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FaultScore report

2005 Lexus IS problems

Owners have filed 13 complaints about the 2005 Lexus IS with NHTSA between 2005 and 2021. The largest single group is the body & structure. Across this model's run it ranks 9 of 15 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Lexus IS All 2005 cars
C

FaultScore 49/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Lexus IS.

How this is worked out

The numbers

13

Complaints

2

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

1

Injuries reported

47,000 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

38%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

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.

Complaint volume 13 vs 50 Severity 100 vs 50 Early failure 64 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 13
Against the median year of the Lexus IS. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
23.1% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 64
38% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 2005 compares with every other Lexus IS

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2005 Lexus IS

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Body & Structure 5 38.5%

Median failure at 85,000 miles

Brakes 2 15.4%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Transmission & Drivetrain 2 15.4%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 6,500 mi

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 1 7.7%

Median failure at 140,000 miles

Acceleration & Cruise Control 1 7.7%

Median failure at 47,000 miles

Suspension 1 7.7%

Median failure at 13,000 miles

Engine & Cooling 1 7.7%

Median failure at 47,000 miles

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

1,000 – 9,999 miles 1 12.5%
10,000 – 24,999 miles 2 25.0%
25,000 – 49,999 miles 2 25.0%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 1 12.5%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 2 25.0%

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.

Mar 2005 peak 3 Oct 2021

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

at 10,100 miles SAN Francisco, CA Crash 1 injured

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I OWN LEXUS IS300, YEAR 2005. MILEAGE APPROX 10,000 ONLY. FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR LEVER STICKS IN PARK AND REQUIRES THAT I PRESS THE SHIFT LOCK OVERRIDE BUTTON. THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 6 TIMES. ON THE LAST OCCASION, WHEN I WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE SELECTOR LEVER, THE ENGINE STARTED RACING, THE CAR SHOT FORWARD AND RESULTED IN A MOST SERIOUS SERIES OF COLLISIONS, FIRST INTO A PARKED CAR THEN AFTER MOUNTING THE SIDEWALK IT SMASHED INTO TWO HOUSES. I SUSTAINED A WRIST FRACTURE AND BRUISES. ALL THIS HAPPENED IN THE SPACE OF ABOUT 2 SECONDS.

NHTSA complaint #10247430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Carefree, AZ Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

LEXUS IS300 2005 BRAKE MALFUNCTION. *BF WHEN THE CONSUME ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, WHICH RESULTED IN THE CONSUMER HITTING A PARKED VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #10113709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Arcadia, CA

SERVICE BRAKES

As I prepared to make a right turn onto a busy street, I suddenly could not brake normally. Instead, I was unable to press the brake down as a balloon like feeling pushed it back up, but it also did not return all the way up to its normal position. The result was I was moving with no way to slow down the car. Fortunately, I was not moving at a high speed and immediately shifted into park. I was fortunate this did not occur while I was at full speed. The brake lights did turn on at the time of the issue. An independent mechanic suspects a brake booster failure. Just a month before, another mechanic performed routine maintenance and found no signs of this issue. Just 6 months before, I purchased the vehicle used with no mention of this sort of past issue.

NHTSA complaint #11438814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Needville, TX

STRUCTURE

THIS LEXUS HAS THE STICKY, MELTING DASHBOARD ISSUE COMMON IN MANY LEXUS VEHICLES LOCATED IN SOUTHERN STATES.

NHTSA complaint #10733137 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ocala, FL

STRUCTURE

ONE DAY I JUST GOT INTO MY CAR AFTER CLEANING IT AND THE DASH WAS VERY STICKY, I THOUGHT SOMEONE SPLIT SOMETHING IN MY CAR SO I WIPED IT DOWN BUT IT DID NOTHING.

NHTSA complaint #10617687 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hollywood, FL

STRUCTURE

MELTING DASHBOARD.

