Lexus IS 300 Problems by Year
Lexus IS 300 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical IS 300 year: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2002 IS 300: 28 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2001 IS 300: 27 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2003 IS 300: 21 complaints, 0 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2006 IS 300: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 2021 IS 300: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 2022 IS 300: 1 complaint, 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 300 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 21 | 7 | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 18 | 5 | 6 |
| Suspension | 14 | 8 | 0 |
| Power Train | 12 | 5 | 2 |
| Tires | 11 | 6 | 2 |
| Air Bags | 9 | 5 | 7 |
| Engine | 7 | 6 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Wheels | 5 | 4 | 2 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Visibility | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 1 | 1 |
All Lexus IS 300 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 IS 300 | 1 | 0 | 5★ | Engine | |
| 2021 IS 300 | 1 | 0 | 5★ | Engine | |
| 2020 IS 300 | 2 | 0 | 5★ | Air Bags | |
| 2019 IS 300 | 7 | 2 | 5★ | Unknown or Other | |
| 2018 IS 300 | 6 | 1 | 5★ | Fuel/propulsion System | |
| 2017 IS 300 | 2 | 0 | 5★ | Suspension | |
| 2016 IS 300 | 3 | 0 | 5★ | Electrical System | |
| 2006 IS 300 | 1 | 0 | — | Fuel/propulsion System | |
| 2005 IS 300 | 4 | 0 | — | Engine | |
| 2004 IS 300 | 19 | 0 | — | Structure | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2003 IS 300 | 21 | 0 | — | Structure | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2002 IS 300 | 28 | 0 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2001 IS 300 | 27 | 0 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Lexus: all Lexus models · Lexus VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Lexus IS 300 years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2001 (27), 2002 (28), 2003 (21), 2004 (19) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical IS 300 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 300?
Structure, with 21 complaints across 7 model years.
How many recalls does the Lexus IS 300 have?
2 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.