The Lemon IndexLexus IS reliability.
Is it reliable? Yes, very. About a third as many complaints as the average car.
One of the most reliable · 2010–2022
20153rd generation
Engines & versions
What owners say on YouTube: we haven't studied Lexus IS videos yet. When that study runs, the most-watched owner reviews and buyer guides for each generation, and what owners praise and complain about, show up here.
Fewest complaints
2012.
Every year. Lower is better. Tap a year for its full report.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average, too new (2023+: a partial score, marked “partial”) or too few complaints to score.
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<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/lexus-is/" title="Lexus IS reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="445" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/lexus-is/">Lemon Index</a> (Lexus IS reliability by year)</p>Scores before 2010 are rough: fewer owners filed complaints back then.
Compare the Lexus IS.
Opens the compare tool with both cars, every year side by side. Compare with any car →
Quick answers.
Is the Lexus IS reliable?
Yes, very. It draws about a third as many complaints as the average car. Fewest complaints: 2012.
Is the Lexus IS a good car?
Yes, it is one of the most reliable models we track, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2010-2022: Lemon Index 32; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: 2012 drew the fewest complaints since 2010 and 2014 the most.
What are the best Lexus IS years to buy?
By owner complaints per car sold since 2010: 2012, 2022, 2015. 2012 drew the fewest.
What Lexus IS years should you stay away from?
No Lexus IS year stands out as bad since 2010. Even the years with the most complaints per car sold beat the average car: 2014 (one of the most reliable, Lemon Index 48), 2010 (one of the most reliable, Lemon Index 39), 2011 (one of the most reliable, Lemon Index 27).
How many recalls does the Lexus IS have?
61 safety recalls across the 20 model years we track. Most: 2006 (13), 2007 (8), 2008 (8). Each year's page lists them, and every Lexus IS recall is in one list here.
What are the most common Lexus IS problems?
Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name speed control, engine and airbags most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.
Every year in one table
| Year | Index | Compared with average | Complaints | Top complaint | Recalls | Crash test | MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | – | too few complaints to score | 15 | speed control (20%) | 1 | — | 18 |
| 2002 | – | too few complaints to score | 17 | transmission & drivetrain (29%) | 1 | — | 18–19 |
| 2003 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 6 | airbags (50%) | 1 | — | 18 |
| 2004 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 3 | tires (33%) | 1 | — | 18 |
| 2005 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 4 | transmission & drivetrain (50%) | 1 | — | 18 |
| 2006 | 93 | about average | 32 | speed control (25%) | 13 | — | 21–24 |
| 2007 | 115 | a bit more than the average car's complaints | 56 | speed control (45%) | 8 | — | 21–24 |
| 2008 | 59 | a bit over half as many complaints as the average car | 29 | speed control (48%) | 8 | — | 18–24 |
| 2009 | 75 | about three-quarters as many complaints as the average car | 23 | speed control (57%) | 8 | — | 18–24 |
| 2010 | 39 | a bit under half as many complaints as the average car | 16 | speed control (31%) | 7 | — | 18–24 |
| 2011 | 27 | about a quarter as many complaints as the average car | 10 | speed control (40%) | 4 | — | 18–24 |
| 2012 | 16 | about a fifth as many complaints as the average car | 5 | speed control (80%) | 4 | — | 18–24 |
| 2014 | 48 | about half as many complaints as the average car | 27 | electrical (26%) | 1 | ★★★★★ | 18–24 |
| 2015 | 23 | about a quarter as many complaints as the average car | 11 | airbags (27%) | 0 | ★★★★★ | 21–24 |
| 2019 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 7 | wheels (29%) | 2 | ★★★★★ | 21–24 |
| 2020 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 3 | airbags (33%) | 0 | ★★★★★ | 21–24 |
| 2022 | 19 | about a fifth as many complaints as the average car | 5 | fuel system (40%) | 1 | ★★★★★ | 20–25 |
| 2023 | – | too few complaints to score | 5 | backup camera (60%) | 0 | ★★★★★ | 20–25 |
| 2024 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 1 | visibility (100%) | 0 | ★★★★★ | 20–25 |
| 2025 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 1 | body structure (100%) | 0 | ★★★★★ | 20–25 |
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. U.S. sales source: en.wikipedia.org. How it works
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Updated · Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
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