FaultScore

Lexus IS 250 steering problems

30 of the 938 complaints filed about the Lexus IS 250 are about the steering — 3% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2007.

30

Complaints

3%

Share of all complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

Steering complaints by model year

2006 IS 250 9 30.0%

Median failure at 120,075 miles

2007 IS 250 10 33.3%

Median failure at 118,250 miles

2008 IS 250 4 13.3%

Median failure at 14,000 miles

2010 IS 250 1 3.3%

Median failure at 129,000 miles

2011 IS 250 2 6.7%

Median failure at 1,412 miles

2013 IS 250 1 3.3%

Median failure at 38,000 miles

2014 IS 250 3 10.0%

Median failure at 4,000 miles

What owners said

2006 Lexus IS 250 at 135,000 miles New Brunswick, NJ

STEERING

The contact owns a 2006 Lexus IS250. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH and following the road around a left turn, the steering wheel became loosened as if the steering wheel had detached from the column. The contact stated that the power steering warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked and no longer driven. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer but was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.

NHTSA complaint #11508496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2014 Lexus IS 250 at 4,000 miles Greenville, NC

STEERING

THE STEERING STOPS WORKING WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OVER LONG DISTANCES. THE ELECTRONIC STEERING GEAR RACK STARTS TO FAIL MAKING KEEPING THE VEHICLE IN A STRAIGHT LINE DIFFICULT.

NHTSA complaint #11325377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Lexus IS 250 at 230,000 miles Washington, DC

STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS IS 250. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS OR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY SEIZED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED OFTEN. SOMETIMES, THE POWER STEERING WOULD RESUME NORMAL OPERATION WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. ON OTHER OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED HOME. WHEN IT WAS TOWED, IT TOOK APPROXIMATELY 24 HOURS BEFORE THE POWER STEERING WOULD RETURN TO NORMAL. THE CONTACT CALLED OURISMAN LEXUS OF ROCKVILLE (LOCATED AT 15501 FREDERICK RD, ROCKVILLE, MD 20855, 855-821-1390) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECU AND THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS BECAUSE THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBERS: 1802260181 AND 1812061696. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000.

NHTSA complaint #11258326 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Lexus IS 250 at 38,000 miles Chicago, IL

STEERING

WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. A METAL SCRAPING NOISE OCCURS. THIS HAS BEEN FIXED SEVERAL TIMES BUT KEEPS OCCURING MORE OFTEN. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION. AND I BELIEVE IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE PLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE SHIELD. AS IF SOMETHING IS PRESSING ON IT.

NHTSA complaint #11220934 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Lexus IS 250 at 138,220 miles Wasco, CA

STEERING

CAR WAS DRIVING FINE ALL DAY. AT 7PM WENT TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND THE P/S LIGHT CAME ON AND STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN, BUT PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE STEERING WHEEL IS IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE, VERY HARD.

NHTSA complaint #11185426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Lexus IS 250 Timberlake, NC

STEERING

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY CAR HAS ISSUES JERKING WHEN IN GEAR AND STOPPING WHEN IN USE. I TOOK MY CAR TO A CERTIFIED LEXUS DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT REPAIR IT. I'M SURE BECAUSE IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION MACHANIC AND I BOUGHT A 2006 IS250 USED TRANSMISSION FROM A CAR THAT WAS TOTALED THAT HAD LESS MILES AND WAS TOTALED BECAUSE THE FRAME WAS BENT BECAUSE IT WAS REAR ENDED. IN LESS THAN A YEAR SAME PROBLEM TRANSMISSION AGAIN! I SPENT $4500 THE FIRST GO AROUND I COULDN'T AFFORD THAT AGAIN. I HAD TO BUY ANOTHER CAR FOR WHAT I PAID TO REPAIR THE LEXUS. I'VE CHECKED FOR RECALLS YEAH MY DASH HAS MELTED AND ALL OF THE OTHER RECALLS! I CAN'T GET THOSE CORRECTED!! I'M STARTING A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT!!! I'VE SPENT TO MUCH MONEY ON A HIGH CLASS TOYOTA THAT HAS MORE PROBLEMS THAN ITS WORTH!!!!

