Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2010 Lexus IS 350C
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Airbags
853.3%
Other & Unspecified
16.7%
Median failure at 56,317 miles
Tires
16.7%
Median failure at 50,932 miles
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
16.7%
Median failure at 56,317 miles
Fuel & Propulsion
16.7%
Median failure at 22,000 miles
Body & Structure
16.7%
Median failure at 56,317 miles
Transmission & Drivetrain
16.7%
Median failure at 22,000 miles
Engine & Cooling
16.7%
Median failure at 22,000 miles
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.
Feb 2013peak 3Oct 2017
NHTSA investigations into the 2010 Lexus IS 350C
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 350C
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 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 20132973,922 units in Canada
Engine
On certain vehicles, the bolts used to secure the housing and sprocket of the intake-side Variable-Valve Timing (VVT) gear assembly could loosen. If this occurs, the VVT gear will not control the intake valves correctly. In some instances, the VVT gear housing and sprocket could separate, causing the engine to stall. Engine stalling would result in a loss of vehicle propulsion which, in conjunction with traffic and road conditions, and the driver’s reactions, could increase the risk of a crash causing property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: Dealers will replace the VVT unit with an improved version.
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.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 56,317 milesFort Lauderdale, FL
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I LIVE IN FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA AND HAVE A LEXUS 2010 IS 350C WITH 56K AND DUE TO THE TAKATA RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000. I WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR 356 DAYS, AS I SIGNED AN AFFIDAVIT THAT I WOULD NOT DRIVE MY VEHICLE UNTIL THE AIRBAGS WERE AVAILABLE, AND LEXUS WOULD PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION UNTIL THE AIRBAGS WERE AVAILABLE. NOW THE DASHBOARD HAS STARTED TO DETERIORATE AND IS BECOME STICKY TO THE TOUCH, BELIEVE THIS IS DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO USE THE VEHICLE FOR A YEAR. CHECKING THE FORUMS AND NOTICES ONLINE THIS APPEARS TO BE THE SAME ISSUE AS THE "CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM" - ZE6 - FOR STICKY/MELTING DASHBOARDS FOR THE IS MODELS FROM 2006-2008. HOWEVER THIS ISSUE IS GLOBAL TO ALL IS MODELS NOT JUST THE 2006-2008 MODELS. PLEASE HELP AS THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE IN SOUTH FLORIDA WITH THE EXTREME HEAT AND HUMIDITY, AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE SUN REFLEX'S FROM THE DASHBOARD AND THE DRIVER COULD HAVE A COLLISION IF NOT FIXED. NOTICED THIS ISSUE ON FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 AFTER DRIVING THE CAR HOME FROM HAVING THE AIRBAGS REPLACED. I WENT TO DUST THE DASHBOARD ONCE HOME AND NOTICED THE DUSTER WOULD NOT SLIDE AS IT ONCE WAS ABLE TO, AND THEN REALIZED THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE DASHBOARD.
NHTSA complaint #11032226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 56,317 milesFort Lauderdale, FL
STRUCTURE:BODY
I LIVE IN FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA AND HAVE A LEXUS 2010 IS 350C WITH 56K AND DUE TO THE TAKATA RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000. I WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR 356 DAYS, AS I SIGNED AN AFFIDAVIT THAT I WOULD NOT DRIVE MY VEHICLE UNTIL THE AIRBAGS WERE AVAILABLE, AND LEXUS WOULD PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION UNTIL THE AIRBAGS WERE AVAILABLE. NOW THE DASHBOARD HAS STARTED TO DETERIORATE AND IS BECOME STICKY TO THE TOUCH, BELIEVE THIS IS DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO USE THE VEHICLE FOR A YEAR. CHECKING THE FORUMS AND NOTICES ONLINE THIS APPEARS TO BE THE SAME ISSUE AS THE "CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM" - ZE6 - FOR STICKY/MELTING DASHBOARDS FOR THE IS MODELS FROM 2006-2008. HOWEVER THIS ISSUE IS GLOBAL TO ALL IS MODELS NOT JUST THE 2006-2008 MODELS. PLEASE HELP AS THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE IN SOUTH FLORIDA WITH THE EXTREME HEAT AND HUMIDITY, AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE SUN REFLEX'S FROM THE DASHBOARD AND THE DRIVER COULD HAVE A COLLISION IF NOT FIXED. NOTICED THIS ISSUE ON FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 AFTER DRIVING THE CAR HOME FROM HAVING THE AIRBAGS REPLACED. I WENT TO DUST THE DASHBOARD ONCE HOME AND NOTICED THE DUSTER WOULD NOT SLIDE AS IT ONCE WAS ABLE TO, AND THEN REALIZED THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE DASHBOARD.
