2012 Lexus IS

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2012 Lexus IS has 23 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (30% of all complaints), specifically: my lexus 2012 is 250 accelerated on its own, brakes did not engage after depressing them x2, and then i crashed into a truck. air bag did not deploy. reported to lexus who assumed no responsibility for incident. third party inspected car and downloaded black box. report from lexus stated that car wa.

5 crash reports 1 injury

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

7 complaints

30%

• MY LEXUS 2012 IS 250 ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE AFTER DEPRESSING THEM X2, AND THEN I CRASHED INTO A TRUCK. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. REPORTED TO LEXUS WHO ASSUMED NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR INCIDENT. THIRD PARTY INSPECTED CAR AND DOWNLOADED BLACK BOX. REPORT FROM LEXUS STATED THAT CAR WA
• URGENT SAFETY RECALL FRONT PASS. AIRBAG INFLATOR WHICH CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH - NO PARTS AVAILABLE & LEXUS UNABLE TO GIVE AN ETA FOR PART. UNACCEPTABLE. WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE?
• TAKATA RECALL MY LOCAL DEALER DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS NECESSARY TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THEY PUT ME ON A WAIT LIST AND SAID IT COULD TAKE 2 MONTHS FOR THE THEM TO GET THE PARTS. THIS IS LEXUS SAN DIEGO

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

“MY LEXUS 2012 IS 250 ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE AFTER DEPRESSING THEM X2, AND THEN I CRASHED INTO A TRUCK. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. REPORTED TO LEXUS WHO ASSUMED NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR INCIDENT. THIRD PARTY INSPECTED CAR AND DOWNLOADED BLACK BOX. REPORT FROM LEXUS STATED THAT CAR WA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

2 complaints

• WHEN BRAKING, OR SLOWING BRAKING AND LETTING GO, WEIRD CREAKING NOISE IS MADE. LEXUS IS AWARE OF THESE ISSUES BUT WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP EVEN WHEN CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
• MY LEXUS 2012 IS 250 ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE AFTER DEPRESSING THEM X2, AND THEN I CRASHED INTO A TRUCK. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. REPORTED TO LEXUS WHO ASSUMED NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR INCIDENT. THIRD PARTY INSPECTED CAR AND DOWNLOADED BLACK BOX. REPORT FROM LEXUS STATED THAT CAR WA

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

“WHEN BRAKING, OR SLOWING BRAKING AND LETTING GO, WEIRD CREAKING NOISE IS MADE. LEXUS IS AWARE OF THESE ISSUES BUT WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP EVEN WHEN CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

2 complaints

• MY LEXUS 2012 IS 250 ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE AFTER DEPRESSING THEM X2, AND THEN I CRASHED INTO A TRUCK. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. REPORTED TO LEXUS WHO ASSUMED NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR INCIDENT. THIRD PARTY INSPECTED CAR AND DOWNLOADED BLACK BOX. REPORT FROM LEXUS STATED THAT CAR WA
• WHEN EXITING A DRIVE THROUGH CAR WASH (VEHICLE IN N) TOLD TO DRIVE OUT. I PUT IT IN DRIVE, BEGIN TO DEPRESS GAS PEDAL, IT JAMS DOWN , I PEEL OUT TOWARDS A CONCRETE JERSEY WALL, HIT IT WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CORNER FRONT, BUMPER AND FRONT WHEEL...THEN THE BACK WHEEL, STILL ACCELERATING...DO 1/

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

2 complaints

• MY 2012 LEXUS IS250 HAS STICKY DASHBOARD AND DOOR PANELS. THE DASH IS WET WITH A STICKY LIKE SUBSTANCE WHICH ALSO CAUSES A GLARE AND STAINS ANYTHING THAT TOUCHES THE SURFACE. THE DOOR PANELS ARE PEELING HORRIBLY AND EXTREMELY SOFT TO TOUCH. BUMPING YOUR FINGER ON THE DOOR PANEL LEAVES FRAGMENTS OF T
• The dashboard is sticky/melting causing it to be extremely shiny. It is available for inspection upon request. Due to the shininess of the dashboard, it causes a glare on the windshield during the daytime. This glare causes difficulty with being able to safely see through the windshield.

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

“MY 2012 LEXUS IS250 HAS STICKY DASHBOARD AND DOOR PANELS. THE DASH IS WET WITH A STICKY LIKE SUBSTANCE WHICH ALSO CAUSES A GLARE AND STAINS ANYTHING THAT TOUCHES THE SURFACE. THE DOOR PANELS ARE PEELING HORRIBLY AND EXTREMELY SOFT TO TOUCH. BUMPING YOUR FINGER ON THE DOOR PANEL LEAVES FRAGMENTS OF T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

2 complaints

• MY 2012 LEXUS IS250 HAS STICKY DASHBOARD AND DOOR PANELS. THE DASH IS WET WITH A STICKY LIKE SUBSTANCE WHICH ALSO CAUSES A GLARE AND STAINS ANYTHING THAT TOUCHES THE SURFACE. THE DOOR PANELS ARE PEELING HORRIBLY AND EXTREMELY SOFT TO TOUCH. BUMPING YOUR FINGER ON THE DOOR PANEL LEAVES FRAGMENTS OF T
• LEXUS IS250 HAS A MELTING DASHBOARD AND IT'S REALLY HARD TO DRIVE WHEN THE SUN IS OUT ... IT GLARES OUT YOUR VISION WHEN DRIVING ...I WAS RESEARCHING AND SAW SOME PEOPLE GOT A RECALL FOR THE MELTING DASHBOARD SINCE IT'S REALLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE IT WITH THE DASHBOARD STARTING TO MELT .. IN THE PICTURE

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 23 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: MY LEXUS 2012 IS 250 ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE AFTER DEPRESSING THEM X2, AND THEN I CRASHED INTO A TRUCK. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. REPORTED TO LEXUS WHO ASSUMED NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR INCIDENT. THIRD PARTY INSPECTED CAR AND DOWNLOADED BLACK BOX. REPORT FROM LEXUS STATED THAT CAR WA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: WHEN BRAKING, OR SLOWING BRAKING AND LETTING GO, WEIRD CREAKING NOISE IS MADE. LEXUS IS AWARE OF THESE ISSUES BUT WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP EVEN WHEN CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SPEED CONTROL: MY LEXUS 2012 IS 250 ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE AFTER DEPRESSING THEM X2, AND THEN I CRASHED INTO A TRUCK. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. REPORTED TO LEXUS WHO ASSUMED NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR INCIDENT. THIRD PARTY INSPECTED CAR AND DOWNLOADED BLACK BOX. REPORT FROM LEXUS STATED THAT CAR WA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: MY 2012 LEXUS IS250 HAS STICKY DASHBOARD AND DOOR PANELS. THE DASH IS WET WITH A STICKY LIKE SUBSTANCE WHICH ALSO CAUSES A GLARE AND STAINS ANYTHING THAT TOUCHES THE SURFACE. THE DOOR PANELS ARE PEELING HORRIBLY AND EXTREMELY SOFT TO TOUCH. BUMPING YOUR FINGER ON THE DOOR PANEL LEAVES FRAGMENTS OF T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)