72 of the
938 complaints filed about the Lexus IS 250
are about the throttle and cruise control —
8% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2007.
72
Complaints
8%
Share of all complaints
30
Crashes
2
Fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year
The contact owns a 2012 Lexus IS250. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake inadvertently activated without the brake pedal being depressed. The vehicle also experienced unintended acceleration without the accelerator pedal being depressed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The contact indicated that the failure occurred after the cell phone was hacked and was concern the vehicle security was also compromised and hacked. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 137,000.
NHTSA complaint #11478126 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
When parking the car at a shopping mall, the car suddenly accelerated and jumped the curb. It finally stopped when it hit a stopped bus. Two teenage passengers were in the vehicle. The driver does not believe the accelerator was pressed enough to cause the vehicle to accelerate in the manner it did.
NHTSA complaint #11421859 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS IS250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE HESITATED PRIOR TO RESPONDING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS MOST EVIDENT AFTER STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THEN ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE FROM BEING STATIONARY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
NHTSA complaint #11375912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT'S MOTHER OWNS A 2013 LEXUS IS 250. WHILE THE DRIVER WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER WAS PLACED IN PARK WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY, DROVE OVER A CURB, STRUCK A TREE, AND STRUCK A PARKED VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED AND SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION AT THE EMERGENCY ROOM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE REPAIR WAS STILL PENDING. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11287952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR STALLS OR CUTS OFF. THE VSC LIGHT AND TRACTION LIGHT IS ON ALSO. THERE'S A BURNING SMELL THAT HAPPENS OFTEN. IN ADDITION MY ACCELERATION PEDAL CAUSES ME ISSUES ALSO WHICH HAS PUT A WHOLE IN MAT BY GETTING STUCK FROM TIME TO TIME.
NHTSA complaint #11101067 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BOUGHT CAR MAYBE TWO WEEKS AGO FIRST DAY FUEL LINE BUSTED, THIRD DAY SUSPENSION AND TIRES CAME APART, MY ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS UNDER THE HOOD ARE MOSTLY FRIED AND WORN OUT COULD CAUSE FOR, BRAKE LIGHTS UNCONTROLLABLE
NHTSA complaint #11080775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WANT TO REPORT THAT I EXPERIENCED UN-INTENDED ACCELERATION ON MY LEXUS IS 250C, 2012 MODEL PURCHASED IN DECEMBER 2011 AS A RESULT OF WHICH MY VEHICLE CRASHED AND WENT TURTLE.
NHTSA complaint #10760099 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CHECK ENGINE, CHECK VSC LIGHT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY COME ON WHEN I TURNED ON MY CAR AND SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR IN 2006. I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR THE RECALL BUT THEY COULDN'T MAKE THE LIGHT COME ON WHEN THEY HOOKED UP THEIR COMPUTERS TO THE COMPUTERS IN MY CAR. I RECENTLY BROUGHT MY CAR TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP TO PERFORM THE RECALL OF THE DASHBOARD AND SIDE PANELS AND THE PROBLEM FINALLY HAPPENED WHILE THEY HAD THE CAR IN THEIR POSSESSION. THEY TESTED IT AND SAID THIS PROBLEM WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY A RECALL HAD IT NOT EXPIRED. THEY SAID THE REASON IS THAT CARBON BUILDUP IN THE FIRST, THIRD, AND FIFTH CYLINDERS ARE CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. WHY DIDN'T THEY DISCOVER THIS WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR THAT RECALL THE FIRST TIME? BECAUSE IT DIDN'T EXHIBIT THE PROBLEM AT THE TIME DOESN'T MEAN IT DIDN'T HAVE THE ISSUE. NOW THEY SAID THEY CANNOT FIX IT BECAUSE THE RECALL EXPIRED?! HOW IS THAT FAIR OR SAFE?!?!?!?
