehicle was functioning properly and to replace the tire. There were no repairs performed on the vehicle when the complaint was filed. The current mileage was 23,676. The failure mileage was 23,646. …”

NHTSA complaint #10326006, filed 2010-04, 23,646 miles

Engine: “Today while driving my IS 350 on the interstate, it lost compression quickly and black smoke appeared from beneath the car. It continued to slow and stop running. It would not start again my 2007 IS 350 has about 85,000 miles. I called aaa and it was put on a flatbed tow and dropped off at a Lexus dealership. I'm waiting to hear what the cause is and the cost. Have others reported this issue?”

NHTSA complaint #11112185, filed 2018-07, 85,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

23% of the 39 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 53,000 and 90,000 miles.

5%0–105%10–2513%25–5036%50–7523%75–10018%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (39 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 70,000 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.

20102013132015201720192023
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 2007 Lexus IS 350 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 350 RWD3.5L 6-cyl6-speed automatic192521$3,900

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

See all 8 recalls for the 2007 Lexus IS 350 → · 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. 180 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 180 bulletins →

Other model years of the Lexus IS 350

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20141434,0001522—Not enough data
2011555,5007—20—Not enough data
2010842,0008———Not enough data
20083050,0008—20Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Stable
20075370,0008—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20069380,0008—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Lexus IS 350 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2007 Lexus IS 350?

Owners of the 2007 Lexus IS 350 most often describe a dashboard and door trim that become sticky, shiny, or melted, causing glare on the windshield, especially in heat or direct sun. The issues reported most often: Dashboard and door panels become sticky, shiny, or melted; Recall repair parts or remedy not yet available; Sudden unintended acceleration, often at low speed.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2007 Lexus IS 350 have?

NHTSA recorded 53 consumer complaints for the 2007 Lexus IS 350 as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2007 Lexus IS 350 is reported most often?

Body and structure is named most often, in 14 complaints (26% of the total), followed by air bags with 13.

Has the 2007 Lexus IS 350 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2007 Lexus IS 350 get?

The EPA rates the 2007 Lexus IS 350 (IS 350, 3.5L 6-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 19 city and 25 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,900 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2007 Lexus IS 350 reported?

Among the 39 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 70,000 miles and the middle half falls between 53,000 and 90,000 miles; 23% 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. 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.