NHTSA complaint #10617042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles SAN Diego, CA

STRUCTURE

I HAVE A 2005 IS300 THAT IS HAVING A MELTING DASHBOARD AND PANEL ISSUE. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE IN THE LEXUS FORUMS ON THE INTERNET. THE MELTING DASHBOARD AND PANEL ISSUE IS CAUSED BY THE HOT SUN. LEXUS HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE AND ALSO REFUSING TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIRING/REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE PARTS.

NHTSA complaint #10611380 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 140,000 miles South Ozone Park, NY

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

SEVERE RUSTING OF THE SUNROOF.

NHTSA complaint #10592087 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 47,000 miles Boca Raton, FL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

COASTING INTO A PARKING SPOT , MY FOOT NOT ON THE GAS , THE CAR TOOK OFF. I HAD TO SLAM MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND WITH THE HELP OF THE PARKING SPOT STOPPER THE CAR STOPPED. THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO GO OVER THE STOPPER.

NHTSA complaint #10453704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 47,000 miles Boca Raton, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

COASTING INTO A PARKING SPOT , MY FOOT NOT ON THE GAS , THE CAR TOOK OFF. I HAD TO SLAM MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND WITH THE HELP OF THE PARKING SPOT STOPPER THE CAR STOPPED. THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO GO OVER THE STOPPER.

NHTSA complaint #10453704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Marcos, CA

STRUCTURE

ON THE DASHBOARD, THE SQUARE OF MATERIAL WHERE THE SRS AIR BAG IS, ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, KEEPS MELTING WHEN IT'S EXPOSED TO HEAT. THE AIRBAG DECOMPOSES OVER TIME DUE TO AN ERROR IN DESIGN/MANUFACTURING, AND THAT LEXUS IS AWARE OF THE SITUATION DUE TO OTHER CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE SAFETY CONCERNS ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THE AIR BAG AS THIS CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE OVERTIME. THIS SITUATION MAY AFFECT THE QUALITY AND STRENGTH OF THE AIR BAG. . AFTER RESEARCH I DISCOVERED THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED IN LEXUS VEHICLES AS FAR BACK AS 2002.

NHTSA complaint #10438408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 10,100 miles SAN Francisco, CA Crash 1 injured

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I OWN LEXUS IS300, YEAR 2005. MILEAGE APPROX 10,000 ONLY. FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR LEVER STICKS IN PARK AND REQUIRES THAT I PRESS THE SHIFT LOCK OVERRIDE BUTTON. THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 6 TIMES. ON THE LAST OCCASION, WHEN I WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE SELECTOR LEVER, THE ENGINE STARTED RACING, THE CAR SHOT FORWARD AND RESULTED IN A MOST SERIOUS SERIES OF COLLISIONS, FIRST INTO A PARKED CAR THEN AFTER MOUNTING THE SIDEWALK IT SMASHED INTO TWO HOUSES. I SUSTAINED A WRIST FRACTURE AND BRUISES. ALL THIS HAPPENED IN THE SPACE OF ABOUT 2 SECONDS.

NHTSA complaint #10247430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 13,000 miles Boca Raton, FL

SUSPENSION

THE FRONT TIRES ARE WEARING OUT FASTER ON THE INSIDE (CAMBER) THAN THE REST OF THE TIRE. THE DEALER LEXUS (IS300) SAID THAT'S THE WAY THE MANUFACTURER MADE IT .I WAS NEVER TOLD THIS WOULD HAPPEN WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10181520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 2,900 miles SAN Juan, PR

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

LEXUS IS300, 2005 5 SPEED. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW ON JUNE 2005. AFTER 2900 MILES THE CLUTCH HAD TO BE REPLACED BY LEXUS. THEY CLAIM THAT I DRIVE WITH THE FOOT ON THE CLUTCH PEDAL (WHICH I DON'T). I HAVE DRIVEN STICK SHIFT SINCE I WAS IN COLLEGE OVER 30 YEARS AGO.

NHTSA complaint #10143937 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Carefree, AZ Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

LEXUS IS300 2005 BRAKE MALFUNCTION. *BF WHEN THE CONSUME ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, WHICH RESULTED IN THE CONSUMER HITTING A PARKED VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #10113709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.