Lexus IS years to avoid
More than twice the IS's typical complaint count for a model year.
Best Lexus IS years
Fewest owner complaints among the last 20 model years, counting only those with at least four years on the road.
Lexus IS complaints by model year
Owner complaints by model year. Newer years have had less time on the road, so expect them to grow.
Most common Lexus IS problems
All model years combined.
- Body146
- Airbags116
- Visibility94
- Engine78
- Electrical45
- Fuel system38
- Steering34
- Transmission27
- Acceleration27
- Brakes22
- Lights15
- Suspension12
Lexus IS problems year by year
Tap a year to see its problems, recalls and what owners say.
| Year | Score | Complaints | Top problem | Typical mileage | Recalls | Crashes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | - | 2 | Acceleration | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2025 | - | 1 | Body | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2024 | - | 1 | Visibility | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2023 | - | 5 | Body | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2022 | 89 | 4 | Fuel system | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2021 | 93 | 2 | 0 | 1 | |||
| 2020 | 83 | 7 | Fuel system | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2019 | 93 | 2 | Tires | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2018 | 91 | 3 | Engine | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2017 | 75 | 11 | Fuel system | 0 | 0 | Fewest complaints | |
| 2016 | 93 | 2 | Fuel system | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2015 | 79 | 9 | Electrical | 0 | 0 | Fewest complaints | |
| 2014 | 72 | 12 | Electrical | 0 | 1 | ||
| 2013 | 79 | 9 | Visibility | 0 | 2 | Fewest complaints | |
| 2012 | 54 | 18 | Airbags | 23,000 | 0 | 3 | |
| 2011 | 64 | 15 | Airbags | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2010 | 23 | 41 | Airbags | 67,000 | 1 | 7 | |
| 2009 | 26 | 40 | Acceleration | 37,500 | 2 | 4 | |
| 2008 | 5 | 102 | Engine | 83,000 | 3 | 4 | Avoid |
| 2007 | 5 | 122 | Body | 85,000 | 3 | 6 | Avoid |
| 2006 | 5 | 143 | Body | 90,000 | 7 | 3 | Avoid |
| 2005 | 67 | 12 | Body | 47,000 | 0 | 2 | |
| 2004 | 71 | 10 | Airbags | 79,675 | 0 | 1 | |
| 2003 | 62 | 12 | Airbags | 48,000 | 0 | 5 | |
| 2002 | 71 | 12 | Body | 116,000 | 0 | 1 | |
| 2001 | 95 | 1 | Engine | 0 | 1 | ||
| 1999 | - | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Recalls 8
Questions about the Lexus IS
What years of the Lexus IS should you avoid?
2006, 2007 and 2008. Each has more than twice the Lexus IS's typical number of owner complaints for a model year; 2006 alone has 143, mostly about body and visibility.
What is the best year for a used Lexus IS?
2013, 2015 and 2017 have the fewest owner complaints among model years that have been on the road for at least four years (9, 9 and 11).
What is the most common problem with the Lexus IS?
Body, with 146 complaints across all years, followed by airbags (116) and visibility (94).
How many recalls does the Lexus IS have?
8 recalls between 1999 and 2026. The 2006 model year has the most, with 7.
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