NHTSA complaint #11032226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 56,317 milesFort Lauderdale, FL
VISIBILITY/WIPER
I LIVE IN FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA AND HAVE A LEXUS 2010 IS 350C WITH 56K AND DUE TO THE TAKATA RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000. I WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR 356 DAYS, AS I SIGNED AN AFFIDAVIT THAT I WOULD NOT DRIVE MY VEHICLE UNTIL THE AIRBAGS WERE AVAILABLE, AND LEXUS WOULD PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION UNTIL THE AIRBAGS WERE AVAILABLE. NOW THE DASHBOARD HAS STARTED TO DETERIORATE AND IS BECOME STICKY TO THE TOUCH, BELIEVE THIS IS DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO USE THE VEHICLE FOR A YEAR. CHECKING THE FORUMS AND NOTICES ONLINE THIS APPEARS TO BE THE SAME ISSUE AS THE "CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM" - ZE6 - FOR STICKY/MELTING DASHBOARDS FOR THE IS MODELS FROM 2006-2008. HOWEVER THIS ISSUE IS GLOBAL TO ALL IS MODELS NOT JUST THE 2006-2008 MODELS. PLEASE HELP AS THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE IN SOUTH FLORIDA WITH THE EXTREME HEAT AND HUMIDITY, AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE SUN REFLEX'S FROM THE DASHBOARD AND THE DRIVER COULD HAVE A COLLISION IF NOT FIXED. NOTICED THIS ISSUE ON FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 AFTER DRIVING THE CAR HOME FROM HAVING THE AIRBAGS REPLACED. I WENT TO DUST THE DASHBOARD ONCE HOME AND NOTICED THE DUSTER WOULD NOT SLIDE AS IT ONCE WAS ABLE TO, AND THEN REALIZED THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE DASHBOARD.
NHTSA complaint #11032226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Reseda, CA
AIR BAGS
I HAVE CONTACTED THE LEXUS SERVICE CENTER FOR WOODLAND HILLS, CA DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT BACK IN JUNE 2017. UP TO THIS DATE, AUGUST 21,2017, THEY STILL DON'T HAVE THE PART AVAILABLE FOR MY CAR. I CALLED AGAIN TODAY AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WILL CALL ME BACK WHEN THE PART IS AVAILABLE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR THE PARTS TO BE ORDERED? IN THE MEANTIME, I HAVE TO USE MY CAR. IF SOMETHING HAPPEN TO ME OR MY FAMILY, THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR YOUR COMPANY.
NHTSA complaint #11018743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tiburon, CA
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS IS 350C. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. LEXUS OF MARIN OF SAN RAFAL, CALIFORNIA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA complaint #11006227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Charlotte, NC
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WAS RECALLED JULY 2016. WE WERE TOLD IT WOULD BE REPAIRED NO LATER THAN FEB 2017. NOW WE ARE BEING TOLD JUNE OR JULY 2017. I HAVE A LOANER HOWEVER I HAVE BEEN MAKING A CAR PAYMENT FOR A LEXUS AND I HAVE A CHEVY IMPALA LOANER. I CAN'T SELL THE LEXUS I AM STUCK AND FURIOUS. WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE? I PAID FOR EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN I PURCHASED AND CAR ISN'T EVEN BEING DRIVEN. AT WHAT POINT DOES LEXUS HAVE TO COMPENSATE ME FOR MY OUT OF POCKET? AT WHAT POINT DO THEY HAVE TO BUY THE CAR I CAN'T DRIVE?
