Lexus IS Problems by Year
NHTSA has 596 owner complaints and 8 safety recalls on file for the Lexus IS, across 27 model years (1999–2026). The 2006 model year has the most complaints (143). The most reported problem area overall is structure.
Lexus IS years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical IS year: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2006 IS: 143 complaints, 7 recalls
- 2007 IS: 122 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2008 IS: 102 complaints, 3 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Lexus IS problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structure problems | 146 | 17 | 3 |
| Air Bags problems | 116 | 13 | 16 |
| Visibility/wiper | 79 | 12 | 2 |
| Engine | 71 | 16 | 4 |
| Electrical System | 44 | 11 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 35 | 14 | 0 |
| Steering | 34 | 11 | 4 |
| Power Train | 27 | 11 | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 27 | 8 | 10 |
| Service Brakes | 17 | 11 | 7 |
| Exterior Lighting | 15 | 6 | 0 |
| Visibility | 15 | 9 | 1 |
| Suspension | 12 | 9 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 7 | 5 | 2 |
| Seats | 6 | 5 | 1 |
| Tires | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Wheels | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 1 | 1 |
All Lexus IS model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 IS | 1 | 0 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | |
| 2025 IS | 1 | 0 | — | Structure | |
| 2024 IS | 1 | 0 | — | Visibility | |
| 2023 IS | 5 | 0 | — | Back Over Prevention | |
| 2022 IS | 4 | 1 | — | Fuel/propulsion System | |
| 2021 IS | 2 | 0 | — | Unknown or Other | |
| 2020 IS | 6 | 0 | — | Engine | |
| 2019 IS | 2 | 0 | — | Tires | |
| 2018 IS | 3 | 0 | — | Engine | |
| 2017 IS | 11 | 0 | — | Fuel/propulsion System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2016 IS | 2 | 0 | — | Fuel/propulsion System | |
| 2015 IS | 9 | 0 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2014 IS | 12 | 0 | — | Electrical System | More complaints than other years |
| 2013 IS | 9 | 0 | — | Engine | |
| 2012 IS | 18 | 0 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2011 IS | 15 | 0 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2010 IS | 40 | 1 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2009 IS | 40 | 2 | — | Unknown or Other | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2008 IS | 102 | 3 | — | Unknown or Other | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2007 IS | 122 | 3 | — | Structure | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2006 IS | 143 | 7 | — | Structure | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2005 IS | 12 | 0 | — | Structure | More complaints than other years |
| 2004 IS | 10 | 0 | — | Unknown or Other | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2003 IS | 12 | 0 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2002 IS | 12 | 0 | — | Structure | More complaints than other years |
| 2001 IS | 1 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | |
| 1999 IS | 1 | 0 | — | Unknown or Other |
More from Lexus: all Lexus models · Lexus VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Lexus IS years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2006 (143), 2007 (122), 2008 (102), 2009 (40), 2010 (40), 2012 (18) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical IS year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Lexus IS?
Structure, with 146 complaints across 17 model years.
How many recalls does the Lexus IS have?
8 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.