NHTSA complaint #10695157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS IS 250. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT INTO PARK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE STEPPED ON THE BRAKE TO START THE VEHICLE AND PUT THE GEAR IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE LURCHED BACKWARDS AS SHE LIFTED HER FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. SHE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE BRAKE. SHE THREW THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND TURNED IT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY KEPT IT OVERNIGHT AND RAN PERFORMANCE CHECKS. THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND SAID IT COULD HAVE BEEN THE WEATHER MAT THAT WAS ON TOP OF THE LEXUS CARPET MAT. THE CONSUMER PAID FOR THE REPAIRS, BUT DID NOT STATE WHAT THEY WERE. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS THE SECOND TIME, SHE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. UPDATED 09/17/15
NHTSA complaint #10681130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON DEC. 2, 2014, I WAS ENTERING A WALGREEN'S PARKING LOT IN MY LEASED 2014 LEXUS IS 250, WHICH I HAD OWNED FOR ONLY 4 MONTHS WITH 1740 MILES. MOVING AT 5MPH OR LESS, I TURNED THE WHEEL TO ENTER A PARKING SPACE, WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND TOOK OFF. I PRESSED THE BRAKES TO THE FLOOR AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CAR JUMPED UP OVER A PLANTED MEDIAN FILLED WITH BUSHES, TREES AND A PHONE POLE. THE FRONT TIRES BECAME LODGED IN MUD AND THAT STOPPED THE CAR. I MISSED THE TELEPHONE POLE BY LESS THAN 1 FOOT. LUCKILY, I HAD AN INDIVIDUAL WITNESS THE ENTIRE EPISODE. I TELEPHONED LEXUS EMERGENCY SERVICES AND LEXUS CUSTOMER RELATIONS IMMEDIATELY. THE CAR HAD TO BE REMOVED FROM THE MEDIAN BY A TOW COMPANY AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED. AFTER EXAMINING THE CAR FROM DEC. 3-DEC. 10, THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THERE IS BODY DAMAGE BUT NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. THE DEALER CALLED ON DEC. 10 SAYING THE CAR WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP. I NOTED INACCURATE DATA IN THE SERVICE REPORT FROM WHAT I TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER ORIGINALLY, AND I WAS GIVEN NO INFORMATION AS TO FOLLOW-UP ON THIS MATTER. I WAS SIMPLY TOLD THAT LEXUS CORPORATE HAD BEEN OUT TO SEE THE UNDERSIDE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE.(FRONT BUMPER, PAINT, CRACKS ON BASE OF BUMPER), AND THAT I WOULD HEAR FROM THEM IN 10 DAYS. I CALLED LEXUS CORPORATE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE MATTER IS NOW IN THE LEGAL DEPT. AND THAT IT WOULD BE FAR MORE THAN 10 DAYS FOR A RESPONSE. RATHER, I COULD EXPECT A CALL IN 4/6 WEEKS OR LONGER. I AM NOW DRIVING A LEASED VEHICLE THAT I AM VERY SCARED TO OPERATE, NOT KNOWING WHEN A SIMILAR INCIDENT COULD OCCUR WHERE I COULD BE KILLED OR INJURE OR KILL SOMEONE ELSE. LEXUS, PARTICULARLY THE DEALERSHIP, APPEARS TO BE WANTING TO DISTANCE THEMSELVES AS FAR FROM POSSIBLE FROM FINDING A SUITABLE RESOLUTION.
NHTSA complaint #10664153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING AS I WAS DRIVING SO I PULLED OFF THE ROAD ONTO THE SHOULDER. ONCE THE CAR STOPPED, SMOKE BEGAN TO COME THROUGH THE VENTS SO I EXITED THE VEHICLE. SEVERAL MINUTES LATER I COULD SEE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD MAKE IT TO THE SCENE, THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR BURNED COMPLETELY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID THEY WERE GOING TO CLASSIFY IT AS A "MECHANICAL FAILURE".
