Lexus IS Air Bags Problems
Owners have filed 116 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the Lexus IS across 13 model years. The 2006 model year has the most (26). The words owners use most often: “wiring harness” (10% of reports).
- 116air bags complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 16mention a crash
- 11mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $4,050typical repair cost reported by owners
- 18%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Wiring harness: mentioned in 12 of 116 complaints (10%)
- Passenger airbag: mentioned in 10 of 116 complaints (9%)
- Side knee: mentioned in 6 of 116 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical air bags repair on the Lexus IS at $4,050, and half of them between $3,550 and $4,600.
Based on 8 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2014–2024), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do air bags problems happen?
Based on 47 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 116 complaints, 16 mention a crash, 11 an injury.
Lexus IS air bags complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Air bags
Model years: 2006
Problem: On certain vehicles, due to improper assembly of the air bag inflator, which is used in the side air bag, the curtain shield air bag, and the knee air bag assembly, some inflators were produced with an insufficient amount of the heating agents necessary for proper air bag deployment. In this condition, the expansion force of the gas may be insufficient to properly inflate the air bag when the srs system is activated during a crash.
Risk: This may increase the risk of injury to the occupant in the involved seating position in the event of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the specific srs air bag. The recall began on april 6, 2006. Owners may contact toyota at 1-888-270-9371, scion at 1-866-548-1851, or lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
my 2017 Lexus IS 300. While the vehicle was parked and not involved in a collision or crash, the driver-side rear curtain/side airbag unexpectedly deployed/exploded. There was no impact or event that should have caused an airbag deployment. The deployment occurred with significant force and caused…
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 was in a collision accident where the front of my vehicle was impacted. The airbag did not deploy.
The dashboard on my 2012 Lexus IS 250 has developed significant cracking across the surface despite the vehicle being garage-kept, low mileage, and well-maintained throughout my ownership. The cracking is not the result of any accident, impact, or misuse â it appeared spontaneously and has…
I had a head on collision with a light pole and the airbags did not deploy. The vehicle was inspected by aProgressive insurance claims adjuster and they claimed the vehicle a total loss. They kept the vehicle. There were no warning lights or anything. The vehicle had been taken into a North Park…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Lexus ISs have air bags problems?
No. NHTSA has 116 owner complaints about air bags for the Lexus IS. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Lexus IS air bags?
Yes: 1 safety recall list air bags. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix air bags problems on the Lexus IS?
Owners report a typical cost of $4,050 (half paid between $3,550 and $4,600), from 8 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about air bags problems on the Lexus IS?
The most frequent phrase is “wiring harness”, in 12 of 116 complaints, followed by “passenger airbag” (10).
Other Lexus IS problems
- Structure problems (146)
See all Lexus IS problems.