NHTSA complaint #11166771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Lexus IS 250 at 114,800 miles Port ST Lucie, FL

STEERING

I DROVE APPROXIMATELY 65 MILES STOPPED AND PARKED FOR 15 MINUTES. I THEN TURNED THE CAR ON AND WHILE COMMENCING TO DRIVE AWAY, NOTICED THAT MY STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND INCREDIBLY HARD TO STEER LEFT OR RIGHT. MY DASHBOARD HAD NO PROBLEM INDICATOR LIGHTS ON, SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT AND REGAINED STEERING CAPABILITIES. THE FOLLOWING MORNING, I DROVE 1 MILE AWAY AND UPON MY RETURN WHILE DOING 35 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND BECAME INCREDIBLY HARD TO STEER RESULTING IN A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE THAT I WILL NEVER FORGET. HAD THIS SAME SCENARIO HAVE OCCURRED WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS AT THE WHEEL THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THIS PART MALFUNCTION WOULD HAVE CAUSED A FATALITY. HOW CAN SUCH A VITAL PART MALFUNCTION WITHOUT WARNING TO THE DRIVER?

NHTSA complaint #11100301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Lexus IS 250 at 140,000 miles SAN Bernardino, CA

STEERING

THE STEERING SYSTEM LOCK AND I CANNOT STEER THE CAR. IT SAYS P/S ON THE DASH PANEL. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND OTHER CONSUMERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES, THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY. I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND THE STEERING LOST POWER AND LOCKED 11I COULD NOT DRIVE MY CAR.

NHTSA complaint #11048542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Lexus IS 250 at 125,350 miles Wasco, CA

STEERING

VSC AND ENGINE LIGHT ARE ON. INSIDE OF CAR SMELLS LIKE EXHAUST IS COMING THROUGH. STEERING SEEMS TO BE IMPAIRED

NHTSA complaint #11041586 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2014 Lexus IS 250 at 4,500 miles Newark, NJ Crash

STEERING

I HAD A CAR ACCIDENT DUE TO THE BREAK NOT WORKING CAR ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY MECHANICAL FAILURE THE AIRBAG DIDN'T EVEN WORK

NHTSA complaint #11022355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Lexus IS 250 at 129,000 miles Worcester, MA

STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS IS 250. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING LOCKED UP AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.

NHTSA complaint #11019115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Lexus IS 250 at 195,000 miles Rocky Mount, VA

STEERING

RECENTLY I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND MY POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON WHEN THE LIGHT APPEARED THE POWER STEERING WENT AWAY. THE GARAGE NOTIFIED ME THAT MY POWER STEERING ECU HAD FAILED. I HAD THE ECU REPLACED AND STEERING CALIBRATED A FEW DAYS LATER AS I TURNED IN TO MY SCHOOLS PARKING LOT I HEARD A POP BUT WAS NOT VERY ALARMED ABOUT IT UNTIL THAT AFTERNOON I WAS HEADED HOME AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK IN ONE DIRECTION OR THE OTHER AS I WOULD TURN SLIGHTLY FOR A CURVE. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD UNLOCK BUT WOULD TAKE BOTH HANDS AND A FIRM TUG TO GET BACK STRAIGHT. THE OTHER MORNING I WAS GOING TO DRIVE IT TO CLASS SINCE THIS IS MY ONLY WAY OF TRANSPORTATION BUT THE STEERING WAS COMPLETELY STUCK IN PLACE SO I HAD TO CALL ANOTHER RIDE. IF THE CAR IS STATIONARY OR MOVING SLOW THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A HORRIFIC WHINING NOISE AS YOU TURN. I THINK THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BECAUSE I CALLED LEXUS TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE HOPING TO GET HELP SINCE THERE WAS ALREADY ONE RECALL COMPLETED ON THESE PARTS. LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLD ME THEY HAD TO INSPECT IT BEFORE THEY COULD DO ANYTHING. THEY PAID FOR THE INSPECTION AND ADMITTED THE PART REPLACED BY THEM PREVIOUSLY HAD FAILED AGAIN BUT WOULD NOT BE COVERED AGAIN. THEY THEN QUOTED ME A PRICE OF AROUND 3,600 DOLLARS. AFTER SPEAKING WITH MULTIPLE CASE MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS THEY TOLD ME THE CASE WAS RESOLVED ON THEIR END AND I NEEDED TO CONTACT THE NATIONAL DISPUTE SETTLEMENT. I DID CONTACT THEM AND WILL ALSO SUBMIT THE PAPER I SENT THEM TO YOU GUYS. MANY PEOPLE ARE TALKING IN ONLINE FORUMS ARE HAVING THE SAME SAFETY ISSUES. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

