Lexus IS Structure Problems
Owners have filed 146 complaints with NHTSA about structure problems on the Lexus IS across 17 model years. The 2007 model year has the most (46). The words owners use most often: “door panels” (24% of reports).
- 146structure complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- 25%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.
- Door panels: mentioned in 35 of 146 complaints (24%)
- Melting dashboard: mentioned in 19 of 146 complaints (13%)
- Glare windshield: mentioned in 12 of 146 complaints (8%)
- Shiny sticky: mentioned in 8 of 146 complaints (5%)
At what mileage do structure problems happen?
Based on 81 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 146 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 2 an injury.
Lexus IS structure complaints by model year
| Model year | Structure complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 IS | 1 | 100% | 15 |
| 2023 IS | 1 | 20% | — |
| 2022 IS | 1 | 25% | — |
| 2017 IS | 1 | 9% | 96,000 |
| 2015 IS | 1 | 11% | — |
| 2014 IS | 1 | 8% | — |
| 2013 IS | 1 | 11% | 8,000 |
| 2012 IS | 4 | 22% | — |
| 2011 IS | 3 | 20% | — |
| 2009 IS | 4 | 10% | 40,000 |
| 2008 IS | 22 | 22% | 59,000 |
| 2007 IS | 46 | 38% | 82,500 |
| 2006 IS | 43 | 30% | 70,000 |
| 2005 IS | 5 | 42% | 85,000 |
| 2004 IS | 3 | 30% | 70,461 |
| 2003 IS | 4 | 33% | 55,000 |
| 2002 IS | 5 | 42% | 80,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists structure for the Lexus IS. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
2012 Lexus IS 250 Complaint Category: Interior/Seat Belts/Air Bags â Interior Component: Interior Moldings/Trim/Panels Narrative This is a safety issue. The dashboard on my 2012 Lexus IS 250 has developed significant cracking and is actively decomposing into a gelatin-like texture, despite the…
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…
The dashboard of our 2011 Lexus IS has begun to "melt," for lack of better words. We have owned the car since 2011 and it has approximately 162000 miles now. The problem has arisen over the last two years or so and is a known issue for cars of that period. Lexus claims they had an enhanced warranty…
The dashboard on our vehicle has started to "melt." While there was a warranty enhancement program in the past (we did not receive notice), the problem has developed after the window for repair closed. This is a true safety issue now as visibility from the front windshield is hindered due to…
I am reporting a recurring front bumper cracking and separation issue on my Lexus IS 500. A crack developed at the front bumper seam directly adjacent to the passenger-side headlight assembly. The crack originates at the bumper mounting/retention area near the headlamp and appears to be…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Lexus ISs have structure problems?
No. NHTSA has 146 owner complaints about structure 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 structure?
No recall currently lists structure for this vehicle.
What do owners say about structure problems on the Lexus IS?
The most frequent phrase is “door panels”, in 35 of 146 complaints, followed by “melting dashboard” (19).
Other Lexus IS problems
- Air Bags problems (116)
See all Lexus IS problems.