45 of the
808 complaints filed about the Lexus IS
are about the electrical system —
6% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2006.
I am reporting a severe, unresolved safety hazard involving my 2023 Lexus IS350]. The vehicle is continuously flashing 'Braking System Malfunction,' 'Crash Light,' and 'Engine Light' alerts on the dashboard. This is the second major acceleration and braking system failure since purchasing the vehicle brand new.The authorized dealership, Meade Lexus, has repeatedly failed to properly diagnose or repair this critical braking issue over a 7-month period. On multiple service visits, the dealership documented that they simply 'lubed' the rubber around the gas cap, reset the dashboard warning lights, and returned the vehicle to me without performing actual mechanical repairs to the braking system. The service manager explicitly instructed me that I must drive the vehicle back to the dealership every single week just to have the safety lights turned off manually. Driving a vehicle with an active, un-diagnosed braking and crash-system fault is a major safety liability and makes the vehicle dangerous to operate. The manufacturer and dealer have failed to resolve this safety defect under warranty."
NHTSA complaint #11753916 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The headlights continusely shot off while driving. The shift solenoid are stuck off causing the check engine light to continuously remain on. This all began 2023.
NHTSA complaint #11744650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hello: I own a 2007 Lexus IS250. My vehicle has had an ongoing engine misfire issue and has run extremely rough. In addition, my SRS light and there is an issue with the driver's side knee air bag inflator connector. Finally, my dashboard, front and rear door panels have been sticky and melted over time when it is hot and there is no reason why this is occurring. The dashboard and door panels become glossy, crack and have broken off into pieces and the shine/gloss from the dashboard causes blinding while driving due to the reflection of the sun on the dashboard. These issues have been going on for a period of over 10 years and I had multiple accidents due to these numerous issues. I have reported these to Lexus corporate on multiple occasions, including in 2016 and 2017. However, Lexus has refused to fix them stating that they are aware of these issues and had the ZLJ, ZLD and ZLA warranty programs but that they had expired in 2017. However, I later found out that none of those programs had expired at the time I called Lexus's corporate office. One of their programs, the ZLD warranty program, was apparently extended until 2021, however, Lexus failed to inform most vehicle owners of this. These issues are a safety issue. They have caused my car to malfunction for over 10 years and to have accidents. Many Lexus owners have also reported about these issues in Lexus owner forums on the internet and have stated that they have had accidents due to these issues, but Lexus failed to properly inform customers of the extended warranty and refused to fix these cars. With these issues continuing and becoming worse over the years, they are no longer a warranty issue, but a safety issue for drivers. I am requesting that the NHSTA investigate this issue and require, if possible, that Lexus issue safety recalls for these known defects and fix these issues immediately to prevent car accidents.
NHTSA complaint #11736572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2010 Lexus IS. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle stalled, the vehicle independently accelerated while the accelerator pedal was not depressed, and all of the doors locked independently and were inoperative. No warning lights were illuminated. The failure occurred on several different occasions. The contact did research and was made aware of an unknown NHTSA Campaign Number however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to get a diagnosis however, the dealer stated that the failure was not duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer to get a diagnosis however, the failure cause was unidentifiable. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.
NHTSA complaint #11736579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2006 Lexus IS 250. The contact stated that after purchasing the vehicle and driving for two hours, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 135,000, and at the time of scanning the vehicle, it was discovered that the mileage was 221,000. The title showed a different name. A Carfax report was not obtained. The Montgomery police department was contacted and referred him to the NHTSA hotline.
NHTSA complaint #11734763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle is experiencing a failure of the dual-zone HVAC system where the passenger side consistently blows hot air while the driver side is set to cold. This indicates a failure of the HVAC blend door actuator (servo motor), which is a known issue for this model year. This failure poses a safety risk as it can prevent proper defrosting and defogging of the windshield during inclement weather, obstructing driver visibility. Also should note While driving, the vehicle becomes excessively loud and behaves as if it is stuck in the wrong gear, accompanied by a significant loss of engine power. An onboard diagnostic alert has indicated a malfunction in the electronic control of the engine throttle or automatic transmission. This 'limp mode' behavior creates a hazardous situation during highway driving or merging, as the vehicle cannot maintain speed or respond to throttle inputs, increasing the risk of a rear-end collision.
NHTSA complaint #11724450 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2006 Lexus IS 250. The contact stated that upon selling the vehicle, the new owner later informed the contact that it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy while the vehicle was undergoing a diagnostic test. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time the contact purchased the vehicle, the mileage was 150,604; however, an Experian Auto Check History Report listed the mileage at over 300,000.
NHTSA complaint #11719036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2006 Lexus IS 250. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private seller. At the time of purchase, the odometer mileage was 119,000. The contact purchased a Carfax Report, which indicated that the odometer mileage was reported in September 2022 at 144,556, and the vehicle failed inspection. In addition, in October 2018, the odometer was reported at 155,811.
