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Lexus ISModel year report

2010 Lexus IS Problems

Compared with other Lexus IS years

Typical for this model

46/100 0.9× a typical year · 50 = typical

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
41filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
67,000miles, 14 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
21 mpgcombined, 2.5L 6-cyl RWD · 18 city / 26 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2010 Lexus IS (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 41 consumer complaints for the 2010 Lexus IS. The part named most often is air bags, with 16 complaints (39% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control (6) and other or unknown (5). 14 of the complaints include a mileage, and 36% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 67,000 miles. Of all complaints, 7 involved a crash, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 45 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 4 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. 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 46 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (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: Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (2), Electronic stability control (1), Latches, locks and linkages (1), Suspension (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “Takata recall; I want this taken care of! I just found out about the recall because I went to trade my car in for a new one. I cannot afford the new one now, but I drive my grandchildren around every day. No one told me about this and I am livid. I have my oil changed every 5,000 miles at the local Lexus dealership so my information IS definitely on file. Does someone have to die for Lexus to take care of this??? The lawsuits you will be paying for will be far greater than if they just hire extra people to take care of all these cars.”

NHTSA complaint #10883813, filed 2016-07, 115,325 miles

Vehicle speed control: “I purchased a Lexus is350c on feb 12, 2010. On july 29, 2010 with a little over 9,000 miles on the vehicle, I was getting on the freeway at whipple headed north on 101, I accelerated really hard to avoid oncoming traffic. When I let up on the accelerator the car lost power! I couldn't accelerate or keep up with traffic. The engine was running like there were several cylinders not working. The antiskid and check engine light came on. I drove to the hillsdale shopping center and parked the car. When I restarted the car it ran ok. …”

NHTSA complaint #10354130, filed 2010-09, 9,200 miles

Other or unknown: “My vehicle's dashboard was melting. I thought it was some kind of condensation. When trying to wope it, sticky gook came off on my papertowel explosing the bottom level.of the dashboard. I went through all the levels all.the way to Corporate Lexus legal in TX as the fumes were making me sick. I am a senior citizens who was not planning on buying another vehicle as I drive very little. …”

NHTSA complaint #11736656, filed 2026-05

Transmission and drivetrain: “While driving at highway speeds cruise control set and not set, slight acceleration vehicle seems to completely loose gear and connection with drive train, the rpms spontaneously jump to 6500 to 7000, move the shifter at this point to neutral. Rmps drop to 1200 and then place the shifter to drive and everything reengages. This condition IS intermittent. It has happened upon accelerating to reach highway speeds.”

NHTSA complaint #11388581, filed 2021-01, 80,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

36% of the 14 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 16,911 and 115,325 miles.

21%0–107%10–257%25–5021%50–757%75–10029%100–1507%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (14 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 67,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

2012720172019202120242026
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 2010 Lexus IS 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/IS 250C RWD2.5L 6-cyl6-speed automatic212924$3,400
IS 250/IS 250C RWD2.5L 6-cyl6-speed manual182621$3,900
IS 350/IS 350C RWD3.5L 6-cyl6-speed automatic182520$4,100

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 2010 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. 45 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 45 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 2010 Lexus IS have?

NHTSA recorded 41 consumer complaints for the 2010 Lexus IS as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2010 Lexus IS is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 16 complaints (39% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control with 6.

Has the 2010 Lexus IS been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2010 Lexus IS get?

The EPA rates the 2010 Lexus IS (IS 250/IS 250C, 2.5L 6-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 18 city and 26 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 2010 Lexus IS reported?

Among the 14 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 67,000 miles and the middle half falls between 16,911 and 115,325 miles; 36% 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. 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.