NHTSA complaint #10640227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DURING THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2013, I EXPERIENCED SEVERAL INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. I ALSO HAD SEVERAL BEFORE DECEMBER THAT I DIDN'T PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO. WHAT THEY HAD IN COMMON WAS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ALMOST STOPPED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN I EXPERIENCED A SURGE. IN ONE INSTANCE, I WAS EASING OUT OF A STRIP MALL PARKING LOT ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY WITH JUST THE IDLE SPEED MOMENTUM MOVING THE CAR WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR SURGED AND PULLED ME INTO THE ROADWAY BLINDLY BUT FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO ONCOMING VEHICLES. HAPPENED AGAIN ON MARCH 20, 2014 WITH FULL DOCUMENTATION ON MY PART.
NHTSA complaint #10584558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS IS-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY AND SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED FORWARD. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH HER VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES. ON ONE OCCASION, THE CONTACT WAS LAUNCHED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE. BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER WERE INJURED AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, STATED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURE WAS ALERTED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 2 ACCIDENTS. ONE OCCURRED 3 DAYS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. SHE STATED THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. SHE TRIED PUMPING THE BRAKES, WITH NO RESULTS. SHE CRASHED INTO HER APARTMENT, RAN OVER A CONCRETE STOPPER AND INTO A TREE. THE NEXT ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON DECEMBER 11, 2013/ SHE WAS A DRIVE-THRU, WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF AGAIN, AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. SHE WENT ACROSS THE CITY SIDEWALK, INTO TRAFFIC. SHE TRIED PUMPING THE BRAKE, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, AND HIT A VEHICLE, WITH 2 PASSENGERS. UPDATED 04/21/14.
NHTSA complaint #10573480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 I EXPERIENCED MY FIRST MISFIRE ISSUE WITH MY 2008 LEXUS IS 250. AS I ACCELERATED TO APPROX 65 MPH TO ENTIRE A BUSY HIGHWAY ON RAMP, I LOST ALL ACCELERATION IN MY VEHICLE. AS THIS HAPPENED, I HAD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHING, MY CHECK VSC INDICATOR DISPLAYING, AND MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATING. I CALLED LEXUS, THEY ADVISED THAT THE CAR NEEDED BE TOWED IN AND THE BEGAN TO RUN THE CODES THAT WERE TRIPPED. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT I HAD EXTREME CARBON BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE, WHICH WAS CAUSING MY ENGINE TO MISFIRE. THEY DID THE "CLEANING REPAIR" WHICH INVOLVED TAKING THE ENGINE APART, AND SENDING A BUNCH OF PARTS TO A MACHINE SHOP WHERE THEY CLEANED THE HEADS & PISTONS. IN TOTAL, I WAS WITHOUT MY CAR FOR OVER A MONTH! FAST FORWARD TO SEPTEMBER 3, 2013. I NOW HAVE 73,000 MILES ON MY CAR, AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN THIS EVENING AS I WAS ACCELERATING TO APPROX 40 MPH. THIS TIME I WAS ON A BUSY 5 LANE ROAD, AND LOST ALL ACCELERATION AND HAD TO ESSENTIALLY "COAST" ACROSS 5 LANES OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC TO GET TO SAFETY ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED LEXUS, AND ONCE AGAIN THEY ADVISED ME THAT MY CAR NEEDED TO BE TOWED IN. TODAY MY SERVICE ADVISOR CONTACTED ME TO INFORM ME THAT ONCE AGAIN I HAVE CARBON BUILD UP IN MY ENGINE AND THAT IT IS MISFIRING. UNFORTUNATELY NOW, MY CAR IS BEYOND THE 70,000 MILE DRIVE TRAIN WARRANTY. HE IS WORKING WITH CORPORATE TO SEE WHAT MY NEXT STEPS ARE, BUT I REFUSE TO PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS, AND I DO NOT FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO SINCE IT IS ESSENTIALLY A REPEAT MALFUNCTION OF AN EXISTING ISSUE! IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT MY IS HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP 3X FOR ENGINE NOISE/ROUGH START UP SINCE I HAD THE REPAIRS COMPLETED LAST YEAR. EVERY TIME, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY LOGGED THE ISSUE, BUT WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE IT.
