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.
Sep 2014peak 2Dec 2018
NHTSA investigations into the 2010 Lexus IS 250C
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 2010 Lexus IS 250C
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.
Recall 2019008376,282 units in Canada
Airbag
Issue: On certain vehicles, long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, may eventually degrade the propellant contained in the passenger-front airbag. This could cause the airbag to deploy with more force than normal. If the airbag inflator ruptures, fragments could be propelled toward vehicle occupants or cause damage to the airbag assembly, preventing its proper function. Safety Risk: If the vehicle is involved in a crash requiring an airbag deployment, the airbag inflator could rupture and create a risk of injury. Corrective Action: Owners will be notified by mail and instructed to take their vehicle to a dealer to have the passenger-front airbag inflator or airbag module replaced. Note: The Canadian climate results in the propellant degrading slowly. This recall is being conducted as a precaution to address future risk. It is expected that all airbag inflators will be replaced before their function would be affected.
Recall 201303116,756 units in Canada
Visual System
On certain vehicles, the wiper arm securing nuts could have been insufficiently tightened during assembly. If the movement of the wipers is restricted by an external load, such as heavy snow on the windshield, the wiper arms could slip and one or both wipers could become inoperative. If this occurs, driver visibility could be reduced, which could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or property damage. Correction: Dealers will clean the mating surface of the wiper arm and motor shaft and install improved wiper arm nuts.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Milford, CTCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2010 LEXUS IS 250C. WHILE THE CONTACT PROCEEDED THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE FAILED TO YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY AND PROCEEDED INTO THE CONTACT'S LANE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED BRAIN AND EYE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11161364 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Milford, CTCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2010 LEXUS IS 250C. WHILE THE CONTACT PROCEEDED THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE FAILED TO YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY AND PROCEEDED INTO THE CONTACT'S LANE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED BRAIN AND EYE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11161364 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NEW Orleans, LA
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL. LEXUS REPLACED AIR BAG ON 08/08/2017. NO INCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #11064796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sugar Land, TX
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL. WE TOOK OUR CAR TO STIRLING MCCALL LEXUS IN HOUSTON TEXAS TO HAVE THE AIRBAG REPLACED IN OCTOBER 2016, BUT THEY TOLD US THEY DID NOT HAVE IT YET AND WOULD CONTACT US. I TRIED AGAIN THIS MONTH, A YEAR LATER, AND THEY STILL SAY THE SAME THING. HOW CAN I GET THE AIR BAG REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #11039582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hope Mills, NC
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL; EVIDENCE ACCOMPANYING THIS COMPLAINT WILL SHOW LEXUS MANUFACTURER AND THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) NHTSA EMAIL DATED 7/19/2017 HAVE DIFFERENT FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG REPLACEMENT PART NUMBERS FOR MY VEHICLE. IN EMAIL DATED 7/26/17 FROM LEXUS MANUFACTURER I WAS INFORMED THE REPLACEMENT PART NUMBER FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE MODEL IS 350C WAS THE REPLACEMENT PART I MUST USE IN MY VEHICLE., HOWEVER THE IS 350C MODEL DIFFER GREATLY IN SIZE AND MAKE FROM MY IS 250C MODEL. IN ADDITION LEXUS MANUFACTURER ADVERTISED IN THEIR INTERIM AND REMEDY NOTICE WHICH STATES" REMEDY WILL CONSIST OF THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AIRBAG INFLATOR OR THE AIRBAG