2002 Lexus IS Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other IS years
- More complaints than other years 8th of 27 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Lexus IS. That ranks 8th out of 27 IS model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is structure (5 complaints, 42%), typically at around 80,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 injury. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year.
- 12owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2002 Lexus IS problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 5 | 42% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 17% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 8% | 203,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 8% | 203,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 8% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 8% | 116,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 8% | 50,999 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 8% | 60,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2002 Lexus IS recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 2002 Lexus IS.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Problem started when car was in for repair of wheel alignment wheels got stolen from dealer collision center lexus not car goes out of alignment while driving on a rough road wearing out tires compliantly about 3 set of tires replaced
Car runs great until check engine light comes on followed by vsc and then brake light. When those lights come on it runs rough and brakes make gear noise under driver's side hood area. Brake is very sluggish and almost non existent when it fails. Let it set, clear fault and runs fine until warm…
Dashboard is melting. *tr
Over the years my dashboard has deteriorated, the rubber has become sticky and nasty just like all the other lexus vehicles in complaints. I understand there is a recall regarding this matter but not my year. I do not understand why this wouldn't apply to all the 2002 models that are experiencing…
Something on windshield that makes it hard to see, it impairs my vision. Dashboard is literally melting! It's sticky! Now i don't understand why lexus doesn't take care of their customers and send out a recall. Fix their mistakes and do it right. I understand they tried to pass some cheaper…
Other Lexus IS years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 IS | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 IS | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 IS | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 IS | 5 | 0 |
| 2022 IS | 4 | 1 |
| 2021 IS | 2 | 0 |
| 2020 IS | 6 | 0 |
| 2019 IS | 2 | 0 |
| 2018 IS | 3 | 0 |
| 2017 IS | 11 | 0 |
| 2016 IS | 2 | 0 |
| 2015 IS | 9 | 0 |
| 2014 IS | 12 | 0 |
| 2013 IS | 9 | 0 |
| 2012 IS | 18 | 0 |
| 2011 IS | 15 | 0 |
| 2010 IS | 40 | 1 |
| 2009 IS | 40 | 2 |
| 2008 IS | 102 | 3 |
| 2007 IS | 122 | 3 |
| 2006 IS | 143 | 7 |
| 2005 IS | 12 | 0 |
| 2004 IS | 10 | 0 |
| 2003 IS | 12 | 0 |
| 2002 | 12 | 0 |
| 2001 IS | 1 | 0 |
| 1999 IS | 1 | 0 |
See all Lexus IS problems by year, every Lexus model, or the Lexus VIN decoder.
Similar Lexus models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Lexus IS?
Owners most often report structure, tires, air bags problems. The top one, structure, accounts for 5 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Lexus IS?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 2002 Lexus IS a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other IS model years, the 2002 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.