NHTSA complaint #10542028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 LEXUS IS250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LUNGED AND THEN ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. ON ONE OCCASION, THE FAILURE OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER START-UP AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INTO A NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000. UPDATED 7/29/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN, THEN LUNGED FORWARD ABOUT 10-12 FEET. THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK, EVEN THOUGH SHE PUSHED THE BRAKE TO THE FLOOR FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. FINALLY, THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE ON THE INTERSECTION.
NHTSA complaint #10514052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD (WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN) AND STRUCK THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME ON JANUARY 6, 2012. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN IN DECEMBER 2012 AND JANUARY 2013, I.E., CAR LURCHED FORWARD WHILE DRIVER'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT/SIGN. THE LATTER INCIDENTS DID NOT RESULT IN ANY ACCIDENT OR INJURY.
NHTSA complaint #10502998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UPON STARTING THE CAR THE CAR SHOOK AND GOT A VSC AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT. CALLED THE DEALER RIGHT AWAY AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE 100 TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED. COME TO FIND. OUT AFTER THE FACT THERE WAS A VOLUNTARY NOTICE PUT OUT BY LEXUS ON THIS ISSUE WHICH THEY HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTIES FOR. THIS HAS ALREADY HAPPENED TWICE TO ME WHILE DRIVING AND BOTH TIMES LEXUS WILL NOT FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY CLAIMING IT DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEN THEY TAKE IT IN. THEY WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM UNLESS IT OCCURS WHILE THEIR TESTING EVEN THOUGH THE NOTIFICATION INDICATING THE ISSUE IS COMING UP. THEY HAVE ALSO CLAIMED IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE ALTHOUGH IT DOES NOT SEEM SAFE TO HAVE A CAR RANDOMLY STALL AT ANY POINT OF TIME. MY RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR CONSUMERS WITH THIS CAR. IT IS ALSO UNDERSTOOD THAT THE FIX WOULD REQUIRE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO FIX BY LEXUS ( THEY WOULD NEED TO KEEP THE CAR FOR A MONTH). THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH THIS IS LIKELY WHY THEY ARE HESITANT TO FIX.
NHTSA complaint #10490447 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE 3 CAR LENGTHS AHEAD OF ME PUT ON HIS BRAKES AND WHEN I WENT TO PUT ON MY BRAKES MY CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE BRAKING AND RAN INTO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. MY AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY- MY CAR WAS A COMPLETE LOSS TO THE FRONT END ($17,000.00) AND THE INSURANCE APPRAISER,BODY SHOP, POLICE OFFICER, TOWING COMPANY WERE STUNNED THAT THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DO TO THE SEVERITY OF IMPACT AND DAMAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10488632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VSC LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE CAR LOST POWER, WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, AND THE ENGINE STARTED MISFIRING.
NHTSA complaint #10486290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AT APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MI. MY 2007 LEXUS IS 250 DEVELOPED A PROBLEM OF STALLING, SHAKING, MISFIRING AND THE VSC LIGHT, TRACTION SKID LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ALL COME ON. THE DEALERSHIP INITIALLY TRIED TO TELL ME THAT THE GAS CAP WAS NOT ON TIGHT (NOT TRUE) AND THEN THEY TRIED TO TELL ME THAT JUST TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM (ALSO NOT TRUE). AFTER I INSISTED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS, THE TECHNICIAN DROVE THE CAR HOME AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING. FINALLY, THE DEALERSHIP DECIDED THAT CARBON HAD BUILT UP ON THE VALVES AND THAT WAS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO MISFIRE AND ALL THE LIGHTS TO COME ON. THE DEALERSHIP SENT THE VALVES TO A SHOP AND HAD THEM CLEANED AND GROUND DOWN. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW AND THIS IS WHAT LEXUS TOLD THEM TO DO TO FIX IT. NOW, HERE I AM AT 81,000 MILES AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN YESTERDAY WITH THE CAR SHAKING, STALLING, MISFIRING AND THE VSC LIGHT, TRACTION SKID LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS COMING ON. IT HAS BEEN ANOTHER 40,000 MILES AND THE CARBON HAS BUILT UP AGAIN. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10453083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.