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Lexus ISModel year report

2005 Lexus IS Problems

Complaints
12filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
47,000miles, 7 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2005 Lexus IS (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 12 consumer complaints for the 2005 Lexus IS. The part named most often is body and structure, with 5 complaints (42% of the total), followed by brakes (2) and transmission and drivetrain (2). 7 of the complaints include a mileage, and 57% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 47,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 39 technical service bulletins for this model year. Body and structure complaints overlap with 15 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

Body and structure: “One day I just got into my car after cleaning it and the dash was very sticky, I thought someone split something in my car so I wiped it down but it did nothing.”

NHTSA complaint #10617687, filed 2014-07

Brakes: “As I prepared to make a right turn onto a busy street, I suddenly could not brake normally. Instead, I was unable to press the brake down as a balloon like feeling pushed it back up, but it also did not return all the way up to its normal position. The result was I was moving with no way to slow down the car. Fortunately, I was not moving at a high speed and immediately shifted into park. I was fortunate this did not occur while I was at full speed. The brake lights did turn on at the time of the issue. An independent mechanic suspects a brake booster failure. …”

NHTSA complaint #11438814, filed 2021-10

Transmission and drivetrain: “Lexus is300, 2005 5 speed. I bought this car brand new on june 2005. After 2900 miles the clutch had to be replaced by Lexus. They claim that I drive with the foot on the clutch pedal (which I don't). I have driven stick shift since I was in college over 30 years ago.”

NHTSA complaint #10143937, filed 2005-11, 2,900 miles

Engine cooling: “Coasting into a parking spot , my foot not on the gas , the car took off. I had to slam my foot on the brake and with the help of the parking spot stopper the car stopped. The car felt like it was going to go over the stopper.”

NHTSA complaint #10453704, filed 2012-04, 47,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

57% of the 7 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 13,000 and 70,000 miles.

14%0–1029%10–2514%25–5014%50–750%75–10029%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (7 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 47,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

200520072008201120122014420152021
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.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2005 Lexus IS in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by 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. 39 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 39 bulletins →

Other model years of the Lexus IS

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2023511,0000523—Too new
20206—0———Not enough data
20171196,0000———Not enough data
2015988,0000———Not enough data
201412—0———Not enough data
2013959,5940—24—Not enough data
20121823,0000—22—Falling
20111577,0000—22—Falling
20104167,0001—2146 · TypicalStable
20094036,7502——77 · MoreFalling
200810278,5003——50 · TypicalFalling
200712282,5003——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200614389,5007——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20051247,0000———Not enough data
20041074,8380———Not enough data
20031248,0000———Not enough data
20021288,0000———Not enough data

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

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2005 Lexus IS have?

NHTSA recorded 12 consumer complaints for the 2005 Lexus IS as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2005 Lexus IS is reported most often?

Body and structure is named most often, in 5 complaints (42% of the total), followed by brakes with 2.

Has the 2005 Lexus IS been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2005 Lexus IS reported?

Among the 7 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 47,000 miles and the middle half falls between 13,000 and 70,000 miles; 57% 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.

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.