Lexus IS Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 579 consumer complaints across the 17 model years of the Lexus IS (2002–2023) that have at least 5 complaints. 2006 has the most, with 143. Across all years, the part named most often is body and structure (144 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All IS model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 5 | 11,000 | 0 | 58 | — | Too new |
| 2020 | 6 | — | 0 | 25 | — | Not enough data |
| 2017 | 11 | 96,000 | 0 | 23 | — | Not enough data |
| 2015 | 9 | 88,000 | 0 | 19 | — | Not enough data |
| 2014 | 12 | — | 0 | 20 | — | Not enough data |
| 2013 | 9 | 59,594 | 0 | 41 | — | Not enough data |
| 2012 | 18 | 23,000 | 0 | 36 | — | Falling |
| 2011 | 15 | 77,000 | 0 | 38 | — | Falling |
| 2010 | 41 | 67,000 | 1 | 45 | 46 · Typical | Stable |
| 2009 | 40 | 36,750 | 2 | 32 | 77 · More | Falling |
| 2008 | 102 | 78,500 | 3 | 37 | 50 · Typical | Falling |
| 2007 | 122 | 82,500 | 3 | 54 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2006 | 143 | 89,500 | 7 | 54 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 12 | 47,000 | 0 | 39 | — | Not enough data |
| 2004 | 10 | 74,838 | 0 | 30 | — | Not enough data |
| 2003 | 12 | 48,000 | 0 | 28 | — | Not enough data |
| 2002 | 12 | 88,000 | 0 | 28 | — | Not enough data |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Body and structure144 22%
- Air bags116 18%
- Other or unknown111 17%
- Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)92 14%
- Engine69 11%
- Electrical system44 6.8%
- Steering34 5.3%
- Fuel system33 5.1%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2006: “Purchased a car... Owner said it has 139k miles on dashboard clean title no accident after I completed the deal I decided to look up the carfax it IS stating 183k miles I believe the they did the odometer rollback fraud I also checked on Lexus service history report also stating 183k in 03/2017 the seller said everything IS original no changes were made”
NHTSA complaint #11350586, filed 2020-08, 139,060 miles2008: “After driving through a deeper puddle on the road my electron power steering started to work intermittently and after stopping briefly to buy some snacks, my electronic power steering quit completely. It now no longer works at all, and the only way to steer it IS with manual (very heavy) steering. It has been sitting in the driveway for the past 3 weeks.”
NHTSA complaint #11253961, filed 2019-09, 147,000 miles2007: “The cover over the front passenger IS detached and hanging open. This happened some time following a recall repair. I am concerned that something IS wrong. Both front wheel ball joints failed and I was told that this was a dangerous situation. I had them replaced as I was traveling and not able to go to a Lexus dealer.”
NHTSA complaint #11342808, filed 2020-08, 77,500 milesOther Lexus models
1,448 complaintsLexus RX
962 complaintsLexus RX350
833 complaintsLexus RX300
719 complaintsLexus IS 250
718 complaintsLexus ES300
677 complaintsLexus ES
658 complaintsLexus RX330
524 complaints
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. Methodology