Lexus IS 250 Problems by Year
Lexus IS 250 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical IS 250 year: 2006, 2007, 2008. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2007 IS 250: 213 complaints, 5 recalls
- 2006 IS 250: 189 complaints, 6 recalls
- 2008 IS 250: 125 complaints, 5 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2016 IS 250: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 2013 IS 250: 5 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2015 IS 250: 16 complaints, 0 recalls
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 250 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags problems | 226 | 11 | 22 |
| Structure problems | 158 | 10 | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 72 | 9 | 30 |
| Engine | 52 | 9 | 2 |
| Visibility/wiper | 50 | 7 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 47 | 9 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 31 | 7 | 2 |
| Steering | 30 | 7 | 1 |
| Power Train | 21 | 7 | 1 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 20 | 3 | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 20 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 16 | 7 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 13 | 5 | 2 |
| Visibility | 13 | 4 | 0 |
| Wheels | 12 | 7 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 11 | 7 | 4 |
| Suspension | 11 | 7 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 9 | 4 | 0 |
| Tires | 9 | 5 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 8 | 3 | 1 |
| Equipment | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 6 | 5 | 2 |
| Seats | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Lexus IS 250 problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
All Lexus IS 250 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 IS 250 | 1 | 0 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2015 IS 250 | 16 | 0 | 5★ | Unknown or Other | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2014 IS 250 | 35 | 0 | 5★ | Electrical System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2013 IS 250 | 5 | 2 | 4★ | Air Bags | |
| 2012 IS 250 | 17 | 4 | — | Air Bags | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2011 IS 250 | 30 | 4 | — | Air Bags | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2010 IS 250 | 40 | 6 | — | Air Bags | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2009 IS 250 | 48 | 6 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2008 IS 250 | 125 | 5 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2007 IS 250 | 213 | 5 | — | Structure | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2006 IS 250 | 189 | 6 | — | Structure | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Lexus: all Lexus models · Lexus VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Lexus IS 250 years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2006 (189), 2007 (213), 2008 (125) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical IS 250 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 250?
Air Bags, with 226 complaints across 11 model years.
How many recalls does the Lexus IS 250 have?
8 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.