NHTSA complaint #10966449 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Lexus IS 250 at 180,000 miles Alexander City, AL

STEERING

THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, AFTER A NORMAL START-UP AND DRIVING FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT, LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING INSTEAD OF MY WIFE WHO USUALLY DRIVES THIS CAR. THIS CAR HAS AN ELECTRONIC STEERING SYSTEM, NOT THE NORMAL SYSTEM WHICH USES POWER STEERING FLUID. WHEN THIS FIRST OCCURRED I WAS BARELY ABLE TO DRIVE IT BACK TO MY HOUSE WHERE IT SAT FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. THEREAFTER, WITH THE STEERING STILL NOT WORKING, THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (TOM WILLIAMS LEXUS OF BIRMINGHAM, AL). THE DEALER CHECKED THE CAR OUT AND HELD IT FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THEIR 'REPAIR' WAS TO REPLACE THE CAR'S POWER STEERING ECU. THEY HAD TO ORDER THE ECU AND THAT TOOK A FEW MORE DAYS. THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING ECU BUT THE STEERING STILL DID NOT WORK . THEY THEN CALL ME AND TELL ME THAT FURTHER REPAIRS ARE NEEDED. THEY SAID THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, CALIBRATED AND REALIGNED($4500). THIS ALL SEEMS VERY ODD TO ME. EVEN AFTER PAYING OUT OF POCKET FOR THE REPAIR, I'M SCARED OUT OF MY MIND TO ALLOW MY WIFE AND KIDS BACK IN THAT CAR. IT WAS LITERALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE WHEEL WHEN THE STEERING WENT OUT. THERE WAS A STEERING CAMPAIGN SEVERAL YEARS AGO (9LC), BUT THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT MY VIN IS NOT IN THE RANGE OF CARS NEEDING REPAIR. I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT OLDER HIGH MILEAGE CARS SOMETIMES NEED REPAIR, BUT THE STEERING SYSTEM SHOULD NEVER FAIL. AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND USER FORUMS, I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS WITH MANY OTHER LEXUS IS250 AND IS350 VEHICLES. I CONTACTED LEXUS CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD LOOK INTO OFFERING SOME OUT OF WARRANTY ASSISTANCE. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF WAITING ON THEIR RESPONSE, I CALLED LEXUS BACK AND THEY SAID THEY DECIDED NOT TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. WE OWN A LS460 AND THIS IS250 AND NOW, WE DON'T TRUST LEXUS VEHICLES.

NHTSA complaint #10925750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Lexus IS 250 at 10 miles Santa ANA, CA

STEERING

I HAVE A PROBLEM OF POWER STEERING TODAY, THE RED LIGHT P/S APPEARS AND I FOUND THAT IT'S HARD TO TURN MY CAR WHEEL EITHER TO LEFT OR RIGHT. I HAVE CHECK WITH A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND LEARN FROM THE TECHNICIAN THAT NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ALTERNATOR AND THE PROBLEM MIGHT COME FROM THE FAULTY CRANKSHAFT PULLEY. I ALSO LEARN FROM ONLINE THAT TOYOTA WILL INSPECT RECALLED VEHICLES AND REPLACE THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY IF NECESSARY AT NO CHARGE, BUT MY LEXUS DEALER IN WESTMINSTER CA 92683 VERIFY THAT THE POWER STEERING RECALL IS NOT FOR MY CAR MODEL. PLEASE CHECK THE CASE AND LET ME KNOW WHAT TO DO TO GAIN THE POWER STEERING RECALL BENEFIT AS OTHERS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM BUT WITH DIFFERENT CAR MODEL. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME!

NHTSA complaint #10903187 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Lexus IS 250 at 96,000 miles Bronx, NY

STEERING

AS I WAS ABOUT TO PARK THE CAR ON A CITY STREET. THE ELECTRICAL STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED. IT BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL. IT COULD BE THE CONNECTORS OF THE ELECTRICAL STEERING CAUSE THE SUDDEN LOSS.

