The Lemon Index
200920112nd generation
16 owner complaints, first 3 years 18–24 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2010 BMW 3 Series 322010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 262010 Cadillac CTS 22
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
Engines & versions
When problems show up
Only 14 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 19V741000 (airbags), 19V005000 (airbags) and 18V024000 (airbags) done? It has 7 recalls in all. Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- NHTSA has an open investigation into desiccated air bag inflator rupture. Has this car had that problem?
- Does it accelerate and hold speed smoothly, with no surging or stalling?
- Any slipping, hard or late shifts, or a transmission warning light? Ask for transmission fluid service records.
- Is the stability-control light off on a test drive?
- Lexus sent dealers 268 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Transmission or park/neutral switch installation information”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Lexus's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 16 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 3K to 25K miles (5K to 40K km) on the car (14 of all 16 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Problems Lexus told dealers about
Lexus sent dealers 268 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Transmission or park/neutral switch installation information
- The purpose of this bulletin is to provide information regarding transmission and/or park neutral
- The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide information regarding the installation of…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 7
- Airbags · recall issued 2019
These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design.
- Airbags · recall issued 2019
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Airbags · recall issued 2018
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Show all 7 recalls
- Airbags · recall issued 2016
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Fuel system, gasoline · recall issued 2014
Due to anti-corrosion plating remnants, fuel may leak from where the fuel pressure sensor is attached to the fuel delivery pipe.
- Wipers & visibility · recall issued 2013
The nuts that fasten the wiper arms may be insufficiently torqued such that if the wiper arms are restricted by an external load, such as a buildup of heavy snow, one or both of the wipers may become inoperative.
- Speed control · recall issued 2009
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 PASSENGER VEHICLES.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Government investigations
- OpenDesiccated air bag inflator rupture2021
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★☆ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★★★★
Fuel cost and engines
About $3,150–$4,200 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 2.5L 6-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl, 5.0L 8-cyl.
Every Lexus IS year. 2010 is highlighted. Lower is better.
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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Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2010 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/lexus-is/?y=2010" 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/2010/">Lemon Index</a> (2010 Lexus IS reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2010 Lexus IS reliable?
Yes, it is one of the most reliable by government complaints. It drew a bit under half as many complaints as the average car filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 39; 100 is average, lower is better). The Lexus IS year with the fewest complaints per car sold since 2010 is 2012.
What are the most common 2010 Lexus IS problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are speed control (31%), transmission & drivetrain (25%) and stability control (12%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2010 Lexus IS have?
7 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2010 Lexus IS get?
18 to 24 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Does the 2010 Lexus IS have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 25% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2010 Lexus IS cost in fuel a year?
About $3,150 to $4,200 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2010 Lexus IS have?
2.5L 6-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl, 5.0L 8-cyl.
What Lexus IS year is better than the 2010?
Nearby, the 2012 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (about a fifth as many complaints as the average car).
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. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works