Owners have filed 20 complaints
about the 2015 Lexus IS 250 with NHTSA between 2015 and 2023.
The largest single group is the other & unspecified.
Across this model's run it ranks 9 of 9 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 10
Against the median year of the Lexus IS 250. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 26
5% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 85
50% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2015 Lexus IS 250
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Other & Unspecified
630.0%
Median failure at 10,000 miles
Electrical System
420.0%
Median failure at 43,215 miles
Airbags
315.0%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 10,000 mi
Stability & Traction Control
15.0%
Median failure at 43,215 miles
Seats
15.0%
Median failure at 84,000 miles
Wheels
15.0%
Fuel & Propulsion
15.0%
Suspension
15.0%
Median failure at 42,000 miles
Body & Structure
15.0%
Median failure at 69,000 miles
Engine & Cooling
15.0%
Median failure at 4,000 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
17.1%
1,000 – 9,999 miles
321.4%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
321.4%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
428.6%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
214.3%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
17.1%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Nov 2015peak 2May 2023
NHTSA investigations into the 2015 Lexus IS 250
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.C...
Recalls on the 2015 Lexus IS 250
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 202172355,683 units in Canada
Electrical
Issue: This recall is for certain block heater kits installed on certain vehicles or sold as accessories at Toyota or Lexus dealerships. On certain vehicles, the engine block heater cable may not have enough heat protection and could be damaged by high temperatures. If this happens, the cable could short circuit while plugged in, and cause the wiring to overheat or melt. Note: This recall only affects the following block heater/cord part numbers: C014003034 PK5A408J09 PU14000904 C014003151 PK5A408J13 PU14000905 C014000885 PK5A489J11 PU14000907 C014000888 PK5A489J22 PU14000909 C014000907 PK5A410H00 PU14000911 C014100904 PU14000900 PU14000913 C014100907 PU14000901 PU14003571 C014100911 PU14000902 PK5A489J14 PK5A408J05 PU14000903 Safety Risk: Engine block heater wiring that overheats or melts could create the risk of a fire. Corrective Actions: Toyota recommends that you should stop using the engine block heater immediately. Toyota will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to disable the engine block heater. For some vehicles, the corrective actions for this recall are under development. For others, a new engine block heater cannot be installed, and the owner will receive a refund of the purchase price of the engine block heater.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 35 milesBakersfield, CACrash
AIR BAGS
VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION HAD A DRIVER SIDE HIT, REALLY BAD AND REALLY HARD AND THE BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY
NHTSA complaint #11132009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 69,000 milesNew Haven, CT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2015 Lexus IS250. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the radio was inoperable. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that electrical connections located in the trunk space were submerged in water. The cause of the water intrusion was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure and advised the contact to schedule a service appointment. The contact was concerned that with the electrical connections submerged in water, it could cause a fire and safety hazard. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 69,000.
NHTSA complaint #11519732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 69,000 milesNew Haven, CT
STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2015 Lexus IS250. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the radio was inoperable. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that electrical connections located in the trunk space were submerged in water. The cause of the water intrusion was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure and advised the contact to schedule a service appointment. The contact was concerned that with the electrical connections submerged in water, it could cause a fire and safety hazard. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 69,000.
