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Lexus ISModel year report

2009 Lexus IS Problems

Compared with other Lexus IS years

More complaints than typical for this model

77/100 1.9× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with a typical complaint level and no open NHTSA investigation: 2008, 2010

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
36,750miles, 24 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2009 Lexus IS (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 40 consumer complaints for the 2009 Lexus IS. The part named most often is other or unknown, with 10 complaints (25% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control (10) and visibility (7). 24 of the complaints include a mileage, and 58% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 36,750 miles. Of all complaints, 4 involved a crash, 4 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 32 technical service bulletins for this model year. Vehicle speed control complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign and 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part. Compared with the other 2 Lexus IS model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 77 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (more complaints than 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: Electronic stability control (1), Fuel system (1), Seats (1), Steering (1), Suspension (1), Transmission and drivetrain (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Other or unknown: “My dash board IS melting. It IS really sticky and produce a glare on windshield when driving in the direction of sun. It IS becoming very difficult to see. There IS a recall on other years and models. Recall should be reevaluated to include all cars effected by this defect.”

NHTSA complaint #10732598, filed 2015-07, 55,000 miles

Vehicle speed control: “At approximately 85k total miles, is250 automatic began dropping from 5-6k RPM to 2-3k RPM whenever changing road grade to an incline or decline, usually above 50 MPH, dropping to 35 MPH on the highway. To maintain proper speed, I would have to downshift from d to s and floor the accelerator. Traction control, parking brake, and ABS lights would sometimes coincide with this problem. This continued until I sold the is250 at 88k miles.”

NHTSA complaint #11414566, filed 2021-04, 85,000 miles

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “While driving on a northern california highway on 12/23/2016, I heard a huge explosion and saw that my sunroof had exploded. I immediately closed the hatch to prevent glass from coming into the vehicle. When I pulled over and got out to look at the damage, I noticed that the glass was pushed up - indicating that it had exploded outward not inward (as in something falling on it).”

NHTSA complaint #10937714, filed 2016-12, 82,000 miles

Air bags: “The dashboard IS melting, it gets sticky and when driving in the sun there's a noticeable glare that makes it hard to drive. And the same thing IS happening to the driver side door.”

NHTSA complaint #10621778, filed 2014-08, 36,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

58% of the 24 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 8,095 and 66,537 miles.

29%0–1013%10–2517%25–5017%50–758%75–10013%100–1504%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (24 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 36,750 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.

’098’12’15’18’20’22’24’26
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

Recall details for the 2009 Lexus IS → · 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. 32 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 32 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 2009 Lexus IS have?

NHTSA recorded 40 consumer complaints for the 2009 Lexus IS as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2009 Lexus IS is reported most often?

Other or unknown is named most often, in 10 complaints (25% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control with 10.

Has the 2009 Lexus IS been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2009 Lexus IS reported?

Among the 24 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 36,750 miles and the middle half falls between 8,095 and 66,537 miles; 58% 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.