What Lexus IS owners have reported to NHTSA, the service bulletins the manufacturer sent dealers, and any federal defect investigations, by model year. See Lexus IS safety recalls or check your VIN.
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA, by the model year of the vehicle. A high count can also mean a popular year, so compare it with how many were sold.
| Year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injured | Deaths | TSBs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 2025 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 |
| 2024 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 |
| 2023 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 57 |
| 2022 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 |
| 2021 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 81 |
| 2020 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 63 |
| 2019 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 82 |
| 2018 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 116 |
| 2017 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 128 |
| 2016 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 165 |
| 2015 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 232 |
| 2014 | 65 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 285 |
| 2013 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 252 |
| 2012 | 44 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 216 |
| 2011 | 65 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 211 |
| 2010 | 112 | 17 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 223 |
The vehicle systems named most often in Lexus IS complaints (one complaint can name several).
In the owners’ own words, as filed with NHTSA. Unverified reports; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
The digital tachometer lags and delays engine RPM feedback, which makes it difficult to safely monitor vehicle performance while accelerating.
While I was driving, my sunroof on the top exploded. There was no rock impact, no external or internal impact. I called Lexus and they told me itâs not covered. The Lexus representative said to submit a claim with triple A cus itâll be at least 5k to take out everything and replace it. They wonât fix it themselves.
Sunroof exploded outwards while driving on the freeway. Temperature about 56degrees F, humidity 92% pressure 29.94. Unsafe, glass exploding, sharp glass
Rear Driver side curtain air bag exploded while my car was parked. Happened around noon. It would have caused serious bodily injury to myself and passengers if we were in the vehicle.
I am reporting recurring infotainment, display, audio, and related electrical malfunctions with my vehicle that have continued despite multiple visits and repair attempts by an authorized Lexus dealership. The problems began when the vehicle was relatively new and have continued intermittently. While driving, the vehicle's audio system can suddenly cut out completely at different volume levels and without warning. When this occurs, normal audio functions are lost and the system generally does not return to normal operation unless the vehicle/system is restarted. The infotainment/display screen also intermittently shuts off, goes black, and/or repeatedly reboots while the vehicle is being o…
255 /40 R18 99Y XL BSW Continental CONTROLCONTACT SPORT SRS+ Tire date: 2125 DOT 1CN0FBF5W Tire pressure rear set at 38 psi checked a week prior. Tire pressure Sensor light was not on at time of incident. Purchased 7 months ago, Jan 16 2026, 3335 miles on the tire when the incident happened. Driving on a country road at 60 mph, i hear flopping coming from the rear. The tire separated from the sidewall on the inner side and folded outward extending pass the fender. Managed to pull to side and replace with spare. No one was called for assistance.
I was in a collision accident where the front of my vehicle was impacted. The airbag did not deploy.
The dashboard (instrument panel) on this 2012 Lexus IS 250 has degraded and deteriorated, developing a shiny, reflective surface. In daylight and bright conditions, this degraded surface reflects onto the windshield and produces a significant glare that obstructs the driver's view of the road. The glare materially impairs forward visibility and makes safe operation of the vehicle dangerous, particularly given the driver's reduced tolerance for compromised visibility. This is a known and widespread defect. Lexus formally acknowledged the cracking/melting dashboard condition through Customer Support Program ZLZ, which covered approximately 584,800 vehicles. The defect is understood to result …
Repair instructions and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about known issues. A TSB is not a recall, and the repair is usually free only while the car is under warranty; ask your dealer for the bulletin number.
A battery in a stored vehicle is subject to conditions that can reduce its performance and service life. These conditions include storage period, temperature, parasitic drain, and battery load. Because of these factors, battery inspection and maintenance are required to ensure proper operation and optimal battery life.
During the manufacturing process, tires are mounted on the vehicle as matched sets to help reduce conditions such as pulling or drifting. If the wheels are replaced or refinished before vehicle delivery, it is important that the tires remain on the vehicle in the same location and in the same direction of rotation.
2027 model year Lexus vehicles are equipped with driver side floor mat retainers to secure the floor mat in the correct position
Long-term or off-site storage requires special care to maintain vehicle condition. The following guidelines should be implemented to minimize vehicle component/part degradation due to extended vehicle storage conditions. Long-term storage can affect a vehicleâs systems and components. Any problems that are found should be corrected immediately.
OBSOLETE NOTICE Month ##, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see L-SB-0018-26
During the manufacturing process, tires are mounted on the vehicle as matched sets to help reduce conditions such as pulling or drifting. If the wheels are replaced or refinished before vehicle delivery, it is important that the tires remain on the vehicle in the same location and in the same direction of rotation.
A battery in a stored vehicle is subject to conditions that can reduce its performance and service life. These conditions include storage period, temperature, parasitic drain, and battery load. Because of these factors, battery inspection and maintenance are required in order to ensure proper operation and optimal battery life.
OBSOLETE NOTICE June 18, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see L-SB-0017-26.
OBSOLETE NOTICE June 15, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see L-SB-0016-26.
Long-term or off-site storage requires special care to maintain vehicle condition. The following guidelines should be performed to minimize vehicle component/part degradation due to extended vehicle storage conditions. Long-term storage can affect a vehicleâs systems and components. Anyproblems that are found should be corrected immediately.
A battery in a stored vehicle is subject to conditions that can reduce its performance and service life. These conditions include storage period, temperature, parasitic drain, and battery load. Because of these factors, battery inspection and maintenance are required in order to ensure proper operation and optimal battery life.
OBSOLETE NOTICE February 10, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see L-SB-0005-26.
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opens these when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Many end in a recall.
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 20
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation public data (complaints, manufacturer communications, investigations), model years 2010 and later. Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA.
In complaints filed with NHTSA for model years 2010–2027, owners most often name: air bags, unknown or other, engine. 397 complaints are on record.
No. A complaint is an unverified report from an owner. A technical service bulletin (TSB) is the manufacturer telling dealers how to fix a known issue; it is not a safety recall and is usually covered only under warranty. A recall is a formal safety action, and its repair is free.
File a vehicle safety complaint at NHTSA.gov. NHTSA reads every report, and patterns of complaints are what open defect investigations and, eventually, recalls.