NHTSA complaint #11519732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Huntington Beach, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHEN IT RAINS THERE IS A LEAKAGE IN THE TRUNK WHERE THE AMPLIFIER IS LOCATED. I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY RADIO I WAS NOT ABLE TO HEAR ANYTHING ALTHOUGH EVERYTHING SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE SCREEN I WASN'T ABLE TO PUT VOLUME AND NO SOUND WAS COMING OUT THE SPEAKER I LATER FIND OUT THAT IT WAS THE AMPLIFIER NOT WORKING BECAUSE WHERE THE AMPLIFIER IS LOCATED INSIDE THE TRUNK IT WAS FILLED WITH WATER FROM A RAINY DAY I ENDED UP HAVING TO BUY ANOTHER AMPLIFIER AND I INSTALLED IT AND MY SOUND FINALLY WORKED I WAS ABLE TO PUT VOLUME UP AND DOWN 2 MONTHS LATER AFTER I BOUGHT THE NEW ONE ANOTHER RAINY STORM HAPPENED AND MY SOUND STOPPED WORKING TO MY SURPRISE IT WAS FILLED WITH WATER WHERE THE AMPLIFIER IS LOCATED AND IT SMELLED LIKE BURNT THE WATER LEAKAGE CAUSED MY AMPLIFIER TO BURN I DID MY RESEARCH AND I FOUND OUT THAT IM NOT THE ONLY ONE GOING THROUGH THIS PROBLEM ON LEXUSCLUB.COM AND GOOGLE I FOUND VARIOUS PEOPLE GOING THROUGH THE SAME PROBLEM IM ASSUMING THIS IS HOW THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED AND THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE EVERYTHING COULD'VE BURNED SINCE ITS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL THERE IS NO COINCIDENCE THAT OTHER LEXUS OWNERS ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME PROBLEM MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY TYPE OF COLLISION NOR ANYTHING HAS HAPPENED TO IT TO CAUSE THAT LEAKAGE IN THAT AREA THIS IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT
NHTSA complaint #11513337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Huntington Beach, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN IT RAINS THERE IS A LEAKAGE IN THE TRUNK WHERE THE AMPLIFIER IS LOCATED. I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY RADIO I WAS NOT ABLE TO HEAR ANYTHING ALTHOUGH EVERYTHING SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE SCREEN I WASN'T ABLE TO PUT VOLUME AND NO SOUND WAS COMING OUT THE SPEAKER I LATER FIND OUT THAT IT WAS THE AMPLIFIER NOT WORKING BECAUSE WHERE THE AMPLIFIER IS LOCATED INSIDE THE TRUNK IT WAS FILLED WITH WATER FROM A RAINY DAY I ENDED UP HAVING TO BUY ANOTHER AMPLIFIER AND I INSTALLED IT AND MY SOUND FINALLY WORKED I WAS ABLE TO PUT VOLUME UP AND DOWN 2 MONTHS LATER AFTER I BOUGHT THE NEW ONE ANOTHER RAINY STORM HAPPENED AND MY SOUND STOPPED WORKING TO MY SURPRISE IT WAS FILLED WITH WATER WHERE THE AMPLIFIER IS LOCATED AND IT SMELLED LIKE BURNT THE WATER LEAKAGE CAUSED MY AMPLIFIER TO BURN I DID MY RESEARCH AND I FOUND OUT THAT IM NOT THE ONLY ONE GOING THROUGH THIS PROBLEM ON LEXUSCLUB.COM AND GOOGLE I FOUND VARIOUS PEOPLE GOING THROUGH THE SAME PROBLEM IM ASSUMING THIS IS HOW THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED AND THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE EVERYTHING COULD'VE BURNED SINCE ITS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL THERE IS NO COINCIDENCE THAT OTHER LEXUS OWNERS ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME PROBLEM MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY TYPE OF COLLISION NOR ANYTHING HAS HAPPENED TO IT TO CAUSE THAT LEAKAGE IN THAT AREA THIS IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT
NHTSA complaint #11513337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Shakopee, MN
WHEELS
On October 22, 2022 while driving on the freeway at 55 MPH my front driver side tire lost all pressure rapidly. Luckily, I had run flat tires that prevented a dangerous incident to myself and fellow drivers. I took my car to a local tire shop, and they identified extreme inner wear of the tire that ripped through the sidewall. This similar damage happened once before. I have replaced two sets of tires in under 30,000 miles. Based on an online search I have found that this issue is widespread to Lexus owners. Here is one forum discussing the issue: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-3rd-gen-2014-present/940025-all-about-lexus-is-premature-inner-tire-wear.html. I have contacted Lexus about this, but they would not do anything substantial to address this safety issue. Could the NHTSA investigate this and have Lexus provide a fix?
NHTSA complaint #11490832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fort Worth, TX
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
after I get gas my car wont start. This has been happening for about 9 months. It takes about 10 mins for the car to turn on. Yesterday after I got gas and was driving, my car completely shut off in the middle of the freeway- thought I was going to die. VERY dangerous. Took my car to lexus back in may to be fixed and the issue was NOT fixed. They put new gas in my car and told me that was the issue... was not.
NHTSA complaint #11434528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 49,000 milesGarland, TX
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THIS QUESTION IS JUST ABOUT THIS LETTER THAT I RECEIVED AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND A WAY TO GET HELP FOR IT.
NHTSA complaint #11386235 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 42,000 milesRandallstown, MD
SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING. THEY SAY CAUSE TIRE WAS WEARING NEED ALIGNMENT. BOUGHT THE CAR PREOWNED APRIL 2019 AND THIS HAPPEN NOVEMBER 2019. REPLACED TIRES IN NOVEMBER 2019 AND ALIGNMENT. TIRES ARE WEARING IN THE INNER AGAIN SINCE MARCH 2020. LEXUS SAID THE MANUFACTURER MADE THESE IS CARS A CERTAIN WAY THAT THE TIRES WILL ALWAYS WEAR. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT A TIRE CAN'T HANDLE THE SUSPENSION PERFORMANCE OF THIS MODEL CAR FOR ONLY COUPLE MONTHS AND THAN YOUR TIRE BLOW OUT WHILE DRIVING DUE TO HAVING TO REPLACE THEM EVERY 5-6 MONTHS. CUSTOMERS WERE NOT MADE KNOWN OF THESE WITH MODELS AS OLD AS MINE 2015.
