2010 Lexus IS problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
35% of relevant owner complaints on the 2010 Lexus IS are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.
Better than 62% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 66 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 14%).
Does the 2010 Lexus IS have engine problems?
More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 16 of 46 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2010 Lexus IS concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (35%), and the largest group is filed under engine (8). For comparison, the 2011 scores 32%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
The rest of the picture on the 2010 Lexus IS
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Every owner quote, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 16 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2010 Lexus IS?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2010 Lexus IS involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Lexus LS vehicles manufactured May 9, 2006, to July 20, 2010, 2006-2011 Lexus GS vehicles manufactured January 6, 2005, to September 10, 2010, and 2006-2011 Lexus IS vehicles manufactured August 30, 2005, to September 10, 2010. Due to anti-corrosion plating remnants, fuel may leak from where the fuel pressure sensor is…
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will clean and reseal the fuel pressure sensor mounting area, free of charge. The recall began March 3, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
5 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 17, 2026.
Checking one particular 2010 Lexus IS? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2010 Lexus IS
Does the 2010 Lexus IS have engine problems?
More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 16 of 46 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2010 Lexus IS concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (35%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2010 Lexus IS?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2010 Lexus IS involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total: 14V647000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Lexus IS years are better?
Among the Lexus IS years we track, the 2015 (23%), the 2014 (29%) and the 2011 (32%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2010 (35%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.
Should I buy a 2010 Lexus IS?
That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2010 Lexus IS has an elevated engine complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing engine work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 3 body styles NHTSA files separately.