NHTSA complaint #10979350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Georgetown, TX
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS IS 350C. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10957647 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Greenville, SC
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM LEXUS APPROXIMATELY MAY, 2016 ABOUT THE AIR BAG RECALL WHICH STATED THAT THE FIX WOULD BE DONE SOON AND TO NOT ALLOW A PASSENGER TO RIDE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THEY HOPED TO REPLACE THE AIR BAGS IN JANUARY, 2017, AT THE EARLIEST. AS OF TODAY, 12/9/2016, NO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION HAS BEEN COMMUNICATED TO ME. I BELIEVE THIS IS NOT A TIMELY REMEDY, ESPECIALLY SINCE MY CAR IS ONLY PARTIALLY USABLE AND IS DANGEROUS FOR ME TO DRIVE. A TV REPORT TONIGHT STATED THAT THE CARS MOST AT RISK ARE 6 YEARS OLD OR OLDER AND LOCATED IN THE SOUTHEAST. MY CAR IS IN THE HIGHEST RISK CATEGORY AS IT IS A 2010 MODEL AND I LIVE IN SOUTH CAROLINA. ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE TO SPEED LEXUS UP WILL BE MOST APPRECIATED! THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *DL *JB
NHTSA complaint #10934271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Weston, FL
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS IS 350C. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. 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.
NHTSA complaint #10930343 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Atherton, CA
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS IS 350C. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS). AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10893168 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Atlanta, GA
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS IS 350C. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10887873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 22,000 milesConcord, CA
POWER TRAIN
DRIVING ON FREEWAY, THE ENGINE HAD NO POWER, AND GIVING GAS TO TRY TO PICK UP SPEED HAD NO EFFECT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME "ON", THEN EVERYTHING WENT BACK TO NORMAL CONDITION. ALL THESE THINGS HAPPENED WITHIN 2-5 SECONDS. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SO FAR. TWO TIMES IN FEBRUARY, 2016, ONE TIME IN MARCH 9, 2016. THE CAR HAS 22K MILES NOW.
NHTSA complaint #10846261 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 22,000 milesConcord, CA
ENGINE
DRIVING ON FREEWAY, THE ENGINE HAD NO POWER, AND GIVING GAS TO TRY TO PICK UP SPEED HAD NO EFFECT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME "ON", THEN EVERYTHING WENT BACK TO NORMAL CONDITION. ALL THESE THINGS HAPPENED WITHIN 2-5 SECONDS. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SO FAR. TWO TIMES IN FEBRUARY, 2016, ONE TIME IN MARCH 9, 2016. THE CAR HAS 22K MILES NOW.
NHTSA complaint #10846261 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 22,000 milesConcord, CA
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
DRIVING ON FREEWAY, THE ENGINE HAD NO POWER, AND GIVING GAS TO TRY TO PICK UP SPEED HAD NO EFFECT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME "ON", THEN EVERYTHING WENT BACK TO NORMAL CONDITION. ALL THESE THINGS HAPPENED WITHIN 2-5 SECONDS. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SO FAR. TWO TIMES IN FEBRUARY, 2016, ONE TIME IN MARCH 9, 2016. THE CAR HAS 22K MILES NOW.
NHTSA complaint #10846261 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 50,932 milesELK Grove, CA
TIRES
THE RIGHT REAR BRIDGESTONE TIRE ON MY 2010 LEXUS 350 IS C BLEW OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING ON THE FREE WAY ON 2/13/2013. THE WHOLE TIRE IS SHREDDED AND ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT OF TREAD REMAINS ON THE VERY LIP PF THE WHEEL. THE TIRE SIZE BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL400 255/40R18, DOT EL 3A DAN1510. I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT ON THE FREEWAY.
NHTSA complaint #10499590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.