NHTSA complaint #10894954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Lexus IS 250 Fitchburg, WI

STEERING

MY DASH ON MY CAR IS SHINY AND STICKY FROM THE DEFECTED METERIAL IT IS MADE OUT OF AND CAUSES GLARE FROM THE WINDSHIELD WHEN DRIVING. DOOR PANELS ARE ALSO LEAVING STICKY RESIDUE BEHIND ON MY HANDS WHEN I TOUCH THE DOOR PANEL. LEXUS DEALERSHIP ADMITS FROM 2006 TO 2008 THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE INTERIOR METERIALS MELTING AND BECOMING STICKY, BUT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO FIX IT BECAUSE I AM OUT OF WARRANTY. PLEASE HELP THIS IS VERY ANNOYING THAT THEY DONT CARE.

NHTSA complaint #10864073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Lexus IS 250 at 240,000 miles Canton, MI

STEERING

NOVEMBER 2015: I OWN A 2007 IS 250 WITH APPROXIMATELY 240,000 MILES. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND THE CAR IS TOTALLY STOCK. THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING SEVERAL DAYS AGO. THIS WAS UPON START-UP AFTER SITTING FOR ABOUT 90 MINUTES, NOT WHILE DRIVING. THIS CAR USES AN ELECTRONIC STEERING SYSTEM, NOT THE NORMAL SYSTEM WHICH USES POWER STEERING FLUID. I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE IT, SO THE CAR WAS FIRST TOWED TO MY HOUSE WHERE IT SAT FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. THEREAFTER, WITH THE STEERING STILL NOT WORKING, THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (MEADE LEXUS OF SOUTHFIELD MICHIGAN). THE DEALER CHECKED THE CAR OUT AND HELD IF FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THEIR 'REPAIR' WAS TO UNPLUG THE CAR'S COMPUTER AND PLUG IT BACK IN. NOW THE STEERING WORKS. THEY TELL ME THAT NO FURTHER REPAIR IS NECESSARY. THIS ALL SEEMS VERY ODD TO ME. I'M SCARED OUT OF MY MIND TO ALLOW MY KID BACK IN THE CAR (18 YEAR OLD NEW DRIVER). IT WAS LITERALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE WHEEL WHEN THE STEERING WENT OUT. THERE WAS A STEERING CAMPAIGN SEVERAL YEARS AGO (9LC), BUT THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT MY VIN IS NOT IN THE RANGE OF CARS NEEDING REPAIR. I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT OLDER HIGH MILEAGE CARS SOMETIMES NEED REPAIR, BUT THE STEERING SYSTEM SHOULD NEVER FAIL. AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND USER FORUMS, I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS WITH OTHER LEXUS IS250 AND IS350 VEHICLES. I AM UNSURE HOW TO PROCEED, BECAUSE I FEAR THAT THE CAR IS UNFIT TO DRIVE.

NHTSA complaint #10806524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Lexus IS 250 at 165,000 miles Arlington, TX

STEERING

I LOST POWER STEERING AND VERY HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. PS LIGHT IS CAME ON THE DASH.

NHTSA complaint #10692258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2014 Lexus IS 250 at 300 miles Fort Lauderdale, FL

STEERING

CAR STARTS. EPS LIGHTS ON DASH. CAN NOT MOVE STEERING WHEEL. LIGHT WILL GO OFF AND STEERING UNLOCKS AFTER RESTARTED OVER TIME.

NHTSA complaint #10627924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Lexus IS 250 at 96,500 miles Granbury, TX

STEERING

I HAVE AN 07 IS250. THE STEERING MAKES A SCRAPING NOISE, VERY LOUD WHILE IN PARK AND TURNING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. SOUNDS SIMILAR TO MY WIFE'S SONOGRAM SESSION AT DOCTORS OFFICE. STEERING IS A LITTLE STIFFER AND SLIGHTLY LOCKS IN PLACE WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK TO A LEXUS DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT NEEDED A NEW ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY. $2500! REALLY? IS THIS CONNECTED TO THE STEERING RECALL BACK IN 2009? HELP

NHTSA complaint #10514509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Lexus IS 250 problems