ASSEMBLY,DEPENDING ON THE VEHICLE MODEL". MY VEHICLE MODEL IS A IS 250C NOT A IS 350C. MY VEHICLE IS A PRE-OWNED 2010 IS 250 CONVERTIBLE. I AM REQUESTING THAT LEXUS MANUFACTURER PROVIDED ME WITH THE CORRECT FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG REPLACEMENT PART AND PART NUMBERS FOR MY PRE-OWNED 2010 IS 250C MAKE AND MODEL. I AM REQUESTING THAT LEXUS MANUFACTURER INFORM ME IN WRITING IF THE REMEDY WILL CONSIST OF REPLACING THE AIRBAG INFLATOR; THE AIRBAG ASSEMBLY OR BOTH AND IF ALL REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE BEEN VERIFIED AND CERTIFIED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) AND OFFICE VEHICLE SAFETY COMPLIANCE (OVSC) PRIOR TO ANY REMEDY AND OR REPAIRS PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE AS IT RELATES TO THE MAY 23, 2016 TAKATA FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL OF MY VEHICLE MODEL. AS EVIDENCE PLEASE SEE MY EMAIL TO LEXUS MANUFACTURER DATED JULY 26, 2017; NHTSA EMAIL DATED JULY 19, 2017 AND LEXUS MANUFACTURER EMAILS DATED JULY 26, 2017 AND JULY 30, 2017. PLEASE NOTE: IF UNABLE TO UPLOAD THE DOCUMENTS OF EMAIL EVIDENCE WILL MAIL DIRECTLY TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ADDRESS UPON YOUR REQUEST WITH THE CORRECT ADDRESS. THANK YOU. UPDATED 09/01/17*LJ
NHTSA complaint #11012204 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Richmond, TX
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS IS 250C. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (STERLING MCCALL TOYOTA AT 9400 SOUTHWEST FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77074, (713) 270-3900) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA complaint #11001919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Melbourne, FL
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS IS 250C. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/30/17*LJ
NHTSA complaint #10955747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Savannah, GA
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS IS 250C. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10939898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gulf Breeze, FL
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO COMPLY WITH THE RECALL FOR AIRBAGS. I'M FEELING VERY UNSAFE.
NHTSA complaint #10916411 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Columbia, SC
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS IS 250C. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10915283 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fernandina Beach, FL
AIR BAGS
I [XXX] RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE (UNDATED ENVELOPE FROM LEXUS INFORMING ME OF THE TAKATA FRONT PASSENGER RECALL. INSIDE THE NOTICE WAS INFORMATION (IN SUMMARY) THAT I AM IN THE HIGHEST RISK CATEGORY, WITHIN THE TIME PARAMETERS OF POSSIBLE DEGRADING, TERRITORY DUE TO TEMPERATURES IN THE ZONE WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND LIVE (FL), AND THAT THEY RECOMMEND NOT HAVING ANY PERSON SEATED FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, UNTIL THEY HAVE A RESOLUTION AND REPAIR. I AM UPSET AND EXTREMELY CONCERNED WITH THE MANNER IN WHICH THIS WAS HANDLED. FIRST THIS INFORMATION CAME IN AN UNDATED ENVELOPE THE WEEKEND OF JULY 22, 2016, WHEN IT IS CLEARLY IDENTIFIED IN THEIR LETTER THAT THEY LEARNED AND CONFIRMED THIS HAZARD ISSUE MAY 2016. WHY AM I JUST BE NOTIFIED? I HAVE HAD PASSENGERS IN MY CAR WITHOUT WARNING OF THIS ISSUE AND POSSIBLE INJURY. THERE IS NO TIMELINE/DEADLINE LISTED TO REPAIR THIS URGENT ISSUE (AS THEY HAVE STATED ON THE ENVELOPE). I AM UNABLE TO USE MY VEHICLE AT IT'S FULL CAPACITY. ALL RECALLS AND MAIL OF THIS TYPE SHOULD GO OUT UPON CONFIRMATION OF HAZARD, THE ENVELOPES SHOULD BE DATED AND SENT OUT WITH-IN THE WEEK OF CONFIRMATION (IF NOT SOONER). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10888561 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 32,000 milesAustin, TX
BACK OVER PREVENTION: CAMERA SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS IS 250C. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AND USING THE BACKUP CAMERA, VISIBILITY WAS POOR AND THE CAMERA FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000. UPDATED 10/29/14
NHTSA complaint #10631950 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.