2010 Lexus IS

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2010 Lexus IS has 51 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (31% of all complaints), specifically: takata recall. recently financed a 2010 lexus is250 in dec 2015. shortly after i can't recall exactly when i noticed the airbag light was lit on, but i never paid much attention because i assumed that it was lit because it meant working active. after doing research i have learned that this was not.

10 crash reports 3 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

16 complaints

31%

• TAKATA RECALL. RECENTLY FINANCED A 2010 LEXUS IS250 IN DEC 2015. SHORTLY AFTER I CAN'T RECALL EXACTLY WHEN I NOTICED THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS LIT ON, BUT I NEVER PAID MUCH ATTENTION BECAUSE I ASSUMED THAT IT WAS LIT BECAUSE IT MEANT WORKING ACTIVE. AFTER DOING RESEARCH I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS WAS NOT
• TAKATA RECALL; I WANT THIS TAKEN CARE OF! I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL BECAUSE I WENT TO TRADE MY CAR IN FOR A NEW ONE. I CANNOT AFFORD THE NEW ONE NOW, BUT I DRIVE MY GRANDCHILDREN AROUND EVERY DAY. NO ONE TOLD ME ABOUT THIS AND I AM LIVID. I HAVE MY OIL CHANGED EVERY 5,000 MILES AT THE LOC
• TAKATA INFLATORS- I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN JUNE 2016 AND WAS ORIGINALLY TOLD PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN SEP 2016, THEN OCT- JAN 2017 AND FINALLY EARLY 2017. I WAS TOLD NOT TO HAVE ANYONE RIDE IN MY PASSENGER SEAT. 1. THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE LONG TERM 2. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR MY CURRE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TAKATA RECALL. RECENTLY FINANCED A 2010 LEXUS IS250 IN DEC 2015. SHORTLY AFTER I CAN'T RECALL EXACTLY WHEN I NOTICED THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS LIT ON, BUT I NEVER PAID MUCH ATTENTION BECAUSE I ASSUMED THAT IT WAS LIT BECAUSE IT MEANT WORKING ACTIVE. AFTER DOING RESEARCH I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS WAS NOT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

6 complaints

12%

• I PURCHASED A LEXUS IS350C ON FEB 12, 2010. ON JULY 29, 2010 WITH A LITTLE OVER 9,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, I WAS GETTING ON THE FREEWAY AT WHIPPLE HEADED NORTH ON 101, I ACCELERATED REALLY HARD TO AVOID ONCOMING TRAFFIC. WHEN I LET UP ON THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR LOST POWER! I COULDN'T ACCELERATE
• DAILY DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE FOR TWO YEARS WAS EASING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND APPLYING THE BRAKES WHEN VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD OVER A CURB EVENTUALLY CRASHING INTO A TREE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WENT OVER THE CURB IT WENT THROUGH A CHAIN LINK FENCE AND DOWN A STEEP EMBANKMENT LEADING TO A GREAT DEAL OF C
• SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN TRYING TO STOP

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“I PURCHASED A LEXUS IS350C ON FEB 12, 2010. ON JULY 29, 2010 WITH A LITTLE OVER 9,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, I WAS GETTING ON THE FREEWAY AT WHIPPLE HEADED NORTH ON 101, I ACCELERATED REALLY HARD TO AVOID ONCOMING TRAFFIC. WHEN I LET UP ON THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR LOST POWER! I COULDN'T ACCELERATE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

5 complaints

10%

• CURRENTLY HAVE A 2010 LEXUS IS250 AWD (BOUGHT ON 2/9/2010) AND NOTED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THAT THE RPMS INCREASE RANDOMLY AFTER THE CAR HAS STOPPED AND IS STATIONARY. THE CAR INCHES FORWARD AND THE DRIVER HAS TO APPLY MORE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE SURE THE CAR DOESN'T LURCH FORWARD AND HI
• 2008 LEXUS IS250 AWD HAD PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AND STOPPED. WHEN THE OPERATOR TRIED TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK THE ENGINE REVVED AND CAR MOVED VIOLENTLY FORWARD CLIMBING AN EIGHT INCH CURB TO HIT A CONCRETE COLUMN ON THE FRONT OF AN OFFICE BUILDING. THE DRIVER HAD THEIR F
• THIS 2010 IS250 WAS PURCHASED NEW IN OCTOBER 2009 AND HAS APPROXIMATELY 3,300 MILES. ON FEB 19TH, 2010 DRIVER MADE A U-TURN AT LOW SPEED. AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE TURN THE CAR STARTED AN UNCOMMANDED ACCELERATION, CAUSING IT TO SPIN TO THE RIGHT. THE CAR THEN JUMPED A CURB WITH THE WHEEL STILL SP

