2012 Lexus IS 250
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2012 Lexus IS 250 has 27 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (37% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2012 lexus is 250. while driving approximately 2 mph, another vehicle ran the traffic light and crashed into the front end of the contact's vehicle. the air bags did not deploy. the vehicle was towed. a police report was filed. injuries were sustained and medical attention was.
27
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.3x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
AIR BAGS
10 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS IS 250. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS IS250. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V006000 (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 MAD
- • TAKATA RECALL: I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM LEXUS ON MARCH 7 FOR THE AIRBAG RECALL. NO FIX WAS PROVIDED AND WHEN I CALLED THEY DID NOT KNOW IF IT WOULD BE 1 MONTH OR 6 MONTHS UNTIL A FIX WAS AVAILABLE. THEIR SOLUTION WAS " DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR WITH A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT". THIS IS A ST
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS IS 250. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
4 complaints- • THIS IS THE THIRD LEXUS I HAVE HAD THAT THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS DON'T WORK. ALL 4 ACTUATORS ARE BAD AFTER I EVEN HAD ONE REPLACED. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN I ALL THREE LEXUS' THAT I HAVE OWNED. I HAVE TALKED TO LEXUS ABOUT THIS AND THE SERVICE PEOPLE SAY THAT THEY SEE MORE THAN THEY SHOULD GO. BAD BO
- • UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE INCHING INTO PARKING SPACE AT VERY SLOW RATE OF SPEED. ENGINE RACED UNEXPECTEDLY AND CAR JUMPED CURB WITH ALL 4 TIRES, ACROSS A SMALL MEDIAN, AND DOWN ANOTHER CURB WITH 3 TIRES, STRIKING A PARKED CAR, WHICH STOPPED FORWARD MOTION.
- • DOOR LOCKS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. BOTH FRONT DOOR ACTUATORS NEED TO BE REPLACED WHICH WE WERE TOLD IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. THIS HAS BEEN UNSAFE FOR OUR TEENAGE DRIVER HAVING TO CRAWL THROUGH BACK DOORS TO UNLOCK HER VEHICLE ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT.
“THIS IS THE THIRD LEXUS I HAVE HAD THAT THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS DON'T WORK. ALL 4 ACTUATORS ARE BAD AFTER I EVEN HAD ONE REPLACED. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN I ALL THREE LEXUS' THAT I HAVE OWNED. I HAVE TALKED TO LEXUS ABOUT THIS AND THE SERVICE PEOPLE SAY THAT THEY SEE MORE THAN THEY SHOULD GO. BAD BO”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BRAKES
3 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS IS 250. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT INTO PARK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED O
- • UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE INCHING INTO PARKING SPACE AT VERY SLOW RATE OF SPEED. ENGINE RACED UNEXPECTEDLY AND CAR JUMPED CURB WITH ALL 4 TIRES, ACROSS A SMALL MEDIAN, AND DOWN ANOTHER CURB WITH 3 TIRES, STRIKING A PARKED CAR, WHICH STOPPED FORWARD MOTION.
- • The contact owns a 2012 Lexus IS250. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake inadvertently activated without the brake pedal being depressed. The vehicle also experienced unintended acceleration without the accelerator pedal being depressed. The cause of the failure was no
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS IS 250. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT INTO PARK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED O”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SPEED CONTROL
3 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS IS 250. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT INTO PARK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED O
- • I WANT TO REPORT THAT I EXPERIENCED UN-INTENDED ACCELERATION ON MY LEXUS IS 250C, 2012 MODEL PURCHASED IN DECEMBER 2011 AS A RESULT OF WHICH MY VEHICLE CRASHED AND WENT TURTLE.
- • The contact owns a 2012 Lexus IS250. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake inadvertently activated without the brake pedal being depressed. The vehicle also experienced unintended acceleration without the accelerator pedal being depressed. The cause of the failure was no
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS IS 250. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT INTO PARK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED O”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BODY/STRUCTURE
3 complaints- • I WANT TO REPORT THAT I EXPERIENCED UN-INTENDED ACCELERATION ON MY LEXUS IS 250C, 2012 MODEL PURCHASED IN DECEMBER 2011 AS A RESULT OF WHICH MY VEHICLE CRASHED AND WENT TURTLE.
- • DASHBOARD COMING APART CLUE SEEPING THEY DASHBOARD STICKY
- • TAKATABRANTAKATA RECALL MY VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AT 34 TO 50 MILES AN HOUR. THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME IMPACTED ME SO HARD THAT IT PUSHED ME INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND IN TURN SHE HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THERE WAS DAMAGED TO THE FRONT AND SIDE PANELS OF MY CAR AS WELL. THE AIR BAGS FA
“I WANT TO REPORT THAT I EXPERIENCED UN-INTENDED ACCELERATION ON MY LEXUS IS 250C, 2012 MODEL PURCHASED IN DECEMBER 2011 AS A RESULT OF WHICH MY VEHICLE CRASHED AND WENT TURTLE.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 27 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS IS 250. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: THIS IS THE THIRD LEXUS I HAVE HAD THAT THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS DON'T WORK. ALL 4 ACTUATORS ARE BAD AFTER I EVEN HAD ONE REPLACED. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN I ALL THREE LEXUS' THAT I HAVE OWNED. I HAVE TALKED TO LEXUS ABOUT THIS AND THE SERVICE PEOPLE SAY THAT THEY SEE MORE THAN THEY SHOULD GO. BAD BO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BRAKES: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS IS 250. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT INTO PARK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED O
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐SPEED CONTROL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS IS 250. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT INTO PARK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED O
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Lexus IS 250 — Year Comparison
How does 2012 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 27
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 0
- Crash reports
- 10
- Injury reports
- 4
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
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