NHTSA complaint #11717329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Driver side headlights and high beam have gone dim, reduced to a yellow haze. This creates a hazard by reducing visibility when driving. This increases risk of accidents due to dimly let roadway. I have had the lens professional cleaned and there is no oxidation which may reduce light output. I have checked the headlight alignment and it is good.
NHTSA complaint #11698550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vehicles manufactured by Lexus/Toyota from 2014 onward have been reported to experience rainwater intrusion into the trunk area, attributed to a faulty tail light nut composed of plastic with a rubber gasket. Lexus/Toyota is fully aware of this issue, which can lead to water damaging electrical components or result in trunk flooding if the problem goes unnoticed.” Causing expensive damage to audio system.as it did with mine.
NHTSA complaint #11681139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My car experienced sudden unintended acceleration. I was at a stop light preparing to turn right when my car accelerated of its own accord crashing into the vehicle in front of me. My foot was firmly on the brake, but I had lost control over the vehicle. Whatever electrical defect I experienced, it was sufficient to rev the engine by itself and override the braking system enough that the vehicle advanced forward in an out-of-control manner. It was unintended, unexpected and beyond my ability to control. Failing to recognize the braking system, my vehicle collided into the vehicle a second time. Because my foot was on the brake and my vehicle still advanced forward, I initially thought I had been hit from behind. However, the erratic RPM behavior and the vehicle's continued acceleration while braking confirmed I was no longer in control of the vehicle. Acting promptly, I immediately took the gear shifter out of drive and put into neutral. It was then and only then that I regained control of the vehicle: it stopped accelerating, stopped revving of its own accord and began responding to the braking system. Please note: my foot was not on the gas pedal, for as soon as I took it out of drive, the RPM returned to normal (i.e. the erratic behavior indicated by the tachometer's RPM, stopped). Had my foot been on the gas pedal instead of the brake pedal, the revving would have continued to behave as before; but it did not. (I do not have an all-weather floor mat. It is neither here nor there, because in the event that I did have one, you would expect the RPM behavior to continue when put into neutral; but again, all behavior returned to normal when the vehicle was put in neutral.) Though I am sympathetic to those that panic in a moment of distress, I was of a present enough mind to know what was happening. An electrical engineer with intimate knowledge of the computer system for this vehicle would be the best to assess what went wrong from a technical perspective.
NHTSA complaint #11680755 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Odometer Fraud. The contact intended to purchase a 2009 Lexus IS 250. The contact stated while test-driving the vehicle, the contact drove to an Auto part store for diagnostic testing. It was then discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was not a sale. At the time the vehicle was test-driven, the vehicle mileage was 114,274, but it was discovered at the Auto parts store that the actual mileage was 198,000.
NHTSA complaint #11674306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2014 Lexus IS 250, 102,301 MILES THE AUDIO AND ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM IN THE DASH BOARD. ALL RADIO SPECKERS AND SOUND EFFECTS FEED BACK TONES. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE "STATIONARY, IN MOTION, CITY STREET, AND HIGHWAY. THE AUDIO RADIO, SAT, CD OR BLUETOOTH AND NAVIGATION ON-SCREEN FEEDBACK TONES DISAPPEAR. OPTIONS TO ADJUST BASS, TREBLE OR ECT IS GREYED OUT AND LOST. THE POINT PAD ALSO LOOSES SOUND FEEBACK.. CHECKED ALL FUSES AND THEY ARE GOOD.
NHTSA complaint #11624543 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2017 Lexus IS 200t. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the rain, water leaked into the dashboard causing the headlights to fail. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic, and it was determined to be a manufacturing defect. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.
NHTSA complaint #11583922 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
When driving at high speeds on the highway (75-85mph) after about 20 mins or so, the steering wheel feels like it locks up or gets stuck. The only way to get it back to normal is to jerk the wheel a bit resulting in swerving. This happens almost everytime I travel across the state. The car has passed all inspections at the Lexus Dealer. This past visit to the dealership, the tie rod was found to be corroded, however the technician does not believe that is the issue. We believe it is the steering rack. This car has not been in any major accidents and was having this safety issue prior to a slight fender bender. The issue is a huge safety concern because the steering wheel "stops respondings" and needs to be jerked or swerved to go back to normal.
NHTSA complaint #11545314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2015 Lexus IS250. The contact stated while operating the vehicle, the radio and infotainment center failed to function properly. Additionally, there was a burning odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the stereo amplifier located in the trunk was submerged in water. The location of the water intrusion was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 88,000.
NHTSA complaint #11532779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Power steering keeps going out and steering wheel making grinding noise. Almost crashed when lost steering on freeway. Car also makes noise while starting cold
NHTSA complaint #11467583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving there was no warning lamps messages or other symptoms to any problems. I went to slow down so I could turn around because I missed my stop. The brakes started feeling less pressure I looked up and there was black smoke coming from under the hood then I saw flames. Then the car blew up
NHTSA complaint #11467246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.