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“CURRENTLY HAVE A 2010 LEXUS IS250 AWD (BOUGHT ON 2/9/2010) AND NOTED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THAT THE RPMS INCREASE RANDOMLY AFTER THE CAR HAS STOPPED AND IS STATIONARY. THE CAR INCHES FORWARD AND THE DRIVER HAS TO APPLY MORE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE SURE THE CAR DOESN'T LURCH FORWARD AND HI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

5 complaints

10%

• THE DASHBOARD HAS MELTED, PRODUCING A SIGNIFICANT GLARE THAT IMPAIRS MY VISION THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD WHEN THE SUN HITS IT. THE DASHBOARD IS STICKY.
• THIS REGARDING 2010 LEXUS IS250 AND WE OWNED ONE. THIS VEHICLE HAS PROBLEM WITH DASHBOARD GETTING STICKY IT IS KIND OF MELTING DUE TO HEAT AND HUMIDITY. AND LEXUS IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. BUT THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF IS BECAUSE OF STICKY DASHBOARD IT RELEASES OILY FUME AND IT GOES ON TO WINDSHIELD AND
• 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, i

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“THE DASHBOARD HAS MELTED, PRODUCING A SIGNIFICANT GLARE THAT IMPAIRS MY VISION THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD WHEN THE SUN HITS IT. THE DASHBOARD IS STICKY.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

4 complaints

• KNOWN BY LEXUS AS A COMMON FAILURE IN THE 2UR ENGINE IS THE VALLEY PLATE COOLANT LEAK. THIS IS A FAILURE THAT THE MAJORITY OF OWNERS IN THE FORUMS HAVE REPORTED AS WELL AS MY PERSONAL VEHICLE EXPERIENCING. CAN HAPPEN AS FEW AS 50K MILES. COMMON COST FOR REPAIR TO THE OWNER IS BETWEEN $2000 AND $30
• ISFS YEAR MODELS 2008-2014 ARE AFFECTED THE VALLEY PLATE LEAK DUE TO THE FACT THAT TOYOTA/LEXUS UTILIZED THE IMPROPER SEALANT AND USED THE IMPROPER AMOUNT, LEADING TO THE HEAT EXCHANGER LEAKING COOLANT ONCE THE ORIGINAL, INADEQUATE SEALANT BEGINS TO DISINTEGRATE. THIS COULD CAUSE A CONDITION WHERE T
• While driving home in the freeway, I felt my car shake then a sudden loss of power. Then my CEL started blinking and my VSC lit. Got a code for engine misfire(P0302). Is250 has a lot of cases on engine misfires because of excessive carbon build up because of how the engine is designed. My car only h

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“KNOWN BY LEXUS AS A COMMON FAILURE IN THE 2UR ENGINE IS THE VALLEY PLATE COOLANT LEAK. THIS IS A FAILURE THAT THE MAJORITY OF OWNERS IN THE FORUMS HAVE REPORTED AS WELL AS MY PERSONAL VEHICLE EXPERIENCING. CAN HAPPEN AS FEW AS 50K MILES. COMMON COST FOR REPAIR TO THE OWNER IS BETWEEN $2000 AND $30”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 51 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: TAKATA RECALL. RECENTLY FINANCED A 2010 LEXUS IS250 IN DEC 2015. SHORTLY AFTER I CAN'T RECALL EXACTLY WHEN I NOTICED THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS LIT ON, BUT I NEVER PAID MUCH ATTENTION BECAUSE I ASSUMED THAT IT WAS LIT BECAUSE IT MEANT WORKING ACTIVE. AFTER DOING RESEARCH I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS WAS NOT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SPEED CONTROL: I PURCHASED A LEXUS IS350C ON FEB 12, 2010. ON JULY 29, 2010 WITH A LITTLE OVER 9,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, I WAS GETTING ON THE FREEWAY AT WHIPPLE HEADED NORTH ON 101, I ACCELERATED REALLY HARD TO AVOID ONCOMING TRAFFIC. WHEN I LET UP ON THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR LOST POWER! I COULDN'T ACCELERATE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: CURRENTLY HAVE A 2010 LEXUS IS250 AWD (BOUGHT ON 2/9/2010) AND NOTED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THAT THE RPMS INCREASE RANDOMLY AFTER THE CAR HAS STOPPED AND IS STATIONARY. THE CAR INCHES FORWARD AND THE DRIVER HAS TO APPLY MORE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE SURE THE CAR DOESN'T LURCH FORWARD AND HI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: THE DASHBOARD HAS MELTED, PRODUCING A SIGNIFICANT GLARE THAT IMPAIRS MY VISION THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD WHEN THE SUN HITS IT. THE DASHBOARD IS STICKY.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)