NHTSA complaint #11321994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 84,000 milesBedford, TX
SEATS
VENTILATED SEATS WHEN SELECT TO BE COLD THE BOTTOM PART ON BOTH IS COLD BUT THE BACK PART BECOME REALLY HOT ON BOTH SEAT WITH NO REASON
NHTSA complaint #11229835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 35 milesBakersfield, CACrash
AIR BAGS
VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION HAD A DRIVER SIDE HIT, REALLY BAD AND REALLY HARD AND THE BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY
NHTSA complaint #11132009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Irving, TX
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CARS,COM HAS AN ARTICLE THAT THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THE LEXUS IS250-350 DISPLAY SCREEN AND LEXUS DEALERSHIP WILL REPLACE THE DAMAGED ANTI-REFLECTIVE COATING SO THE DISPLAY SCREEN WILL WORK. I PURCHASED THE CAR LAST YEAR AND MY SCREEN IS BLANK. THIS ISSUE STARTED YESTERDAY AND I WANT TO KNOW IF OTHER MODEL VEHICLES ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. AGAIN, IT IS THE DISPLAY AUDIO SCREEN WITH BACK UP CAMERA. TSB-NO SB0002-16.
NHTSA complaint #11129634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mckinney, TX
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NOTICED MY LEATHER CENTER CONSOLE HAS CRACKS AND IS SHINY WHEN IT'S HOT OUTSIDE.
NHTSA complaint #11053775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 43,215 milesOpalocka, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING AND OUT OF NO WHERE MY INDICATOR LIGHT SAID LOW VOLTAGE STEERING. I WAITED A COUPLE OF DAYS TO GET AN OIL CHANGE AND HAVE THE CAR INSPECTED AND THE SERVICE GUY WROTE UP THE ORDER. I GAVE THE SERVICE GUY MY KEYS AND NOTICED HE NEVER MOVED THE CAR, I QUESTIONED HIM AS TO WHY AND HE SAID THE CAR WON'T START. I REPLIED TO HIS STATEMENT AND SAID HOW IS THAT I JUST CUT IT OFF. THE SERVICE GUY HAD A TECH TEST THE BATTERY AND COULDN'T READ IT BECAUSE THE VOLTAGE WAS EXTREMELY LOW.
NHTSA complaint #10981613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 43,215 milesOpalocka, FL
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
I WAS DRIVING AND OUT OF NO WHERE MY INDICATOR LIGHT SAID LOW VOLTAGE STEERING. I WAITED A COUPLE OF DAYS TO GET AN OIL CHANGE AND HAVE THE CAR INSPECTED AND THE SERVICE GUY WROTE UP THE ORDER. I GAVE THE SERVICE GUY MY KEYS AND NOTICED HE NEVER MOVED THE CAR, I QUESTIONED HIM AS TO WHY AND HE SAID THE CAR WON'T START. I REPLIED TO HIS STATEMENT AND SAID HOW IS THAT I JUST CUT IT OFF. THE SERVICE GUY HAD A TECH TEST THE BATTERY AND COULDN'T READ IT BECAUSE THE VOLTAGE WAS EXTREMELY LOW.
NHTSA complaint #10981613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 10,000 milesMorton Grove, IL
AIR BAGS
THE LATCH COVERING DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FALLS OFF REPEATEDLY, LEADING TO CONCERN THERE IS A PROBLEM IN THAT AREA THAT COULD AFFECT THE AIR BAG ITSELF. CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST A HALF-DOZEN TIMES FOR REPAIR WITHOUT ACTUALLY GETTING A LASTING REPAIR. FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH LEXUS THREE WEEKS AGO, THEY PROMISED TO GET BACK WITHIN 10 BUSINESS DAYS, THEY DID NOT, AND WHEN I PHONED TODAY, THEY CONTINUE TO STALL. NO FIX. NO RESOLUTION. THE DATE NOTED BELOW, OCT. 1, IS MERELY ONE OF THE DATES OF THE ISSUE, WHICH IS ONGOING AND HAS BEEN ONGOING ALL YEAR.
NHTSA complaint #10925376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 10,000 milesMorton Grove, IL
AIR BAGS
THE PANEL THAT COVERS THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG POPS OFF REPEATEDLY. CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO THE LEXUS DEALER (BREDEMANN OF GLENVIEW, IL) AT LEAST A HALF-DOZEN TIMES WITHOUT A SATISFACTORY FIX. WHILE THIS APPEARS TO BE A COSMETIC PROBLEM, MY CONCERN IS THERE IS A DEEPER ISSUE THAT COULD AFFECT THE AIR BAG AS WELL AND I DO NOT WANT TO BE DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THE AIR BAG SUDDENLY POPS. BREDEMANN LEXUS HAS BEEN UNABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT RETURNED A PHONE CALL. THE DATE LISTED BELOW IS MERELY THE LAST TIME THE CAR WAS IN FOR SERVICE WHICH FAILED TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10903132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 10,000 milesMorton Grove, IL
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE PANEL THAT COVERS THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG POPS OFF REPEATEDLY. CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO THE LEXUS DEALER (BREDEMANN OF GLENVIEW, IL) AT LEAST A HALF-DOZEN TIMES WITHOUT A SATISFACTORY FIX. WHILE THIS APPEARS TO BE A COSMETIC PROBLEM, MY CONCERN IS THERE IS A DEEPER ISSUE THAT COULD AFFECT THE AIR BAG AS WELL AND I DO NOT WANT TO BE DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THE AIR BAG SUDDENLY POPS. BREDEMANN LEXUS HAS BEEN UNABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT RETURNED A PHONE CALL. THE DATE LISTED BELOW IS MERELY THE LAST TIME THE CAR WAS IN FOR SERVICE WHICH FAILED TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10903132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 4,000 milesSarasota, FL
ENGINE
ENGINE STALLS AFTER COMING TO A FULL STOP AND THEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. CAR WILL CREEP OUT INTO AN INTERSECTION, THEN WILL SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. THIS LEAVES ME VULNERABLE TO BEING HIT BY ON COMING TRAFFIC. HAPPENS ON CITY STREETS AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. CAN HAPPEN WHEN I AM GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE OR TURNING. HAPPENS OFTEN, BUT NOT ALWAYS.
NHTSA complaint #10896345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1,500 milesBoca Raton, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TWO WEEKS AFTER BUYING THE VEHICLE I BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD OFTEN TIME TAKE TWO OR MORE TRIES TO OPEN WITH EITHER PULLING THE DOOR HANDLE OR USING THE KEYPAD. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT IN NATURE AND MY WORK SCHEDULE WAS BUSY SO I DEALT WITH IT UNTIL THE PROBLEM GOT SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE. THE CAR GOT TO THE POINT IN WHICH ON 11/27/2015 I RECORDED A VIDEO ATTEMPTING TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE TO DOCUMENT MY CONCERN .I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 11/28/2015 BECAUSE I FIGURED THE ISSUE REQUIRED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION AND I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED AN APPOINTMENT OF WHICH THE ONLY CONVENIENT APPOINTMENT WAS FOR THE NEXT WEEK 12/5/2015. I SPOKE TO ANDRE MY SERVICE ADVISOR ABOUT THE ISSUE AND LEFT THE VEHICLE FOR SERVICE. BY 1 PM THAT SATURDAY I RECEIVED A CALL FROM ANDRE SAYING THAT THE ISSUE COULD NOT BE RECREATED AND THAT I WOULD BASICALLY HAVE TO COME TO PICK THE VEHICLE UP. I TOLD HIM THAT I LIVE IN BOCA AND HAD VERY LIMITED TIME DURING THE WEEK. HE SAID HE WOULD TALK TO A MANAGER TO BASICALLY GET PERMISSION FOR THE REPAIR. THE ISSUE WAS DIAGNOSED AS A PROBLEM WITH STRETCHING OF THE DOOR CABLE ASSEMBLY AND IT WAS REPLACED. THE ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN YESTERDAY AND I AGAIN WANTED TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE PRIOR TO COMPLAINING. THIS MORNING 12/18/2015 I ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE VEHICLE AND YET AGAIN THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN . I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW VEHICLE BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT TO HAVE ISSUES OF THIS NATURE. I KNOW THAT EVEN NEW VEHICLES HAVE ISSUES, BUT THIS ISSUE HAS INCONVENIENCED ME SEVERELY.
NHTSA complaint #10811164 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 9,800 milesCovington, LA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DRIVING ON TWO LANE HIGHWAY DOING 40 MAYBE 45 MPH, WINDOWS CLOSED, SUN SHADE CLOSED, 80 DEGREE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE AND THE SUN ROOF EXPODED OUT HITTING THE TRUNK AND DAMAGING THE PAINT. THE SOUND WAS SO LOUD I THAT A TREE FELL ON THE THE BACK ROOF AND DESTROYED THE CAR. ONLY THE SUN ROOF WAS GONE, MOST OF THE GLASS WAS MISSING. I DID MAKE A SHARP UTURN 5 MINUTES BEFORE AND THE FRONT WINDSHIED WAS CHANGED OUT 3 MONTHS BEFORE THIS BECAUSE THE WINDSHIED CRACKED IN HALF WITH NO CHIP OR ROCKS HITTING IT.
NHTSA complaint #10788932 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.